A lot's happened since January...

We moved at the beginning of the summer. Not very far from home, but nonetheless, it's been a transition and change.

On moving day, Matthew was diagnosed with mono (after simultaneously having influenza b AND Scarlett fever in April). He got healthy (and then got walking pneumonia in October). Matthew had never been on antibiotics prior to this summer so I guess he's making up for lost time. Also, please note that Matthew does NOT like bubble gum flavored medicine. Just in case that every comes up, now you now.

I digressed quickly there. Whew! We had a wonderful time living in our resort like town, just blocks from a cute downtown, parks and the beach. The kids started school just after Labor Day and love it so that is a huge answer to prayer.

I got to be with Sweet Bean as the art helper. She paper mashed a
bell that will be used at the holiday show during Jingle Bells.

Matthew and his class on his first field trip at the pumpkin farm.

Thea and her class. She's dressed as a "hair comber" for Halloween.

Matthew and his class on Halloween. He's Mario.

"Mario" jumping to hit the question mark during the school parade

Princess Anna, Mario, Luigi, and Curious George

Mommy as a real life Frankenstein just in time for Halloween*

Sweet Bean reading to her brother who adores her. She read for 20 minutes to him,
continually offering for him to get her another book.

Matthew's 6th Birthday Party

Just a bit more on Matthew since we just had his 6 year check-up. He is currently 50 inches (99th percentile) and 50 pounds (70th percentile) with a BMI at the 7th percentile. He's still on track to be 6'4," which I hope doesn't happen until he's at least 8. Matthew is loving, sweet, funny (like legitimately makes all of us laugh), impulsive at times and smart. He loves God (although we're still struggling to find a church since moving), soccer, baseball, Legos, the Wii U/Mario that he got for his birthday, and art. He seems to have a solid group of 4 other boys that he plays with each day.

Thea Bean. She's 4 1/2 and has changed a lot in the last year. She is much less timid; I think you could even say she's quite outgoing. She's sweet, wakes me up most nights, and loves to hear about when she was a baby. She's started reading and is very interested in learning: writing, spelling, math and reading. She's a complete lover of art. She pleasantly surprised us this summer when she quickly met friends everywhere we went and was always asking for a play date (this more fits Matthew's personality).

Peanut/Bubba/Bubs/Nathaniel. He has blown us away with his increased speech the last couple of months. He can count to 12 and loves to be read to and most of all he LOVES to sing. We are really enjoying that fact that he is petite because it "keeps" him a baby longer (meaning we can snuggle him) and as our last baby, we're thankful for that. Monkey see, monkey do is a frequent phrase that's heard when Nathaniel is around the older kids.

As for Mike and I...it's been quite a year. We have each other and have been walking this tumultuous road together. Hand in hand. All the while, finding great joy, peace and happiness with our family. What a blessing our kids are to us.

*I hit my head on our basement stairs banister. The answer is yes, yes it did it hurt very much.