Our Gymnast

Thea LOVES gymnastics! Here she is doing a back walk over:

She is insanely flexible and will do the splits wherever and whenever she can.

She recently participated in a cartwheel-a-thon to raise money for the gymnastics program in our community (that has won state 11 of the last 13 years, including this year).* She was asked to have people pledge per cartwheel (up to 200). We had no idea what to expect, but we should have known she'd do 200 in 15 minutes. She raised the most money of all the gymnastics so next month she'll be receiving a trophy at a banquet and will get a week at gymnastics camp this summer courtesy of the community gymnastics program.

*Those other two years? They came in 2nd.

I guess I have a lot to say about teeth

Two years ago, Thea was told she had two wiggly teeth but that it was going to take awhile for them to come out. This last Saturday, 4/13, two days after her 6th birthday, Thea lost her very first tooth! She pulled it out at gymnastics, which makes it that much more fun for her since that's her most favorite thing. She was beyond excited and we were too. Mike was maybe a teensy bit less excited since he had a just been diagnosed with a nasty case of strep.*

Thea's tooth pillow made by Grammie

It's a good thing that on Thea's birthday, Mommy had the repair man over (to finish some dry wall work above our microwave) who just so happened to fix Thea's door that couldn't be closed without being slammed.

The tooth fairy was thrilled! She gave Thea a note that said "Finally! Hooray!" with her signature (a tooth with fairy wings) as well as a 50 year old half dollar coin.

Okay, now it's time for me to go to the dentist. Woot! Woot!

*Remember that time that 3 straight Fridays in a row, the boys in our house took turns getting a high fever at 6pm and then strep the next day? Yeah, I do. Cause that was this time. Here's to hoping the girls in the house stay strong and healthy tomorrow.

A Wild and Crazy New Year's Eve

Got wild and crazy this New Year's Eve by taking the kids to the dentist. Matthew had 2 cavities that needed to be filled. They used laughing gas which had him talking up a storm. The staff brilliantly told me my other children were not allowed to watch (so as to avoid inducing fear). So there I left him alone getting his teeth drilled. He rocked it! He chose an orange mask (no surprise) that was orange scented. The actually fillings took 5 minutes and Matthew came out saying it was no big deal and the smell was so good he'd like to do it again! Um, doctor, you've successfully made this painless which is fabulous, but let's hope he keeps brushing his teeth, okay? Super grateful for our pediatric dentist and his team.

Thea had her teeth cleaned while at the dentist and later took a turn at cleaning teeth:

Nathaniel had nothing done to his teeth, but he picked a funny treasure box prize:

That evening we celebrated with blowers and root beer floats! Mike was the only one that made it to midnight. Poor Mike.

Heavenly Places

We're still dreaming and talking about our trip to Estes Park, CO. Here is the trip in review via pictures:

The sunrise from one of the 3 porches of the house we stayed in.

Morning nature walk

Thea with the cutest little bunny that lived nearby

Why don't we live here?

One of Matthew's favorite parts of the trip: picking wildflowers

Not many places better than this one to get a little coloring done

Painting at the YMCA

Spinning endlessly at the YMCA playground 

Dinner at a family favorite: The Dunraven Inn 

Bear Lake, a multigenerational family favorite:

Grandma had the kids doing a "skill" at every trail marker
and they LOVED it! Highlight of the trip for the kids!

Matthew was introduced to Monopoly and had such a good time planning with his Dad. Can you guess who won this round?

Dinner on the porch

Free mini golf at the YMCA. The course was very age appropriate and all had fun getting in a round.

Another highlight of the trip: bumper boats! All of the kids went
and were all smiles, except Bubba. He was all giggles. The whole time.

First go-kart race

Excited that passed all other drivers on the track

Extreme trampoline = extreme smile

New CO gear found in town

Visiting Mom's former work place: Jackson Stables

Nathaniel LOVED riding Buttons!

Matthew rode Alladin and did AMAZING pulling up the reins when his horse tried to eat grass.
So well, the horse stopped trying to get the grass! Thea and I rode Thunder. This was very fun
to share with them. Some of my best memories in life are horseback riding with my family.

The last day we had planned to go fishing (which we've never done) but since it was cool and looked like it might rain, we chose to drive up Trail Ridge Road. Glad we did because wow, mountains are majestic!

Our last dinner together in Estes at a Mexican restaurant. It was our first time there and it satisfied Mike's deep craving for some Mexican food (which was delicious!).

They sure do looooove their Papa!

This trip was just so good. Wonderful family time, beautiful place, filled with relaxation and fun. Couldn't ask for anything more. Except that we do it again.

Fourth of July

When we moved last year, we were told 4th of July was HUGE in our town. We live in a wonderful community that is very social. Being new and knowing almost no one made last year pretty lonely. Fast forward one year, and it makes for fun times. We started the day at a friend's house where the Eagle had landed. This family goes all in for the 4th and it was great!

Then we sat in 99 degree heat, sweating profusely watching the parade. Matthew and Nathaniel quit the parade halfway through and I was not sad about it. I am legitimately thankful to God I was not born until A/C was invented and in full swing. Also thankful I live in toilet paper times.

After Nathaniel took a nap and we cooled down we headed back out for some games at the park.

We had chicken salad for lunch because I had a leftover rotisserie chicken and chicken salad is delicious and then we had French toast and eggs for dinner. Makes sense that this hot dog loving family chose those options on the biggest hot dog day of the year.

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.