Ummm gross...

So when your son's umbilical cord falls off when he's about 4-5 weeks old and you can't find it you assume the dog ate it, right? Well, we found it - WHEN HE WAS 15 MONTHS OLD!  Umm, yeah gross.  It was in our chair, in our family room, all those months.

Startled awake

Last night I was sleeping away, all cozy in my bed.  When all of a sudden I hear my husband screaming "Theo" at the top of his lungs.  It took me a moment, I was asleep, after all it was 4:22 AM, to realize the screaming was coming from outside!  What the heck? I jump out of bed, grab my glasses, and run downstairs.  Sure enough Brian is outside in shorts and a tee with bare feet (it's freezing rain and super cold) calling for our dog.  
Turns out Brian heard Theo starting to throw up in his crate so decided to go get him and take him outside to do his business.  But the stupid dog decided to take off running into the common area after a rabbit and would not come back.  We were all set to inform the kids that Theo was a goner.  Brian ran to the garage to get his shoes and I started calling - yes, our neighbor Mark loves us even more now.  Just then Theo came dashing up from the common area.  I get him inside and then I hear Brian outside calling for him some more.  It all ended well and we laughed...pretty hard actually.  
Brian was sure he was either dreaming or in hell:)

When THAT happens

As if, rolling in the mud (when you are supposed to be sledding) and having a jewelry box almost crash on my head, wasn't enough for this day, now someone leaves an entire pack of tissues in their coat pocket for the wash.  Good times!

A teenager?!?!?!

WHAT? I don't think it's possible.  When I stop and think about being a mom for 13 years I am just shocked.  How can that be? Anyway, Zach turned 13 today.  My momma heart hurt a little - we've always had a very special relationship and that's changing.  It also hurt because Jake was so sick (crying almost all day) that most of the attention was on Jake not Zach.  
Zach is our first born, our guinea pig.  I often feel bad for him because we don't know what the heck we are doing!  But Zach, is so sweet, quick to forgive, patient with us, and easy going (he didn't have a birthday cake this year just left over Christmas cupcakes - and he didn't care!).  Zach is a very smart boy who has an eye for creating and putting things together.  One time I tried my very hardest for several minutes to put the "no leak part" in a sippy cup and finally I asked for his help.  He did it in .3 seconds barely even looking at it - I was trying to put the thing in backwards and after minutes didn't see that!  He is a hard worker with his school, can memorize like you would not believe and very diligent to complete all his work - without help - what 7th grade boy does that?!?!?! I am so proud of him out on the soccer field too.  He gives it his all, practices so hard, and respects his team mates and those he's playing against.  But for me, his mama, the two things that take the cake are the way he always sticks up for me - always!  And the way he was/is with Ella and now Jake.  His heart for his younger siblings is amazing to watch and see glimpses of and it is precious. Love you Zachary! 

Christmas 2014

This Christmas was not exactly what I had in mind - but it was good, very good.  I'm slowly but surely learning that things almost never go the way I think they will or occur like what I have in my mind.  Expectations kill joy more often than not.
So this year, Noah got sick a few days before Christmas. He had to miss the annual outing to PA to do fun Christmas stuff with Grammie and Pop Pop.  Next, Zach got sick.  But on Christmas Day Jake woke up with a high fever.  I was a mess and just could hardly relax.  Ella and Brian were next to get sick.  Then Olivia and I got sick but it was a minor version of what everyone else had.
Looking back on this sickness, I can honestly say God provided. Was it easy - no - but God was present.  The timing wasn't good but is it ever?  I am so thankful that Brian was home to help (particularly with Jake) and that we had some distractions with other family members being here to help as well.  So praise God for His healing and His timing that is always perfect, even when I don't agree.
A few pictures...

*I seem to wear this red sweater every Christmas Day since I bought it...oh well:)

Dance, dance I said

Zachary is in 7th grade and attended his first dance this year.  On December 13, 2014 Zach got all dressed up and went to CPC for his first ever Granite Classical Tutorial dance.  
He had a blast, ate dinner and listened to music.  He said he did not dance - someday. The chocolate fountain was the highlight for him! All the dessert he could eat:)
I'm thankful for opportunities like this for him!

Green Thumb

Noah got a small infection in his thumb on Saturday.  Brian took him to a clinic and they drained it. It looked much better right away and by 2-3 days later he was fine.  Brian had almost the same exact infection in one of his fingers when he was about Noah's age - interesting!