Many of you are probably wondering if I will ever post again on my MOM blog. It has been too long. I know. But, in honor of Mother's Day, I am going to catch this space up. It will be brief but it will be a little snippet into our lives for the past five months. Though I haven't been here much, I have been with my kids and enjoying the heck out of them. I also have been enjoying writing on my other blog, Right Hand Work. If you haven't checked it out, please do, I enjoy sharing what God lays on my heart with you all. There happens to be a really special Mother's Day post up now.
And, a word about this picture. I chose it to start my blog, because Stan has been my biggest cheerleader through a tender time in my life. I could not have gotten through as many trials and mountains as I have without him by my side, pointing my eyes to God and His strength. This picture about was right after I finished one of my 5 now, half marathons. He has encouraged this hobby of mine and I am grateful beyond words for his support. Love you babe!
We have had sweet cousins times...
I've enjoyed individual outings with the boys.
We have shared really fun times with our framily...
Lindsay Jane had special mama time too.
We celebrated Landon and Nanny's birthdays at La Fiesta!
We brought in the New Year with hot cocoa...
And our buddies...
Monopoly and race track making were our pastimes of choice to start of January 1st...
The kids were not happy to have to go back to school on January 2nd...and don't worry, they didn't. This mom made a huge mistake...I thought Stan and I had the day to ourselves sans kids...nope. We got those kids out the door, kicking and screaming...only to find an empty parking lot and no school bus...
Landon turned 10!!!! His siblings woke him early to tell him!
Lindsay Jane helped make his cake..
And with the help of these lovely ladies and Ryan, Lucia and my parents, I pulled off a 10 year old birthday party 24 hours earlier than planned due to a snow storm...
Fun times! That were over just in time for the snow to start falling...
Chocolate liquor really improved my stress level that evening...
Then! We enjoyed the snow with our neighbors!
And Connor...of course, my Connor, made me a heart out of snow.
This was our view with the neighbors...
What a fun fun time!!
Next, it was time to celebrate this lovely lady's 40th!!!
I enjoyed the heck out of decorating for it!!!
We had a blast! It was so so much fun and this was my very favorite picture from the night. I love celebrating people...especially my people, of which this girl certainly is a top of the list...
Landon got braces. #nomoremoney
Lindsay Jane got a big girl bed. #nomorebabies
Lindsay and I had many fun outings enjoying every bit of her time at home.
Allison and I had a lovely shopping trip, as we always do...post holidays, to hit all the sales!!
Lindsay Jane became a sweet little Cubby in the Awanas program up at the church near our house.
I realized how much I resemble this shirt on most days...
Lindsay Jane and I had many fun times with sweet Baylie. This one was sugar cookie decorating, one of my faves...for Valentines Day.
I took this little buddy out for chocolate pie...
And had hot cocoa with these three in our pajamas...
The boys both played basketball.
Lindsay Jane got to have some playdates with her best friend, Henry.
I had a mom's night out with our playgroup moms, eating the best sushi!! Fun fun!
There is always time for Menchies...
Landon dressed up as Lou Gehrig at school for their Autobiography presentations. I was so very proud of him! So was Nanny!
Ryan and I decided to do another half...training in the freezing cold at times!
Connor dressed up for the 100th day of school...
And the boys played more basketball.
We "last minute" took the kids to see the circus before it ends forever. It was bittersweet, for sure.
We made Valentine's...
And Lindsay Jane and I went out with Stan for a Valentine's Day lunch.
We had our first tea party...
We watched Lego Batman...hilarious!
More one on one time with these goonies...
And LJ had three dates in a row...dare I say, the one with her daddy was her very favorite...(she better say that at least!)
LJ and I had some special lunches with Nanny and Moo and found out that Moo and B were having another baby!!! Yay!
Connor and Lindsay do actually enjoy each other's company sometimes...
Except when she is sassy...says Connor...
We went to the zoo for a fun Friday playgroup outing!
We always have time to stop by area parks...
We watched more basketball...and had Zaiya join us!
We lost Lindsay Jane's beloved puppy for a short time and, of course, she ended up with two. The very day the new one came in the mail, we found the old one! Figures...but she sure was a happy little camper!
We went to the zoo again, me and my three and I had the awesome experience of going during mating season, apparently. #mommywhataretheydoing
I needed a mom's night out after that...
We had some awesome checker playing squeezed in at the cabin...
And Pop and Mommom came for Grandparent's Day at Woods.
Lindsay Jane found her style...
I took Lindsay Jane and Baylie to UNC's campus one beautiful Tuesday afternoon. I think I gained another Tarheel that trip!
I got to chaperone Connor's in school field trip that was based on the Renaissance. It was so cool that that is the one camp that Connor wants to attend this summer!
I even had the chance to squeeze in an hour of writing between the field trip ending and having to pick up the boys...
I celebrated many Tarheel victories with these two!
I enjoyed a Women's conference at the Summit Church with Sarah and Stacey.
I had the honoring of being the decoy in surprising Heather with a super 40th birthday party!!! It was such a blast seeing all of my people from college. So much fun, that we have planned a weekend in October!
Lindsay Jane and I celebrated National Pi day and apparently have discovered every one's favorite pie...chocolate chip cookie pie!
Ryan and I kept up the training in sub freezing temps...Ryan's cheeks were frozen in this one!
Baseball started with a bang and Pop stepped in to help coach Connor's team when they were down coaches one night!!
Stan and Ed went to Ignite, Men's conference at Liberty. What a gift!
SDLL opening ceremonies!
Cooking shenanigans with these two...
Yum!!!
What a fun night of fellowship we had!
Then there was the snake that our beloved cat, Shadow, brought in...and my man...he took showed off his manly snake-killing skills...
Baseball always presents a bit of a shuffle, but a good one for our family. This picture was taken at our pre dinner between two games at different fields, let's get daddy dinner to go that we will trade off at drop off... #wouldnthaveitanyotherway
Landon is as intense as ever. My ball player...
LJ loves being a cheerleader!!!
This guy. He is such a little monkey, but has managed to do very well this season, bringing home 2nd place in the league's Slugfest for his division...
We celebrated more Tarheel wins and this became my glass of choice...it, along with one particular shirt, may have been called a bit of my "good luck charms."
More time with our framily, who Connor affectionately named Kerri this very night...
More beautiful baseball.
And yet another awesome trip to the NC Zoo!!! We had a blast with the Smith's!
Such sweet time at the cabin with my parents over Spring Break...
And no trip to see my dad is complete without a trip to the Artisan Market...I love so much being in this market with my dad. His eyes light up like a little kid. He is in his element and I love that he so sweetly brings me in as well...
Zaiya made a surprise trip up and these three had a blast being boys...
What a sweet time of family, fun, food and love.
Next stop...the Raleigh Rock in Roll...like my skirt?
Pre race packet picking up, excitement and a drink called "She's the Fastest."
A hug and sweet pictures from Lindsay Jane, who stayed with my parents for some alone time...
Mac n cheese...#carbloading
I laid out my bib and clothes...
And cheered the Tarheels to another victory!!!
Pre race fun!
Mid race crazies...
Post race JOY!!!
And...we made WRAL's website, y'all!!!
Next night?? Allison came into town and we cheered on our Tarheels to victory!!!!!
What a super fun night we had!
We just had to go to Franklin Street the next day...duh!
And...the Dean Dome that night!!! Thanks to Ashley for braving that ridiculousness with me!!
Carolina blue toenails were in order...
Pop and Mommom are some of the kids' biggest fans, especially when it comes to baseball! They have managed to squeeze many games into their retirement! They also take the snuggles when they can get them...
And...they enjoy, like we do, watching the antics of our kids and cats together. Lindsay Jane dressed shadow up as a fairy in this picture. He was a tremendous trooper as she dragged him around the house in this get up.
If you can't tell what this is, it is a heart. Connor continues to warm my heart with special little gifts like this rock. He tells me he loves me all the time. What a gift for a busy momma that can often question whether my kids are feelin' the love...
He just adores these cats too. Once, he said he wanted 100 cats one day. I quickly told him that that would mean he had to clean 100 litter boxes and he decided that was not worth it.
I joined the converse club and could not be more delighted with my new red kicks!
There have been many trips to many different parks...
And a perfect night out in Durham with these amazing folks we get to also call our neighbors. #holygrailofneighborsrightthere
The boys participated in their first ever, Pine Car Derby and brought these trophies home!! They were super proud (and so were we as they did their cars all by themselves).
Landon killed his first experience in a courtroom. Excitedly raising his hand first to be picked for the plaintiff's attorney in a mock trial at the Chatham Country Courthouse, he was quickly noted to be in his element. #borntoargue We shall see what his future holds, but being an attorney would not surprise this momma.
I, again, caught a few moments between picking up the boys and the end of the field trip and did a little writing in this beautiful cafe near the boys' school.
And...we celebrated this lovely lady in the middle's 39th birthday!! I love these sisters of my heart and every single chance I get to enjoy their company. With six kids between us, it can prove challenging to arrange, but we still manage to pull it off.
Well, that has gotten me to mid-April and I feel good about that...I picked the cover background for my blog this time that was called, "The Way You Are." I am working on living into that. So, I hope all who took the time to read my update enjoyed it. I am planning to complete a part 2 to fully catch up. But, if I don't, I will be doing many things, just like those listed above. And, I am ok with that. :)
