Pictures, because well, you just can't get enough

So I haven't posted my mountainous amounts of photos in awhile and a certain Grandma I think is a little disappointed in me. :) So, here are some of the ones I have. We had a crazy snow storm, okay, not huge, but it snowed and snowed and then the next morning it melted all away. So we enjoyed it as much as we possibly could while it lasted. Pop (my dad) brought his topagen up to the school and we went sledding up there. Well, Josh and Tyson did, Caleb was NOT interested.

Such a beautiful building.Sleeping Matthew, in the freezing cold, poor kid.I love that Tyson makes me so happy!My dad is awesome.Carmel came and played in the snow with the boys the next morning. They love Aunt Carmel.Pop teaching Caleb how to properly eat food like a baby bird. :) Oma's birthday cake tastes better that way I guess. :)Dinner: cake Dessert: apple gotta love itMy little doll face, love this youngest boy of mine

Valentine's day, Tyson left little heart notes hidden all over the house with notes on them. It made the fun last for a few days because I couldn't find them for awhile, it was great! I made chocolate boxes with chocolate pudding and raspberries (well, chocolate covered almonds in Tyson's box). Yum!

They are SO cute!Animal hats

Daddy daughter dance. A lot of fun. Hooray for Cassandra for making that happen.

Matching church outfits thanks to Grandma Cooper. Such cutie pies!

reading with Grandma

the true reason for play dough, to bury your toys

Had to post this because of Caleb's faceTyson's latest creation, peanut clusters and SOOOOO good!

Pop and Oma came over with saddles and hats, such a fun ride for the boys.

I don't think Matthew liked it quite yet though. :)Tyson came home from his walk with this the other day, love that man.

Josh taking pictures. :)

St. Patty's Day, the leprechaun came to visit and put candy in their shoes. So fun.

Preschool

About 8 (it used to be more but the numbers are dwindling) other moms and I got together in August and started a preschool for our kids. I am SO thankful Nicole invited me to join them. Josh has learned so much and I love being a part of his education and getting to teach him every once in awhile.

Well, this month, Nicole and I have been teaching together. It has been no piece of cake, but wow, so much fun. I love kids and I have a special place in my heart for the extra crazy ones or the "trouble makers." Well, they all have given me a run for my money on several occasions. But then there are moments where I almost cry because the things they say and know and the way they act is incredible.

All the kids are ages 4 to 5, Josh is the youngest by several months. He is quiet by nature, okay, not at home, but everywhere else it seems. His church leaders feel like they have had a break through when he actually speaks and if he participates, whoa, a miracle has just happened. Well, he is a little more open at preschool, but not much. He usually plays by himself or with a few of the quieter girls, but only once have I seen him actually joining in with the other boys. It makes me wonder if I was like that or if Tyson was.

Wait, I remember chasing a kick ball around the play ground in 3rd grade because it seemed like better company than everyone else and I thought no one wanted me to hang out with them. That just reminded me of Kip (Kristen) when she moved in right before 4th grade. What a heaven sent blessing she was and is. We have been friends ever since. Maybe I should just pray for a friend like that for Josh.

Anyways, so this month while I have been teaching we have been talking a lot about nutrition and keeping our bodies healthy. So on Thursday we went to the dentist office a few blocks away from the preschool. They were really awesome and gave a great tour and free toothbrushes to the kids. But there was a moment where all the kids were standing against a wall and learning how to properly brush their teeth. I looked at all the kids and they were so adorable and good. They all looked so different, some tall, others short, and there was my little Josh right in the middle. He is almost a head shorter than most of the boys and one of the few with brown eyes.

My heart just caught at the sight of him with his large chocolate eyes staring at the dentist, with the corners of his mouth slightly tipped up in a smile. His face is so round and young and so perfect to me. Part of me kept thinking how little he looked, especially with kids that are (comparatively) so much older than him. Then another part of me couldn't believe my own little boy was 4. How quickly he has changed from the baby they held in front of me screaming, covered in all kinds of gross fluids (all I wanted to know was what color his hair was), into a long, skinny crawler that growled all the time. Then without even blinking he was walking, opening doors, covering me in every shoe he could find in the house while I napped, pouring Hershey syrup all over the carpet. He had curly hair and loved to glare at everyone. Then he was the protective big brother of "baby guy" and ate "pawcorn" and loved everything Elmo. Then we moved and he played out in the yard every chance he got. He was afraid of rain until he got rain boots and then I couldn't get him out of the rain. He was daddy's best helper and had (and still has) absolute confidence that Daddy can fix anything. He went to nursery, then sunbeams and learned to live without diapers and cook his own oatmeal (he learned that at home). He vowed to marry any girl that came near him and tries to be good all the time and teach others to say and do good things.

He is only four, how am I going to handle him really growing up?

I am so lucky to have him and Caleb and Matthew. And of course, Tyson. No, lucky isn't right, I am so blessed. Some days I just want to hug them close and capture the moment like a potion and bottle it up so I can open it and relive it whenever I want. How quickly things change.

How quickly a baby walks up the steps to preschool.

Book

Finally finished all the finishing touches and sent my book off to the publishers last week. AH! We will find out in a few months...
good or bad, at least I wrote it!

Carless

What I have learned from living over a month without a vehicle:
-the world has NOT lost chivalry
-the Lord is always watching out for me. For example, it will snow on Monday, be really nice on Tuesday so I can walk to preschool, rain on Wednesday, be really nice on Thursday for preschool. Little things, but huge to me. And the cost of getting the car fixed has just gotten higher, but somehow the Lord adds a little bit here and there to what we have so we can pay for it (well, we haven't seen the bill yet, but we have faith)
-it is the quickest weight loss program I have ever been on
-everyone is so kind and generous, we have borrowed so many people's vehicles. Thanks Mom and Dad, Beck and Trent, and Nicole and Burke. Oh, and Kathryn. And thanks to everyone else that has ran errands for me. Seriously, everyone has been SO nice.
-I have way more friends than I thought I did
-patience
-sometimes, it is okay to ask for help
-I really like our van and can't wait to get it back, but I am really thankful for everything I have learned. And I am so thankful for every one's help and kindness during the our car-less state. :)

Spring

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
-1 Corinthians 15:55

I feel like that is what the weather today is shouting. It is so perfect, so beautiful: slightly overcast, but warm, with a slight breeze. Every tree is budding, daffodils are out in full force, little birds are tweeting and nests are being built in the crannies of trees. Even though I get slightly frustrated, I am so thankful that I need to walk everywhere. It is such a perfect excuse to enjoy this weather. It is a time of renewing and life. Nothing could be prettier.

I love that I have a little baby at this time too. Matthew is 6 months old now, but just at that age where he is reaching for me and just adores me. It melts my heart. Babies have such a newness and a love and curiosity for everything. I wish I could be more like my little Matthew. So forgiving, so loving of anyone and everyone. I had several people at church today just want to hold him. How would that be, that people just want to drop everything to be around you because you are so loving and kind? I need to be more like that.

So yeah, that is what we are doing today, loving spring.

I'm Wishing...

Wishing I was here with a certain someone right now...