Spring

Spring brings SO many activities...we STILL have soccer going on - (aka the sport that never ends) and now we have also added baseball.

 Jack's team is undefeated and he's LOVING playing machine pitch this year!

This picture is call "My Parents Won't Buy My Picture for $33 - So Mom Snapped This By a Tree...For FREE." Seriously. I need a time machine to go back, open a sports photography company in a HSE community and I'll be all set. Sorry, photogs - this mama ain't playing your game.

Spring also means approx. 3465 end of the year activities. Above was Jack's Author's Cafe. He wrote a book about Snakes. Not my favorite subject - but definitely my favorite author.

Nolan ended his 2's class on a FUN note...nothing like picking your nose in the class picture. This is SO Nolan. If you don't know him - this is just how he is... "Oh, you're going to take our picture? You want us to look cute? Hmmm - I'm not down with that. But I will stick my finger in my nostril for you."  Believe it or not - he's heading to PRESCHOOL next year! If I'm a bit obsessed with getting this kid potty trained - it's because I already have 26 of my 3 "free mornings"a week -  planned and he needs to get to school....

And then we have sweet Josephine. She ended her gymnastics career (perhaps permanently?!?) and is in the midst of her own soccer season. She is our free spirit - happy on the soccer field or picking flowers or painting a picture. In the above picture she was NOT happy that it started pouring rain as her game was starting. Dancing in the rain? YES. Playing soccer in the rain. No.

And today Josie celebrated the END OF PRESCHOOL with a picnic in the park. She had a super awesome, small class...and she LOVED everything about her school year. We are so lucky to send her off to such a fun and loving school.

I know I say I'll be a better blogger. But every time I sit down at my computer - I'm working and hoping to be done as fast as possible...because I'm probably late to a soccer practice.

Soccer Goals

Mid-June marked the end of Josie's 2nd soccer season. She played on Team Chile or as she said "GO TEAM CHILL-WE!" She must have picked up a lot from her older brother - because the girl is on a mission on the soccer field, beast-mode.

In her last game, with only a couple minutes left - she was working hard to get the ball in front of the goal so her teammates could score. She got the ball in scoring position...and a little boy kicked it away. Again, worked to get it to the goal - same boy (opposite team) kicked it away. Third time, gets it back toward the goal...the little boy comes up and Josie straight put him in a headlock and took him to the ground. She'd had enough of him. Obviously - I was SO embarrassed - but also SHOCKED. I called her off the field. Other parents were laughing, because, well, it was kind of funny...but just NOT when it's your child. I made her apologize to the boy and to his parents. His mom was very sweet and we shared a laugh together. Someday, when she's 17 and comes home talking about a cute boy named Ethan...I will be able to tell her she once took him to the ground in a headlock on a soccer field. Something tells me that this story - in 13 years - will still be 100% Josie.

Jack the Quarterback

A few months ago Jack came home from school with a paper about flag football. Tyson and I have always been on the same page about football....NO. We have always told Jack that we love his brain too much for him to play football. BUT - Jack was SO excited about flag football and really wanted to play.  We heard him out...he made some good points...and we decided to let him try it out for the spring.  He got "drafted" to the Lions...so that was a WIN. And in his first game scored two TDs. 

He likes it. I'm not convinced that he LOVES it...but it's still early in the season.  I have a feeling he will be paying closer attention to the Lions this year...lets hope they're good.

SPRING!

 It FINALLY feels like spring around here! Actually - it's borderline "summer" weather - but you won't hear us complaining. Unless we are walking home from school - then EVERYBODY'S complaining. It's a real treat.

We have been taking some time after we pick up Jack to play outside or at a local park. We can't wait for the pool to open (literally, someone has asked every.single.day since it closed in September...I'm not even kidding).

And how about Nolan's redhead bedhead? His hair has a mind of it's own....kind of like him, now that I think about it. 

Grandma Nancy Visits

Nancy's Spring Break was the week after ours - so she came up to spend a few days with us! It was great having her here! We eased back into our routine! She spent lots of time with the kids and they were all happy because ICE CREAM was included! Always fun to have her around! Come back soon!

The rest of Spring Break

How Nolan "snacks." Lord, help me.

I'd like to say that the rest of our Spring Break was all rainbows and sunshine...but it wasn't. The weather was cold and miserable. We were all still WAY over-tired and it was quite an adjustment.

We had a temper tantrum in Kroger...because she wanted chocolate milk. I insisted she probably wanted Kids Hot Chocolate. Nope. Chocolate Milk. I bought her the chocolate milk and then she was MAD because she actually DID want the Kids Hot Chocolate. I was supposed to be able to tell the future AND read her mind. Luckily she threw a fit in the alcohol aisle - so I picked up a bottle of wine as a reward for myself later in the evening. It was only 10am.

 On Friday we took a chilly stroll through the zoo. Our zoo is open ALL YEAR - which is awesome! A lot of the animals were super active. Always fun.

We ended our Spring Break with a quick visit to the lake. Nolan thinks he's so funny with his over-sized shoes & jacket. The lake is a nice, quick get-away for us! So excited to spend time there this summer!

Florida Part 3

On Easter Sunday we enjoyed breakfast out with Jon and Cassie. Then we headed off to Sebring to spend some time there with my parents and grandparents.

Grandpa Jerry got a new golf cart! Jack, Josie, and Nolan took plenty of rides! We saw a mama owl & her babies, some monkey squirrels, and a GATOR!

That night we went out for dinner to celebrate my grandpa's 88th birthday! Chocolate cake for everyone (which made Josie, my chocolate queen, VERY happy).

Before we left - we took a dip in the Sun'n'Lakes Community pool. That was pool #1 of 3 my kids swam in THAT day. See - I wasn't kidding when I said they were in water 80% of their visit to Florida.

After a full 7 days in the Sunshine State - we were ready (or at least our plane tickets said so) to head back to Michigan. Not a day has gone by - that my kids haven't said "I miss Florida" since we've been back. We are ALL so sick of the Michigan cold. I believe Uncle Jon is still recovering from our visit.

Florida Part 2

1) Josie met a dog named Josie. 2) The whole gang. We have grown from a group of 4 to a group of 9!

When we visit Florida - we always look forward to seeing our good friends Jeff & Jaime Moses. Our friendship goes back to our days at IU. We've spent plenty of FUN times with them over the years. It has been SO fun watching our families grow together over the past 6 years!

 Our crew...Landon (2), Nolan (1.5), Josie (4), Cameron (5), and Jack (6).

We spent the morning on the beach! It was crazy fun! After the kids were completely worn out - we headed off for a late lunch and ice cream. Then we let them burn off their sugar highs at a park... Our drive home was a 15 minute battle to keep everyone's eyes open. And my kids were ALSEEP by 6:45pm.

We HEAR that the Mosi will be planning a trip up north this fall. (If I write it on the internet - then it MUST be true). Come NORTH, Moses family! We can't wait to show you MICHIGAN!

Florida Part 1

We spent our Spring Break in Naple, FL - visiting Uncle Jon, Cassie, Grandma Shirlee, Grandpa Jerry, and my grandparents (Grandma & Grandpa Gigi). We made a decision to fly this time - since Nolan would go crazy in the car for 20+ hours. The flights were a bit stressful - but a 2.5hr non-stop flight was definitely the way to go.

Once we arrived at Uncle Jon's we were SO excited to be in his pool! The kids were in water 80% of their visit. Uncle Jon's back patio has a pool, hot tub, and plenty of room for family dinners.

Nolan dipped his tiny feet into the ocean for the very first time and LOVED it. He was a little hesitant at first...but ended up loving the sand and the waves.

Jack and Josie had SO much fun digging in the sand and Jack had a great time playing in the water. He tried boogie boarding for the first time and did well! My Michigan kids are Beach Bums after all...

And...Nolan put in some time consulting for both Clevenger Insurance and Arthrex (Uncle Jon's company). His opinions were highly valuable. All he does is work, work, work, work, work...

(More to come from our trip)

Flowers

 Last week I decided it was time to officially welcome spring - so we planted some flowers and prayed Michigan weather didn't get wacky on us. I had a couple "helpers" - who were actually only mildly helpful.

Josie excels at showing off the final product.

And Nolan was just happy to be included on the festivities. Here's to hoping we get some help from Mother Nature to keep these beauties alive. And - to clarify - I'm referring to the flowers, not the children.

An Apple A Day

It's feeling like spring in Michigan. We celebrate by playing outside...and snacking on apples.

Family Dinner in Milford

Nancy and Denny came for a visit last weekend. Saturday night we took them to the little town of Milford, MI for dinner and some ice cream.

Josie went for the "superman" ice cream...and I cringed because she was wearing cream pants. Mom fail.

Nolan may have had a few licks of vanilla ice cream. He *MAY* also eat other things that I NEVER would have handed Jack at 8 months old. Pretty sure he's fine.

 It was a gorgeous night and we had a fun time sitting outside.

"Do I have something on my face?"

It was a great time! We had dinner and drinks at Palate. One of our new favorites - because its great for date night and is also family friendly. Hey, Milford - two thumbs up for you!

 Sunday morning - Tyson and Nancy hashed out some lake house details.

And Denny busied himself with coloring...Josie was eager to get her "papa" involved in her art.

Front Yard Shenanigans

We've been spending a lot of time outside! Finally.

It might be baseball season...because this kid is geared up and ready! Baseball season starts on Sunday. FACT: Tyson is MOST excited.

My kids fight. It's exhausting. So I gave them both pool noodles and said HAVE AT IT. And they did. Don't be fooled by Josie's sweet little voice. That chick can pack a punch. She's feisty. And I love it {most of the time}.

Nolan is happy just watching...for now. He's taking notes and will surely be part of ALL the action soon enough.

Crazy SB 2015

We have had a WILD and CRAZY spring break this past week. I don't want to make anyone jealous...but we had a picnic on a sleeping bag. That's right, PBJs for everyone.

One afternoon - all THREE children napped at nap time. It was a unicorn. It will NEVER happen again until they're all in High School/College and by then - I'll be bustin' down door and pullin' up blinds.

We also had fevers. <---PLURAL. As in EVERY child had a fever at some point in the week. Poor Nolan was the worst off. He was running a high temp for a few days. He went to see the doctor on Friday and was diagnosed with {pre}pneumonia (as in, it's coming?!?!) He's on a steroid for his lungs and some antibiotics. I was really hoping to avoid meds...but I think it's better to avoid the NICU. 

I'm sure everyone will be super jealous of our crazy week. We totally lived it up. Don't try to replicate this WILD week. :)