Our Best Easter

Nothing like Easter pictures, so check out the full post here

For the past 7 years Mike and I have been trying to teach our kiddos about the true meaning of Easter and put the focus on Christ and His resurrection. It's not an easy task with little ones, but as our boys get older, I'm amazed at the gospel conversations we can have and their understanding. We had a beautiful week leading up to Easter as we read about what Christ did each day. Then, on Easter Sunday, after baskets early in the morning and reading a sweet book titled, The Easter Walk we went to a great church service where we all strengthened our testimony that our Savior lives. All those years of trying so hard when it seems like a waste of time are starting to prove that good habits and intentions get rewarded at some point.

The rest of the day was spent just enjoying gorgeous weather and loving our time together.Plus, we had a great meal with fantastic friends, so how can you beat that? It was a GREAT Easter.

The night before we did the traditional "egg hunt," which, no matter how old, we always love.

Romney #4 is going to be a.....

BOY!

We weren't too surprised and we are so excited! My kiddos were really hoping for a girl, but everyone is getting used to the idea of having another brother. With Mike, we now have a full basektball team :)!

I have to admit, while I was hoping for a chance to try my hands at a girl, having another boy feels just right, just the way our family is supposed to be.  I never imagined my girly self being the ideal mom of all boys, but I really love it. I'd take a baseball game and a bike ride over a dance recital and a craft project any day. I feel pretty spoiled and loved around here all the time, and Mike is the perfect dad to be raising 4 strong, righteous, caring, loving boys. Plus, we are getting serious use out of clothing, sports equiptment, and scouting goods. I love a budget friendly outcome.

Today, I am so grateful for the 4 boys that are already mine and the healthy, active little one on the way. Everything looks great so far. I am one blessed mama!



After the ultrasound...Dr. office lighting is not especailly flattering, but it's al we have!




Our baby boy in all his glory...see the arrow? Pretty positive that is definately a boy part!



Now....please help! We need to come up with ANOTHER boy name. Finding 3 we liked was hard enough, so any suggestions that kind of roll with the others would be much appreciated!

Looking for a Book?

Looking for a Book?

Here are my 3 latest recommendations for all types of readers....

1. Room: Haunting, masterful, grippiing. I can see why it was on just about every "best book" list of 2010, it truly deserved it. I think the author is incredibly talented to be able to write an entire novel in the voice of a precocious 5 year old boy who has been trapped in one room his entire existence and make it a book I couldn't put down. It was one of those I just HAD to finish and still think about. It was clean even though it was dealing with an extremely distasteful subject. I think everyone should pick it up. It's worth the wait at the library!

2. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother: I loved this book and think every parent should read it whether you agree with Chua's philosophy or not. It's enlightening and made me question and reevaluate how I parent. It's one of those books I can't stop thinking or talking about. I think it's a great counterpoint to many of the other parenting theories widely circulated right now and I love so much of the underlying philosophy for certain children, though I obviously don't agree with much of the execuction. It was an extrememly quick, engaging story that was amazingly honest and thought provoking. It's helped me have the courage and backbone to change a few things around here and at the same time, it made me feel incredibly sane and loving, which was nice too! Totally clean. Whether you agree or disagree with her, it's worth the read.

3. The Magic of Ordinary Days: I just really enjoyed reading this book. There was nothing especially earth shattering, but it was just simple, quiet and beautiful and after reading half-way I couldn't put it down. I love the way it shows the power of love, forgiveness and embracing a path you never thought you'd be on. A quick, clean read most anyone would enjoy.

My 6 year old

P turned 6 and loves growing up. It's been such a big year for him. Here are 6 great things about him!

1. Tender hearted: He cares about everyone and everything. He's not too big to snuggle in my lap or give me kisses. He's the first to come running when his brother needs help and so quick to make life easier for everyone. He truly wants to do what is right all the time and almost never breaks the rules. He's a dream.

2. Absolute control: This boy still has a piece of gum in his drawer from his pack at Christmas. He carefully ate 1/2 piece when he felt like it and kept the rest hidden from his vulture brothers. He's a total saver. If you've heard of that marshmallow test, P would ace it. He's pretty amazing.

3. Questioner: When we went to the doctor, he wanted to know how and why she was doing every single thing and how it worked. The doctor told him he should be a doctor one day. I think he'd love it. He likes to know everything about everything. I love that about him.

4. Reader: This boy is an incredible reader. He loves it. He'll sit with a book forever and read it to himself. When he reads with me, he studies it, looks at the pictures, then reads, then asks questions and wants to know more. I'm so happy to have a boy who loves to read!

5. Player: P can play with anyone. He's can do quiet, artsy play with girls or crazy army play with boys. He wrestles with his brothers or plays organized sports and games and listens carefully. He's a great friend.

6. Coordination king: He's tiny still (as you can see, his appetite or adventursome food personality is not on this list), but he's an athlete. He amazes me with his bravery all the time. Recently he got a pair of rollerblades and after just a few tries, he rocks them. He frightens me, zooming down the hill and jumping over every crack and getting air, but it's pretty cool. He's pretty much good at everything he tries.

We just LOVE our Porky the Pig!!

To celebrate this is what we did:

In the morning was breakfast with dad, then school with treats and then he wanted his birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, which was just great with me. We took his 2 buddies and 2 brothers and headed there on a Friday afternoon and had almost the whole place to ourselves. They all loved it and no clean up!

 

To see the fun pics, click here

Fatter and fatter

James was in my room yesterday while I was getting dressed and as I put my jeans on, I bent my knees and pulled them up.

James looked at me and said, "Mom, I know why you do this (insert 4 year old squatting and pulling up his own jeans). Because you have to so you can get your jeans on because you keep getting fatter and fatter and fatter and fatter."

What's worse? I was feeling pretty good about the way I looked yesterday. Here's to 5 more months of getting fatter and fatter and fatter.

Seriously?

This is what my kids did for fun today...made a snow bunny. It's the middle of April. Michigan bites.

Click here for the horrible pictures...

Do you think he won the Pinewood Derby?

This post is so much better with pictures, so click here

The excitement of his first derby (he LOVES being a cub scout)...

The cars all lined up, ready to race...

 J's car (Mike is very into raising independent kids, so he let J do it all on his own. If I had any idea how to build anything, I probably would have tried to soup it but, but I have NO building skills, so it was all his)...

 

Hopefully watching the first race...

 His didn't win...almost ever. In fact it lost every race but one...

 

 Do you think he enjoyed losing?

 

 He didn't, but his good friend came in first place!

 

And Mike, ever the teacher, told him to stop pouting and check out the cars that were winning and see what they had done to make them so fast...go see where their weight was and what their shape was. He did, and it got him out of his funk, until he realized the winners got REAL prizes.

Hmmm, maybe next year we can get our friend's dad to help us out?