Double Digits

Abby turned 10 last week. Into the double digits! This is where it starts getting fun, right?

Abby has been asking for a mountain bike for months. We usually give family birthday gifts during the birthday breakfast. Instead of trying to wrap a bike, or even put a blanket over it . . . where it would be completely obvious to her that she was getting what she wanted . . . we put a clip art picture of a bike in an envelope. I could tell when she didn't see anything "bike sized", that she was a little disappointed. But still hopefull! She loved the gifts given from her sisters and the cards from family.

But when she opened up the envelope from "mom and dad" and saw that it was just a picture of a bike . . . with no other explanation on it . . . she almost started crying. She said, "really . . . just a picture of it?" I think she felt like that was so mean of us . . . to just give her a picture of something she really wanted. Which . . . I guess if that is what we really were doing . . . it would have been mean.

I was going to let her cry about it during breakfast . . . and then surprise her. But Ben didn't think we should let it get that far. So . . . he quickly told her to go check out the garage.

There her new bike was . . . and she was ecstatic!

My cake creation this year. Funfetti cake with cookie dough ice cream in the middle . . . chocolate frosting.

We had a "late night" birthday party. Slip and slide, volleyball, and jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under it. Pizza and soda and cake.

Once we were done being outside, the girls all came in for popcorn and a movie.

Happy 10th Abby!

Normal

The kids and I were weeding in our front yard yesterday morning. Once the girls finished their job, they played around and Abby eventually found

a "long lost" ball in the garage.

Austin LOVES balls.

I kept weeding and Abby eventually put the ball away. The next thing I hear is Austin crying. I come out from around the house and find Austin in the street with

Abby's ball . . . and a pickup truck stopped right in front of him.

Usually a normal day is just that . . . normal . . . and it is not something I really think about or am grateful for. But in a split second yesterday . . . our "normal" day could have turned into a terrible day.

I was so grateful to be feeding him dinner and putting him to bed last night . . . it could have been so different.

I am so grateful for normal.

The Last Day

Ben's LAST MBA class is tonight.

He did it!

I did it!

I can't believe that this 2 year chapter in our lives has finally come to a much awaited end!

The MBA program was awful. For me.

Ben LOVED it . . . but still had to juggle a lot of things.

Doing this program I think will turn out to be one of the best decisions

we have ever made, but it really was not easy.

And I don't know why I thought it would be. Of course it is a sacrifice and huge commitment to get more education.

But still, there were so many days that I would look at my 4 children and just think, I can't do this anymore. It was really hard to feel on my own so much with them. I'm a pretty needy wife I guess. Often I felt like I only saw Ben in passing . . . he was always on his way to his next obligation.

BUT IT ENDS TODAY!!!

Now I will have to start figuring out how to cook meals again!

Twirly Skirts

I am going to toot my own horn for a minute here. I made something! I actually pulled out my sewing machine and made something for each of my girls to wear. It was enjoyable, and I actually think maybe I could make something else!

Last time I sewed something to be worn . . . it didn't work out so well. I ended up hating the project and decided that sewing was not for me.

There is hope for me and my sewing machine! And my girls LOVE the skirts . . . I really should start making more things while they like it . . . and aren't too picky yet!

6 Days Left

What has happened so far?

water heater is leaking . . . kind of stressing me out . . .

kids homework

home showings (our twin home is up for rent again)

insta care

therapy

new niece

visit from my mom

Mother's Day . . .

cooking only sometimes

a lot more chocolate than normal

movies

survival mode

I can do this . . . it will be worth it . . .

New Smiles

Both Abby and Halle are off to the orthodontist. Abby has already lost all of her teeth, and her new ones have grown in . . . when that happened, I have no idea. But she will be in a full set of braces.

Halle is starting a phase I.

Halle is 7. So, naturally, I was a little skeptical when I was informed that she would need some orthodontic intervention now. I mean, what would really happen if we waited a few more years?

I met with THREE different orthodontists though . . . and found that they all shared the same opinion that intervention now would be most beneficial to her (and us) later. Her x-rays are really quite something.

The tricky part was then deciding what to do. I had met with three orthodontists who thought intervention was necessary, but then they all had a different way to do it. As if I need any more choices to make these days. Do we pull teeth, expand the palate, what things are necessary and which ones aren't? I ended up being capable of making a decision . . . miracales happen.

So here's to the last picture with their current smiles!

Easter Saturday

It took Austin a little time to figure out what to do. Once he discovered that there was candy inside, we couldn't get him to stop opening the eggs!


Abby, Halle and Gwen began the pursuit of "who will have the most eggs". It was a toss up between Abby and Halle.

Thanks Shanna!