It just doesn't get much better.

We spent the middle of the day at my sister's house this week.  We got out of the house really late, and I was in the most sour mood of my life.  The weather was absolutely perfect, the kids played awesome, and I was so happy we went anyway.  Kinda made me wish we were next door neighbors living on a big ol' farm.  In fact, there are several families I would love to force to be my neighbors.  We could really have a good time.  I'm just saying.

I often tell Rowen that if I could, I would glue him to my face so we could just walk around all day smashed together.  "Rowen...GO GET THE GLUE!"  He thinks it's ridiculous.  Honestly, it sounds a little creepy when I see it typed out...

I could seriously get the glue for this kid while I'm at it.  Give me a break, Dominick!  You're too much!

Let's be serious, it just doesn't get much better than this.  This created a very late nap situation, and I'm pretty sure no one cared.

Nine cousins.  Such a fun crew!

Looking forward to a lot of this over the summer.  So grateful for family!

B

Zoo.

We love the zoo.  {The end.}

My sister helped unpack a good chunk of my kitchen and ended up putting away 10 identical water bottles.  Freebies from last year's JDRF walk.  When we pulled them out for lunch at the zoo she goes, "Oohhhhhh, now I understand why you have all those...I really wondered what the heck your problem was.  Hoard much?"  Hahahaaaa!!  Seriously!  She didn't notice that each bottle had a name written in Sharpie around the top.  If you see me gathering up water bottles this fall at the walk, you'll know what I'm doing. :)

So exhausted!  We stayed until almost 2pm, and everyone passed out immediately when we got home.  Post outing naps are the best.

Looking forward to lots of this over the summer :)

We are slowly but surely getting things settled over here, and when we aren't unpacking we're catching fish or hunting for frogs.  I may be addicted to fishing.  Really, I have no idea how that happened.  It's like gambling...you think maybe this next cast will bring in the 10 pounder!  And then my cousin laughs like a hyena at me as we release our 72nd 6oz. Carp :)

B

Fish.

Hands down, the best part of this house is the pond.  It was so foggy the other morning, the boys went out to make sure it was still back there because they couldn't see it from the window!

It's been fun, but we're a hot mess.  We don't know two things about fish, tackle or bait.  These kids have poles, and their parents read the back of the box of bobbers for tips.  Tangled lines, near misses with hooks and eyelids, only one family member brave enough to remove hooks from the fish...

Turns out we just needed a few hours this afternoon with my cousin, who happens to know everything about  fish kids ages 8 and under really need to know.  We had some safety lessons and learned how to cast the ice fishing poles I bought on accident.  Hey, I already claimed I know nothing :)

Almost everyone can now at least handle a fish with their hands-Rugger and I can remove hooks.  It's a great start.  The great thing about our pond is the fish are evidently starving.  You have to wait about 37 seconds to get a bite.

This kid carried his fish around like he carries Biggie the rat.  What a riot.

One of the adults may have needed a cerveza.  

Someone caught his first fist EVER, and it happened to be his birthday!

This is how we wash hands when Joseph is in charge!

Ryleigh tried fishing without a bobber and reeled in this giant carp.  (Well, it seemed giant to us!)  She has yet to touch a fish.  Hahaha!  

What a fun afternoon, definitely going down as one of our best yet.  Fishing sure beats unpacking boxes.

Back to it!
B

Some things...

will never change.

It's nuts how we've settled into the same routines over here.  Breakfast, play, school, outing, lunch, school, naps, play, dinner, play, bed.  Different location is all that's changed.  Weird, for some reason I expected some earth shattering meltdown of all systems.  Hasn't happened (yet). 

As I type, Rowen and Reise are outside meeting new neighbors and helping Mitch unpack the Uboxes, and my two biggest have been in bed for an hour for disciplinary reasons.  Same ol', same ol' ;) 

Happy early weekending, we have so much fun planned that lots of our unpacking will just have to wait :)
B

Of all the things...

to be excited about.

The best thing about this house so far

is water and ice in the door of the new fridge.

{It's the little things!}

We are getting things settled around here and really loving our new digs!!  So thankful!
B

Double Dog Dare

This happened Sunday.

I laughed more than I've ever laughed through Target and Super Saver.  Ryleigh earned $7.50, which I then rounded up to $8.00 because I was so impressed and proud of her for adding an "adios!" in at the end, completely unprompted. 

She really knows how to rock out a dare.

On the way home she said she thought she probably brought a lot of joy into people's lives this morning.  I said, judging by the smiles and chuckles and hey, nice hat 's she got all morning, I'd go ahead and assume she was right.

In unrelated news, we would really appreciate your prayers for our loan.  It turns out no news is certainly not always good news, and bad news is really bad when you've only got four days to rustle up a Plan B.  We've prayed our way through this entire process and the timing has turned out to be perfect all along.  I do trust it will all work out like it should in the end, just pray that we stay sane (and married) to see the day when we look back and can say that it all makes sense!

B

For the Love of the Land

I saw a response to a tweet yesterday that reminded me of a saying I am going to try and incorporate into my everyday vocabulary.

For the love of the land!

We move in one week.  Lord willing.  Our loan still hasn't made it through underwriting, (no news is good news right now?? Um, not in my opinion!  That's just no news.  That just means it's sitting in a pile somewhere where it's been for three weeks and needs to be looked at.  "Approved!" would be good news!).  Oh, for the love of the land, I'll be so happy when we're done with this process! 

Reise's Jr. Drama class at the homeschool co-op put on a little performance last week.  The script was written by the kids in a circle; so each person added a little to the story as they went around.  It was very interesting!

Chickens, Yoda, snow people, a Popsicle woman...??   Her teacher told me in an email that Reise was delightful, and very kind to her friends.  For the love of the land, I love that girl.  I really couldn't care less if she ends up on Broadway, as long as she continues to be delightful and kind!

Be still my heart!  I could do sit for however long they'll keep reading to me.  Add an interested preschooler who's content to sit on my lap and listen the entire time...hello, paradise.  

For the love of the land.  Seriously, those snuggled up brother feet are too incredible!

You better believe I'm continuing my Fountain Pop Friday routine today.  For the love of the land, I've been looking forward to it all week.  I tried to quit sugar and white flour on Monday.  Felt pretty good through Tuesday.  By Wednesday after some S.O.S. texts to my cousin regarding my life in general, she replied, "this is no time for you to be starting any ridiculous diets".  For the love of the land, she's so right.  See how it works in so many ways?  It's fun for me! 

Happy Weekending!
B