Changes

Today is Sunday and the house is pretty quiet and chill.  As I was rocking Xander I looked down and saw Ben reading one of the books Zack left out, one of the Diary of a Whimpey Kids books.  It struck me that soon I won't be just hanging out on a Sunday with Ben and Xander both home.  It made me so sad to think how fast time has gone.  Wasn't it just yesterday that Ben was the one leaving Diary of a Whimpey Kid everywhere? Weren't Christopher and I just doing the college thing a few years ago trying to juggle kids and school? 

I'm so excited for the adventures Ben has in front of him, and I'll be his biggest cheerleader in whatever he chooses to do; but I just hope he looks back every now and again.  There is almost an 18 year age gap between Ben and Xander.  My greatest fear is they won't know each other like the other kids do - and that would be so tragic in my eyes. I'm sure there is a reason Nick and Xander had to wait so long to join our family, but there are times I wish they were closer in age to Ben, Kal, Andrew and Zack.  I guess we will have to work extra hard to make sure they all have a tight bond and relationship with each other; because these kids are so incredible and have so much to learn from each other.

 

Christopher Turns 42

Birthdays really aren't the same as you get older.  Christopher turned 42 and still had to work all day - Xander had shots, kids had school and it was a busy day.  BUT, if there is one thing we are good at it is making birthdays last as long as possible!  So we did birthday gifts, dinner, cake, date night, shopping trip - on all different days.  That's just how we roll these days!  Oh, and to make things extra special, Christopher knew all his birthday gifts.  Sigh.

But the cake turned out fabulously!

Happy birthday to this amazing guy who takes such good care of all of us!  Hopefully 42 will be the best year yet!

 

Brothers

Andrew and Nick are two peas in a pod.  They both love being outside, riding motorcycles and bikes, wear helmets, play with sticks, wear boots, etc.  The other day they were sword fighting with sticks.  I was dying with that helmet as big as Nick!  Andrew is so cute with him.  He can tease him until he screams - but other times they are the best of buds.

 

The Lion and Tiger....

Sometimes really love eachother!  Nick and Zack are both very cuddly kids.  The other morning Nick wasn't in our bed so I went to look and see if he made it the whole night in his own bed.  I then saw this cute sight - both boys cuddled in Zack's bed together.  They also will climb into the rocking chair together and watch shows.  I love these kids!

 

Bathtime boy

Gosh this kid is cute!  Check out those two little bottom teeth!  He loves bath time and can now sit up and enjoy toys all on his own (except when Nick takes them away).  I can't believe he is almost 8 months old.  Time slow down!

 

Church is Exshusting

 Nick has been struggling with nursey.  He doesn't like being separated from us and struggles playing with kids his own age.  The poor nursey leader is going to be so buff carrying around my 37 pound 2 year old for an hour every week.  As soon as we get into the car after church he is out cold and will stay asleep as we put him in bed.  On Sunday we got in the car at 1:30pm and he didn't wake back up until almost 7pm - then went to bed at 10pm.  Church is fantastic!