Harper Girl

Because nothing says "I'm ready for t-ball" like a unicorn on your back!

Love this girl and all her motherly characteristics. I love that she so eagerly wants to keep up with the big boys, but she never strays from who she is! She will wrestle, play ball, run and gallop...all with a baby in her arms or near by (can you see the baby doll lying in the grass in the picture above). She is fierce and loving. Spunky and nurtureing! She is our Harper girl and oh how we love her!!!!

Fan Club

One thing I am learning about being a family of 5, is whenever a kid has a sporting event, they have a permanent fan club!!!

I know having siblings can be one of the most frustrating life encounters, but I pray the love they sometimes show to eachother will grow and grow into a bond that cannot be broken!!!!!

Brother let me be your shelter

I’ll never leave you all alone

I can be the one you call

When you’re low

Brother let me be your fortress

When the night winds are driving on

Be the one to light the way

Bring you home-NEEDTOBREATHE 

Paxton is 5

Paxton is 5! Wow. Just wow. Such a milestone age. No longer a toddler, and now an official big kid. He will finish up pre-school and we prep for kindergarten. He's a whole hand old now! These past five years have been such a ride, but I would have to say, watching him this past year, as he matured from the age of 4 to 5, has been my favorite (and equally exhausting). He is figuring out his emotions and how to express them without having full meltdowns. This takes a lot of maturity for a highly sensitive child! He has found his own sense of humor, and he has found a joy that can only be described as awe inspiring. Yes, he has moments of down right impatience, emotional outburst and such a stubborn personality, but even the most difficult of day doesn't compare to the most beautiful of days with him! He has the sweetest heart and loves to be around other people. He gives the best hugs...like, best hugs of all time! He gives his teacher a hug all throughout the day, and when he sees Maddox's teacher, and Maddox's kindergarten teacher he is eager to run and give them a big hug as well. It's hard to fully explain how beautiful this is unless you've walked this journey with us throughout the past 5 years. If you remember back to the times when Paxton was in total fear of anyone new. The door bell could ring and send Paxton into a fit of anxiety. Shaking and crying because he was so scared. Think back to his first year of Mother's Day out when his teacher had to carry him throughout the day because he would get so nervous about each transition. He is finding confidence. He has certainly found his voice and expresses just what and how he thinks a situation should go. He isn't afraid to express when he is unhappy, but that is met with the more beautiful character trait that is over enthusiastic and charismatic about new fun adventures. He is smart as a tack. I have no doubt that he will be reading by the end of this summer. He is the most detailed color-ER I have ever watched. He loves video games and is discovering a love for baseball.

Oh my Paxton, my love, you are a light in my life. I am truly honored to be your momma and to guide you throughout your life! I love you so much little man!!! I am so proud of the boy you are becoming!! I know some days are just so difficult and frustrating and I want you to know that I am always on your side, even when it's my job to make sure we get you back on track! I love how proud of yourself you are after a great day at school. I love you to the moon and back. I have a feeling, this year will be the best one yet!!!!!

Random

I walked into the kitchen to see this written/drawn on the tiny chalk board. Ha. Love this illustration, Maddox!!!

I took Harper to lunch the other day and she just sat across from me at a 2 person table, just like I would if I were having lunch with a girl friend!! It was too precious and she was certainly a topic of many people's conversation around us. At one point Harper said "these people keep looking at me!" Ha. Yes they do sweet girl, when you are this cute and well behaved you demand the attention of the entire room!!!

I love her more than she loves pink ice cream with sprinkles!

It is a rare sight to see the boys playing nicely together. Bless their hearts, the way they think and approach things are so different from eachother, it is often very very hard for them to work together!!  But at this particular time, they were making domino trains and knocking them over. The giggles were contagious and the ability to work together was a breath of fresh air for this weary momma!!

A ball player, his biggest fan, her tutu and her baby...the only thing that would make this picture any sweeter is if big brother were in it too!!!

Baby sister problems: this is what happens after a day of basketball and t-ball games....little sister falls sound asleep with a sucker in her hand! Bless her soul, she sure is a trooper!

Finishing off a fun and busy day with a fun dinner at Texas Roadhouse!!! So blessed to live this life with these three kiddos and their super handsome daddy!!!

Fishermen

The entire first grade led the morning chapel today They were sharing about the missionaries they have been praying for all year! Each student dressed like a fisherman and they went with the theme that we are called to be fishers of men!! Such a sweet moment seeing all the precious first graders and their love for missions.

Maddox has mentioned several times this year that he would like to be a missionary in Africa and tell others about Jesus! Precious boy!!! What a wonderful reminder this morning that we are called to share the love of Jesus everywhere we go.....and to be joyful while doing it!!!!

"Come, follow me." Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

Matthew 4:19

God Knew

I never ever want to forget the way Maddox smiles and giggles!! He can be such a fun kid, spirited and opinionated. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he is going to change the world he lives in just by showing up! God knew how much we needed this little boy in our lives, but I never could have imagined the joy my heart would feel when watching my little boy so passionately conquer the world!

I never want to forget the way Paxton conquers his own battles, one by one, every single day. He battles his fears and anxiety and boy is he proud when he conquers new tasks. He is cautious at first, but when he is comfortable there is no holding him back! I love his forced laugh right now and I love how frequently we get to hear it! God knew how badly we needed Pax-Max in our lives as well, but I never could have imaged the joy my heart would feel like I do when he grabs my leg and tells me he loves me and the sound of his belly laugh!!! 

I never want to forget the passion Harper has for her babies and animals. These are not just toys to her, they are her life. She treats them so sweetly and is so nurtureing. God knew how much we needed her in our lives, but I never could have imagined the joy I would have like I do when watching her "mother" her babies. 

Poor Maddox and More T-Ball

Welp, we've entered the stage of life where we have activity after activity. Today was supposed to consist of Maddox's basketball game, then off to t-ball pictures for Paxton followed with a t-ball game. Poor little Maddox was so "off" this morning. Pouty, grumpy, and just acting like a not fun little boy. I was about to loose my mind (and already lost my patience) when I realized his poor face looked so flushed. I checked his temperature and he was running a fever. Good grief kiddo. I thought maybe he just got a little over heated so I waited a bit and checked him again. Nope. Fever was even higher. I called our nurse practitioner and it turns out the dang walk in clinic we went to last week (when we found out he had strep) put him on half to dose of antibiotic that he needs to be on for his height and weight. Geeze. So now we get to start another round of antibiotics to kill of this dang bug. Poor guy just can't catch a break!!!

Thankfully, my mom was available to watch Maddox and Harper while I took Paxton to pictures and his game. Nothing more miserable than not feeling well and sitting out in the sun with a lot of screaming parents.

Paxton had a super fun game!! He was the last one to hit for his team, which means he gets to be the "home run hitter" (he hits and then gets to run all the bases and bring the remainder of his team in). He loved that!! Then he got to play in the pitchers position. He got the ball every time and threw it to first base. He did so good!!! His second time up to bat, he accidentally let go of the bat and it went flying. The parents started to chuckle (not being mean, but come on, watching t-ball can be pretty funny). Well, Paxton heard it and got super embarrassed and started crying. Poor guy. The "fans" immediately realized what happened and started cheering him on. It took him a minute, and a good visit with his super awesome coach, and he got up there and hit the ball again!!! I was proud of how well he recovered. No one likes to feel embarrassed!!!

His final time in the outfield he played the catchers position. This too was super fun for him because the ball was thrown back to him after every play and he handed it to the umpire!!! Such an eventful game for him!!!

To top it all off, when the game was over, he received the Game Ball!!! I wish I could have gotten his reaction on video. He was so cute and so happy!!!

Here are all the players praying before the game!!

Ready to get that ball!!! (He's on the pitchers mound)

Sweet little buddies!! These two are in the same preK class and they have a lot of fun together. 

Our super pax with the game ball! He was SO happy!!

Love watching these two bond so much over baseball!!!!

Hoping I have some fun photos to post of Maddox's basketball game next week. It will be his last game of the season (and it's trophy day!!)