Oh May Gosh!

May is a crazy lovely month around here.  I am embracing the busyness really, I am, and don't feel too stressed out about it, like I used to.  I'm sure that has everything to do with Patrick getting older.  And Isaac getting older also...next year is his Senior year, and then he will be off to college (maybe not far so I don't want to say "off" meaning gone).  I know that this busy month is full of memories.

Abbey and I went shopping and found two BEAUTIFUL dresses....one for graduation (we returned the one we had bought earlier and didn't love so much), and one for May Crowning.

Isaac was lucky to be asked to go to Spring Break with his aunt and uncle and cousins.  We missed him, but I'm glad he wasn't here enjoying the 7 days of straight rain.  He came back nice and brown and we all asked him a million questions.  Patrick looked for him every day.  I texted (yes, I can text!) my sister-in-law to ask how he was doing mid-week and this is what she wrote back.  It just about made my heart burst with pride.

"We love Isaac he's such a nice boy so appreciative and good with the little kids i know u might not realize this because they are so different with their own family."

I was so happy to hear that.  I want him always to be polite and well-mannered and not take things for granted, and just be kind.

He plays with Patrick every evening during a home work break...they shoot hoops and Isaac makes Patrick belly laugh by being goofy.

Here's a fort they built together.

I know I write about slowing down and enjoying things, and not over-scheduling kids, and putting a stop to all the running around but this month I am NOT setting a great example for anyone this month.

Here's my bulletin board:

Here are my "please don't forget these things!" notes to myself:

Isaac is playing soccer and preparing for the SAT's and ACT's.  We are also in the process of scheduling college visits for this summer....big decisions come fall!  

Abbey is graduating from 8th grade...lots of class activities, a 5K race, a fun lock-in night that Jeff and I are both helping with, her lead role as Jasmine and all that goes with that, May Crowning, scholarship essays (my Pedro advice: just tell them that all their wildest dreams will come true if they choose you!), summer drama camp, schedule finalizations for high school in the fall, play auditions for high school, her year-end sewing class fashion show.  I missed some I am sure.  I am so proud of the way she juggles all this...does much better than I could do that's for sure.

Matthew.  I let him play lacrosse AND baseball AND soccer this spring!  No kidding...he very passionately convinced me that he needs to play them all because he loves them all so much.  I couldn't say no.  He excels at them all, and I love watching those games if I am able, and the practices are all close by.  I know that soon he will have to choose, and I want him to be able to make the right choice for him.   

Andrew is playing soccer.  Oh man, this kid makes me laugh.  Jeff is coaching his team and every time Jeff coaches I love my husband even more, because let me tell you...this man has a gift of patience and a passion for teaching.  First grade has got to be just about the hardest level to coach because boys trapped in houses all winter are just hyper come spring...and some are forced to play by parents who are not ready to accept a child's hatred of all physical activity, and some kids just don't have a listening skill in their body yet.  And they are ALL cute.  And so tiny.  And try so hard....when they want to that is.  

Patrick...

Just last week he had his tooth removed...the one that was forced up into his gum after his fall on the stairs.  The other one popped out, but this one remained jammed way up, hidden in gum tissue.  We had an awesome Dr. (thank you Matt!) and this little stinker, who puts up a fight about brushing his teeth every night, sat in the chair for an hour, while he was x-rayed, numbed with shots, (laughing gas helped with that), and his gum was cut open, the tooth found and removed, and he was stitched back up.   I was SO thankful because honestly you never know with a three year old!  When they are good they are very very good, and when they are bad...well, you know how it goes.  

In Patrick's head, he is a participating, vital member of every team his brothers play on.  He has soccer gear, baseball gear, lacrosse gear.  He wears them all day long.  He goes into their sports bags and swipes things...none of them are too happy about that little habit.  He was disappointed when he found out that you don't need a helmet for soccer.   He loves wearing those huge things.  He studies plays, and ponders moves.  He practices non-stop.  He has smelly feet from wearing polyester soccer socks.

So as busy as my life is right now, and as exhausted as I am when I fall into bed every night, and as much as I feel like I am not the mother of children, but the head of a large corporation, I am loving it all.  They are only young once, and soon I will miss all this, I know I will.