A lot of pictures to catch up.

These days get away from me so quickly. They are good days and long days and hard days and faster than fast days. 

As of right this minute, Benjamin is 8 and growing so much. Not just in size, but he is literally growing up and it's so bittersweet! He is such a good helper. He started playing baseball. He's in second grade and ready for summer! He loves science and reading things about science. He wants to work for NASA when he grows up. Benjamin wanted to make some money to save up for something, so he started cleaning out storm shelters for $10 on the weekends! He made $45 and was able to buy his long awaited technology device!

Andrew is 5, going on 15. But he will really be 6 in just a few weeks! It's been harder for me to watch Andrew get older than B.  I suppose you anticipate your older to always be older.  But Andrew growing is just a humble reminder that they don't stay babies. Andrew loves to play and play hard. He likes ninjas and legos and dressing up in whatever he thinks looks cool that day. He is in preK, but thinks he is in high school. ;) He usually styles his hair just so. 

Elise is 3 and we will survive it, I just know it! Somedays she seems so little and other days she must be closer to 23 that we realize. She loves helping and taking care of/bossing Caleb around. Although, she is also terrified of Caleb because he hits and bites her. Elise has a mind of her own and knows her opinions well. She loves babies and clothes and her blankie. She is a great sleeper and still sucks her thumb. She is a lover and so very compassionate and sweet. Her favorite color is pink, her favorite animal is an elephant and her favorite movie is Sing. Also, she misses nothing ever. 

Caleb is 20 months and quite a character.  He loves hard and plays hard and throws tantrums hard. He loves to be held and trying to keep up with the big kids. He sleeps pretty good and eats pretty poorly.  If he has no snacks whatsoever, he will eat great -- but he's always hungry and gets snacks. Caleb is the reason our pantry door is rigged closed :) Caleb is funny and has great rhythm. He loves monkeys and his blankie and his paci. Caleb gets so angry and also gives the sweetest hugs and kisses. 

Below is a random assortment of pictures from the last 3-4 months! :) 

I went to Chicago with KM and it rained. 

BUT we saw Hamilton, so best weekend no matter what. 

Caleb is destructive. 

Elise and Caleb love bathrooms. Bleh and ugh.

Elise loves to paint my nails and loves when I do hers!

Tea time with my girl.

They have a super sweet and super stressful relationship. I'm really glad they have each other!

See note about pantry above in Caleb's section. 

Making the most of daily chaos.

I literally think Elise is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. 

Benjamin enjoys helping in the kitchen and creating. 

Taking the baby thing to a new level.

First job, first pay!

Learning that saying "I'm bored" over and over will lead you to work. 

The things Andrew says...

Andrew has always been a fabulous conversationalist.  He is lively and hilarious -- and I don't think he even tries. He is random and easy going. So, it's no wonder that on a daily basis I think "I really should write this down!"

*A few weeks ago, Andrew came into the kitchen while I was doing dishes.  He came up behind me, tapped my bottom and walked to the pantry.  He turned his head around while still looking for a snack and said, "Hey mom. Are you sure you're not having another baby?" To which I responded, "No buddy, we are all done having babies..." Andrew looked for a snack again and then said, kind of loudly, "Well, your just all fat and squishy." *insert rolled eyes and a little sigh from me*

*We were coming home one evening and the gate opener for our neighborhood wasn't working well. I said to Patrick, "This clicker only works when you're just right in front of it..." and out of no where Andrew chimes in and says, "It because the mouses are working it." Haha!

*Andrew calls spaghetti "ska-betty" and so do we :) It's also one of his favorite foods.

*When Andrew wants to say "it doesn't matter", he says "what matters..."

*Andrew goes through phases of not liking girls every day, and only liking girls on Sundays and Thursdays.

*He gets along with most kids and changes his "best friends" somewhat regularly.  Although, Micah is usually the top friend :)

I wish I could think of more of his conversations off the top of my head! He is so funny and loves to talk -- which makes for constant Andrew-isms! He is confident in what he says and it's always so random and serious.  He also gets in trouble often for his words.  It's a fine balance to learn -- especially when you're five.

The ways my days work, right now...

Life with four children isn't harder than I thought it would be, but it is a little more chaotic.  But if we survived the chaos of three kids -- what's one more! {although I realize that mentality isn't for everyone!} We have almost a year under our belts of four babes. Whoa!

Here are some things I've learned:
*I know nothing. Never ask me for advice. I'm winging it.
*Somedays I want more children.  Most days, I know better of myself.
*Each child is SO different and there is no one way to parent all children.  I HAVE to be willing to take each child and learn them and go from there.
*Know, study and learn your children.
*Low expectations.
*A family that has dance parties and dinners together, enjoy each other.

And my number one motto that I say on a regular basis -- if you don't laugh, you will go insane! So have fun and laugh a little. I forget this too often.

Here are some things that I want to remember about my days:
*If I do two loads of laundry each day, I can stay on top of the amount of laundry we produce.  If I do three a day, I can take off one day and still feel good about life.  If I get lazy about laundry, my life is miserable because it's my least favorite chore.

*Keeping the island in the kitchen clean and tidy helps me feel a little more together.  My neighbor is so great at this and I can see why!

*I sweep our floors about eight times a day.  I mop every other day.  I vacuum twice a week, but should do it every day.

*I make my bed every day to make my messy master bedroom look a little more tidy.  Some times it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

*I am currently working up the courage to throw away a pile of socks that I have held onto for the last 8 months.  I keep it in a red bucket on my dresser.  I lay them out on my bed at least three times a month without luck of finding the missing partner.

*I clean our guest bathroom 2-3 times a week because it's also now the boys bathroom.  And boys are really gross.

*I go to the YMCA once or twice a week and have been doing HIIT workouts at home.  I try to run one or two evenings a week.  These things are so vital to maintaining some sanity.

*I'm grateful for neighbors who have become like family.  We can stand in the front yard and talk, or go to someones house and chat.  Our kids all roam from house to house, depending on the day and whatever activity they have come up with.  It's actually more vital to sanity than working out, I think.

*I make breakfast each morning.  I make lunch at home at least five days a week.  I try to do one fun lunch out each week if we can swing it.  And I cook dinner at least five evenings a week.  On Saturdays, after church, we go out to dinner with our community group.  Some times, we get something quick out or have a family date night.

I'm sure there's more to my days, but I need to fold laundry or I'll get behind!

Weekly recap -- SPRING BREAK!

This past week was really nice. We didn't go anywhere and we didn't over expend ourselves.  With four kids, we have to choose our battles wisely.  Plus, lets be honest, there isn't really such a thing as "vacation" when you have small children.  It's basically doing life and getting out of your normal routine in a new place! Ha!

*We celebrated Benjamin's birthday by having our neighbors over for donuts and playing outside all morning.  We truly love our neighbors and they have all become dear friends in the small amount of time we have all lived near one another. Benjamin loved being made much of and especially every time we sang "Happy Birthday" to him! 

*Patrick took half of Monday off so we could all be together and have fun.  We went to Target to spend a gift card that B got and to Hideaway for dinner! We ended the night playing at the park and enjoying the beautiful day!

*Tuesday we went to Myriad Gardens with some friends.  It was so windy -- but the boys had fun playing and running around.

*Patrick took off Wednesday through Friday so we were looking forward to being all together.  Patrick and the boys got packed up to go camping.  They headed to Lake Arcadia around nap time and set up camp while the littles napped.  After Elise and Caleb woke up, we went out to have dinner with the boys and enjoy some family time.  Elise reached a max a little earlier than I thought she would, so we headed back home and went to bed! The boys had a great time and enjoyed camping -- again!

*Thursday and Friday we just laid low and did some things around the house. Patrick took Benjamin and Andrew to see Zooptopia and they ALL enjoyed it! We got McDonald's for lunch one day {which is super rare for us!} and headed to our favorite park to eat and play. And I think we went out to dinner one night. It's a blur. ;) But we enjoyed being together.

And all good things must come to an end... BUT Spring Break left me super excited for summer with my kiddos.  I can't wait to enjoy and do things and not be pregnant in that mix.  I really love that these are my people.  The Lord is so kind to know just what we all needed -- each other!