March

Wow, so waaaay back in March Matthew had his Sports Day at school---a highly anticipated day where the kids play field games and just have fun all day long.  Matt was teamed up with his buddies for most of the day.

When it came time for the baton relay, Matt was pumped and ready.  I didn't get to go watch him that day, but when he came and told me about the relay he said, "Mom, I was on a team of girls." What?  Girls can run too!

So, I'm not sure what I like best about this video.  The armpit farts at the end or Steven's giggles.  Classic.

Spring Break was a rather chilly week.  No complaints about that!  We took advantage of the lovely weather and went to the Waco zoo with the Rener crew.

We saw some really amazing animals: orangutans, tigers, a kimodo dragon, elephants, giraffes, bears, otters, and meerkats to name a few.  Johnny loves animals so he was fascinated by everything he saw.  He kept trying to get into the animal displays.

Matt reading a map while sitting in his babiest brother's stroller.  Pretty sure he's way over the weight limit that that stroller can handle.

These two...inseparable.  It was so cute listening to them talk about the animals they saw.  They really enjoyed it.

Little Johnny was a trooper and kept right up with those big kids.  He was thrilled to see all those animals we only see in books (that we read over and over and over) up close.  He fell asleep right away on the drive home, even with all those other kids giggling all around him.

There were a few Sundays back in the spring when Will would fall asleep either in the chair or on Steven.  He would not be convinced to go and actually take a nap.

And another little sleeper right here.  Poor guy gets woken up from naps all the time.  So precious to see him sleeping so peacefully.  And he's filling up that crib!  Thankfully, he still loves it and has made no moves to try and escape the thing.  Yay!

Matthew was ready for another go at flag football, only this time we switched leagues.  This time around we were only committed to one day a week with practice and the game back to back.  It worked out much better for us.

After Matt's football game one Saturday we drove out to Marble Falls to scope out the town.  The kids were pretty patient with our driving and exploring for the most part, but you knew when they had had their fill.  The whining came on like a steam train and didn't stop.  We ended the day at Sweet Berry Farms for some strawberry picking.

The plants were still pretty immature due to our crazy winter so we didn't come away with too much fruit, but it was still fun to be out there in such a beautiful setting.  And that didn't stop Matthew from scouring those plants to try and fill up our box.

Johnny wasn't complaining.  He found plenty of good fruit right off the ground to eat.  A little dirt never hurt anyone, right?  Blech.

Johnny was most captivated by the goats.  He and Will fed them for quite some time.  The delight John gets from seeing live animals is the best.  He squeals with joy every time, I love it.

Not sure what these two are doing...impersonating a goat?

Back at home Mr. J is still his charming, busy self.  He loves to be outside.  At some point nearly each day he and I are outside while the other two are inside racing cars or building Lego.  He says, "C'mon, Mommy!!" in the sweetest little voice while gesturing me toward him.  How can I say no?

For the two hours Matthew was engaged in football, I was charged with the task of running the other two around and keeping them entertained, out of trouble, and off the football fields.  We found these hurdles all chained together, and Will & John made it a game of crawling through them.  They ran around the track, played in the long jump and sand pits, and jumped on the crash pad under the high jump.  With snacks in hand at every event, of course.

In March the hills at the middle school where Matt played his games were covered in beautiful bluebonnets.

Lots of park time with these three.  Lots of 'tude, too.

This spring was the windiest one I can remember.  It made for a great kite flying day one afternoon.

After school one day Will fell asleep while cuddled next to Matthew.  I think he did it the next day too. Still wouldn't take a nap though.

Steven took the older two out to Goldthwaite to go collect his hunting gear and visit his Uncle & Aunt. Matt's favorite part about going there is looking for bones.  It never disappoints!

And this is a slice of life with these 4 boys.

February

Febraury was poetry month in Matthew's class at school.  He recited poems for us daily.  Such a great orator!

Matthew also penned this little beauty about his brother, Will.  Will's food struggles must have inspired him.  I am here to testify though that Will's eating habits are much improved.  He will eat most of what I put in front of him, but just don't be in any big hurry.  I can't decide what is my favorite part about this poem....the "eern't" buzzer sound or the tiny, tiny bites.  Love it.

The Fun Run at Matt's school was a great way to start a chilly day in February.  Once again, Matt darted way ahead of us and I didn't see him until Johnny and I crossed the finish line much later.  Will charged ahead too and ran his little heart out trying to keep up with all those long-legged big kids.  He ran the whole thing without stopping; he wanted to quit but he kept going.  I was so proud of him.

I bought this hoodie for Will and it turned out to be his very favorite article of clothing.  So funny.

Steven bought me these really beautiful flowers.  Three days before Valentine's Day.  He loves me so much he couldn't wait.  :)

Another "snow day" and no snow.  The kids ate their packed lunches on our very own cafeteria table at home.  Matthew was sure to sit down exactly at noon just like he does at school.

Three boys all in a row!

We took Matt & Will to see the Lego Movie.  They got to play with Lego before the movie began.  The movie was a big hit with all of us.

Meanwhile back at home under the supervision of Tim & Pam, Johnny snuck into his brothers' room and had his own Lego party.  Baby-zilla!  I think he was a little miffed we left him, but then again he had been dying to get his hands on those precious Legos for a long time.  Matt & Will were pretty shocked when they stepped into their room.  Matt was pretty cool about it and said that now we could build some new creations.  Will immediately melted into tears and was inconsolable.  Over the next several days we worked hard to rebuild most of it, police station included.

Johnny is much more suited to work on Johnny-sized Lego.  He loves to build a big tower that he can then smash to the ground.

Wary of their littlest brother's reputation and appetite for destruction, Matt & Will decided to set up their Playmobil town on the dinner table.  Don't they look pleased?

Steven & I have long stood back in amazement at the awkward positions that Matt finds himself in to read, write or watch tv.  This has got to the best one to date.

This cute guy got to go on a lunch date with his daddy.

January

Steven kept his "Movember" facial hair a few days into the New Year.  He thought he'd test his new mustached look out at work.  I think it went over well.  It certainly got plenty of giggles from me.

We made a quick trip to Dallas to see some of our very favorite people: the Brown family.

Josh turned 7, and my kids were all thrilled to get to be there to celebrate with him.  Josh had a way cool glow-in-the-dark jammie bouncy house party at Pump it Up.  Complete with light-up glasses and glow bracelets.  In true fashion, Alison thought of it all.

On our way home from Dallas the boys and I tried out In N Out burger for the first time.  We liked!

A Saturday morning atop Mt. Bonnell.  It was beautiful.

I had all these crazy weirdos in my car.

At another bouncy house party for his good buddy, Levi, Will sported a fetching mustache.

This big guy figured out that feeding himself was fun and so very freeing.  I have since mopped up a great deal of yogurt.  Yay.

Dad & Ann came into to town to celebrate Will's birthday a day early and treated him to all kinds of fun.  He was thrilled to be able to go out with them all by himself and do things that were just for him.

The next morning though he woke up sick as a dog.  He was so, so pitiful.  I've never seen him so sick.  He spent 5 days on the couch battling fever and fatigue.  I was praying he would feel better by the time his birthday party day arrived on Saturday, and praise God he did.

While Will was stuck on the couch, the weather got all nutsy.  Throughout the month of January we had a few delayed starts to school and cancelled school days.  We got freezing rain early on Will's birthday, and Matt was dying to get out in it.  Johnny was cool with it until he slipped.  It was one cold, long winter.  Not complaining though!

Will was super excited about his birthday party, and was more than ready to play his role as Superman all day.

His friends were in character as well.

Pinata time!

What I love about this one is Johnny sitting down, peacefully watching the action.

And, it wouldn't be a birthday without some tears.  Birthday boy wasn't getting his hands on any of the loot.  Everyone of course shared, and he worked it out.

My favorite part...cake time!

Then they bounced, rode and ran off the sugar.  It was a great morning of fun celebrating our FIVE year old, William.

These kids ran countless laps back and forth across the backyard.  Matthew might be just a little bit competitive.  :)