Ells Birthday

Ells,

Your actual birthday looked a little like this...

Photo shoot with your brothers

Singing happy birthday...with candles in fruit (lame but Dad is to blame on that one)

Opening gifts from us and the boys

A ride to the park

Making and eating red velvet cupcakes

Then our first family movie - Rio 2 (minus terrible lighting and the fact Sage man roamed the place like a wild man we will not be taking him again for a very long time)

We hope you had a great day sweet pea. It was fun and special honoring you on your special day! 

Happy Easter

Our best...

Of course...I could add all the out takes but this one pretty much tells the story.

We spent the Easter celebrating with my family on Saturday minus my brother's family as they were home trying to get rid of the stinkin hand foot and mouth. Yuck!

We hunted eggs, played and enjoyed church the next morning.

always begging dad for candy. he knows the right person to get, uh?

Shaddy is quite the helper. The other two were a bit annoyed and didn't want the help he offered.

And then Sunday it was off to D's sister's. Lets just say we were a bit fried after all the festivities of the holiday. But they had a blast and the food was as always yummy.

one of about five breakdowns that day

Then it was home for nap but Shadd had left out some lettuce and carrots for the Easter Bunny so he was not at all tired when we got home, however everyone else was so he waited patiently until everyone (and I mean everyone) got up from naps. Our bunny ate the treats and left a note with specific instructions as to where the goodies were left. 

However, Ells wasn't too happy when Shadd pointed out where her goodies were hidden.  Breakdown #6 at least. Oh dear. 

But what a glorious holiday and we had fun leading up to as we were able to read about the passover celebration, palm sunday, and all the neat fulfillment of scripture in Jesus's death, burial and ressurection. The brutality of Jesus's death really hit home for Shadd this year and I could tell he was troubled that Jesus would pay the price of himself and his death to save Him and me and anyone else who believes in Him. Its a beautiful picture of what Jesus did in his sacrifice and something that needs to be celebrating every day not just this particular Easter or any other. He did it all for you with a willing and obedient heart and the gift of eternity is free, you just have to seek and pursue it!

Hope you had a wonderful Easter celebrating the real reason of the season.

"He is not here, for He is RISEN" Matthew 28:6

Mr. Sage

Got to spend a good portion of the day with this guy. Just us two. We went to Target and for the first time ever he just chatted and enjoyed riding in the cart. Oh if only it was like that all the other times I go. He was a bit bummed he didn't get to spend the day with dad like the other two so he got to go on a special trip to get mulch for the landscaping beds. He has talked about it ever since. When we drove by the mulch place later that day he cheered for mulch. Just a reminder its the little things like one on one attention once in a while that make their day and ours.

And lately he has been sporting some pretty sweet outfits. Here he has on pjs, a backpack and daddy's shoes. The other day after playing with Cousin S and Ells he came out with slippers, a small purse, necklace, bracelet and doll sunglasses. It was the quite the look, let me tell you! He definitely can embrace his feminine side.

Outside, finally

Spring is here. The days are getting longer and warmer. We have been enjoying our sandbox and playhouse a ton already this spring! 

And then we get a random snowfall like this...it was quickly melting and they were so bummed the driveway and sidewalk didn't need scooping so they spent a little time shoveling the deck. Burned some energy and was the perfect excuse for hot chocolate. 

big boy transition

not always so crazy but still hilarious that afternoon

Sage used to sleep like this...now he sleeps like this...

I mean. Wow. They look so grown up in that big bed. Its hard for me to swallow that the other two both moved almost six months earlier because well we needed that crib. But Sage being our best sleeper hands down, we were nervous. But the first night, he stayed in bed all night and he has come out a few times but for the most part he just stays put and then comes wandering out in the morning around 7am. Amazing. D and I ask ourselves all the time what we did differently in parenting him but we can't come up with anything really. He was our non-rocker but still as a baby the other two did fine and do fine now with an occasional visit to our floor once in a while. 

So its official he is a big boy sleeping in a big boy bed! 

Thankful Thursday: Ells Ediition

Wow.

Believe it or not Ells turned 4 today---at exactly 5:23 I believe.

Whirlwind delivery that girl and we have been lucky to call her ours ever since.

Its funny to think that she is so far our only daughter and may only be.

Even though I knew in my heart that this little guy in my tummy was a boy I am still praying for a sister for my Ells. I just cherish mine so much that I want her to have one too. But maybe that's not what God has in store for her. Instead maybe she we will be loved to pieces and protected by her three brothers.

So we are celebrating a little low key today as Shadd has a bit of a sore throat. But we opened presents this morning and we are headed to Rio 2 with dad this afternoon. It will be Sager's first movie in the theatre so we will see how well that goes. Then we are having the big pajama party bash Saturday morning.

But thankfully my babies are both celebrating on Thursday this year so I get to tribute my thank you to Him about them.

1. Ells smile - when she gives one it can light up the room
2. Her jokes and sayings and how she laughs at herself afterwards
3. Listening to her belt out "let it go" or any song in the middle of church - no fear worshiping that little one
4. Her drama and fits - these are getting better but they are a constant reminder of the way us girls act at times.
5. Her opinions - the girl loves to be in charge - most of the time she is being told that she is not the mommy.
6. How much i am told she looks and acts like me (not sure i love this one but still it amazes me how God creates them different yet similar to you)
7. Her quirks - like asking me every morning and night  if she needs new underwear. I guess those night baths kinda throw her off.
8. Her love for crafts, projects and coloring - girl after her mama's heart
9.  Her cute haircut and that she loves to dress up and paint nails and be girly - surprising me with a new outfit each morning.
10. She loves her brothers - even though it may not show always, deep down she cares so much for them dearly

Ells...
I hope you have sweet 4th birthday. We love you more than you will ever know. Thank you for showing me the best of me and the worst. Someday when you have a little girl of your own you will know how special it is to have a daughter. Keep learning, growing and loving and you will continue to grow into the girl that God wants you to be. We love you. Mom & Dad

Spring soccer

Team Orange - Aka Code Ninjas (thats the name the boys came up with)

neighbor buddies

This picture is taken after Shadd scored the first team and his first goal. He was pumped and so was his little team.

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The first practice...it was a bit rocky as momma dropped the ball and not much practice had taken place. And all the other boys looked like they had definitely played the game before.  Thankful for his natural ability to pick things up quickly.

Checking out his new gear - pre-morning of the first practice