Clayton had a soccer game.  We were all there to watch.  Well, Fred wasn't there yet.  My friend, Stephanie, was sitting beside me and noted that the radar was showing a storm headed our way.  The she said, "it smelled like rain".  And then she said she felt a drop of rain on her arm.  And then...then...the bottom fell out.  We were like sitting ducks.  There was no where to go AND the soccer game continued.  Continued.  We ran to the cars while our children played in the rain.  Then we headed back out. It was cold and miserable.  Did I mention that the team we were playing spoke only Spanish?  Yeah.  It wasn't pretty. 

Before Easter, we met up with a couple of our friends and had a Sadar meal to boys about the Passover.  This is our second year to meet up to have a Passover meal and it's always a great night.

Easter morning, Fred left for church early, but I'm proud to report that this crew made it to church on time...dressed and smiling.

I pulled up this picture from last Easter.  Look at how all these people have grown.  Mercy.

Mimi made her famous bunny cake.

Later that week we had a storm and Dash was very concerned. Very concerned.  He does not like a storm.

I was studying in the hammock and Dash was so distressed that he tried to climb up in the hammock with me.  It did not work, but he tried.

In fact, Dash was so distressed from the whole ordeal that he ate my dinner off my plate that was on the table and then refused to make eye contact.  Silly dog.

Since the boys have been cooking they have learned a lot.  It has worked out well for us.  Sometimes after dinner one of the boys will ask if they can make cookies.  Make cookies??  Yes.  A thousand times yes.  

And then they work up the next morning and made pancakes.  Does it get much better?!?

Jack had a game that morning.  They played hard.  As soon as the game was over he downed this bag of Flamin' Hot Munchies.  You know what I've never thought after a hard work out?  Mmmmm, some Flamin' Hot Munchies would taste good about now.  Nope.  Never thought that. 

After Jack's game we headed for a hamburger at the Dixie Queen.  Now, that's some good eating.  I was really in the mood for a good burger after watching Jack play so hard. 

 Monday Clayton cooked dinner.  He made BLTs, Parmesan potatoes, and broccoli.  He was slinging stuff around so much, he had to take his shirt off.  I was cracking up.

 Andrew had a field trip on Thursday that he was really looking forward to.  He was to put a snack and a bottle of water in a brown paper bag with his name on it.  He's seven.  He got it done.  Here's to third children everywhere.  They are survivors.

Thursday morning my phone rang at 5:45 am and it was Fred.  I knew he was on a bike ride, so when I answered the phone I said, "Where do I need to come get you?"  He was a 12 minute DRIVE away from the house.  I was just thankful that I didn't have to up GPS coordinates.  At least I had an address this morning.

 Remember the snack from earlier?  The long awaited field trip was Thursday.  We went to the Memphis Botanic Gardens.  Andrew told Fred that afternoon that he knew it was going to be fun, but it was ten times better than he thought.  Bless him.

During this photo we were in the tranquil Japanese gardens having a tea ceremony...except our tea ceremony was anything but peaceful.  About five boys decided to throw softball size rocks at the geese in the garden.  The volunteer leading the tea ceremony was not pleased.  He had a bit of a come apart during the ceremony. 

Speaking of third children being survivors...I make three-four options a week for breakfast and the boys just heat something up when they get up.  Look at this sweet 7 year old that's barely able to reach the microwave making his own breakfast.  Melt.my.heart. 

Jack had his final Bible drill on Saturday.  He did great.  As usual, his groupies were hanging out.  Fred was at the soccer field with Andrew.  As soon as the event was over, my parents took Jack to change his clothes and everyone met up at his basketball game.  Then when it was over everyone but me headed to Clayton's soccer game.  I headed to Appling Middle School for a Spring Fling.  

At 8:00 pm, we finally headed home.  It was a long, fun Saturday.  I think I may need another Saturday to recover from my Saturday though.  19 1/2 day of school left in case anyone is counting.  And yes, we are!

Crazy March and Beginning of April

It's been a crazy March and April seems like it's going to be just a crazy.  I haven't counted how many practices and games we will be attending.  I do better to just take things as they come.  But, when three boys are all playing on different teams in different sports...it's a bit of a crazy time.

Here's a little catch up...

I don't know why these pictures are sideways, but whatever...moving on.  Fred ran Ragnar again with a great group of guys.  He ran from Chattanooga to Nashville.  We are super proud of him.

 Fred sent me this picture of him wearing socks and sandals.  I could not have been more proud.  Ha!

We really try to encourage the boys to help out around the house.  They have helped with cleaning the house for several years, but now we've moved into the kitchen to help prepare dinner.  Clayton made burgers, guacamole, and cookies.  Jack made cookies the other night.  

 Then it was his turn to make dinner.  He chose to make french toast, scrambled eggs, and sausage.  Right now they are making dinner once a month, I'm really thinking we could move to once a week.

 They have to clean the kitchen after they cook.  Right now they are even smiling about it.  I have a plan to get my daughters in law to like me.  This is all part of that plan.

We had a ladies lunch at church and my sweet friend, Elissa, spoke.  Some of my sweet friends came with me too.  It was a fun day. 

My parents went on a trip and part of that was to see her best friend, Annette.  Annette sent home this cake for me.  When I say cake, what I meant to say was the most delicious cake I've ever eaten and I've dreamed about it since that day. 

 Jack participated in Bible drill at our church one Sunday afternoon.  The entire gang came to watch.

My friend, Becca, came to Memphis for a Grizzlies game.  They were passing out these Z Bo ball players and she sent it home with me because she knows of Andrew's affection for a stuffed anything.  She was correct.  He was thrilled. 

 Then we went to our favorite ice cream shop.  Andrew was thrilled with this as well.  So thrilled, in fact, that he ate my ice cream.

 One other thing Andrew loves...a sleeveless shirt.  I think it's safe to say that this spring has been a winning season for Andrew.

Jack is playing basketball on a team this spring.  There are two Jack's on the team and our Jack is known as "Big Jack".  He grins every time they call his name. 

 The gang came for this one as well.  As you can see, Andrew had a game that morning.

The next weekend Jack had Bible drill and the gang was back together.  What would we do without all these people around us cheering us on?!?

Jack has a science fair project that was just assigned.  Don't get me started on science fair projects. They are the worst.  

 Well, at least I think they are the worst.  Jack and his buddy thought it was pretty fun. I still maintain that science fair projects are the worst.

The boys went to Jackson for Good Friday.  It just happened to be Mun's birthday.  Jack made her pancakes for her birthday.  

While the boys were gone, we went out for dinner on Thursday night at Bounty of Broad.  

Then hiked at Shelby Farms with Dash on Friday morning.  

 I'm pretty sure Dash will sleep until Monday.

We took Dash home and then headed to Pizza Social to meet our friends to try it out.  We gave it 10 thumbs up.