Baseball, Softball, and Bikes!

We had a fantastic day today going over to the Olympic Peninsula for a bike ride. We only went a short distance with our kids, (some did multiple laps around others), but it was a blast! We threw all the bikes in the back of the pickup and it was the first time in a long time that I remember having such a relaxing day.

This photo below cracks me up! Without even trying, we look like the VonTrapps, right?! We should have been singing from the Sound of Music soundtrack while we biked.

What a fun day! I highly recommend a bike ride on the Ocean after a bad couple months-it was wonderful!

The last couple of weeks have also been fun because of the baseball and softball season starting up again. Greta and Ella fortunately are on the same team (it definitely saves a lot of driving around for me) and they are having so much fun!

I don't know who Ella is pointing too, but she cracks me up!

Greta is hitting some great line drives; pretty cool to have a lefty in the family. This is the girls first year playing, so I was happy to see them really enjoy the sport.

Justus has gotten to pitch alot so far this year and he is having a great time!

And, Fia and Kwame??? What are they doing?? They are having fun playing in the dirt, climbing fences they aren't supposed to, and playing catch with the big kids. The picture below shows Kwame throwing the baseball to group of bigger boys. He was in heaven and they seemed to be having fun too!

Last, but not least, we finally found a suburban that we all liked! Yea! It has been SO nice to ride in the same car all together and I am really happy with it so far! This one doesn't have the fancy doors from the previous post, but is does have some pimped out wheels!

Pregnant?

Just in case some of you have talked to Fia lately and thought you knew a 'secret' of ours, I am here to tell you that it isn't true. I am not pregnant! And I am not having triplets named Eenie, Meenie, and MineyMoe! Ha! I guess my 5 year old doesn't quite get my humor yet, but for April Fool's Day, we kept making up 'fools' throughout the day and of course the big kids knew we were teasing. The problem though, is that I guess the little kids didn't. Since April 1, a couple people have asked if I was prego after they had been with Fia (and it is not b/c of how I looked-at least that is what I am telling myself). Today a friend called and said, 'Um, Fia said you were pregnant. I told her that maybe she shouldn't be telling me that, so I thought I better ask..." Thank you for asking...but the answer is no, I guess I fooled a little more people than I expected.

Sweet Ella

Ella and I were driving yesterday and she asked me if I had caffeine in my coffee cup. I said yes, it's my latte I made. She said mom, you aren't allowed to drink that when you are driving. Hmm?? Ella, do you mean alcohol? Oh yeah, she said. Haha. I told her that you can drink all the caffeine that you want, and she said she was happy because she didn't want me to start swerving around with my car she. I told her, that actually I better not drink anymore coffee so I don't start speeding!

btw, the pic was from our local paper this weekend. Ella was caught looking for worms in their school courtyard, among other things.... I thought it was so sweet! I love our EllaBella!

Who Wants a Ride to School?

So, ever since our Toyota 'Swagger Wagon' Sienna was totaled, we have been looking for a new car. First, we were waiting for our insurance check to come, now we are just trying to find the perfect fit for us with miles, color, etc....Today, Daron said that he found the perfect one(foolishly, I believed him)!
The kids think it's the coolest and are seriously trying to talk me into it. Especially Justus. Imagine driving up to school and letting the kids out at drop-off?!! Hilarious!

Spring Break Almost Broke Me!

Spring break almost broke me, but I will start with the positive, because we did have SOME fun over the week. We started it off by having lunch with friends that have adopted from Ghana. The next day we went on a hike with some great buddies and we all had a blast.
We also got to enjoy lounging around a little more than usual and the kids ate some Easter themed pancakes...

we joined in on an annual town Easter egg hunt...

...as well as our own Easter Basket Hunt at our home.

Oh, and Fia lost her second tooth for an even bigger adorable toothless grin!

But...it did almost break me!

Spring break is now over and I am hoping we are going back to life as usual! What is that again? Gosh, I don't want to complain, but it has been aWHILE since life seemed usual or normal. Ever since our accident on February 20th (that date is etched in my brain from signing it on numerous forms now), our life has been busier than normal.

Why? Well, each person has been to the regular doctor at least once, plus a couple extra appts. for ear infections and a new one that I will have to post about later: photosensitivity??!! Then, for many weeks we were all going to the chiropractor at least three times a week and now just last week it has dwindled a bit. Daron and I are still there three times each week, along with massage twice/week, and physical therapy 1-2times a week! In between those appts., we have both been trying to work, keep the house up inside and out, entertain, hang with the Chapman's (ha!),plan out an Easter service, and walk ALOT (we still haven't found a vehicle to replace the van, so I have been walking or borrowing cars as I refuse to drive 'Big Red'-the beast-plus it only fits 6).

Oh, and just in case we weren't about to go crazy already, a new curve ball was thrown at us a week ago when I was getting the kids ready for bed. I moved a beanbag around in the boys room and found MOLD!! Yep, nothing small of course, but a 2-3 foot area that was covered in black, fuzzy mold. I literally thought about how to best give the news to Daron for fear he may run out of the house. The next 5 nights after we put the kids to bed, Daron worked late in the room, and we moved EVERYTHING out; then he took two walls out to check for more mold and moisture. He eventually found the problem outside that made the water come up through the cement floor and the padding and carpet was really wet, so that had to go too. Luckily, there was no mold in the walls, so after everything is dry, we can get the dry wall back up and get some new carpet-ugh! Too bad the carpet wasn't even 5 years old. Oh well. Then, two nights ago, we realized the carpet in the girls closet was wet too, but we waited until after Easter(today) to do anything more. Luckily, I think it won't be a big deal in there and we just need to dry some of it out.

So, I haven't been quiet because life has been dull over here. I just haven't posted for fear of having a nervous breakdown when thinking about it anymore. Honestly, the little things are definitely adding up and bringing me down. I hate that 'things' have an effect on me, so I have really been trying to look at the positives and not dwell in all of this, but it doesn't always work. I have to say that I did form a smile when Daron came inside with the door handle from his truck. Yep. It broke off, so you might just find him climbing in and out of his window like the good 'ole Duke boys! ;)

When it all comes down to everything, I am blessed with our lives, our family, our home. I just want to add onto that our CAR!! I think it will really help when I have a car again. Just kidding. Not really. Maybe? Either way, prayer would be appreciated!