It's almost halfway through May and I am just getting caught up with April. The month of April was a busy, busy one. Our world started to open a bit and then everything seemed to flood in for us.
I find our story is best told in pictures. So, a photo dump. SO, so many pictures this month. And I even got an extra post done this month for Payton's birthday. What a treat that was! How is she 8 now? You can see that post here. She had the best time celebrating and we soak up any extra minute we can get with her.
We'll kick off April with Easter weekend! A real treat as grandma and grandpa (from daddy's side) came to visit us. The pandemic sure makes you appreciate life and seeing people. We enjoyed their company as we did an egg hunt in town, egg hunts around our house, bought from a bake sale, gardened, painted, and played the days away outside (because the sun was finally shining) all while celebrating Jesus.
Our Family Easter 2021
Jayden is really saying cheese in the pictures but he's going through a phase where he says it without actually looking at me or finding the need to smile. He had a blast though!
Bake sale finds for the kids. And the big kids below are sharing these treats after sharing a toast to each other and family.
We also continued loving on the new baby chickens we added to our flock, well currently they are a flock of their own but eventually they will join our other girls!
Payton had a few days off from school and we took this time to just enjoy her. I'm the happiest when with all my children.
I completed a bible study with my family and it reminded me how much I love bible studies. I went on to do another on my own!
My list for bible studies I now want to complete has grown immensely and I am hoping this interest is long-term. So good for the soul.
So much of our time is spent outside. I see the evidence of this in so many pictures month to month. Even in the cold, we like nature. We crave getting fresh air.
Back inside, we got a lot done as well. Below we are just cuddling and watching tv, a well deserved rest sometimes:
All the kids have been entering the library's lego challenges and one week Riley even won!
He entered the water creation challenging (make something that floats) and won a lego boat set. Which he put together himself (I was super impressed and thought we needed to wait for daddy).
We also went to the zoo on Good Friday! We just may make this an annual tradition as it's getting harder and harder to find time for zoo trips!
Jayden was so tired he slept a good chunk of the drive home. The zoo is always such a good time and this one has tons of areas for kids to play in so all 3 kids were so tired and slept well that night!
Back at school, Payton met her goals for reading and became a star reader. She has wanted to earn that medal all year and was so thrilled to get:
Riley got me into the habit of giving a treat after cleaning day (every Friday morning). We pick up a treat and head to the park. One time this week, they messed up Riley's order and he got a large drink instead of a small, this kid may not be a dedicated customer for life:
Riley also had kindergarten round up this month, which is just so not easy for me (read when Payton went
here). Why does it go so fast? I still see him as my sweet little 2 year old that preferred mom and wanted to do anything we were doing. It still hasn't hit me yet that he won't be spending the whole day with me every day. I wish he could never grow up.
I had a friend watch Jayden so we could surprise Riley after round up with a treat. He had talked about a donut so we brought him that. He had the best time and is ready for school. I'm just never going to be ready to send my kids.
After a year off because of the pandemic, soccer was able to happen this year and we loved it! Both Payton and Riley did and had a fun season!
This is right after Riley scored, a true caught in the moment celebration. He was so proud.
Riley's team
Payton's team
We got what will probably be our last snow until next winter! It wasn't much and it was melted by early afternoon but you better believe we made the most of it! We played outside all bundled up and then sat together for some hot cocoa. A farewell toast to winter.
I worked really hard to give birthday gifts that are experiences rather than just more stuff. So I got two special experiences for Payton. One was a glitter photo shoot, which she loved:
What girl (or boy) doesn't want to have pictures taken while you freely play with all the glitter?!?! She had so much fun and the pictures from the photographer (not the one above) turned out great. In a few weeks we will get her colors done on a special day with her brother Riley. It should be so fun to see what colors my kids shine in the most.
Payton and I also snuck out one afternoon for a date. We did some quick shopping and grabbed dinner together. Payton convinced me for dessert and loved herself some ice cream:
One on one time with my kids is extra extra special and my husband and I try to make them happen as often as we can. Hoping for a lot of individual time over the summer with each kid!
On to May! I hope your months have been as wild and fast as ours have been!
