A look into our month of May

May came and went as quickly as 2021 has been for us. This month we had 2 big trips, planted and watched our flowers bloom, said goodbye to first grade and hello to summer, and found our best colors for 2 of our kids!

Our first trip was to Colorado. I don't talk a whole lot about the medical side of things for our youngest child, mostly because it doesn't define him, it's just us working with medical specialists to put together the puzzle pieces God left for us to complete. It's a beautiful journey in its own way, even when it has been so incredibly hard to walk. We are hopeful this could be one of our last major surgeries though for him. And, hope and our faith, is ultimately what keeps us going. 

So, we took a trip for our son to have surgery. While we actually attempted this trip prior but found our youngest has an issue with motion sickness and/or elevation issues, this was finally our trip free of a sick child! That was the best news. We got him to Colorado following a special plan and he didn't get sick the entire trip. So, that meant we could also do a few fun things prior to surgery. 

But, let's start at the beginning. Packing for a trip that brings on so many emotions:

The views were so good, this has the mountains in the background and a park was right across the street from our hotel:

                                              

                                              

                                             

                                              

Since Jayden was feeling well, we went to an air and space museum. It was very interesting!

Riley really wanted to work out so we found time to exercise daily:

The trip was so busy we all took naps for a change:

                                                

The day came and we got ready to go into surgery. This guy was so excited and pumped to go into surgery to fix his hand. It's truly remarkable to watch how solid and lighthearted he is walking the path God wrote for him:

                                              

The surgery went faster than expected. He woke up happy and starving, so the nurses made sure he was fed well: 

                                              

He then took a good nap. 

                                              

Riley spent some time in the hotel pretend calling and checking in on Jayden:

                                             

We stayed one night and were so excited to be discharged and headed home. 

                                              

This shot was taken right outside our window as well while I was working on my bible study:

                                                 

How timely was this page for me? We had just finished up surgery and I found a minute to work on my bible study. I came out on the other side. I ended up bringing this study home as I couldn't even get past that first sentence. It took days for me to process that line alone before I picked the study up and charged forward again. 

We didn't sleep well on the trip home but Jayden more than made up for that on the drive home.

                                                      

Our oldest didn't attend this trip (first time ever and will probably be such a rarity for this to occur) but she stayed with Grandma so she could attend her school concert:

We were blessed to have another parent record and send us the video of the performance. It takes a village!

Coming home was so good and we loved being reunited with Payton and grandparents:

A cast slows us down just a bit but not even a noticeable amount really. We aren't doing water activities yet but most other things we are still doing. Despite no water fun, summer really is starting to feel like it's here. We got flowers and watched our perennials return and bloom:

Nothing better than a flower picked for you by one of your own children:

Payton had a fun day at school and we went to watch her compete, it was so fun to see her work hard with her classmates:

We also took a picture for her last full week of school, she was pretty excited:

                                                 

We made a random, surprise trip back to my hometown! It was so great and much needed as I haven't been back since January 2020 thanks to the pandemic. Over a year it took to come back and I would have never ever guessed I would have gone that long before coming home. One of our stops included seeing the fire station:

My dad was a volunteer fireman and it's always so fun to tour the building. Funny story, my husband ended up losing his wedding band down the grate. We had to dig to try and find and thought it was gone forever. On the third and final dig, Payton led a quick prayer. Low and behold, that ring was on it. We all got to witness a beautiful miracle unfold right before our eyes.

And then, lots of cousin time!

                                 

                                                  

                                                  

                                 

                                 

                                           

Normally when we go back we see family the entire time. This trip was last minute and they all had prior commitments this round. So, we spend some time in nature as a family:

The views are gorgeous and I will always have a soft spot for my hometown. It shaped me. There are so many memories and stories wrapped into one little corner of the world for me. It was so good to return for a minute. 

We returned in time to celebrate the last day of school for Payton:

                                              

We picked her up before lunch and had lunch at the playground:

And then, summer could officially begin for our family! We are so excited for summer and all have our own bucket lists. I will be working hard to do all the things that all the family members want to do this summer! 

So, pictures from the beginning of summer break:

A bird's nest to watch in our backyard

                                                                Grandma came to visit!

                                                             Popsicles! Need I say more?

The next set of pictures is from the fire pit. Riley really wanted to do this once this summer. Well, we've already done that about 4 times already and summer just started.

Park time is never a bad idea:

Neither is the library:

                                                  

Riley will occasionally grab a garbage bag and some gloves and we will walk our gravel country roads to pick up trash. He is huge on doing his part to keep the environment clean:

Part of Payton's birthday gift in April was a special day with her brother to find out her best colors through House of Colour. We had a great time finding out we have a Spring and Winter. 

We decided one night a week where our oldest childest (and occasionally this summer our other boys) will make a meal. The first night she made a full meal (pigs in a blanket with sides) complete with brownie al a mode:

It was delicious to say the least. I'm looking forward to her cooking creations this summer.

We pulled out the tennis rackets and have gotten some play time in already:

And, part of our days still include a quiet hour. When our youngest is done napping (or playing quietly if he refused nap as he sometimes does now) we let the kids finish out their last few minutes of quiet time TOGETHER. It's good to take a break apart but the short time in quiet time together has been MAGICAL. Seriously, so much laughter and happiness. It's music to a mother's heart. Here is a tower they built together:

On to more adventures! I'll see you again for a recap of the month of June!