Thomas Turned 4!

 

It occurred to me the other day that I hadn't blogged about Thomas' birthday yet.  This may be the most out of date birthday post to date!  But in my defense school started along with a full time job (my first in 7 years!!!), and then we had family pictures, a zoo weekend, a birthday, a trip to Estes Park, an emergency trip to Arkansas for my mom's heart issue (maybe I'll get around to posting about that sometime but for now I'll just say I'm so thankful, but still quite shaken), and then and then and then...until tonight.  Today it rained and so we got Gil home and it was Sunday and we had the loveliest day going to church, running errands in Wayne, eating lunch at the Mexican place we love, doing a little house work and then watching Cora finish up her volleyball season.  So tonight football is over and volleyball is over and it rained and it feels like I have all the time in the world (I'll pretend I don't need to get basketball organized like yesterday!).

Back to Thomas.  He is quite the Tommy Boy.  Like I said we did a zoo weekend as that was on my bucket list for the summer and so I made it Thomas' birthday theme so we (i.e. Gil) had to go!  We ended up dragging Grandma and Grandpa Ridenour and the Herrick gang along for the fun.  And got to have a birthday party at Grandpa's house on his birthday.  Then on the day of the actual birthday my parents came over for cake and ice cream.  They had been over the night before telling us all about their trip to Alaska so we got to hear more about that.  Sounds like it was quite a trip and they loved every minute of it!  

Thomas was very spoiled.  I really can't remember all he got right now, but it was plenty!  We got him some toy animals, a stuffed elephant and t shirt from the zoo (his choice), a safari lego, and probably a few other things.  Herrick's and Swindoll's both got the rocket launcher toy, but those are a definite win.  He got a Bluey car from I think Pick's.  Bluey is such an awesome Australian show that our whole family enjoys!  Oh and my parents got him a sweet Danali National Park ranger vest.  Whenever he wears it is says "Ranger, Danger!"

Thomas started preschool in August as well and he LOVES it!  When he's at home in the morning he's always begging to go to Miss Brooke's and school.  He has told us about the spine of a book and how we have a spine, about building blocks, drinking chocolate milk, nocturnal animals, a few of his new friend's names (Titus and Marcus are faves), and about red choices and green choices.  He even rides Toby's bus home.  Tommy loves being outside and is loud and proud and in charge around here, although his teacher tells me he is still quiet at school.  He loves you tube videos of all the random things and CocoMelon songs.  He loves farming in the attic with Luke and reading books on the couch with mom.  He loves sitting in my lap on his floor at bedtime while I sing him songs and having me lay my head on his pillow for just one more minute.  He loves to be tickled and to give me kisses on the cheek.  

We love you Thomas.  Can't believe you're a big ol' four year old!!!

Cora is Double Digits...10!!!

                                                                            Cake Time!

                                                                        Morning Party!

                                                                            Barbie play

                                                                Watching Harry Potter

                                                            Birthday Softball Tournament

                                                                            Sprinkler

                                                                            Team picture

                                                                        Panda Cake!

                                                                    Cora and Sarai!

                                                            New Roller Blades and Robe

                                                                        Birthday Girl

                                                                    Camping in the Attic

Cora and Skyler!

                                                                        New swimsuits

                                                                            Panda Girl

                                                                    Birthday Banner

                                                                        Playing Hard!

 Cora's birthday has come and gone as well.  We took off the day after school got out and the morning after Jude's first baseball game and headed down to Council Bluffs to see Grandma and Grandpa and the Herrick Family who is living with them for the time being.  Minette has been able to take three years to work on a PhD from UNL and the MedCenter.  Also, they are expecting a fourth child in September.  So we are thrilled that they will be our neighbors for a while here (after England Omaha feels just down the street!).  Then Cora's birthday came Saturday, the day of her first softball tournament.  We woke up early and had breakfast birthday celebration before taking off for the day.  She also got to kick the tournament off by playing Skyler's team for her very first game!  We hung out with my side of the family for a while.  Then in the afternoon John and Carolyn came up with Sarai.  They watched the last two games and then left for home while Sarai got to stay with us!  Cora's dreams came true with a two-night sleepover party with her cousin Sarai.  Those girls had a fantastic time together and got along so well.  They ate pizza, fed bottle calves, slept in a tent in the attic, watched Disney+, ran through the sprinkler, went to church, made an Panda angel food cake, helped at t-ball practice, played Barbies for hours, watched a Harry Potter movie, practiced on Cora's new roller blades, and so much more!  Wow what a dream that that happened after two years of not seeing each other "in the flesh" as Cora would say!!!

Cora had a Panda birthday theme.  I made her a special 10 year old poster for her door and hung streamers.  She got roller blades and pads, a special book for her and I to write in, a cozy robe, and some new clothes.  She also got a couple travel books from the Swindolls, money from grandparents, some stickers, scrunchies, and coloring pencils/book from Sarai (Herrick's).  

THEN...last night my mom took her and Skyler to stay in our camper up at Wiegand for their birthdays.  Gil had brought the camper up on Sunday so we would have a spot for Memorial Day weekend so it was just sitting there.  They swam, shopped, played cards, and visited the aquarium.  Sounds like they also had a very special time.  Cora is so blessed to have those two girl cousins so close to her age.  She may not have sisters, but she's got the cousins!!!

Cora, you are such a light in our lives.  You are just bright and shiny and we love you so much.  You love reading books on repeat, playing Barbies in your room, playing Subway Surfer and Animal Crossing, practicing cartwheels, playing in the grove (spiky woods!), taking care of the animals, taking care of and playing with your brothers, building Legos, swimming, and now playing basketball, volleyball, and softball (which you are doing great at!).  I cannot believe you were born 10 whole years ago!  But I'm so excited to see what the future holds.  We love you Cora Clare!

I also had a birthday...the one where I wasn't 40 yet!

Reunion with the Herrick Family and Grandma and Grandpa Ridenour the day after school was out!

The new dress I bought myself for Mother's Day (I HATE Mother's Day for the record, but this did make me feel better about it for a while:)

Mikey in his new shades for his first game.

Jude long jumping at Field Day

More spider swing fun!

New chess set for birthday!

The littles at Field Day

After an all-out online search that lasted several days we found the dishwasher I wanted in stock in New York and it arrived just before my birthday!  What a great present after almost 4 months of not having one.  It's a Bosch 800 series and I couldn't love it more.  Hope yours comes soon Pick Family 😂...

Mikey at Field Day

Jude's 6th Grade Graduation

Jude's Pre-K Graduation... comparing these photos may have been the worst mistake of 2021 so far...

My new patio set 💚💙💜💛

Jude on the night of his first game

Luke's class at Field Day

Hail on the morning of graduation.  Rain and hail meant we could all travel around to the graduation parties indoctrinating our children on graduation food!

Another picture of my wonderful dishwasher.  See that red light?  That means it's cleaning the dishes!!!

Luke long jumping at Field Day

 I also had a birthday!  I got to go to HuHot with my family and then go to Menards and pick out a new beautiful patio set.  Then on the day of my birthday mom and I and Thomas went to Panera Bread for lunch, ran some errands, did some shopping, and picked up the patio set.  Gil also sent beautiful flowers that day that were delivered right to my door.  That night he was in the field and we had a kid to run to a practice, back to the grind!  

Jude had a birthday...and I'm behind!

 Jude had a birthday...last month!  And it was in the beginning of our crazy and the crazy is still here so here we are over a month later and I'm finally making this post a priority!  I spent the last 3 weeks of school subbing while also managing 3 different baseball/softball teams practice schedule 4 nights a week in a town almost a half hour away while also trying to squeeze in the t-ball schedule and you know like feeding everyone and sometimes sleeping...

Anyway Jude turned 12.  One more year before I have a teenager in the house (and also turn 40 myself 😝.  WHY????  I do not approve of these facts!).  His birthday was on a Sunday and we had this really good plan where Gil was going to take him and 3 friends to see King Kong vs. Godzilla.  Then Gil wasn't feeling good and I got to do it.  We had already seen the movie at home and let me tell you, I was less than thrilled to see it again!!!!  About half way through I wanted to plug my ears and get in the fetal position.  When I went to bed at night I heard the roar of monsters ringing in my ears.  Ah the things we do for our kids...but I digress!  So we got up, had a birthday breakfast celebration, went to church, had lunch with some birthday cake to follow, and took off on our grand mall theater adventure.  After picking everyone up with masks in tow we headed to the theater.  The time the website said the movie was showing was I guess not the actual time the movie was showing so we ended up killing some time at the arcade and in a few stores (I did find some really cute and comfy Teva sandals so maybe it was all worth it 😂).  Then we watched the movie.  This probably goes without saying, but if you ever go to the theater and there is a group of four 12-year-old boys, you move right along and find the furthest seat away!  After consuming the bottomless pop and gigantic popcorns, we also needed to stop at Wendy's on the way home.  I think Jude had a great day celebrating him with his friends and family so that's what counts!  

Jude got the RazorCrest (The Mandalorian) Lego, had a Mandelorian Angelfood cake, a shark braces shirt, a shark beach towel, and probably a few other things I can't remember because it was over a month ago!  

Jude, we are so happy to have had these 12 years with you.  You are turning into a young man right in front of our eyes!  Some highlights of this year have been getting to homeschool with you, showing calves, our trip to Montana, being your 6th grade teacher for part of the year, and watching you improve at so many things.  You have become very responsible and are so helpful for dad and I (and grandma and grandpa).  You still love reading comics, Harry Potter, and really anything, you love building Legos, watching YouTube videos, playing Nintendo, shooting hoops, driving the 4-wheeler, and you still love to just play with your brothers and sister.  

We love you all the way to the moon.

Luke is 6!

The 2 February boys had their birthdays!!!  Luke was all about the LONG semi this year so that's just what he got.  Plus a taller basketball hoop which has gotten tons of use and been the source of countless arguments...😒.  But Luke has really gotten into practicing his basketball and seems to love it. He is much more competitive than I thought he would be!  We celebrated on the Thursday night with grandma and grandpa Koester.  Then on Saturday Taylor and Skyler got to spend the day with us while they went to Ashtyn's games in Lincoln.  Alissa made his cool semi shirt, grandpa and grandma got him a razor scooter, and he used birthday money at the book fair and to get a loader tractor Lego and a stuffed Grogu (The Child) at the Mall of America.  

Luke you are such a dear.  You are sweet and sensitive and also a go-getter.  You love doing your chores outside and taking care of the animals and know what's going on on the farm.  You love to play with your farm sets and all your tractors on your farm in the attic.  You love playing Nintendo and keeping up with your big brothers and sisters (just like you always have!).  You are doing so well in Kindergarten and have learned so much.  You like practicing your math and writing your letters.  You don't seem to have a lack of confidence in yourself and I love that!  I love your big brown eyes and your sweet smiling face.  We love you Luke Kirby!