The Luckiest No Matter What!

When staying in St. Augustine, Florida for spring break, 11:00am was the latest checkout time we could get. If we had begun driving at 11:00am, we would've gotten home around 4:00-4:30am (counting stops for meals and such). That's about the worst time to get home- would people actually go back to sleep or would they be up for the day?? Sleep is always something we worry about when we're away from home. We debated on whether to try and stay around the pool and enjoy the beautiful day, but ultimately decided to leave. Our plan was to drive for a few hours then stop for a late lunch at a playground or something to let the kids burn off some energy for a while before getting back into the car. While driving the route from Michigan to St. Augustine, we pass signs for two cities that have been on my bucket list of places to see for a long time: Charleston, South Caroline and Savannah, Georgia. We had already learned that even though there is a sign for Charleston, it is actua

One of the biggest challenges in my parenting life is how to make sure I give each of my boys one-on-one attention and one-on-one time. When you are trying to juggle four people's schedules, extra curricular activities, homework, and naps, and then add on jobs, bathtime, meals, etc, it gets really tricky. My boys know I love them. My boys know there is nothing I'd rather do than spend time with them. But sometimes I wonder if they really feel like they get enough attention or that their uniqueness is celebrated and honored enough. It's one of the many things that occupies my crazy brain. When you have as many kids as I do, or probably even if you don't, moms and dads have to be INTENTIONAL about spreading out the special individual time. Josh and I seem to go through stretches where we are better at this than others. Lately, it's been more like he will take the three big boys somewhere and I'll stay with the baby or vice versa. That's not good enough. Than

Dear Nolan, HAPPY SIXTH BIRTHDAY! You’ve let me know that you are so excited to keep growing and getting bigger while I sit here with tears in my eyes because I cannot believe how fast time is flying. You’ve had a wonderful year of growing, maturing, and learning so much about so much. Your brain, my dear boy, sheesh. It is always moving, always going, always thinking, always worrying. Just last night, I had to lay in your bed with you for a little while because you couldn’t sleep. This morning you told me you were thinking about TV shows and movies and books and sports and that all kept you awake. On the subject of sleep, you went through a difficult period during this year where you had a very hard time falling asleep. Daddy and I were honestly getting nervous. Every night we would have to go in your room several times to try and help your mind rest. We started using essential oils, having ocean waves on a noise machine, doing yoga and classic music before be

Dear Judah, Happy SIXTH birthday! This year you played soccer and like it, but don’t love it… you played T-ball and liked that, but didn’t love it, and started taekwondo and you love that! You’re not the easiest person to figure out- you are kinda cool with whatever and so it’s been hard to figure out just exactly what you might really love to do. Speaking of things you love to do, there are many things that have stayed the same: reading, playing with cars, playing outside, traveling, going on adventures, swimming, art, riding bikes… and a few additions like all things relating to science. You just light up when you talk about animals, or bugs, or trees, or Earth Day, etc. One new thing you DO NOT like is thrill rides. We learned quickly at Disney that twists, turns, and sudden drops are not something you are into, but put you on It’s a Small World and you are happy as a clam.   This year brought a huge change called kindergarten!!! You LOVE school and I am s