This past spring was the first season that we have had THREE kids in different sports. Tyler and Jackson played flag football and Amy played soccer. Most Saturdays found us on the fields for the entire day! But the kids had a blast...so it was well worth it!

Tyler...

This season for Tyler was...a character builder. He played the hardest he could as quarterback...receiver...and defender but lost every game.

He had a great team...and some super fun coaches...but no "W's" to win. It was hard for Tyler each week to watch victory slip through their fingers...literally. But he took it well and cheered on his teammates.

  She did amazing!!!

She even volunteered to be goalie several times. 

She was fearless with the ball and improved significantly! 

Hailey...

Even though she didn't play sports this season...Hailey attended each game...

cheered loudly for each sibling...

helped celebrate every victory...

The messages were short...but incredibly sweet and meaningful.

It was definitely a picture of Proverbs 31:28:

her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, he praises her.

After each child in the family had the opportunity to share, the father's blessed their wives and then prayed over them.

It was such a beautiful morning honoring all of the mothers!!

Picking strawberries is usually best done with friends.

So they can help you pick out the very best one...

help you hold your bucket...

help you sample the first strawberry of the season...

and help point out all of the juice on your chin!!

As in years past, we usually end up with a bucket filled with mini-strawberries.

For some reason, Hailey loves to pick berries that match her in size.

She feels a sense of camaraderie with them.

But size doesn't matter when you're mashing them up for ice cream or scones!

After picking it's time to PLAY!!!

Our strawberry patch has set aside the perfect area to picnic and have fun with friends.

Each year we pick more then the last...because they never last very long at home!!!

We have Frozen Fever in our house...well I should probably clarify for the sake of the boys...HAILEY has Frozen fever. And has had it since the movie first came out. For some reason...Elsa and Anna are very near and dear to her heart...and it is the first choice for any time Hailey's movie selection comes up. So for her birthday...it was a no-brainer...it was going to be a Frozen party!

Thankfully, a year after the movie came out there are TONS of very fun and creative Frozen ideas floating around the internet. Top that off with two friends that have already hosted a Frozen party...and I was well set up with decorations and activities!

When Hailey's little friends arrived they went out back to play with "snow"...it was cold...and it was white...so we called it snow! :-)

Then they searched through the house for parts of Olaf that had gone missing (really just cotton balls) so they could "build a snowman".

And build a snowman we did...

until the most beautiful Olafs appeared!!!

We also played Pin the Nose on Olaf...and Knock Down Elsa's Castle...

Hailey had such a good time with all of her sweet friends!!!

A super fun...FROZEN birthday party!

You are all smiles...all the time!

You are the hug-giver...song-maker...dance-creater in this house.

This last year you have melted our hearts with your sweet sayings.

You have your brothers completely enamored...and your sister endeared to your heart.

You love to tell stories...but love even more to listen to them.

exchange sweet Valentine's day cards...and have a FABULOUS time!!!

The house was full of kids of all ages...and laughter of all different sounds.

It was fun to watch the kids play a photo scavenger hunt...

and try and feed each other conversation hearts.

We are SO grateful to have so many different families join us on the homeschooling journey.

And I am so thankful my kids have such great friends to enjoy these fun parties with!

Later that same week, we celebrated two very precious little ones.
Lily Rutherford, who is two months old and sweet as can be.
And Caroline Turner, who is about to make her entrance into this world.

My friend, Suni, did an AMAZING job putting together a book-themed shower.

The decorations...the food...the games...and the favors were all based on beloved children's books.
It was so much fun and VERY creative.

The girls had a good time playing the different trivia games..and the adults had a fun time reminiscing about childhood favorite stories.
It was a beautiful time spent with some very special people. 

He knows every single NFL team there is - and he knows almost all of their quarterbacks.

At any given point, if you were to step outside during one of his "games", you would hear his running commentary of what was happening in the game.

He runs, He passes. He fakes to the right.

HE SCORES!!!

Jackson has been playing football in the backyard for as long as he has been old enough to walk.

This season though...he is practicing on a real team.

With real flags.

Real cleats.

Real mouth guards.

And real players.

He is over the moon!

He has ramped up his afternoon backyard practices and is super excited for his first game this weekend!

We spent a few days with Jason's parents before Christmas...and they were filled with fun things to do.

We went to a Bethlehem Marketplace...

one of the churches in town had gone all out to create a reenactment of what Bethlehem looked like (smelled and sounded like too!) on the night Jesus was born.

The kids were able to visit different stations and meet potters...carpenters...farmers...bakers...toy makers, etc. At each table there was a Bible verse printed on a card...the kids collected Bible verses from the Old and New Testament about Jesus throughout the entire evening.

Then the lights dimmed and we watched Mary and Jospeh and the entire Nativity story unfold!

Afterwards, we snagged a Roman guard and a rabbi to come take a quick picture :)

 While we were in Tucson this time...Jason really wanted to take the kids out to see his mother's memorial.

It was a special time for us to remember her...to thank God for her life and the legacy she left through her children...and also to reflect on the blessings God has given us for right now.

Most of them are planes used during World War II...but they also have the biggest planes...smallest planes..and even space ships!

Needless to say, the boys had a blast...and of course...Poppy made it even more fun by just being...Poppy! :-)

We had such a good time with our family in Arizona...soaking up their love and creating so many precious memories.

It was a blessed time and we hope and pray that the road was made shorter by travelling...and that it will soon be traveled once again!