Seven

I can't believe it!!!  Eli is 7!!!  WHAT?!?!  How did that happen?!?!  I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday and now he's 7.  Crazy how that happens!

Eli is an amazing kid!!  He is so full of energy.  He loves life and all it has to offer.  He loves to learn new things and he love to spend time with friends and family one on one.  I am just so proud of him and cannot wait to see how God is going to use this sweet boy.  He has a amazing desire to help and serve others and I just know God is going to use those gifts in a very unique way.  Eli begs me to go on mission trips and to help kids that "don't have much".  

Eli decided that he just wanted to celebrate with family this year.  As we were discussing party options (and aren't kid parties crazy out of control these days?!?!), he just said "Mom, can we just have a family party and go out to eat?  BUT, I still want a cake and presents!"  : )

So, he made my job really easy.  He chose Joe's Crab Shac.k for dinner and a fire truck themed "party".  He is VERY into fighting fires right now!!!  He loves all the equipment that firefighters use and likes to learn how it works and keeps them safe.  It was a very fun birthday party!!  

 Eli not so patiently waiting to open presents  : )

 So happy about his firefighter gear

 And what birthday would be complete without a Lego set (or two) and a Nerf gun?!

 The fire truck cake.....that looks a lot like a big red bus!  : )

All the toys and the sacks and boxes always provide the most entertainment!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET ELI!!!  WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!!!!!

Early Spring

It seems that spring has come early in Texas.  Our daffodils are blooming and the grass is turning green.  Although we have a had a few cold days here and there, it is really nice for the most part.  All of this means lots of play time outside.  Eli, Chase and Reed would live outside if we would let them.  When the weather is nice, I bet we spend an average of 5 hours a day outside.  

Yes, Chase is wearing Cars Houseshoes....see earlier post about the uniqueness of sweet Chaseman :)

YUM-O!

I got a juicer and now I just want to juice everything!  : )  I absolutely love it and think everyone should have one!  The kids love it too, but they don't love all the juice I make.  Their favorite is just plain orange juice.  But, they also enjoy carrot/apple juice.  They don't even know it's carrot juice!  My favorite so far (the one in the pic above) is kale, cucumber, carrots and green apple.  It may not look pretty, but it is so good.  I actually crave it....it is that good!

Hunter and I laughed the other day......in 20 years will we look back and say...."Ha! Remember when we had that juicer and we used to juice everything?!?!"

Breakfast

One thing I love about University Mod.el School is that at least two days a week, we don't have to rush out the door in the morning.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we don't have to wake up at a certain time.  We don't have to get dressed, make lunch, eat a quick breakfast and rush out the door.  It's slow.  And we LOVE slow in our house!  The kids sit at the table and eat a slow breakfast together.  They have conversations that would be missed if we rushed out to school every day.  I love it and I cherish the conversations that I overhear and the extra time we have together at home.  

The Pill That Saves Us $120 A Month

Until recently, one of Chase's medications came from a compounding pharmacy.  After shopping around and around and around, the best price we could find for the medication was $126 a month and insurance reimbursed us $6.  : )  One day after I called in for a refill, I remembered that really the only reason that we have the medication compounded is because Chase was unable to swallow a pill when he started the medication (immediately after birth).  Then after speaking to the pharmacy and the insurance company, I realized that all the pharmacy was doing was crushing a tablet and putting it in a liquid form.  So, I called Chase's cardiologist and asked if we could get his dosage in a pill form and we could!!  So we got a few of the pills to see if Chase could swallow it.  We gave it to him and he literally put it on his tongue, took a small drink of water and swallowed the pill!!!  AMAZING!  So now we get his rx at wal-mar.t for $4 a month!!  Besides the fact that it saves us $120 a month, it's filled at a chain pharmacy.  So, if we are out of town and I forgot his medicine or he needs a refill, I can get it with no problem.  YAY!!!!  This is huge!!  We are so proud of Chase!!!

Chaseman

Oh Chaseman!  I bet I say that about 10-20 times a day.  There is just no way to accurately describe little Chaseman.  Sweet. Funny. Passionate. Hungry. Monkey.  Strong.  Innocent.  Just some of the words that describe my sweet little Chase.  God has something special planned for this kid!!!

I tell him (and Eli & Reed) every day that God made him special.  One day I said, "Chase, God made you special."  His response....."And cute!"  : )

My sweet little Chaseman!!

 If in stock, Chase eats 2-4 bananas a day!  I am amazed at how much and how often he eats!  It's really crazy!!!  I know, I know....just wait until he's a teenager....I'm going to have to get a paying job just to buy enough groceries for 3 teenage boys!!!

Playing with Water

These kids have always been fascinated by playing with the water in the kitchen sink.  They would do it for hours if I would let them.  :)