#fourboys

I don't really get this hashtag thing, but I'm seeing it everywhere.  I believe it has to do with Instagram and making pictures searchable.  More techie friends, am I right?

Just yesterday, while I was doing homework with Philip, Daniel, William, and John thought it was a good idea to slide down the slide in our small, plastic baby pool.  John fell out half-way down.  Luckily, he only busted a lip.  It was a bad cut but thankfully the inside of the lip heals quickly and by itself.

And then this happened.

It happened after dinner while all four ran around outside.  It's funny because we don't usually go outside after dinner.  The boys discovered that they could see in the dining room window from outside so they were taking turns going back and forth inside and out and waving at each other.  Somewhere along the way, William and Daniel got in a lightsaber battle.  William's lightsaber either slipped or was thrown (you decide); thus, leaving Daniel with three stitches!

All reports from his father, who took him to the ER, were that he was a perfect patient.  The doctors wanted to tie him down but Daddy had faith that he could do it.  And he did!

Here's hoping it's our last trip to the ER with #fourboys, but I'm not so sure!

Some Party Pics

Friday night, the siblings and I hosted an engagement party for Elizabeth and David.

MD flew in from Baltimore and Daniel and Karen drove in from Hattiesburg.  It was fun to have everyone together for a night!

I failed to take any pictures of Elizabeth and her friends, but she had quite a showing of her Mobile buddies.

The party was great and I loved having MD to visit with all weekend.

Looking forward to the wedding in October!

Another First Day

These two started today.

PK-4 for William...

and Mom's Day Out for John.  A first school experience for this guy.

The morning couldn't have been more fitting for this mom of four.  I got up early...fixed their back-to-school breakfast of choice...banana nut muffins and smoothies...fixed four lunches.  As I went to pack said lunches, I realized that I never bought John a lunch box.  Drop two off at SPS, head home for a quick shower, and head to Target to get sweet baby John his very own lunch box.

William was excited...John was crying, "no go to school."

Then we get there.  William is clinging to me...a little nervous...but does okay.  John walks in his classroom happily with a look of "I got this" on his baby face!

So what did this mama do with four hours of peace and quiet?  Some work at the church.  Some work at home.  An errand with GranGran and then lunch.  Sweet GranGran has been my impromptu Mom's Day Out for almost eight years.  She's been my extra set of hands and adult conversation at Chick-Fil-A.  I'm not sure I could have made it to this point in motherhood without her.

But we've made it and we had to celebrate!  I treated her to lunch at Little House Midtown...a far cry from Chick-Fil-A.  We had a delicious salad, but as lunch was ending, sweet GranGran said, "I miss the boys." And like that it was time to get them.  All reports were good!  Growing up too fast.

It's That Time Again...

We've been getting ready...

and here we are.  The first day of school for my two big boys.  1st and 2nd grade.

I have no pictures from the school because both were so big and adamant that they go through carpool and not have their mom walk them in.  Made me sad and thrilled (at the same time) that we are growing up!

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities

and especially St. Paul's Episcopal School and Westminster Early Childhood Center, 

that they may be lively centers for

sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom;

and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find

you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

Let's Bake a Cake!

Last night we had a taste testing for Elizabeth's engagement party.  Chris and I wanted to have a chance to grill a beef tenderloin (something we've never done before) and I wanted Susan to taste the potatoes before we finalized the menu.  So, we invited GranGran, PopPop, Susan, Rob, and Campbell over for dinner.

I realized at the last minute that we did not have dessert.  I had seen this recipe for a loaf cake that children can fix themselves on the blog teacheatlove.blogspot.com.  We decided to give it a try.

Daniel read the directions...

Everyone else pitched in to help.

yes...it got a little messy!

why can't I have a lick yet???

It was delicious!!  Love little boys in the kitchen!

My Entrepreneurs

Forgot to mention that we had a lemonade stand last week.

It's been on the boys' summer to do list since May.  We may have picked the hottest day.

drinking up the potential dollars

The neighbors were generous!  The boys made $4.36.  Each got a dollar bill.  They were thrilled.

artistic they are not!

They asked if they could do it again the next day.  I gently explained that the neighbors might not be so generous!!

Beat This Summer

Summer is ending and I'm getting a little nostalgic.  Yes, we have had our moments and I don't think this house has been properly cleaned in months...but I have enjoyed the uninterrupted time with my sweet boys.

In keeping with last year's post, I hope I'll always remember...

• Legos, legos, and more legos.  Somedays all they did.
• flag football...practice and games...many nights spent driving to CUMC...the smiles on Philip and Daniel's face when they played the game...the frustration of their younger brothers whose sleep was cut short!
• reading...loads of books...Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...and the usuals...Curious George especially...knowing if I was reading to one, the others would find their way to my lap
• a new interest in superheros for William...Batman especially
• bike rides...the realization that three can ride independently...getting big too fast
• potty training...no more diapers...and the humor a six and seven year old showed with all the potty words and nudity around here
• an almost week at the beach...with Daddy...uninterrupted time together
• trips to the grocery store (or anywhere) with all four...all the comments...you have your hands full...no girls?...etc.
• trips to visit Dee in the hospital and trying desperately to get four to behave there...fights over who gets to push the elevator buttons
• a trip to Lake Martin and all out, day long fun...the elephant that stole the show...the megladon cake...William taking his job of docking the "boat" seriously
• a diagnosis...watching my boys shine during some tough days
• braces...how did that happen so fast??
• middle of the night snuggles with JohnJohn...frustration from his Mama and yet loving his sweet self in the middle of the night
• our garden...the produce it provided...the fun of watering it and tending to it
• lunches out with GranGran and sometimes Susan and Campbell
• Daniel making his own PB&J sandwiches...both big boys fixing their own drinks...independence!!
• our first sleepover with the Davidson peeps
• there must be more....

Such a joy to be a mom!  Wonderful memories with four sweet boys.  School here we come!

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them...

A week ago today, I took Philip in to see a pediatric orthopedist.  His limp that we have watched come and go since his "jump" in May was beginning to worry us.  After x-rays and an evaluation, the doctor relayed the news.  Philip is suffering from Legg-Calve Perthes disease.  I won't go in to the specifics of the disease because I know you just took a break from reading to Google it.  It's okay...everyone does...just stick to the medical websites and you'll be fine!

by the way...he got braces yesterday...did I mention he's tough?

There are no words for the fear, anxiety, and hurt you feel when your child is diagnosed with something tough.  It consumes your every thought.  How will he be today?  What about tomorrow?  A birthday party invitation comes in the mail...will we be able to go?  How will he be feeling?  How much activity is enough? How much is too much?  What about school?  Can he manage the stairs?  Will he be teased?

The trick is you can't let him see that it consumes your every thought because it isn't consuming his thoughts.  He's blissfully ignorant...except for the pain...and you want to keep him in that place.  So you try so hard not to open your mouth.  Not to ask, "are you ok?"..."do you need to take a break?"..."does it hurt?"

And then you watch them suffer from pain and you hurt.  You hurt but you can't show it.  You can't show it because he doesn't show it.  Nobody but a mother or father can see that look of discomfort in his eyes.  Someone once said that having children is like having your heart walking around outside of your body.  And seeing him hurt hurts your heart.

And then there are those other children you have.  You watch them shine.  Daniel lets Philip wrap his arm around his shoulder and allows his big brother to limp along next to him.  He fixes him something to drink.  Carries Legos to his bed so they can build while Philip rests.  He shines and makes us so proud.  But it is tough on them too.  We haven't left the house much this week...haven't played outside as much as usual.  They need for school to start...a return to normalcy.

Philip is so strong...so tough.  He hasn't complained yet.  Hasn't asked "why me?"  Only once has he cried...and I use that term lightly.  Sitting at the counter, I caught one tear coming down his cheek.  I wrapped him in a hug and asked if he was okay.  He simply said, "I just want to ride my bike."  "Let's try it," I said.  Carried that sweet boy outside, helped him get on his bike, and he rode without pain.  A beautiful moment.

And a little child shall lead them.  Philip is showing all of us how to deal with pain and tough diagnoses.  A true hero.

We'll get through this time.  Chris and I are getting him the best possible medical care, but we are well aware of who the True Healer is.  I ask you, my friends, to join us in prayer for Philip's complete healing.

"O Lord, my God.  I called to you for help and you healed me."

-Psalm 30:2

A Lake Getaway

When Caroline and Frank invited us to the lake for the weekend, we jumped at a last chance getaway before school started.  So glad we did!  Everyone had a blast!

My boys loved swimming in the lake...

and slip and sliding...

boat riding...

and tubing with Daddy!

We celebrated Mary Frances' 8th birthday.  Wish I had a picture of the Megladon cake!!  (Caroline, you were such a good sport!!)

The kids put on a talent show Saturday night that was priceless.

The elephant STOLE the show!

Most importantly, we spent time relaxing with some of our favorite people.

I think his exact words were, "I could sit here all day!"

Springfields, you are so gracious to invite our wild crowd into your home.  We always have a blast.  I can't wait to see our children's friendships develop!