Soccer Buddies

Liv was really lucky to join a U6 girls soccer team this spring.  Their team name "Soccer Buddies."  I was wondering how she'd do considering most of the girls have played on the Soccer Buddies team for over a year, she didn't know any of them, and at the same time, they started their soccer season last Fall.  They all made her feel so welcome.  She is blessed to play on a team with some great girls, and a great coach!  It isn't in Liv's nature(so far,) to be super aggressive but she is learning the concept of soccer.  Within the last couple months she's been playing, she's learned a lot, really come a long way, and already seems more comfortable, and confident with soccer.  She keeps telling Shane and I that she wants to continue and I am thrilled.  I didn't really think she'd be our sports girl, but I could be wrong.  Again, the most  important thing is that she's having FUN!  I am so proud of her for trying something new, something that was a bit out of her comfort zone.  I already miss soccer Saturday's and the parents/kids involved with the team.  The Soccer Buddies are having an end of the season get together in June, it will be nice to see everyone again.  My noodle is growing in so many ways!  Here are some pictures on game days.

Plain & Simple

I LOVE my boys!  Today I was watching Shane teach Nolan how to change the oil and it was one of the sweetest things I've seen them do together.  I can see in Nolan's eyes that his Daddy is his hero, and is truly one of Shane's biggest fans.  What's not to love about Shane ;)  I think that not only Nolan, but all of my children are so lucky to have a Dad who has Christ at the center of his heart.  Nolan has a wonderful role model and will be learning how to become a warrior for Christ, a man of God.  Back to what I was saying...the two of them are so similar by nature, and it melts my heart when I watch them together.  I love that Nolan's favorite things to dress in are a plain white t-shirt, and jeans or shorts, just like Daddy.  If you looked in both of their closets you would see that their wardrobes consist mostly of those things.  He is on Shane's schedule(not one of my favorite things, Shane is up so early,) and if for some reason Shane has left before Nolan wakes, it's a bad start to the morning.  He's got to have his milk, a piece of toast or cliff bar, and a snuggle with Dad before Shane leaves for work.  He absolutely loves his Dad!  Don't get me wrong, JP is a mamas boy too, he's pretty equal.  And as much as he's all boy(whatever that really means?) He has a tender side.  He occasionally plays with a baby doll or two with his big sis, and if he sees that Liv & I are painting our toenails, he wants his painted too(and yep, I do it for him.)  Nolan and Liv made up a song and have been singing it all week.  They put their arms around each other and say "we love our bread, we love our butter, but most of all, we love each other."  At the end the kiss each other.  I know it sounds silly, and it is, but it's sweet in my eyes, and to my ears.

There are things Nolan will talk about doing with his Dad when he gets older or like he says when I'm "BIGGA."  Like grind coffee for the coffee maker and drink it with Dad in the mornings, mow the lawn, use the drill, and drive Dad's truck, and drive us around~haha...all the things big dudes get to do =)  If we're going somewhere special, Nolan will ask Shane to spray some cologne on his little neck.  He is so eager to grow up and be a big boy, yet as with all of my kiddos, I sometimes wish I could just keep them little and tuck them away into my pocket.  Anyhow, I got some cute pictures of them mowing the law together(a couple different times.)  I tried to be stealthy so I wouldn't spoil the moment.  I really am so lucky to have a husband who loves his kids so fiercely, the way I do, and they are so blessed to have a Dad who gives them 100%!

A few weeks late, but that's ok.

Some Easter pictures. Better late than never I suppose. 

This picture makes me laugh.  Olivia was a little leery about the Easter bunny at first so she kept her distance.

 NJP with his cousin Aiden

 Ride out to the Easter egg hunt.

 I forgot the kids baskets =(  thank goodness that I have reusable bags in my car.

 Nolan shared Aiden's froggy basket.

 Two cute little "dudes!"

 Papa Hennessy looking at baby chicks with his grandbabes.

 What a precious sign of SPRING!

Attachments

Clearly I am attached to hair...which I know is kind of weird.  I don't quite get it, but I am.  Obviously I am attached to Olivia's as well(maybe because I think short hair makes her look older?)  And now that I think of it, I'm attached to Nolan's silky blonde bowl cut too, I love his hair!!!  Back to Liv, she has been begging me to let her cut it for a couple months now.  She had 4 or 5 inches cut the last hair appt., but selfishly, I told my hairdresser not to go above the shoulder's.  I know, that's terrible, I should let her decide at this point.  Well yesterday, I bit my tongue and let her cut it passed her shoulders!  I think I was having a mini panic attack just watching all her locks fall to the floor.  I had to stand up a couple of times and walk away.  My hairstylist happens to be Liv's and she knows about my hair "attachments."  So she kept teasing me.  Anyhow, it turned out super cute and makes more sense since she's got naturally wavy hair and so this style seems easier.  No more braids, and long pony tails =(  just little stubble pigtails(which are very cute!)  Nonetheless, Liv had a fun big girl day at the salon.  After she got hers cut she had to wait for me to get a micro trim ;)  and so Heather(my hairstylist,)  let her play with her hair "stuff"  and even brought out the hair manikin.  Liv was over the moon straightening, combing, pinning it up, and styling it.  Was cute to watch her pretend to be a stylist.  Here are a few pictures of the new do.  I caught her while she was pretending to be her 1st grade teacher Mrs. Holcomb(that's why she's got her little white board out =)  She's my imaginary play girl, always wanting to pretend~and I've always loved that about her.

For Sale!

 

I took these from my car this morning.

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11*This verse is what comes to mind when I think about whether or not, a move is in our future.  If only I could know the answer right now...I was born without patience ;) 

We decided to put our house up for sale about a week and a half ago!  I have been dragging my feet on this for a very long time, while Shane has wanted to attempt selling the house for quite some time.  I bawled my eyes out when the for sale sign went up! I sometimes feel like all the stars are aligned for us to move. 
*Shane's parents so graciously offered for us to move in with them if we sell(very kind!)
*We have a great house/yard, in super good condition, and have taken really good care of it!
*Great neighborhood
*Good location, so easy to get to most places, 5 min away from Target and other handy stores, & coffee shops.
*Cul-de-sac, park in our neighborhood that's a block away
*AND, my husband helped build this house, so it's bulletproof(just kidding, but he is REALLY good at what he does!)

On the flip side of those things, I know that the market is still SO unpredictable, and the economy still weak/messy!  Now, we just have to WAIT and see what the Lord has in store for us.  There is NOTHING that I don't like about our house.  I actually love this house, and am very attached to it!  So many memories have been built here.  Especially for the kids.  However, we are going to outgrow it, and fast!  We really do need an extra bedroom and a few other things.  Not to mention, Shane has an opportunity to build again, so if we could do it, it's ideal and perfect for us!  At the same time, if we're meant to stay here, we'll be okay with that too.  I will have to have a garage sale and get rid of lots and lots of "things" to make more room.  It will definitely be a tight squeeze over the years.  I am used to that though, I grew up in a family of 7 and there was a point when we lived in a house with 1 bathroom for all of us(and no dishwasher, bless my mothers heart!)  So I am familiar with having to make things work with what I have been given.  In time(hopefully short time,) we shall see what our housing situation looks like =)  We could use prayer on this one!

6 months!

I cannot believe how different this pregnancy has become.  I felt so energized and GREAT at this point in my pregnancies with Liv & JP.  However, this pregnancy has sucked the energy right out of me.  I often feel like I could pass out from exhaustion, my heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest just from carrying a load of laundry upstairs(it's not funny, but it makes me laugh because I've never experienced that in pregnancy before!) I have tried swimming more, walking, prenatal yoga, and naps...nothing is working, and I always feel like I walk around complaining of how T-I-R-E-D I am.  If I could just get on a regimented workout routine I think I'd feel better.  I was so active and worked out no less than 4-5 days/wk with my other pregnancies, so I'm a little disappointed that I haven't stuck with that this time around.  Oh well, I guess it's the one time in life I can have the excuse of laying low & taking it easy(well, as easy as possible while taking care of my family.)  I am trying to soak it all in, and fully embrace the miracle of pregnancy.  I seriously already feel like I'm lugging around a big ole' baby boy =) and I still have a ways to go.  Shane keeps reminding me that before I know it, I will have delivered him, and will miss him moving, growing, and living inside me.  He knows me too well!  Here are some 6 month buddha belly shots.

Use caution when eating them...they are WAY TOO addicting!

Alright, I've never been one to really deprive myself of food, especially when it comes to a good treat.  However, every year around Easter when certain candy comes out on the shelves...I'm in trouble!  Cadburry Mini Eggs are one of my FaVoRiTeS(and should be in their own food group in my world!)  But they are so addicting, and I seriously can't stop eating them.  Not to mention Snickers came out with Snickers Peanut Butter Squared(equally dangerous,) which have recently been added to my collection of chocolates.  Help!  It's no wonder I'm shooting out in areas of my body I didn't know existed ;)  I'm am going to turn into a Heffalump!