Happy Holiday Weekend!

Enjoy your 3-day weekend! No school, no work, no homework, no football game or practice, not much of anything happening around here! I know our family is looking forward to a little relaxation and down time this weekend. 

The photos above are the boys and their neighborhood friends trying to stay cool last weekend! We have some of the best neighbors around!

Soccer Dad

Little Brother has spent the last almost 4 years of his life watching his big brother play soccer, baseball, basketball, and now football.

Finally it was his turn! We enrolled him in a "Kinder Soccer" class for 3-5 year olds. It was one hour a week for 4 weeks. He loved the warm ups and stretching, loved the running as fast as he could, loved the dribbling and knocking cones down, and loved playing "sharks and minnows".

However, he did not love soccer! The few times they scrimmaged, he ended up in my lap in tears. Sounds like another little boy in our family a few years ago (and no- it wasn't Kevin!)

He's Ba-ack!

Some of you know that a few times a year, Kevin travels

FOR-EV-ER!

Well, he finally got back last week from 3 weeks gone- with only a weekend home. It's great to have him back. Things are not complete without him home.

He took Friday off and rode the boys to school. Big Brother is always begging to ride bikes to school, but Mommy never has it in her! (I walk and they ride scooters most days!) So, he made their day (and mine) and took him to school and picked him up riding bikes both ways. He even spent the day running errands with me and Little Brother. Not an amazing day off, but nice to feel complete again!

Family Photos!

While I was in AZ, I got the chance to do some family photography for my family! I love taking photos for other people and despite the ridiculous temperatures, we got some cute ones!

First, my niece's 8 month photos, shot in a make shift "studio" area in the corner of a hotel room!

You gotta love those rolls!

Next, was my brother and sister-in-laws adorable family in the midday heat of 110 outside a fire station...

Too cute!

And lastly, our newest niece and her amazing mom and dad!

I love taking photos and my kids get really sick of it, so I jump at the chance to do photos for others, especially our family! Love you guys!

Arizona- Part 3

The last part of our trip was spent in the water! Kevin's mom has a pool and lives off a "lake". We took a boat ride every night with Big Brother as the captain and swam all day! They had so much fun with all their cousins! It makes it hard to leave every time...

Big Brother learned to dive while he was here!

Good Bye Heat, Good Bye Summer! Until next year :)

Arizona: Part 2

After our 2 days in Flagstaff, we continued to visit family in Phoenix.

We met Grandma Sheryl at a new play place at Desert Ridge. The boys enjoyed the slides and both tried a rock climbing wall for the first time.

Then, Grandma Sheryl treated them to a bag of candy- anything they wanted. Little Brother was like a kid in a candy store.... (lame joke, I know!)

We got to see our nephew for a quick dinner before he left with his mom back to Minnesota. Here he is with one of the kids' favorite uncles!

We also got a fun night of bowling and dinner with Grandpa Toothpicks and Grandma Jackie. 

I'll probably get in trouble for showing the scoreboard and how my dad was beaten by his 3 year old grandson, but it is worth the risk!

And a little photo to remember why we call him Grandpa Toothpicks! 

Forgive the silence

I hope you can forgive the silence occurring on this blog recently. After 8 days in Arizona, starting full day first grade, pre-school soccer, flag football, hiking and swimming, painting a bathroom, and a husband who is traveling, all we I want to do is this..........

A quick update- Big Brother is adjusting well to full-day first grade. He's so excited to take or buy lunch each day and have 2 recesses. He's made a few friends and is happy. I miss him, but enjoy the break of only having one munchkin home with me all day. I even get about an hour most days of silence as Little Brother naps. It's been a while since I've had that! Every day Little Brother has been picking a different bed in the house to nap in. At first it was in his brother's room. I think he felt a little sneaky. Lately it's been in the "Grandma bed" in the basement. I don't care as long as he still takes one!

Enjoying the heat

I snuck to Arizona with the boys about a week ago. Kevin was backpacking in the Grand Tetons and then off on a business trip. So, I packed us up and we hit the road (well, the air- we flew). We spent 8 days visiting family. The first couple of days we ended up in Flagstaff to visit my sister and her family, and then, we spent the rest boiling in Phoenix. Here are some of the highlights from Flagstaff! More to come soon.

(Still getting that creepy digitized look on my photos when I upload them to my blog. Oh well!)

Big Man on Campus!

Well, the day I've been dreading for almost 7 years has come and almost gone! In about 30 minutes I'll run down to the school to pick up Big Brother from his very first day of FIRST GRADE! 

Today is the longest day of school he's ever had and I'll promise you it's been harder on me than him! The drop off went smoothly - no tears (and none from him either!) It's so hard for me to have him spend more time with his teacher and friends than me each week. I know it's just a small step towards his independence and my letting go, but it's a painful one (for me anyways).

He's been telling Little Brother for weeks that he won't be home for lunch anymore- just like Daddy. He is pretty psyched about taking his lunch and buying pizza on Thursdays!

So, we're off on a new adventure and I'm sure it's going to be a great one. 

Detour- Change in plans...

God's "No's" are not a rejection. They are a redirection... (unknown)

(love this photo I found when I uploaded pics tonight)

Today was a great day and an emotional day for me. I've been trying to process everything that came at me, but it's still kind of swarming around in my head. 

Back in April a child care worked at the gym asked me, "What kind of speech problem does 'little brother' have?" I replied rather shocked, "None- he's not even 3 1/2 yet."

 Pause for a side note- Little Brother isn't really that little.  He's in the 98th percentiles for his growth curve and as tall as some kindergarteners. Therefore, people are always expecting more out of him and are surprised when they find out his age.

The child care worker, albeit rude, explained that her son had a speech issue and the way my little guy spoke reminded her of his issues. She gave me the name of a place that would do free testing. I tucked the name into my memory and vowed not to return to that gym for a while. But, it got me thinking and analyzing my little guy and I couldn't get it out of my head. So, finally in June, I made the call and they set us an appointment for July 18. 

Fast forward to today.

I thoroughly expected them to come to the conclusion that he was on course with all development, except articulation- the way he forms his words. I figured they would give me some pointers on how to help him at home and we'd be on our way. 

I was right and I was wrong.

He tested at age level for everything except articulation. They asked us back for more intensive testing (in September) and have suggested he will probably qualify for an IEP and a specialized preschool. 

This is why it was great, yet emotional day for me. 

The great part is that he's going to get the help he needs and we're getting it early. The emotional part is more complicated. 

First, (the trivial thoughts) I'm a very organized, planned out person. I have had it set since January where he'd be in preschool, which days, and how our schedule will look this coming school year. Now, he's going to start in one preschool, do further testing and possibly switch within a couple of weeks. There is no guarantee that the new preschool location and times will work out with when Big Brother goes to school. That has me in a tizzy- though I'm trying to give it over to God and trust Him to work out the details.

Second, there's a part of me that's overwhelmed by this special need I am suddenly aware of. I joked about my list of "jobs" as a mom in an earlier post, but truly this adds a new dimension to my job as his mom. I know it's a small problem compared to what so many families deal with, but as any mother, you want your kids to have the best chances in life. Now, it's my job to help him overcome this, I have no background with speech development and I'm a bit overwhelmed with this new role.

One last quote that's been settling in my mind today...

Perhaps strength doesn't reside in having never been broken, but in the courage required to grow in the broken places. (-unknown)

Being a mom isn't easy. I don't always know what to do and how to fix things for my kids. But, I know that God loves my kids even more than I could imagine and for that I am grateful and full of hope that He'll mold me and teach me how to be exactly what my little guy needs to overcome this obstacle and the many others that come his way.

Update: After writing this last night, I headed up to bed and couldn't sleep. "Exodus 4:10" was swirling in my head. I had NO idea why and didn't know what that verse even said. I turned on the light, read the verse and was amazed. Some may call it a coincidence, but I know it was God.  I am amazed in the ways He works.

Exodus 4:10-11

¹⁰ Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
 ¹¹ The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”