It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times

We had a good spring break.  It was pretty low key.  Scott took a few days off and we painted the kids' bathroom.  It took us a few days with sanding cabinets and painting trim.  I will post pictures soon.  

One of Hollis' best friends since we little gave her a card and money! Hollis is officially the richest person in our house.  We all have to borrow from her. ha! 

Our weekend took a turn on Friday.  First - I was in a car accident.  I'm fine.  My car is likely totaled.  I'm waiting to hear from insurance and the body shop but pretty sure it will be.  I was pretty shook up and still have PTSD when I get in my car but there was so much to be grateful for.  I was alone in my car - no kids.  I was not hurt and neither was the other person (at least not that I know of).  One of my former bosses and his wife who I am friends with just happened to be biking by right after and they stuck with me for a few minutes and helped calm my nerves until Scott got there.  I just feel very grateful. 

And then we had a leak in our garage that came through walls.  Our friend Craig came over and they cut part of the wall thinking it was the washer.  We later realized it was our refrigerator that was leaking and had gone through the walls in the pantry, laundry room and to the garage.  

Sunday at church we took communion and  I was loving the prepackaged.  It doesn't taste good but as someone who has been the communion committee for 10 years and has spent hours pouring that juice in cups - I'm all about the easy! 

We went to Chuy's for lunch after church.  

Love these kids! 

The hogs played in the Elite Eight Monday night and lost.  I'm so proud of them for going so far.  No one likes losing but I know we will be back and better next year and it was fun while it lasted! Will Holden didn't love the Hog shirt I made him wear on Monday but he sure looks cute! 

I'm also finding blessings in our flood situation.  I'm thankful for our insurance who has been great so far.  They sent over a company to tear out walls and baseboards and we now have high powered fans in our house that sound like a jet plane.  They have to run for 3 days.  We are shouting over each other and can't hear a thing going on but thankfully the guys who did this said "This isn't that bad at all" which made me feel better.  

All and all - it's just stuff.  Stuff can be replaced.  It could be SO much worse.  It hasn't been a fun few days but I keep trying to find the good and be grateful in it.  

 I took this picture of WH running down the sidewalk with the setting sun behind him.  He was so happy - "take pictures of how fast I'm running Mom".  I hope no matter your circumstances that you are all filled with this kind of Joy.  

Spring Break

We didn't go on a trip or do anything special but our spring break has still been fun. 

Monday Harper got to go on her first shopping trip with friends.  One of their moms took them to Branson for the day.  They shopped and ate and had so much fun.  

It made me relive my junior high days of going shopping with friends when one of our moms would take us.  The mom is a friend and she invited me to go but I could tell Harper really wanted the independence so I let her have it.  

You can tell how happy she is.  

She was able to get wifi on her phone so she texted me a lot during the day showing me what she was going to buy.  She took all her chore money she had been saving.  

She has wanted crocs forever and I hate them but since I wasn't there - I think she finally decided she could get some.  She actually called to ask me and I had to say "it's your money".  Because it's a no to orange crocs for me. ha! 

Mean while - Laurie and her family were also in Branson so I went by a couple of times to check on her cats like the good friend that I am.  If you know Laurie - this is NOT Kristen.  Kristen passed last year.  I would have NEVER held that cat.  She was Evil and scary.  This is Laurie's newest cat Finley.  He's actually pretty sweet.  I still don't like cats but I'm not terrified for my life with him.  

Hollis went with me.  She loved getting to pet the cats. ha! 

While Harper was gone I took the other two on a park hop.  It was a little cool and gloomy but they had a great time.  

We hit up four different parks in town and saw a few friends.  

That night - will Holden lost his first ever tooth.  He pulled it himself.  He was so excited!!! 

We kept one of my friends' little girls for a few hours on Tuesday.  We had so much fun playing with them.  

Her little girls remind me of mine when they were little.  

Harper and her friends talked me into a slumber party that night.  And starbucks.  ha! 

Scott and I have spent the last few days re-doing the kids bathroom.  We are painting it and painting the cabinets.  Scott has done most of the work because he told me I was the worst painter in the history of the world.  ha ha ha! He said I'm good at a lot of things but painting is not one of them.  And he's right.  So he can have that job.  I will post pictures when we are done.  I'm so happy for it to be updated.  

Yesterday was Scott's birthday.  We took him to Ruth Chris last night.  I don't think I have been there in 10 years but Scott really wanted to go.  It was good but it's not my favorite honestly.  Especially for the price.  

But we loved celebrating our hard working dad who is so good to all of us! 

The kids loved eating in a "fancy" place and they really loved dessert! 

I think a spring break staycation is what we all needed! 

 

Family Time

I'm playing a little more catch up on here! 

Hollis got a package of gum from her favorite teacher who moved last year.  Hollis thinks of her as one of her best friends and the teacher is so sweet to her. She face timed her on her birthday and made her day! 

Hollis had her 10 year old well visit.  I was thinking while there how I used to sweat and be so stressed taking 2 or 3 kids at a time to the dr because I had to and now I can leave the others home and just take one and they are so easy.  

I met my friend Paige one morning last week for coffee at Onyx and a walk around the Momentary.  

The Momentary is modern art in a old factory.  It's cool.  Really really too cool for me because I don't get the art at all.  But I still like going. ha! 

Harper got the Principal's award in an assembly.  This goes to one 6th grader either a quarter or a semester.  I was so proud of her.  Her teacher told me recently that she's the only kid in their section that tells teachers thank you for wiping the tables.  Harper is also the kid who leaves notes for the wait staff when we eat out thanking them for working.  

Scott's parents came for the weekend and we were so happy they got to come.  We went to lunch at Louise on Saturday.  It was so good but it was crowded.  I knew almost everyone there which was fun.  It made it feel very small town.  

Sunday the weather was nice so we took them to walk on Coler Trail.  

We love it here! 

We made it to the coffee shop on the trail for a rest and some coffee.  

The Stamps boys 

Me and one of my girls! 

We also took them to church on Sunday morning.  And then we watched the Hogs make it to the sweet 16 which gave me chest pains the game was so close.  I'm super excited about March Madness this year and counting the days until our next game on Saturday! 

 

A day in Branson

Last Tuesday, Hollis turned TEN! I can hardly believe it.  We gave her the choice of a birthday party or a family fun day and she chose the day of fun.  And we had a really fun day.  

All she really wanted for her birthday was money.  So I made her a money tree! It was so fun and she LOVED it.  

And it was easier than coming up with things to buy! 

Scott caught this picture and we have laughed so much.  The looks on their faces says it all - sister rivalry. Harper really isn't a jealous kid but I think for one moment she wishes she would have asked for money. ha! 

We drove to Branson and my parents and my Aunt Linda met us at Mellow Mushroom for lunch.  The birthday girl wanted pizza.  It was nice that my parents could join.  They don't live too far from Branson so that worked out.  It was one year ago today that my dad was stuck in Africa and I was trying to get him home.  What a crazy time that was.  And I keep forgetting my mom had breast cancer just 3 months ago because she is doing so amazing! 

Love my family! 

After lunch we had a tailgate party and Hollis opened her gifts from my family.  

Then we left my family and headed to a new place - Wonderworks.  It is sort of like a kids museum and an amusement park in one.  We really enjoyed it.  We stayed about 3.5 hours and could have stayed longer.  

They had a lot of interactive games, art displays and stem things.  

They had several rides.  Most of them Will Holden was too short for but the girls rode and loved them! 

Their favorite was this roller coaster stimulator.  

I had thought going on a Tuesday that it wouldn't be crowded but I underestimated spring break trips.  Branson was SUPER crowded.  Like a summer day.  But we still had fun.  

She wanted Cracker Barrel for dinner so we stopped there for dinner before heading home.  

We got home late and had school the next day.  Everyone was super grumpy the next morning but it was worth it to have a fun day in Branson celebrating our girl.  

 And we had gorgeous weather which was lucky because it has rained a lot this month.  The sunset was beautiful driving home.