a full life.

Less than 24 hours after coming home from Disneyland Matt turned around and headed back to the airport. For the past 5 years he's flown to D.C. every February for an annual work conference, one that he truly loves and looks forward to every year. The timing of returning home from an epic family vacation to not seeing him for a week wasn't my idea of fun, but we made it work. While he was attending formal receptions with free drinks and catered dinners I got to hang out with 3 cute kids and tried to make the best of our week back at home.

 We went to the park, played with sticks (why are boys so obsessed with sticks?!? We have a box in our garage solely for our stick collection), made little bunny sandwiches, baked cookies and got back into the normal school routine.

 Matt came home just in time for Carter's last basketball game of the season too. I'm not sure who was more sad about the season ending...Carter or Simon! I think Simon will really end up being the athlete of the family, or at least the biggest sports fan. He would rather watch sports highlights than cartoons, read sports books and usually has at least 1 type of ball in his hand around the house at any given time. He loved dribbling the ball with the big kids before and after games.

 Can we just pause for a moment and see how big these kids are getting? Carter looks about 10 and now that Simon had a recent haircut, his baby face is quickly fading.

 And then....we got sick. (well technically everyone but me got sick but I think it was just as much of a nightmare for me as it was for the 4 other people who were violently throwing up). I'll spare you the details but it really wasn't pretty. Simon was the first victim and then it was just a domino effect, taking everyone else in his path down with him. I don't really know how I survived the cleaning, disinfecting, laundry, fatigue and germs but we made it through and I pray we won't ever (ever!) have to deal with norovirus again.

 With health on our side it was back to fun activities. I'm really loving the experiences we've been able to give the kids lately, rather than toys or things that just get lost in piles. Watching them all try new things, go on fun adventures or just spend time together is really helping us all connect. Lucy is loving tennis and really improving each week. And both big kids went to a rock climbing class which was so fun too! Carter just flew up the wall like it was no big deal. I just love his fearless, courageous attitude! Lucy was brave and went higher than she thought she could go too!

 As spring slowly begins and the seasons change I'm hoping to do more of this. More book reading (Carter is flying through chapter books almost daily now!), outside play time, movie nights and family walks after dinner.  Happy Spring everyone!