It's May already!

I really love these moments. Happy children sitting together enjoying a snack and laughter is alive in them. This was taken 2 weeks ago. I'm enjoying this Spring season to dive in with out an agenda. We're simply being together in happiness. It's a lightness in the air that is almost tangible. 

This is what four kids running down a hall way looks like. A daily occurance, I felt this photo had it's place in history because it's so real. Lani in the middle trying not to get plowed over while yelling at them, Declan "ready to go outside" in his under ware, shirt and don't forget his shoes! Lastly, our big girls leading the pack!

Aurora sported this awesome black eye. I think this is her first ever and she was totally oblivious to it. It was a result of a head crashing good time on the trampoline with friends. Good times end in black eyes right? When we bought the trampoline we had a long talk about were we ok with broken bones... I hadn't expected black eyes!

Kalani decided that this face would be the one most presentable this past week. I had a really super hard week with the kids and well, she added her intensity. Can't be forgotten right? If she's going to scream at me so much... might as well snap a damn photo of it. Framing this for prom and graduation aye? This captures her true hollering face but not the fury that comes with it sometimes. Love the messy hair. 

Despite having a crappy week, peanut butter cookies were in store for kiddos. It was a necessary addition to save sanity and generally re-institute peace when chaos was all around. 

By the end of the week, we were mostly back to normal. This kiddo and me decided to patch it up and not kill each other. At 17 month old, this little one certainly is giving me a run for my money. This is generally speaking my least favorite stage of childrens' development but we'll make it. It's not a bad stage, it's just an adjustment phase. It's where they learn they really demand things and Mom really has rules. No means no, wait means wait, and you have to learn to fit in with a whole family because the world doesn't rise and set always surrounding you. This stage brings tears because they demand cookies for breakfast when they can see them in the jar and dislike the answer no, you can have eggs and yogurt. 

Just a stage that will pass so quickly it almost seems surreal to think back to when we were there with each of our older kids that aren't that much older at all. 

This lovely snap shot was taken by a fellow co-op mom for our TEACH Co-Op family photo for the year book. Not bad at all. All kids looking? That's damn near impossible. Aurora sporting her black eye? Check. Kalani moody? Check. Declan doing is "cheese" face when he sees a camera? Check. 

THAT folks is me trying not to die of pain during a 10K. It was impossibly hard with a stress fracture. I hadn't anticipated how the injury would truly impact my morale and general time. I didn't quit. I threw up from intense pain and felt defeated and frustrated. WHY had I gotten hurt just before this? Why now? BAH! But in the end, I finished with the best welcoming crew that surprised me at the finish line! 3 of 4 kiddos and my husband and Lani cheered me on. 

Bring on a peaceful, relaxing Spring week for all of us. We need it.