Happy 40th Brian

Happy 40th Birthday! A day of celebrating Brian and grateful for him.   He is what holds us together and is a great father.  We are so blessed to celebrate his 40th with our long time friends.  We have know them longer than we have been parents!

 Brian has many dreams and ideas for the future.  I think the next year will hold some new twists and adventures in his life.  

I meet Brian twenty years ago.  We were young and the world was full of options and opportunities.  I remember the first suit he bought at Joslins.  His life in banking has recently had some complete life circles.  People who gave him a chance at the beginning have come into his life again.  It has been a journey! The kids and I are ready for many more years and adventures with him!

I love you Brian!

Traditions-Dying eggs

We have been on spring break this week.  We have had some outings and spent some time at home.  The warm sunshine and five kids lead to some egg dying outside.  The perfect place for the inevitable spills for some of our younger crew.  

It makes me happy that my older kids are willing to take part with their younger siblings.  When I watch my kids dye eggs is makes me remember dying eggs at my Grandma's as a child.  We always used the same cups at their houses and many times there were cousins with us.  At Grandma's house we could dye eggs just as we saw fit and there never was any worry about messes.

We dyed two dozen eggs, as of this morning most are already eaten!  There is so much snow falling out our window today and it looks like a cold Easter for us. Thankful for sun this week and these five kids!

A day at Children's

Last week we headed to Children's for a cleft clinic day.  It was a very long day with a lot of waiting in a small room with two very high energy boys, but we made it.  Mom was very sweet to go with us and spend this day with her grandsons.

This little one has become his own self.  He is full of energy and never seems to stop. Reminds me of some other people in this family.  Some little play areas sprinkled around the hospital were real blessings that day.

They are doing a study on Andy so he gets this set of photos each year.  This is a comparison from 2015 to 2016.  Takes a trained eye to see the change between these two photos.

After lunch there was time to run.  Always a good idea before the afternoon.  The doctor was happy with Andy's cleft so that is great news! 

Life out my window

A Friday morning view out my window.  Their own style. Cardboard has always been a family favorite to create from.  Looks like Luke is fitting right in. 

I can't even begin to explain our dressing for this day.  Sure made me giggle though!

Exploring

We headed to the lake to take photos of Riley and spend some time exploring.  It was Luke's first time to the lake.  He has plenty of siblings to show him the way.  They spent so much time looking at a fish right below the dock.  Who knew kids from the ages 14 to 3 could find something to talk about for so long as one (sick) fish! 

The five of them.  The five that keep me very busy and bring so much to our life.  Each has their own personality and each their own struggles.  There are times when I find it hard to believe we are here a complete seven of us. 

This little one literally looks up to each of his siblings.  They teach him good and sometimes not so good.  They all love on him and spoil him.  If there ever was a question if he would fit into our family the answer is clear, he was meant to be our baby.

My poor blog needs to be updated to Prichardseven and the photos at the top make me wish my kids were all younger. Seems as though I never have enough time but it is a season of life. For that I am grateful!

Wordless Wednesday

Of course I had to add some words on this Wednesday.  A moment in time during our Wednesday clean house ritual.  Reading a book that has been read by all three of our boys!

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY!

Riley is fourteen today.  He is the child who made me mom.  The year he was born we had a cell phone only to use for emergencies.  We had bought our first video camera and used a  film camera.  He was a baby that rarely slept and he filled our hearts with parental love.  He is finishing his eighth grade year and ready to go on to high school.  He is starting to use those wings we have been helping him to build one feather at a time.  I know the next four years are going to fly by and then he will be ready to take the next step in life, a step that will be his own.  During the next four years I want to be present in the moment and take many pictures.  He is ready to be fourteen and celebrate both with family and friends.  Today is one of those days I want to remember.  Just like on that snowy day in March when I first held him in his small little size of 4 lbs and 1 4 oz.  Now he is taller and stronger than me and is so loved! Happy Birthday Riley!