Trip to where we lived...

After High School I went to YWAM in West Sussex, England and stayed at Holmsted Manor. That is also where I met Ben. After we were married and Jude was under a year old, we moved back to the town close to the manor, Haywards Heath. We really loved it there, the town, the friends, everything being so close.

Being back in England we were desperate to spend a day in that area and knew that the kids would love it. It was awesome being able to take them to the places that still mean so much to Ben and I both, and to catch up with close friends that we hadn't seen in a couple years.

We spent the morning in Brighton, a coastal town. On a clear day they say you can see France across the water...

The place is amazing. Ben actually lived there for a bit of our dating life so we have wonderful memories of our time in Brighton. The beach is a pebbled beach, with a long pier full of rides and games, loads of amazing restaurants, and great shops! We loved being there and the kids defiently didn't want to leave!

After Brighton we headed to Holmsted Manor to catch up with some good friends. It was WONDERFUL being back at the manor, such a lovely place filled with some of my most amazing life memories. The kids loved knowing that this is where Mama and Daddy met...sparked some pretty interesting converstation as well!After some time at the manor, we had dinner in Haywards Heath with our church friends. It was so great to see them all and feel like we had a bit of a catch up! After dinner we walked to the park where we used to always take the kids. It felt like a dream with them there now, Jude was 2 1/2 when we left Haywards Heath, Zoe 18 months, and Myles 10 days old...it was such a bizarre yet wonderful feeling being back!

A wonderful three weeks!

It is hard to believe that we are home...what a wonderful time we had in England! I'm finding it hard to know where to start with blogging the trip that we just had, it was definitely a trip of a lifetime! (Prepare yourself for many posts to come...:)

We weren't quite sure what to expect during the flight with four kids but to say they were well behaved would be an understatment! The three older ones were so excited and very understanding of who we were going to see and what it all meant. The flight was overnight so eventually they all got tired, couldn't keep their eyes open for another minute of the movie, and slept. Cooper was the one that we were most worried about. He fussed for about 5 minutes at the beginning then fell asleep until we landed...we were shocked, happily shocked that is!

We were all so excited to arrive at Appletree Cottage...

What a beautiful place it is... so much space for the kids to run, a garden full of fresh strawberries and veggies, and even an artshed, filled with arts and crafts! The kids were in their glory from the second we arrived! We knew that we were going to enjoy every bit of this trip!

One of my most favorite evenings...

One evening we just decided to all eat outside and have a BBQ ...I think other than the wedding, it was my favorite memory made! The evening represented in my mind as good as it can get; beautiful weather, great company, amazing food, gorgeous glass of wine, and the English countryside...it was perfect and something I will hold close for a long time!

What a fun bathtime!

The kids never complained about baths...

Nana and her kids...

It was so lovely to see the kids with their Nana...such a special time for everyone, memories made that will never be forgotten for sure!

Anyone for cricket...

Jude couldn't get enough of cricket (a game compared to baseball but still very different) while we were there! He pulled everyone in to play as much as he could!

Evening of tennis for the boys...

It was awesome seeing Ben with his family...it had been too long. Ben's dad plays tennis at a local club so Ben and his brother joined him one Sunday evening. I loved seeing my man on the court, and I know that Ben enjoyed every minute of it!

Future tennis champ...

This boy loves his tennis...

My lady's turning 5...

I can hardly believe that Zoe will be 5...

We will be in England for Zoe's 5th birthday so we decided to celebrate here a bit early. She was desperate for a party with all her friends this year so that's what we gave her!

If you know Zoe you know that she has the sweetest spirit and gentle heart. She is so much fun to have in our family and I feel honored to be her Mama! She is a love and I know that this coming year is going to hold so many more wonderful times and experiences for her...I'm excited to see her grow more and more into a beautiful little girl. We love you so much Zoe Belle!

My big little man...

Can hardly believe that Cooper is 3 1/2 months!

We had a rough couple of weeks with him, trying to sort out what was best for his little belly, dodging the spit-up, and generally just feeling a bit frustrated...but we seem to be through that now. And this little man has really settled into a nice routine, sleeping through the night and napping nicely in the day. We can't complain really!

He is a love, always happy and waiting for someone to talk to...we are so blessed to have him in our family!

What a boy...

We love this boy so much...

Spring soccer...

Jude started soccer a few ago and is loving it...

It is awesome to see his confidence grow and see such improvement in his game from last season! We are very proud of him and love his awesome attitude on the field!

Three months old...

Where has my little boy gone?

Cooper is already 3 months and what a love he is...

Loving every minute...

Loving every minute of life that is...

Ben and I have never experienced life this busy before, and I have a feeling that it isn't going to let up much in the near future! With school, soccer season, ballet recitals, boys tennis season ending, planning a fantastic trip to England (we are officially counting the days now!), organizing business for the summer, and generally spending every other minute we have outside...things are busy!

But I think at the same time I have never felt more content or happy! And I don't think the kids have ever been so content or happy. Their days are filled with adventure after adventure right now, and I love seeing them so happy. With the nice weather has come building forts in the woods, trying to get a wild flower garden growing for Zoe, slip and slides at Meme's house, burgers on the grill, visits with the neighbors, walks, biking...so much! I'm so thankful for each and every day right now, and all the wonderful moments we are having!

And our Cooper baby keeps growing! He is almost 11 weeks and quite the little chunk! He is a happy chap, giggling and smiling so much, and a complete fan of his brothers and sisters! It is so lovely to see them interact!

Thank you Lord for each of their little lives and entrusting them to us!

10 weeks today...

I can not believe that Cooper is already 10 weeks! We are enjoying him so much, with his little giggles and constant smiles. He cracks me up...I can't look at him when I am feeding him, with one glance he starts smiling so much he won't drink! He is mesmerized by his brothers and sister, he loves them so much! I'm so thankful for his little lovely life!

Wonderful weekend...

Happy Sweet 16 Ashley!This past weekend we celebrated my sisters 16th birthday! I can't believe she is 16!

My sister is awesome and I'm so excited for all that this year will hold for her. She is such a special girl, with an awesome heart, a great sense of humor, beautiful, and holds an amazing perspective on life. She loves my kids like they were her own and often takes on the challenge of watching all of them, often leaving me thinking she does a better job then I do! For her birthday, her and I are taking a road trip (with Cooper as well of course!) and I am so excited...it is going to be a blast!

Ashley, I love you girl...

We had a blast at her party on Sunday night. It was also awesome having my brothers family visiting...the kids LOVE when their cousins are around!

Ashley and her best bud (and cousin) Christy!

My beautiful Zoe Belle...

These kids really do love each other and it is awesome to see them all together...we miss the Smucker kids and wish they were around all the time!

The whole gang (with one more to join in July!) After the next addition there will be 8 grandkids 6 and under...so much fun!

Baby Abra...
Zoe and her bestest buddy Lucy...

These boys have gotten to such a fun age, always tackling and playing sport, video games...

Easter...

What a wonderful day...so much to celebrate!Easter is such a wonderful holiday, a day that holds so much meaning to each of our lives, and as the kids get older it is becoming such a meaningful day to each of them! I so enjoy sharing it with them and I love the traditions that have built over the past couple years. It is a holiday that I really look forward to each year.

I was especially challenged this year by the sermon on Sunday, about it only being about the cross, not about what I have to do or not do or change to be saved. Dad said that if we focus on all the other stuff then we are basically saying to Jesus that what he did on the cross to save us wasn't enough! Accept what he did and focus on his blood that saved us...that's it! And then he gives us a lifetime to figure out the rest!

Going private...

I will be making my blog private in the next couple days so if you want to be able to view it please send me your email address so I can set it all up! I know that there are a lot of people in England that check this so please send me your email so that you can continue viewing this blog!

Fallen...

I have fallen for this little man...