As "Luck" Would Have It!

Yet another week is in the books here at the Shroyer house & guess what, I'm a little late on this post because, yet again, its been a busy one! LOL! I can't believe Easter is this weekend, but I am so ready for it. Ready for the fun, the magic of the Easter Bunny, but most of all the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus! We have been remembering Holy Week, this week, at our house and Ethan is so into The Bible series, so we've been watching the story via his DVDs. I love watching him as he learns, but what gets me most is him wanting to know, on his own, and that is so awesome!  I don't even have to ask him to watch it, believe it or not, he's the one that comes to me and says, "Mom, want to watch The Bible with me." I love that!!! Ethan is a visual learner, so these DVDs are perfect.  Yes, we read the word, but right now at 9 watching it seems to work best for him, so that's what we do most.  Today, is Maundy Thursday and tonight we will be watching the portion of the Last Supper, having our own communion together, and remembering what happened on this day so many years ago.  Yes, it's of utmost importance to me that my family knows the "real reason for the season" and that we always remember why Easter is so important. We also have eggs to color in preparation for EB, as well.  So, lots of things going on at our house this Easter week.    

I'm not sure about you, but I needed spring this year! I needed it so bad I could taste it, lol!!  The winter wasn't even that bad, but I needed the new, the fresh, the bright sun, and just being able to go outside more than ever before right now. I was so excited to wake up last Sunday knowing it was the 1st day of Spring, even though, it was snowing outside....gotta love Ohio, I guess! LOL!!  One of the many reasons I love spring, is St. Paddy's Day. That day brightens my spirits and I love all the green!  This year, we had a lot of fun after school.  I had prepared all day for a scavenger hunt and finalized the boy's "pot of gold" at the end of the hunt.  I made green beer for Brenton and I, the boys had green punch, and Katee even got a green toy.  Everything was green and so much fun, too. The boys loved it and so did I!!!  Yes, we celebrate EVERYTHING around here! I mean why not?  They are only little once, growing up too fast and this is 1 way of making their childhood memorable. I love it!☺

For those of you that know my husband, know that he truly is a "Buck Nut" and lives and bleeds scarlet and gray.  I mean this guy is a complete freak about OSU football and anytime he has an excuse to make it down to the campus, he's there. Well, last Saturday him and Ethan headed to Columbus for lunch w/ his brother's family and after they were done Brenton and Ethan headed over to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.  I'm not kidding when I say this, but my husband hits the jackpot (so to speak) every dang time he is there.  I wish you could've heard him on the phone when he called me, it was like he was a kid in a candy store. LOL!!!  Here are a few pics from their time there......

as they were walking in, Jonathan Hankins was walking out. Former OSU Buckeye, currently a NY Giant

I guess when you're with Daddy you get in places

taking it all in!

and then who appears....Sam Hubbard

on their way out, they ran into this guy. Darryl Baldwin another former OSU Buckeye and currently a Bengal

Finally, just a little boy with a BIG dream!

Needless to say, they had a wonderful afternoon together and Ethan has been on Cloud 9 all week.  Today, starts their Easter break and he's been excited about that too, but yesterday he had "3rd Grade Fun Day" and Brenton was invited to attend.  Ethan was pretty stoked about that and from what I heard they had a great time.  Brenton loved the event and even won the Cheez-it game in one of the rooms, so I guess it's fair to say that even Daddy could pass the 3rd grade all over again, LOL!

Happy Easter friends!
♥
Melinda

Another year to celebrate!

Ethan turned 9 years old, 9 YEARS OLD, last weekend and to say I'm not sure where the time has gone sounds so cliche, but truly I have no idea where it went? I know I have lots of pictures in scrapbooks to prove we have lived life and made a ton of memories during these 9 years, but to actually sit and think that he is 9, truly makes me gasp for air.

I have loved this kid, since the time I found out he was growing in my belly and to be able to watch him grow into the boy he is today has been a true blessing.  I'm so proud of him! I look at him and I can't help but smile, even when he makes me angry! I love how he has the power to change my mood with a simple wink! I love his hugs and his pure heart! Yes, he's a mama's boy and guess what...I love that, too!☺  However, I'm slowly watching him change, grasp new things about life, and feel his way through situations that he is faced with. Our seasons are changing the older he gets and this birthday hit me, with the fact, I don't have much longer to prepare for things like Easter or Christmas like we have been (you adults know what I mean, lol).  He's teetering and for now I can smooth it over, but I know it's coming and I'm slowly preparing myself. I know my baby boy is no longer (even though in my heart he always will be) and letting go just a tad more with each passing year is not so easy to do, yet it always has to be done. I know I can't shove him in a bubble and keep him there, but man it would be nice to be able to stop time every now and then just to make sure I didn't miss anything. I try my hardest not to think about the future or worry about it even, because I can't stop it and honestly, I just don't want to be faced with facts that my heart isn't ready to face just yet. So, I don't let my mind go there! Yes, I know it's coming, but for now I'll continue to embrace each moment, enjoy each season, and live life to the fullest each day as I watch my sweet boy figure out his own path with each passing year!

Ethan chose to not have a party this year, but rather go to the waterpark with his buddies for the afternoon.  It turned out great and he had a lot of fun.  It was a weekend full of celebration that kicked off Friday with a snow day, so even though he didn't have a traditional party, he still had loads of fun and here are some pics from his weekend!

Yes, he got the new phone that he wanted the Droid Turbo 2

after he went to bed.....

every part of the house was decorated

even coming down the stairs he knew he was special

it should always be exciting to open your bedroom door on your birthday

Brothers

Having fun

buddies make birthdays so much better

Colin had fun, too

Happy Birthday sweet boy

making his wish

Master Chief

Finally, I have to share 1 picture collage of Colin, because it's just too cute not to. LOL!  He had a fun time at school last week with Cat in the Hat week. Each day he did something from wearing green, polka dots, PJs, to this......

Our little Cat in the Hat

These Days!

In a RUT?!?!

Yep, I have been the past few weeks! You know that "rut" when you feel yourself going through the motions of life and you know you are getting things done, but it's like you're in robot mode or something? Yeah, that has been me....a robot! I think the winter blues hit me! UGH!!! However, I did hear birds chirping, so I know spring is almost here and thank the good Lord!!

As the world was spinning and I was trying to stay a float, life continued! It was good and I do remember it, but looking back it just felt weird for me.  The funny thing, it's always the 3rd semester of school that gets me, too!  For us, this semester is always the hardest and LONGEST it seems!  Man, so many things to do and always redundant...read, study, practice, test, work on project, read, study, practice, test, work on project and oh yeah, fit in the fact that we still do have "kids" that need time to breath! Its just been EXHAUSTING!!!!

Ethan, especially, needs that break from school and he wanted to try something new this winter! He has talked about Tai Kwon Do (TKD) for months and I knew he needed "something" right now!  He needed an activity that 1) he knew nothing about 2) challenged him 3) gave him something to look forward to and 4) help build his confidence.  Unfortunately, we had no clue if he would like it or even what to expect, because Brenton and I know nothing about TKD.  The one thing we did know, is we had to give him the opportunity to atleast try it.  I was almost afraid to ask how he liked it, but thank goodness I didn't even have to, because he was so excited to tell me that he LOVED it!  It was so sweet to see the smile on his face, too.  He loved it so much that he achieved his first belt on Day 2! Ethan received his white belt last Thursday.  Now, here's the funny part....He had to memorize 9 "polite" words, 4 sentences, and then stand up in front of everybody to present them to his instructor. HE DID IT!  Ethan had that sheet memorized in 1 day! However, as his mother I'm allowed to say this, I was a little frazzled because we've been working on "memorizing" multiplication facts for months and he had that sheet memorized in 1 day...REALLY, lol!!!  Oh well, he needed this boost of confidence and I was so excited for him. When I saw the smile on his face when he presented me with his belt, I knew TKD was an answer to a prayer. This is something that is his, ALL his and nobody else can take it away from him.

It turns out, as a mother and the many seasons you face with your children, it's ok to have the feelings I've had the past few weeks.  I can honestly say that my life, right now, is about my boys! I'm not the girl that I was...the one that worried about clothes, or being skinny, or making sure to have the perfect necklace to match the outfit that I was wearing. Nope, that's not me anymore! These days, I'm lucky to get out of sweatpants and have my hair done. hahaha!  I'm not complaining, all I'm saying, is I'm in the season of life that my boys need more of my time than I can give myself right now. I love being a mother! Every bone in my body loves it and I love that I have the opportunity to be here for my kids, as much as, I am! The day will come where I won't be needed, so I'm soaking all this up and during moments, like the past couple weeks, I drink more coffee, have hot tea, drink a few beers, take bubble baths, and I even got my nails done. I might not be the girl that used to have it all together from my hair down to my toes these days, but I can promise you I'm still here. These days though, the girl that stares back at me in the mirror is "fluffier" than she used to be, has tired eyes most of the time, hair pulled back, and in "all natural" mode 99% of the time; however, is so much happier! I love the person that my boys have helped me grow into! I'm a better version of myself! So, yes, I've been in a rut, but I never lost the truth of my reality during the past few weeks. You see truth is, the good Lord has been good to me and I thank him everyday for giving me this life that I'm so blessed to be living...ruts and all!☺

Until next time!
♥
Melinda