Wouldn't be Springtime without Hilton Head!

24 hour stop in Savannah was so much fun for our family. They loved the joint hotel rooms and they loved a quick "kick off spring break trip to Publix." We ate an entire gallon of ice cream sittin outside. No complaints from anyone. :) 

 

 Beautiful Savannah. Silly face Griff. He still won't stand up straight because his belly is sore, but he's a trooper. Hanging in there! It's just so nice to be in 70+ degree weather.

And we have arrived!!! Yahoo!! Always a Saturday night pizza night for our first night in Hilton Head together.

 Rainy Easter Sunday but a heated pool makes all the difference in the world. No one batted an eye. :) And although there are no pictures of our great Easter Church service, it was an awesome morning together worshipping at a church in Hilton Head.

 Rainy Easter Sunday continues...Grady's first few steps on the beach and first sight of the ocean. Rain and 75 degrees--no worries for these kiddos.

 He didn't stay dry for long. This little boy just ran and ran and ran. In the water, out of the water...repeat. So happy.

Who needs an Appendix?!

Well we thought it was just another Sunday night, family dinner at the Moan's house. Griff had been telling me all day that his tummy hurt, and very clearly pointed to one spot. As the day went on he started to develop a slight fever and lost some energy. He did not eat dinner and by the time we got home from the Moan's house he could barely walk into the house. Nonetheless he fell asleep---but only for a few hours. 11 PM we arrived in the emergency room at the Toledo Children's Hospital.

1:00 AM. Still waiting on tests, doctors, answers...poor kid could hardly sleep. Very confused and quiet.

 2:45 AM. I sent Ryan home and Griff gets an IV. Not fun but man was this kid brave. He just said OUCH and didn't cry at all. I cried when he wasn't looking because who in their right mind wants to see their son get an IV. Ugh. Poor buddy

We were admitted to a room on the 5th floor around 5:15 AM. Griff and I slept about 2 hours.
We walked around the floor and found a play room---waiting to see a surgeon or a doctor that had some answers.

Dr. Cline finally came to see us and determined Griffin needed to have his appendix out. Emma and Daddy arrived and kept us company until they came to take Griff to surgery. Griff was feeling pretty miserable. He wasn't allowed to eat or drink, and he had no ability to lift himself up. His fever was pretty high at this point.

Surgery was a success: insert popsicle!!!

First smile I have seen from this boy in almost two days. Ahhhhh. So glad he's ok and now he can begin to recover. So proud of my brave boy.

The next day he gets visitors and is one happy boy. Slow moving but happy to be feeling better.

Family dinner at the hospital was quite the event. Ha! But Griffin loved the company and his siblings sure do miss him. This is the last night here. (stayed a total of three nights at hospital)

And now we leave. Thank you Jesus...

 All smiles now that he's home. Ahhhhh

2nd grade and at ease

Loved this picture Mrs Breen sent me today of Emma doing math at the smart board. This girl just ENJOYS life. 💗💗

Valentine's festivities

Pretty much Valentine's Day exists so we can be excited about winter for a week, and look forward to spring coming. Haha.

The kids love this Hallmark holiday and it provides opportunity for yummy treats and a date night for Ryan and me. Not too bad!! ❤️❤️

Winter Saturdays

It's actually cold out now. This past week has felt like WINTER, and we can't complain because the winter has been so wonderfully mild.

But, winter means spending more time inside, eating more, exercising less, more TV and a messier house. I guess that comes with the territory. 

Terrible twos and Funky fives

I just came downstairs from putting Emma to bed. We talked about the boys in our family. Grady is quite a different two-year-old than Griffin was at that age. He gives us a run for our money, that's for sure. Every other mom I talk to reminds me that two-year-olds are defiant and nutso... Grady definitely is showing signs of that this week! Ha! His favorite thing right now is to take his hand and smack the air whenever he gets mad. It's kind of cute because he puffs out his lip, but yet it is so disrespectful and downright aggravating!

Griff was the dream toddler and I think might just be going through his terrible twos in the form of a funky five year old. Emma concurs. 

What a day! 

Eleven years is not possible

I can't believe this girl turned 11 today. I don't know who was more excited for her birthday: her or me. I love celebrating my kiddos and I love making the day special.

Ellie Snow, I am so proud of you. Your dad is so proud of you. There is not a day that goes by that we don't think that. Even amidst crazy mood swings and fights with your siblings...haha. Ellie, you are an incredibly hard worker. You are good at almost everything you touch, BECAUSE you try hard.
The past 6 months have matured you in tremendous ways as I've seen you rise up to help with, and love on Grady. You do this without being asked. You are fun and silly and sensitive. You are empathetic and kind. The other night when I was putting you to bed you said to me, "Mom, be quick when you go to the bathroom because when you come in I want to hear about how YOU are. all we ever do is talk about me."
You are a gem and a prize and you are our love. We pray that you would only understand that more deeply as we walk through another year of your life with you. And we pray you would trust that more fully as you grow with Jesus and understand his love for you: because it's even better than ours.
WE love you Ellie Snow.
Happy Birthday!

Ellie and Tiffany Thomson during her birthday guitar lesson. They opened the door when we were on a walk and sang/played for us. So fun. ❤️