Lordy Lordy!

Well hey there, friends!

Long time, eh?! I couldn't believe the date I saw at the top of my blog when I read it tonight--February!?!  Whoa Nelly!! That's a sad record for me.  Fortunately, life will go on and has continued to buzz here in G-Ville despite my blogging absence!

We are cranking at full systems go as we wrap up the ever-busy month of May. What is it that makes May such a zoo every year??  End of school? Yes. End of spring activities? Yes. Start of summer activities? Yes. Countless graduations, first communions, parties, celebrations? Double yes.

But have we enjoyed every minute? You betcha!

For the first time in many years (really, since becoming parents!), we have been at a plateau of "normalcy". We're not anticipating another baby and our youngest is past 2! Another new record for the G's!! ;) While we love our babies, we are very excited to be raising our brood and tending to their needs. They are growing in leaps and bounds; wow'ing us daily and challenging us to have our game faces on in this joyous road of parenting. It is an awesome road, but definitely not one for the weary!!

M (9) is wrapping up Cub Scouts and Y soccer and recently re-joined Taekwondo as a green belt. He was inspired watching T's taekwondo efforts and now is in pursuit of the purple belt come June. He has aged up in swimming and swims as a "Midget" on our summer team. Practices started last week and are already driving mama crazy. ;) He'll play "Mazurka in F Major" in this weekend's piano concert. He's also gained his own room since my Feb post--we moved the girls into a room together, which freed up the smaller room to allow for M his own sleeping and study space. It is working out splendidly, though as I type, he is sleeping in his brothers' room "just for a few nights". Old habits die hard. ;)

T (7) is our resident purple belt and impresses us often with his series of forms and moves. He is very serious about becoming a black belt and is surely be able to defeat his mama any old day! Soccer is also wrapping up for him. He and M were on the same team this season, which was nicer on our Saturday schedule, but tough on GG who is their coach! Thankfully soccer coaching is winding down for Daddy and he'll officially retire after Saturday's game. ;) (That is until little girls start playing! lol) T will compete in a taekwondo tournament this weekend and then we'll rush to the aforementioned piano concert, where he'll play "Lunar Eclipse" and hopefully let off the pedal at some point while playing! ;) He joined the swim team this season and is already loving being a "Mite". Go Gliders!

J (5) has wrapped up pre-k for the year and we were so sad to say goodbye to our beloved pre-k teacher, Mrs. M. What a wonderful year he had and we can't say enough good things about what Mrs. M did for J. He is raring to go for kindergarten! In the meantime, he has been conquering intensive swim lessons at a local swim school. His freestyle is looking pretty decent and now we're working on a side "pillow" so he can learn to breathe. The good news is that he can manage well enough in the water to go down either of our pool's 2 water slides. Roger that! He wraps up his Y soccer season on Saturday and informs us that his team has not lost this season. We will be moving him and his fancy footwork over to a more intense program next fall and see how things go--it is by far his favorite thing to do and one can often finding him dribbling his ball back and forth in the backyard.

**Big news in the G household is that all three boys will be moving to a local Catholic school in the fall! It was a heart wrenching decision, but one that we feel will benefit their development. They are admittedly less than enthusiastic having to say goodbye to friends and a school we all love, but did a preview day and thought the new school was really nice. Pray for all of us! More reports to come!

MG (3) is quickly approaching the 4yo mark and *boy* have we seen a dramatic improvement in her disposition lately. It's like she's grown up overnight. She is such a lovely, sweet little girl and I'm finding I really like being around her. Today she said to me over coffee, "Mommy, I'm so glad to be sitting here next to you." She melts my heart. Thank you, Lord! This has been a long time in coming and I have paid my dues!! ;) I'm so glad to like my daughter. ;) She loves to draw and color above all else and plays with her dolls and figurines in earnest. She is so girly girl and different from the boys--it is awesome!

V (2) turned the big two in early May and seems to be progressing toward the dreaded two's behavior slowly but surely. She has a lot to say, which does help ease communication and prevent frustration. She definitely has a strong will and a sense of self-righteousness, so I'll surely be checking in with moans and groans here in the coming months!! She is still a great delight to all of us, though, and I can't help but praise God for knowing how much we needed our sweet V. She is a great blessing, as they all are.

GG and I are leading our local chapter's Catholic Engaged Encounter this year, which has been such a treat, but also added to our plates. My tutoring has also really picked up and I am constantly challenged to find the balance between work (helping students!) and family life. Above all, I am so grateful to love what I do, both as a mom and as a teacher. God is good!! Lent was a really fruitful time of discernment and prayer for our family, but boy did the Devil fight back. We had a rough March of illness and child transitioning. There were days when I didn't know what the next would bring. Thank goodness for God's Steadfast Love and answer to our very eager prayers. He closed doors and widely opened others and for that we are so very grateful. To Him be the glory!!

I plan to be back here more regularly.
God bless you and yours!
Keep shining,