where did april go?

i always feel like this every year.  april hits and we are just running around like crazy people just trying to make it through.  we have birthdays, spring break, easter, baseball, tennis, end of year testing and just daily life.  before i know it school is over and we are on summer vacation!  i am counting the days...19 more to go!  we can do it!  not that our summer will be all that relaxing though.  carson will be doing robotics therapy again (he is not super excited about it but we felt like it helped so much and now with this new kink in our chain, arthritis, we feel like it'll really help) at children's healthcare.  it's a two week program and this year he is also doing OT along with PT.  it's such a good program and we are so lucky to live so close by...that being said, it's not just a hop, skip and a jump away.  it's going to be exhausting for all of us but so beneficial for carson, so we do it with a smile.  i can't wait to see the gains he makes this year.

i went through my phone and looked at all the pics from april.  wow.  it has been a busy month.  i'm always grateful for such a busy time from april to the end of may.  it keeps my mind busy.  the fact that may 21 is approaching and that it will be 10 years is never very far off my mind but thankfully, i have these three to keep me focused.  

the very beginning of april we packed up the new family truckster and headed to seaside for spring break. let's just say no matter how big the car we will be able to fill up every spot available.  you would've thought we were moving to the beach.  here we are packed and just about ready to pull out of the driveway...that's andrew in the very back probably trying to fit my "one more thing" in the back.

with a stop off in our favorite college town on the way we were able to catch a baseball game.  auburn never disappoints.

i love me some cam!

i miss this place so much

it was off the next day to the beach!  sadly we didn't have the best weather but we made the most of it and had a fabulous time.  a much needed vacation from all the chaos at home.  can't you see how relaxed i am?!  this shows just how crowded the beach was.  there were people everywhere.  we don't even know those people who are literally right next to us.  it was crazy!

two little peas in a pod.

and this middle one.  he has been quite the piece of work lately.  being the middle kid aint easy...said every middle child and no mom ever.  

honestly, this is pretty much how brooks felt the whole trip.  he just wasn't himself and barely could get enough energy to celebrate his birthday.  it wouldn't be a family vacation if one of my kids isn't sick.  bless him.

once we got back i realized i had scheduled our annual cardiologist check up for the monday morning following spring break...who does that??  and then as if that were not enough we found out carson had his final installment of special olympics that same day.  lucky for me both things were within just a few miles of each other.  after another glowing report from the cardiologist (ekg and echo both looked great...too great for a kid with a heart that was so damaged but i don't dare question how or why) we were off to watch carson and his friends compete.  

heart check up done!  passed with flying colors.  

this kid...he has the best sense of humor.  he would pretend he needed his walker just to then run away from the poor kid trying to keep up with him.

IMG_2630 from Lauren Hess on Vimeo.

two second place finishes for this kid, and that is with some bum knees healing from arthritis.  way to go buddy!

april is also full of baseball for this kid.  he always gives it his best and is still waiting for the day he can crack one to the outfield.  he did get his second game ball for making an amazing catch (with his eyes closed, sandlot style) in the outfield.  can you tell he was super pumped?

little cutie at the game

and because i hadn't gotten enough of the beach i went back down with some friends for a weekend of tennis and fun...lots of fun!  it was much needed girl time laughing and hitting the tennis ball around.  

um, notice neither picture is of us actually playing tennis.  that definitely was secondary to beach and bar time.

and as april comes to a close i realize that there will be two other bodies home with us all day every day so shelby and i are trying to get our shopping in before two boys invade our space!
at target, one of our favorite spots!


i think i may of created a tiny mini monster

and welcome may.  isn't this how you usually drop off your brothers' at school?  girlfriend has got some serious confidence.