7.5

He is seven and a half. 

 He currently smells like his daddy's shower gel.  It's a little unsettling for this mommy, to smell such manliness on her "baby" boy. 

He plays with action figures, hot wheels and pretend swords.  Soon, though, they'll be in boxes and he'll be driving. 

He's smart.  Too smart.  

Thankfully, he has the work ethic to go with those brains. 
He figures the faster he learns everything, the faster he can KNOW everything. 

He's kind, sweet, and generous with a little lot of sass on the side.  

He's the kind of son dreams are made of.  All 37 pounds and 41.5 inches of him. 

Mother's day.

I had a good one.  Did you? 

It's complicated.

Every year, the boys' school does a Mother's day and a Father's day.  The 1st - 3rd grade class writes essays for their parents.
Mine was posted yesterday - I'll have a picture of it up, soon enough.  (Now that I don't have my phone, remembering the camera takes a lot more thought.)

However, a few days before, I eavesdropped on this gem of a conversation:

Hubband: What did you write about, in your mom essay?
B-rox: It's complicated.
Hubs: WHAT???
B-rox: She's complicated.  I had to write two pages.

Priceless.  Just priceless.

Lost.

We've been a pretty busy and active family lately.  Busy and active enough that I figured I should blog things.
Unfortunately, my phone was stolen yesterday.  So, that's sad.  Sadder yet, is the loss of all of my pictures not synced into iTunes.

So, the blogging will have to wait... some more.

I'm not gonna lie.

We're only three months into 2013,  and it's already delivered my fair share of knocks.  I'm feeling a little trodden on, to say the least.

However, despite what the universe may send my way - there are a few bright spots in my life.  Ever present, ever blinding, bright spots.

Yes.  I get a lot of Holdeezy.  He never leaves my side.
The other three are in school/work all day.
It's not favoritism, it's just presence. 

And for these four guys, I am grateful.

Snowquestration

We got a snow day yesterday, thanks to a storm that impacted my leg more than it did anything else, really.
So we banded together to have a sledstravaganza!

Amazingly, the kids lasted about two hours in the very wet, slushy, "snow".

Kenny got tired of waiting for a sled to free up. 

A few other parents said "I'll hold you camera and take pictures of you and Holden".
Seriously, this is the best one of us.  

"Down again!"

Find the orange hat.  That's us. 

This was the perfect kind of snow day. Snowy, get-out-of-school-free kind of weather, a day of play, and then today the roads are perfectly clear and dry and the sun is out and everyone is back at school and work.

Mommy has had it up to *here*!

Sometimes, the world becomes a lot.  When it does, you need to get away from it all.
So we did.

The cottage on NAS Oceana that we rented for the weekend.
Old officer housing converted into vacation housing.
3 bedroom house for a steal! 

Some friends from OSU had us over for dinner as soon as we arrived into town.  So, that was awesome.  

The next morning we set out for the Virginia Zoo (in Norfolk).

We're FONZ members, because well, we like zoos.  We are our own zoo... we like to see how others operate.  It turns out, there are zoos and aquariums all over the US that have a reciprocity system.  Norfolk zoo gives free admission to FONZ members.  So, pretty much, we're ballin'. 

Hubband thought he was tough enough to get by with just a track jacket.
The prospect of several hours outside in 20mph winds, in 40 degree weather changed his tune.
We stopped by Target to keep him from becoming a "pop" sicle. 

Continuing the idea that my kids will combust if they look at the camera.

Baby Monkey. 

EVEN THOUGH THE WIND IS INSANE and IT'S FREAKING COLD, we have to visit the beach.
Because the ocean is awesome. 

If the entire rest of the trip had sucked, it would have been a win for me.
Hubband started teaching Holdeezy how to rub my shoulders.

Braxton likes to read the "Stink" series of chapter books.
In the most recent one, the family vacationed in Virginia Beach.
So, when we drove past this guy, who also happens to be IN the book -
We had to stop.
This is, apparently, the biggest gorilla in the world.
Left foot and my children give a good size comparison. 

Mount Trashmore from the top.

Kind lady took a picture of us all together...
And her finger. 

Lunch on the way home. SO good.
I highly recommend the wonton nachos.
(Karen, this place is further south than I remembered, It's in Hampton.
But REALLY recommend.  Really, Really.)  

We had a good time, all in all.  We came back recharged and ready to roll.   That's the point, right?