Proud Mama Moments

Okay so here's where I have to brag up my babies a little, so I don't blame you if you want to just skip over this post. :) On the 14th, the boys had their annual track meet (all the private schools in town - 500+ kids - get together and compete in a day-long event), and they look forward to this . . . all. year. long.

We started out with the field events - Jack did the long jump. And blew me away. He competed against 7 other kids and took FIRST. :)
Noah did the softball throw, and came in 5th. But in all fairness, he competed against some baseball players. Which he is not. :)
All their buddies - Jack's way over on the left edge, Noah's on the right edge.

Jack and Noah's fan section.

Here's Noah running the 200 meter dash (1/2 way around the track) - raced against 7 kids, came in 3rd! (He's second from the left, dark green shirt).

Jack in the 200 - he took 1st. The boys' running events didn't start until about noon and Jack was nearly jumping out of his skin by that point, just ITCHING to get out there and run. He really left everyone in the dust.

Here's Noah running the 400 (1 full lap of the track) - I didn't get very many pictures of him because I WAS SO STINKING EXCITED because . . .

HE WON!!!! 1st Place!! It was a huge deal for him and I was so happy for him my heart nearly burst. He told me afterwards he took Daddy's advice and paced himself - the kids who took off like bullets in the beginning had tired out by 1/2 way around.
Here's Jack running the 400 (in the lead) - the child just flies . . . .
And yes, he got another 1st place ribbon. :)

And last, they ran the 400 relay - Noah, Jack and two of their buddies. Jack was the anchor, which means he runs last to the finish line. Here he comes -

And a 1st place finish for the Zion relay team!!
Then the next day, the boys had their spring piano recital. They've come so far in their 17 months of lessons, we were just so proud of them. This time, they got to do a duet - and at first I was so worried they would just fight about it, but they worked together on it so well, I was impressed.

Jack performing -

And Noah -

The duet -

And with their teacher (who is totally amazing to watch - WOW) -

There. Done bragging. :)

We're down to TWO MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL!!! The camper is in the driveway, waiting to be cleaned and loaded and our camping season officially begins on Friday with a Memorial Day weekend trip to Devil's Tower, WY. Totally, absolutely, completely. . . . CAN NOT WAIT!

Noah

I believe I've mentioned this before - Noah is CONSTANTLY asking questions. Many are silly, most are valid, several are waaaayy beyond me, and some fall into the serious theological category - but all of them have me in a struggle with PATIENCE. :) The child's brain never never ever stops working. Mine does. Many times a day. And it seems as though whenever my brain is ready to shut down for the day, his is firing on all cylinders. Uggh.

Actually, he recently came up with a biblical question that threw both me and Mark for a loop, and after consulting our in-house resources, we ended up having one of the elders of our church doing some research for us if you can imagine that. The cool thing was, we all learned something new from it. I love how God uses the spirited fresh eyes of a child to clarify a truth that had been fuzzy to us for all of our lives!

Anyway, here's one of Noah's lines of questioning today -

"Mom, does each person have their own SMELL? And what makes each person smell a little different? Do I have my own smell to you? Does Jack smell different than me? Why did God make people smell? And why do elderly people have a certain smell that's different from everyone else? Is it their wrinkles? Or are they just gassy?"

I love this child.

Entering the Homestretch

And it's funny how as you enter the homestretch, things pick up pace! Uggh! Ever since our kids entered school and started getting involved, the month of May is nuts for us, and this year is no exception. But! That will make the nothing-ness of June even sweeter. :)


Funny story - Jack and Noah recently bought this with their own money (funny because they had one when they were little, but we sold it when they were about 6 and done with it!):

They've been spending HOURS downstairs shooting hoops with this Little Tikes hoop. Go figure.

A couple weeks ago, we headed to Willmar for a visit with Mark's family and a great time was had by all . . . . especially the kids! They got to spend lots of time with their cousins - mostly on the trampoline, but they did take time out to eat occasionally. :)
(Just a random cute picture I snapped of the boys while we were there)

They adore their cousins . . . .

Movie time . . .

Mark and his brother Todd - or as I call him, Toad. :)

In other Roisum news, the boys had a school dance on Friday. Yes, a school dance - no one seems able to believe this, but it was very much a FAMILY event - parents were there and involved and it was

SO.

MUCH.

FUN!

I'm on the PTA and we were a little concerned about how it would turn out, but I was shocked at what a huge success it was! It was amazing. The DJ was amazing. The kids were amazing. The teachers were amazing. (Actually I don't know who was more entertaining - the kids or the teachers! At one point a group of them tried breakdancing - soooo funny). It was a great way to wrap up the year.

The boys doing the bunny hop before the dance even started . . .

A conga line . . .

Noah and Jack and a couple of their buddies -

Jack doing the limbo - never got a good shot of Noah, unfortunately.

Noah wearing an 80's mullet, compliments of the DJ - so funny, but you can't really see it -

Jack playing a blow-up saxaphone. He loves being the center of attention. ?!?

The macarena . . . with a little help from Dad, an old pro. :)

Noah chatting with his buddy Hailey - she is Jack and Noah's biggest fan and she is adorable. She even wears a Favre jersey to get their attention. :) And so it begins . . .

And we are wrapping up the soccer season on Tuesday evening with their last game. I have to begrudgingly admit I really enjoyed this season - it was remarkable to see the progress in the kids - how they learned their positions and how this team really learned to play as a team. Very cool.

Took a few more pics Saturday. Here's both of them - Noah in the blue, and Jack is the goalie. Yes, he blocked that shot. :) And every one thereafter.

Jack's turn to play - he's out front with the ball.

Noah going in for the goal - yep, he made it. And 3 others! The dude has some seriously powerful legs. I would NOT want to be an opposing player on the other side of that ball after he kicks it. Yikes.

Jack . . .

Lastly, I had a great Mother's Day. Look at my handsome boys - I am one blessed woman!!

Oh - and we finished Awana for the year - Jack and Noah finished the Sparks program (grades K, 1 and 2) - in those three years they memorized 165 verses. They worked so hard all 3 years and I could not have been more proud when they received their big award last week. Wow. God is good!

This week: the annual school track meet and spring piano recital. Hoping I can figure out how to post video on here so you can see their duet (sooo stinking cute!). And . . . 10 days of school left! Yippee!!

Happy Mother's Day!

" . . . She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31: 25-30.

Oh, to live up to these verses . . . .