Springtime in the Yard

The weather this spring has been amazing.  While the North got snow in April and May, we got some unseasonable coolness.  And we've loved every bit of it.  

One of the things that the boys, especially the littlest ones, love to do is to find little creatures, like this snail.

Or this caterpillar.

This caterpillar is particularly amazing.

My grandmother went on a vacation and sent the boys t-shirts.  They change color in the sun!

They love them, GiGi... thank you!!

Oh, the roly polies.  I think they were made for little boys and girls to play with.  They are so fun... and plentiful., and can curl themselves into tiny little balls for protection.

Like when you play with them like this.  

Or you can let them crawl all over you.

Kinda gross, but Charlotte Mason would approve.

Grateful for this lovely spring.

And the Winners Are...

I want to start off by saying I really enjoyed reading all your comments.  They were all so encouraging!  It made me want to keep blogging.  It made me want to write a post on why I blog, if anything, to remind myself why I do it.  And your comments gave me ideas for future blog posts.  It makes it easier for me to want to write about something when you ask for it.

On to the results... :)

Asher was my helper yesterday.  We wrote the names down on little scraps of paper.  

There were 38 names.

Hi Asher.

We drew names this morning.  The kids drew the $5 winners.

Beware:  Some serious morning face is about to come upon you.  I had to make the pictures black and white because we looked so pathetic :)

Nathan drew Mel4 who said:

Happy Blogiversary! Yeah for Chris talking you into keeping it up, I love you blog! Yeah for Starbucks too!
I love your posts about your house and what you are doing to it, (it gives me great ideas! =) Also, I love all the pics of the boys and the occasional series you do like the month of cookies, and the posts about recipes. I love that you mix it up and write about different things. Your blogs helps me know more about you and I love that!
Something about me??? When I was younger I wanted to write children's book's. I actually wrote a few rough drafts but never had the courage to do anything with them. =) And, I have a love for dill pickles. Funny I know!
Love you and your precious family and your blog!

Asher drew TheMasons who said:

I've loved following your blog! My favorite posts are the ones about your home improvements or fun/school activities you do with your boys. We also recently lost a baby girl and I have found so much encouragement from you. Thank you for your honesty and happy bloggiversary!

Graham drew Angie who said:

Happy Blogiversary Sarah! I just enjoy keeping up on your life:) I do love the recipes you share and just how you transparently share from your heart. I first read the name I want to name our baby (due in 3 weeks) on your blog, too! We'll see if my husband comes around:)

Samuel drew Stephanie who said:

I love that you share your heart and faith. I too, am a mother of boys and it encouraging to know I can do it also. 
I live in Spokane, wa and have been reading your blog for about 6 months now. I heard about it from a friend.

Joseph drew Keri Osterberg who said:

Hi Sarah! I love to read your blog. I guess I love it because of all the boys and it helps me realize that my own craziness is sort of normal. I love the blogs on boys and on school. 
You know me...so I'm not sure what to share about myself. Maybe that one day I secretly hope to have a food blog not just a family blog :) Keep up the writing, you have listeners! 

And I drew the $25 winner.

Drum roll please.

Elena who said:

I like your cookies recipes posts
Something about me:I am a stay at home Mom who enjoys photography and cooking

Winners, please email me your address so I can put the cards in the mail!!

sarahwolfe@me.com

Renaissance Man, and a giveaway update

Let me give you an update on the Starbucks giveaway.  I'm going to announce the winners on Monday.  This week got away from me because a few of us were sick.  So comment if you want to comment for your chance to win a Starbucks gift card.  I won't draw names until Sunday night.  You're chances of winning are great as of right now, like 1/8.  So leave a comment already :)

Back to the point of this post.

Boys are a mystery to me.  I didn't grow up spending a lot of time with boys.  I pretty much stuck with my girlfriends.  I find it quite ironic that I'm completely surrounded at this point, by all of these boys.  I'm learning a lot, especially because all my boys are so different.  My five are all completely different.  Same parents, but five different boys.

Asher is my Renaissance man.  He likes to cook and craft as much as he loves sports.  He would be equally exited to go to Sports Authority as he would to go to Hobby Lobby.  I find it quite hilarious.  

His newest hobby is scoring games.  He LOVES the Rangers.  Ask him about it.  He'll tell you.  Chris is in heaven because Asher can talk sports as well as the next guy.  He sits like this for 3 hours (if we let him) and keeps track of every play, and keeps his own stats.  

He built this fort the other day.  It has beds for all his brothers and they slept out there, with his little radio listening to the Ranger game, keeping stats.

I can't believe they were all sleeping in there.  It was cold that night.  So cold we woke them up around 1:30 and put them in their beds.

Found them the other night like this at about 11:30.  One of the benefits of doing school at home is in the spring we can let them sleep in a little.  To me, this is the stuff that childhood is made of, and I'm willing to start school a little later in the day so they can have these memories.

Just last night sharing that mega huge hot dog.  Gross, but good male bonding.

Scoring the game last night.

And this is how he crafts baseball.   Stadium after stadium.  

Yes, we buy tape and construction paper at Costco.

I think I keep that place in business.

The older they get, boys are becoming less of a mystery to me.  

Asher turns ten in about a month.  I'm sure not ready for him to be ten.  

But as his momma, I also can't wait to see what he'll become.  Right now he says he wants to be either a sports announcer or an architect.  Two different directions.  Which passion will he follow?  I'm just not sure, but I'm excited to find out.

Happy 3rd Blogiversary To Me {Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway For You!!}

It's a special week, people.

Yep, it was Mother' Day this week, which is one of my favorite days of the year.  My sweet husband's birthday falls on this week as well.  Lots to celebrate.

But it's also a special week for a different reason.  It's the third anniversary of this blog.  

I've written 291 posts.  Lots of life lived in the Wolfe household in the past three years, and I'm so very glad it's documented in this very small space on the big world wide web.  

I have to be honest.  Sometimes I think of giving this space up.  I don't have many readers.  I don't even have a lot of time to dedicate to it.  And most of the time, I don't even have that many words to say.  I mean, what has to be said that hasn't already been said?  What could little old me add to the thousands of other bloggers and authors who say it much better than I do?

My husband is my biggest encourager in this blogging thing.  I just recently was convinced that I should quit doing it and he talked me back into it.  He likes that I have an outlet for writing and sharing pictures, and that I'm beginning to have friendships with a few women out there in the blogosphere.  

If you know me in real life, you know that I can be quiet.  I'm not going to be the one who talks in a big group.  I'll let other people do it.  I like to listen more.  So I guess this is my way of talking.  Of telling my story.  Of telling our family's story for any who might care to read.

To you, my dear readers.  I thank you for reading.  I thank you for any and all time you have spent here.  Because it has been you listening to me and you encouraging me with your comments.  That means more than you know.

Soooo....

....to honor this special week, I want to give something away.

I did this same thing a couple years ago, and it was fun for me to be able to give something to you.

I have a total of SIX Starbucks gift cards.  One has $25 on it.  The other five cards have $5 on them.  I don't know about you, but I love to have gift cards for small things I wouldn't normally buy for myself. Sometimes it's the small things that make my day, even more than the big ones.  Like a fun drink can really make an errand more enjoyable... why is that??? 

To win, leave a comment on this blog (NOT on the facebook comments) and tell me:

1.  What your favorite kind of blog posts are OR what you might want me to post about in the future.

2.  Tell me something about YOU, especially if I don't know you very well.  I'd love to hear.

I'll post the winners on Friday, so we'll wrap it up on Thursday at midnight.

I look forward to your comments :)

My Favorite Baseball Players

Baseball season.  I love it.

I love watching this one be the big six-year-old on his team.  Where has the time gone?  I think he might always be four in my mind.

Asher and Samuel get to play on the same team again this year.

This particular day was freezing.  I opted to stay home with the other boys and drink coffee in the warmth of my own house.

But they were ready to play baseball in the cold.

I love Asher's face when he bats.

There's this facial expression he makes when he's trying as hard as he can.

Whew.  Safely on base.

Samuel loves playing the baseball the most.

He would play anytime, anywhere, and with anyone.

It's their first year of kid pitch.  

Such a big learning curve for them.

And for me as their mom.  They fail a lot more, at batting and pitching.

They're learning how to shake off their mistakes.

To run off the field with a smile, even when they don't play well.

It's hard for both of them because they are both so competitive.

The other day Asher got to pitch and Samuel catch.

A sweet moment.

I was a little nervous, so taking a few pictures helped keep my mind off the game.

These guys are all good sports to come to so many of the games.

Afternoons and evenings at the baseball field are slow, (mostly) relaxing, and such a part of what our family does this time of year.  

These are days that I don't ever want to forget.