Can't think of a title because....

 .... I have a million things I should be doing, and I'm ignoring them all.

Let's be for real- if I had been packing or cleaning, I would have missed this precious moment.

Silly Simon

I took out my camera the other day at lunch... then got on a roll...

Thought I would throw this one in from the other day, too....  wish I had cleared out the background (ie- laundry on the bed) before snapping. Still super sweet. 

We adore having Simon around.

Bedtime

I must have a million pictures of Tom reading to the kids... and maybe one day, if you are lucky, I'll post them all.

These are from last night.

Update on Us

Some big changes going on in the Louis household...

1st off:

Jobby Job Job!

Back in March, the group who has trained Tom for the past 5 years, offered him a job!

 (to begin after his 1 year fellowship in Birmingham)

We are so very thankful for this provision.

It's really nice to know where we'll end up after the 10 year process!

I'm very proud of my Dr. Tom and glad that the group sees what an amazing person he is.

The day he got his offer in the mail, I sent him this picture on my phone.

And took these with my camera... 

ha. what a group.

Next-

The week Tom was in San Diego (remember the picture of paradise),

 I finished up the final touches  (without going berserk on my kiddos... well, almost)

and got the house on the market by that Friday.

After several showings that weekend, and an Open House on Sunday, 

we had 7 offers!!

Wow. 

And the best offer was fine with a closing date of June 17th-

the exact week we'll be heading to Birmingham.

God is so good!

Can't remember why MG was so upset, but boy was she. 

After some negotiating the inspection, we're currently in the process of getting 

some things fixed.

Who knew our electrical box was such a fire hazard!?!

Alrighty-

I ran a 5 K. 

The Fort Worth Zoo Run.

To most people, this doesn't seem like a big deal.

But, I had never run before last November.

The only sport I ever played was softball in middle school... and seeing that I wasn't that great, I probably never even ran around the bases.

When I started my "couch to 5K" training, I could barely run for 3 mins.

So I was pretty pumped to accomplish this goal.

I would have quit numerous times....

Thank goodness for sweet friends and Tom that kept me going!

 I was so happy to see my little family cheering for me!

 Something else I was very proud of was unpinning my number from my jacket, unzipping my jacket, and pinning it back onto my shirt... without falling.

 Like I said on Facebook, Henry kept asking me why I didn't win and Margaret Gray just wanted to know where I got my black jacket from (thanks PatPat!).

 My biggest fan!

The zoo had a opossum- yuck! Henry knows how much they gross me out!

Simon was terrified of the giant toad. Wish you could see his face.

I feels good to be "in shape"... hope I can keep it up.

Thank you, God, for a healthy heart and lungs and legs that work.... something we shouldn't take for granted.

And lastly-

We found a rental in Birmingham!

Did we go there to find it?

No. ha.

We had planned to, but didn't have to.

Found it on the Internet.

Small world that it is... my sis in law, Leigh, knows the landlord- of course.

We had our friend from college walk through it and Facetime us in. Technology. Crazy.

The main floor is a little bit smaller than our current home... but it has a finished basement (which I'm really thankful for since I'm terrified of tornadoes!)

We're very excited about it. 

In a neat neighborhood. Has a good elementary school for Henry (tear).

It's going to be a good place.... I'm pretty sure I'm going to fall in love with Birmingham. :)

I think that's it for now.

Henry turns FIVE!

Henry turned 5 on April 12th!

That morning, I told the kids we were going to Hobby Lobby (which Henry says is "the worst place in the world, MOM!") then surprised them with Chuck E Cheese.

Planned party?

No.

Someone else's table.

Since we got there at 9:30, we were the only ones there for over an hour.

 

Kids just ran around like crazy.

Thank goodness we were the only ones there, cause all 3 were in 3 different places at the same time.

Shirts are hand-me-downs from different people.

Henry wanted to match.

While I was "munching" MG's tickets, I heard ear piercing screams coming from Simon.

Chuck E had made his appearance.

Simon was shaking he was so scared. 

Poor little guy... kinda funny, though.

It was a good morning!

Quite some time ago, Henry declared he wanted a Tuba party when he turned 5.

Um. Ok.

A week and a half before his birthday, I ordered him a tuba shirt.

A week before, I decided to have family over.

And the week of, I had the brillant idea of having a special guest....

Tom took Henry to pick out party favors from the Dollar Store.

Party cups :)

Our 1st guests :)

These kids love their PawPaw and PatPat!

PreParty walk

When the Woods got there, we moved the party to the backyard and waited for the special guest...

These kids are going to miss Alice! 

Then Henry heard sweet music to his ears....

A real life Tuba player came to his party!

Kate and Brent are high school teachers... I figured that they had to know a band member.

Brent knew the right guy. 

Fruit snacks, candy, toys, tuba players... Brent knows how to butter Henry's bread.

BBQ dinner

He was so happy :)

Our first clue should have been that the candles sparked when lighting them...

.... H started to get nervous when they wouldn't blow out.

Ding Dong me bought trick candles.

(holding ears- afraid the smoke alarm was going to go off... he's had experience with my cooking)

Cookies, cake, and Braums' Cake Ice Cream

Present time!

New Rangers gear from the Woods

The kid loves Johnny Cash.

One day I heard him tell Margaret that when he gets to heaven, he's going to ask God where Johnny Cash is... :)

The last 5 year old boy in the world to own the original Cars movie.

Henry scored IPhone walkie talkies and a karaoke machine from PatPat and PawPaw

He's been asking for some new drum sticks for quite some time, so my parents got him this drum pad.

No tuba pinatas at Party City... so Henry picked out Hot Wheels

The "after party"....

Simon sang some tunes 

Handed out party favors

And had a rockin' dance party!

Love, Love, LOVE this 5 year old!

It was the perfect day.
The best tuba party ever.
Our dear biggest of the little ones.