Clay is 5

Clay had a birthday last week too, 3 days after the twins.  This boy will forever keep me on my toes:

He always wants to help...with everything.  He doesn't even ask anymore, he just helps himself to the tools and supplies and gets busy.

between you and me it's rather annoying.  but adorable at the same time.  I don't want to change that driven, helpful spirit of his. 

My dad calls from the tractor last week and says "he's been rambling non-stop the whole time".  Which is precisely why he's at your house right now and not mine.  I needed a mental break!

He really is one lovable little guy. 

I'm still on the upswing from my face stuff/mystery rashes.  We don't have all the answers but i had 3 things happening at the same time...the first doozy, Eczema Herpeticum, then the allergy to a medication or combination of meds, and the last couple flairs was an allergy to a face product i've been using for years.  Hoping to keep those 3 things under control.  At least now most of the unknown is cleared up and i know what were working with.  

After talking with a friend i realized i need to slow down.  Last year alone we hosted 15 gatherings with 50 or more people (a couple of them 200+ people)  we also did smaller gatherings, hosted a fresh air child, had folks in our basement, added church responsibility, part-time homeschool, bees, a greenhouse, meat chickens, and more!  Somehow my blood pressure is okay with all of that, but i don't think my stress level is/was.  These things were all good things, but "good" stress is still stress.  I am learning to say no, and am liking it.  I am taking it easy and letting people help.  I don't go to all the boys school parties/trips and i don't feel guilty, i weigh in on what i have time and energy for and what i shouldn't have on my plate at the time.  I don't know if stress caused my strange health challenges, but it is out of character for me to even get a cold or a headache, so i think stress may have built up, allowing these things to happen.  Plus so many other things were tested, that it's starting to become the only answer.  

So life here of late has been low key, but so good at the same time.  Still never a dull moment with this bunch.  That will never change :)

Thanks to all who have been praying for me.  I've learned many things through this and one of them is that i have a great circle of supportive and caring friends and family!