Play Ball!

Softball season has officially started at our house! SweetDoll has worn her jersey everyday that I would let her, and yesterday it was for official business! Now for the record, the kids had been playing outside most of the afternoon, and I didn't think it was all that cold, but I did ask if she wanted me to find SweetBoy's old baseball pants for her to wear. She said she was fine. I had no idea a cold front was in the process of blowing through! We froze our tails off! (A couple of years ago, it was snowing for SweetBoy's first game, so at least there weren't any flakes flying!) Anyway, back to the game...SweetDoll played in the outfield the first inning and catcher for the second.

Her first at bat, first pitch, she got a hit! And her teammates got hits to let her score a run! Way to go!

The boys and I were cheering in the stands. They yelled the team name, then they were yelling Sister's name. It was so cute!

Daddy was the 3rd base coach.

Just for the record, I have to say we have a great umpire. They get a lot of grief sometimes, but this guy does a great job helping the kids learn the game, be safe, and helps the coaches when they are learning the game too. I don't even know his name, but he does a good job! Well, game number 2 is tomorrow morning, and SweetBoy's first game is in the evening. I have already checked the weather and will be properly prepared with jackets and blankets in hand! Before the season is over we'll be sporting sleevless and searching for sunscreen! Tomorrow we will have our own cheering section with Granny and Papa on their way. Let's play ball!

A Weekend Only God Could Plan

Our spring break adventures were around here because we had a trip planned for this past weekend instead. It was my daddy's parent's 60th wedding anniversary and we, along with lots of our family and friends, were planning to make the trip to the celebration. Mom worked really hard on all the details of getting everything ready, and made sure everyone else had what they needed too. I helped Mom do a digital scrapbook for them that turned out pretty cool. It told their story from growing up and getting married with their young family to their grand- and great-grandkids. Everyone was included, even the newest great-granddaughter born last month. Anyway, much time and preparation went into this weekend. But God had a different plan.

The weather guys were forecasting snow the day of the party. As it got closer, the snow amount increased and the wind became a factor until it was a blizzard warning. The kids, my Dad and his brother and sister and their spouses, made plans to be there early before the storm. We had some conflicts that we could not go early, but if it didn't snow much and we could make it Saturday, we planned to go then. The snow came as predicted and we didn't go, but this is what God had planned. A cousin happened to be in the hospital, and her dad, who lives far away, stopped in to see her--she was surprised! My grandparents and their kids and spouses spent a weekend together at their house--that had never happened (without the rest of us there). My brother "got stuck" here because his connecting flight was canceled. In the between time of deciding to stay here and when I could get him, a cousin picked him up and Brother got to hang out and help him for the day. And Brother and I have not had time just us since I got married 15 years ago. Everyone was safe and not out in the storm. Only God could have orchestrated all of those unique opportunities because we would not have. He truly cares about the details of our lives! Even if things don't turn out the way we plan them.

Back to normal

Well, the rest of our spring break was not as adventurous. We cleaned the windows and blinds. Whew-hoo! We celebrated the first day of spring with a bike ride to the playground. And we went to some friends' home for some really good hamburgers and much needed fellowship.

So now it is back into the swing of a very busy schedule with baseball scrimmages, practices, meetings, cleaning... But this weekend we are looking forward to a family get-together to celebrate my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. I admire them so much! This year we will celebrate our 15th, and I thought that was a milestone!

Adventure #2

I'm pleased to say we were not coyote supper last night! I did hear them in the distance, but they stayed away! Here is our set up. Two kid-sized tents.

I so should have been in on the set up! Their thinking was SweetBoy and I would share a tent, and SweetDoll and SweetTate would share a tent. Yea, right! Half the time SweetTate sleeps in my room anyway! That would leave SweetDoll by herself, or SweetBoy would have to move over with her. I knew that would never work. So yep, you guessed it...3 kids, 1 mom, and 1 dog all in one kid-sized tent! (You are seeing the whole space here!)

As we snuggled in and read two of our favorite Max Lucado kid's stories, it was a little warm. So I took off the rain fly on the top and unzipped the window. Great for star-gazing! I knew it was supposed to be in the 50's, but I thought with all the bodies we would really get warm. We were plenty cool! But comfy as long as we stayed covered up. Then, what do you eat for breakfast after sleeping in a tent? Pancakes of course! All though they were not as good as they are in Colorado!

Unfortunately the only mountain I have to hike today is Mt. Kill-em-with-laundry. I guess I better get to it. I need to finish before the wii bowling tournament later today!

Spring Break Adventures

Our first adventure was really Saturday steam cleaning the carpets! While they were drying, we went to the dollar movie to see Bedtime Stories. Not a bad film, especially for Adam Sandler.

But the highlight of the week so far was yesterday. We had worked as a family to save up to ride the train to one of our local zoos, and we had a blast! I didn't have an agenda or anything to think about except enjoying my kids, and we had such a good day. It made me realize that I really need to do this more often. They are growing up so fast! It was funny to listen to my kids on the train. You can tell they are children of the child safety seat era... A rollercoster would really blow them away! (Thankfully we are a few years from that Spring Break adventure!)

"Look, Mom! No hands!"

It was a successful trip, except that the lions I remembered seeing at the zoo were at a different zoo! The monkeys were fun to see and the gorilla was right next to the window so we saw him up close and personal! I thought this sign was appropriate. The fine print says, "Where you can observe genuine monkey business!" I told the kids this was their chance for a silly face...SweetBoy was the only one who took me up on it! Although SweetTate climbing on something is accurate too!
The last time we were at this zoo, SweetBoy was 3 and SweetDoll was about 5 months old. We took a picture of SweetBoy on this tortoise, so we had to find him again and take a picture with the kids. (It is just a statue. Don't worry about his poor eyes that SweetTate just poked out!)

Tonight we are planning to sleep in the tents in the backyard. I'm praying that the zoo doesn't come to us! A week or so ago a pack of coyotes started howling and it woke me up! They sounded close enough to be in our yard! So Lord willing, we won't be coyote food and we'll report back in tomorrow!

Just a little preview

Here is a preview of the little league baseball season that is reving up. We have quite the little player here. In practice, she has done very well at batting, which is her favorite part so far.

Super-fast running for home!

Up next is Big Brother, the veteran, who is glad to get back into the swing of things.

More to come, including Little Brother cheering on from the stands!

My Sweet Family!

I finally remembered to ask for these. My brother took them at Christmas. He is quite the photographer! They are some of my favorites of our family. Enjoy!