Fall Ball

And you thought baseball was over!  Ryan’s new team started practicing about a month ago.  This weekend is their first tournament.  We are very excited about this team.  His practices are only 1 1/2 hours 2x a week and there is just one tournament a month in town.  His last team was double for both.  For us it is the right amount.  The coach is having everyone play and everyone move around.  They had a pretty brutal first game.  They only had one base runner…a walk.  I have to say I was a little surprised when Harvey let me know they won this morning 7-6 with a walk-off single and then again later 13-5.  Ryan had two great bunt singles, a solid single driving in two runs, two great plays at second, and a great inning pitching.  I am so happy he is getting to play so many positions.  He won’t get to play some of them much longer as the boys get more competitive, so I want him to enjoy it now.

He is something to watch.   He does all of the silly hand gestures to the sky and saluting like Pagan and Romo.  It just cracks everyone up.  Another kid showed up with pink shoelaces today! : )  Such a trendsetter. 

Ryan truly loves everything about the game…the strategy, the teammates, the coaches, the playing, the accessories, the tri-tip, the Gatorade, the gum, the sunflower seeds, the travel, the gear, the signals, the hand motions…everything!

  New pants…very giant glove! : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t think there has been anything else that we have bought Ryan that has gotten more use than his catcher gear when he was 5.  After four years, it’s starting to go.  Poor coach had to fix it every time he’s used it this weekend. 

This coach has five teams.  One of the 16U players helps coach and Ryan just loves that he is a catcher too.  He has been teaching them how to block.  Ryan got to be batboy for the 14U yesterday. 

 

This boy started fall ball.  He loves the game too.  He is going to be good at it.  I would try to be a good soccer mom…but I am so glad my boys like baseball!

 

 

 

Better head to bed.  First game is at 8!

Gross

I decided I should probably wash Ryan’s EvoShield…

Is that not gross?  It goes over his wrist/forearm.  It’s one of a plethora of baseball accessories he has.  How it’s possible that he and Harvey can still find things we don’t own already is beyond me.  I’m pretty sure Buster doesn’t wear as many items as Ryan.  He has special socks (not just baseball socks, ones that go up over his knees…), knee pads for sliding, sliding pants, chest protector, gloves, a plastic thingy he wears on his thumb, and an EvoShield.  Once that is all on he can actually start dressing.  Hope he isn’t planning on us helping pay for college.

5 Years!

I got another friendly reminder!  It’s been five years since Erik has been home.  He was such a good baby and the transition was as easy as could be. 

11months

 

almost six

 

Erik, you are cuddly, funny, smart, and sweet.  I look forward to my morning hugs every day.  I couldn’t be more thankful to get to be your mom. 

Love,

Mommy

The Cry Heard ‘Round the World

 Truly, there has never been a more dramatic loose tooth experience.  If you live within about 20 miles, you of course already know this.

 So we have talked about this loose tooth for days on end.  An accidental hit to the face by our neighbor finally sent things in motion.  Oh the tears!  He actually held his mouth open like this for days…

 

 

 

 Finally, at the neighborhood movie night it fell out!  Tears turned into smiles with the tooth in hand and the promise of a visit from the tooth fairy.  As the boys were laying in bed I heard Erik ask Ryan how many tooth fairies there were.  “Probably like five,” Ryan answered.  : )  Unfortunately for Ryan, his fairy was extremely forgetful and just downright lazy.

 

 Happier day

(sunscreen by Erik)

 

 

 

Fearing Erik would also get stuck with a bad fairy, a honorary fairy threw in $2.  Erik’s fairy was much more on top of it, but cheap.  Hey, it’s twice what I got!  Ryan was sure to point out how much better Erik’s fairy was than his!  The house is calm again (well, kind of) and Erik can whistle (well, kind of.)

At last

The queen has a throne…

 

Seriously, has anyone ever ‘bunny-eared’ a toilet before?

To Be or Not To Be…

  Jedi for sure

 

What to be, what to be…

 

A kangaroo

 

comes with great storage…for a book, silly putty,Legos, and of course, a joey.

  This boy is so torn…to be an awesome kangaroo for Halloween or a Jedi…

if only there was some kind of compromise!

Yes, this is a daily topic of conversation.  Only two more months before the final decision.

I Did It!

Erik’s kindergarten book is done!  It should be here in a week or so.  Can’t believe Erik has almost been home five years and is starting first grade.

 

These magnetic tiles are in our top 10 best buys.

In other exciting news…the rest of the potty arrived.  It took Harvey almost the whole day to get it in.  Nothing is smooth with this bathroom.  Of course it didn’t come with a toilet seat.  Lowe’s does not sell seats compatible with the model we chose…So I finally have a working toilet that only…boys can use. 

 

2 Years

Being the fabulous mother that she is (as of today at any time) my friend Torey sent me a sweet tweet celebrating Megan’s being home two years…(you know, in July) Just the reminder this mother needed!  Wow!  Two years. 

It’s a little strange for me.  I absolutely want to remember and celebrate ‘Gotcha Day,’ but at the same time I am happy that we are so settled in and kind of ‘forget’ that it hasn’t always been like this. 

It did remind me to get some cute photos!

  

 

  

  I just loved this dress a few years ago when I had two boys.  I didn’t buy it since, well, I had two boys.  While I was waiting for Megan to come home I found it at the second hand store for about $5!  Even cuter on!

These pictures capture her so well.  Full of life!!  I knew from the first two minutes in the room when we first met her that we were going to have our hands full.  She is confident, strong-willed, adventurous, sympathetic, outgoing, and friendly.  She will try anything and usually like it.  I have a lot to learn from this girl. 

Happy Gotcha Day Megan!

Love,

Mommy

Out of order

So paint was supposed to go last, but Harvey decided to just paint now.  This way we know we like the color and can put the towel rack above the toilet once it goes in.  This side will be done.  The color is a pretty grey.  The lighting was bad for pictures so you’ll have to trust me.  I may use it in the bedroom too.  The good news is that the toilet came today.  The bad news, which always seems to tag along in all things bathroom, is that only the tank came and no one seems to know if the other part is coming or not.

I’d say we are pretty traditional. : )

  Erik is our first featured artist!

I’m thinking I might turn the sconces up instead.  I have to see next to the large mirrors I guess.

 

Ha!  How slick is this?!

We already have a large mirror next to the above sconce so I didn’t want another mirror for the medicine cabinet.  This was the perfect solution!

Once the toilet goes in, well, once it arrives and goes in…the CLOSET is next!

Nothing Like Homemade

 Look who had his very first homemade, full of butter and eggs, chocolate chip cookie! 

 

When He’s 100…

I having been working hard on Erik’s kindergarten book.  I am determined to have it done before he starts first grade.  I took pictures of his art.  This was a 100th day activity.  Don’t want to forget this one! : )

 

“Hunter Pence- Age 9”

    “Mom, you should have seen Hunter Pence’s catch…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Apparently, it looked something like this!

Progress and a few cute faces…

  

 

 

 

 

 

Progress!

Harvey built the casings for the master bedroom doors.  They are going to look great.  Only 8 doors, 3 closets, and 8 windows to go! : )

There is a reason people buy things already made.

 

A little summer flu prompted work on getting another toilet in the house!  Hey, a week of misery was worth it.  (I think I may be coming down with something real bad in the fall!)  Next step is all of the filling in and sanding. Then the paint goes on!  It looks like we may have a second toilet in August!  Phase 3 is the closet.  Phase 4 is building the vanity.  (They don’t sell those right?) I am dreaming of 2014, but I’m hoping this whole room will be done in ‘15 before we hit the 8 year mark.  We still have every single room in the house to go!

Just Hanging Out