Fall Ball

We have started Fall Ball.  I am once again spending my weeknights and Saturdays and the baseball fields.  I was there for 5 hours last Saturday.  fun fun fun.

But the boys love it and for that it is worth it.  Eric has advanced to the majors and he is on a team with last seasons all-stars plus some other really talented boys.  It is a great learning experience for him and I am positive that his skill level will really increase.

Josh is once again in machine pitch.  He is liking that, but I think that he is ready for a bit more of a challenge.  The team he is one has boys that are almost 2 years younger and player their first season of machine-pitch.  But he is having fun.  The coaches are doing an amazing job creating a team spirit.  It will be a fun season for him.

So far I have only taken one picture of J. playing.  He was a runner at third when I took this.  Of Eric, I have only managed the shot of him just before his game.  But there is no need for fear, there will be more, maybe even a video.  You're excited, I know.

I love watching my boys play. It is a little window into the type of person that they are becoming. It makes me proud when I see their kind actions and positive example. I am so lucky to have them as my boys.

Teacher Thank You Gifts

Today is the boys last day of school (hooray?) and I spent a little time making their teacher a small thank you gift.  Both boys had wonderful teachers this year and deserved something special.

I took these simple wood frames.

And painted the edges to match the paper I had already selected.

Then I glued the paper to the frame without making any cuts.  I used Mod Podge.

Then I took my craft knife and cut around the outside of the frame, then the inside.  Sorry, no pictures of that.

After that I used the embellishments that I had to finish it off.  I used coordinating paper, some stickers that I found at Hobby Lobby(with a 40% coupon, of course), and two sizes of circle punches.  I also cut out the apple shape from the one paper because it looked good on the other.  I used glue dots and pop-up dots to give the project dimension.  To finish it all off I put in pictures of the boys and their teachers that I had taken earlier.  This was my finished project.

Here is a closer picture of each frame. 

(Please ignore the fact that I cannot take a straight picture.)

I am so thankful for all the work and effort these fabulous ladies put in this year for my boys.  They are so much better off after having them as teachers.  Thank you Mrs. Gale and Mrs. Parks for a great year!!

If you want more ideas for techers gift check out this link where you will find my idea and many MANY more!

And the season begins...

Baseball season is in full gear again and this season we have both boys playing. 

Eric is in the Minors playing for the Braves.

Josh plays machine-pitch for the Mets.

Last night each of them had a game.  Josh played catcher and Eric pitches, but when he is not pitching he plays left field.  Since he pitched on Monday he played left field yesterday.  Brandon is helping coach boy of the boys teams this year.  There will be some very busy weekends for him this spring.

Thankfully they were right next to each other at the fields.  At one point the were both up to bat and I was able to stand in between the two and see them both.  It was really cool becuase at this particular moment they batted at the same time, had hits at the same moment (singles for both), and ran in for the score at the exactly same time.  So fun to watch my boys!

Baseball seasons also means my spending a lot of time with Katie walking around the field (her with a little attitude, please)

and chillin' in the van

She did not want to sit and watch her brothers play.  It was sad for me because I wanted to watch them play. I am very hopefull that she will let me watch a few games this season.  Otherwise, I will see a lot of movies.  Either way, the boys will have a lot of fun, and that is the point.

the FIRST day of school

Today is the day. It finally came. The first day of school. Not that I didn't enjoy my kids being home for the summer, but it was getting harder and harder to entertain them and the fighting was getting bad. In short, they were bored.

Here they are all ready to head out the door for the bus. I have always taken them to their first day of school, but this year neither of them wanted me to take them. I was disappointed, but I guess that it is good that they are so independent.

Eric claimed that he was not excited to go to school. I don't really believe that, I am sure that a part of him is excited to go. He was very reluctant to get his picture taken though! Despite that isn't he a handsome kids? SO grown up! He started the 4th grade today. We met his teacher last week and she was very nice. She said that she is not that big on homework as long as the class work is finished. Eric always finishes his class work and so I am very excited to not have to much homework from him!

Josh was super excited to be in the 1st grade. He is just too cute! He was very anxious to get out the door and onto the bus. He was the one pushing to go by themselves. We met his teacher last week and she seems very nice and very patient. That is a good thing for Josh. They will get along well.

So it is just me and Katie chillin' at home, at least until next week. That is when we make a big change around here. More to come on that later.

Father's Day

Yesterday we celebrated both Father's Day and Kate's birthday. Sadly, we spent more time on Katie's birthday then we did spoiling Dad. But after everyone had left we made up Brandon's gift. We had gotten him this... They were super easy to make.

And super yummy to eat!!!

Happy Father's Day Brandon! We love you!

Snow ~ day 1

I titled this "snow ~ day 1" because this weather is predicted to continue throughout the night. But my boys would not wait. They wanted to play, NOW! Thank goodness we had their snow clothes handy!

Their new obsession... SNOWBALL FIGHT!

Cute aren't they? They had so much fun playing outside today. I had to drag them inside!

This is our street. It has been snowing all day, but only started to stick in the afternoon. We already have a good inch + and I have no doubt that there will be plenty more by the morning.

"Those kids"

I have been in denial too long. I must face the fact that my boys are "those kids," you know, the ones that act awful during sacrament meeting.

Brandon had a stake commitment yesterday that left me alone at church. I had been debating about skipping sacrament meeting and coming for Primary only. A sanity saver to say the least. But I would say that for me to make a wise decision in favor of my sanity, would be exactly that, wise. So off to sacrament meeting I go ready for battle. I was mostly on time, but not enough to get a bench that would have aided in the defense of Katie. Thankfully she was content with her prison for the first two speakers before I make an exit. As I was blissfully roaming the halls with my sweet toddler, the label was being placed on my boys. THOSE KIDS

Now, in my defense, I have to say that I have tried to teach them the way that they need to act. They know how to be reverent and I have even heard them whisper on occasion. Throwing and hitting are not tolerated in my home, much less outside of it. Apparently what I have failed to teach them is that this good and positive behavior must continue even after parental supervision has ceased.

Thankfully I belong to a wonderful ward who has kindly not said anything to me... yet. I know that they are all thinking it. I have. I remember all of the wards that I have lived in over the years. Every single one of them has them. THOSE KIDS