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.

Oregon (August 2010): Day 1~ the travel

Kate and I went to Oregon for a few days this month. We went because my Dad was turning 60.  Yup, that's right, the big SIX-O.  Kate was his birthday present and I was her method of transportation.

Kate had never flown before and I was a bit nervous, but she did really well.  She did have some complaints at the end of the longest flights (we had several transfers and layovers) but I was very happy with her attitude.  She even endured the layovers really REALLY well.

Getting ready to take off.

So ready to land, get out, and run around!

So happy to be out of the plane and in Denver...

but it did not take long before she wanted to get our of the airport and to someplace more fun.

The sun was streaming right in on while waiting in the Phoenix airport.  She got creative to keep the sun out of her face.

She was really excited when we saw the above sight from her window and I explained that this mountain (Mt. Hood) meant that we were there (essentially) and that we would be seeing Grandma and Grandpa soon.

Grandma and Grandpa were flying in the same day as we were from a visit they made to Des Moines.  They were visiting their mothers (my grandmothers).  We were actually in Denver at the same, but we had different airlines and therefore different terminals.  We were scheduled to land in Portland about the same time (kate and I 20 minutes later than them), but my parents flight was delayed by an hour and so I was able to meet them at their gate since I was still on the right side of security.  That was a fun experience that is rarely had anymore.

After that we picked up my parents car and headed down south to Eugene.  They have been living there the last few years.  It is nice to go to any part of the WIlliamette Valley, it all feels a bit like home, but Portland is my home.  I grew up there and I miss it.  I wish that there had been more time for me to spend in Portland, but there was not.  As you will see in later posts we were quite busy.

The First Day of School

The first day of school came... and went. The kids are settling into their school routines.  But we are still missing some elements, such as a regular homework schedule.  I am expecting that this week.  Here they are, all ready to go, plus a little wanna-be.

Josh was very excited to get back to school, he was very vocal about it.  He got a teacher that is strict, but I know that she will be good for him.  He is a sweet, wonderful boy, but one that is quite goofy.  He often does not understand that there is a time and a place to be goofy.  I know that she will help him understand that.

Eric, not too much.  He did not want to go back at all.  School is rather boring for him and he said that he would rather be bored at home then at school.  Thankfully, he was assigned to the teacher that he really wanted and things are going more smoothly now.  His teacher and I are working on keeping him challenged, somthing that is a challenge for the teacher.

I have also had my first day of school, but no one took my picture (and I am okay with that).  Another busy term for me, but I am taking some really interesting history classes.  I am really excited to learn more about the events that my classes are focussing (U.S. History between Washington and Jefferson and World War I) on and even more excited to think that I might get to teach it myself one day.

The First Day of School

Today is the first day of school for Eric and Josh. 

Josh is excited, Eric... not so much.  But I think he will feel differently when he gets into the groove of things.

There will not be any pictures today as I am jetting off to Oregon with Kate this morning.  My Dad is having a really BIG birthday and we are going out to help him celebrate.

I will report on the kiddos first days when I get back as well as our adventures in the beautiful pacific northwest.  There will be pictures of it all posted on this blog, eventually.  I promise.

The Last Night of Summer

School starts tomorrow (hooray) and to say goodbye to summer we had an ice cream party.  Chocolate and vanilla ice cream with M&M's, chocolate syrup, strawberry topping, caramel topping, peanuts, sprinkles and whipped cream.  So good!

This summer was not as fun as it could have been, but why not give it a good send off anyway.  Despite the pictures, the kids really did enjoy their treat.  They are both sad and happy to be heading off to school.  They will miss their lazy days, thier video games, and the TV.

Of course, Brandon and I treated ourselves to a sundae.  We worked hard this summer!

It was very good.

I did it.  I survived summer school. 

My children also survived, as did my husband and house.  At time I was not sure that anyone would survive, and at present the condition of the house and possible my children is not 100%.  It will take more time then I have to make up for 12 weeks of neglect (to my house, not my kids.  Although they could use some special attention too).  But the house will have to wait.  I have things to do, like play with my kids until they start school on Wednesday, finish painting the kitchen (started in July), and finish the armoire I am working on (this too was started in July).  I am even going to squeeze in a short trip to the Pacific Northwest because I need a green fix.  Oh, and I might even blog about my summer, what the kids did, and our up and coming fall activities (baseball season continues!).


I should mention that I am back to school on August 23.  GO SUMMER!

We had a birthday, shout hooray

Katelyn had a birthday recently.  She was so very excited for the day to come.  She is very into birthdays and so we started to plan her big day several months ago.

She turned three, as you can see, and loved to wear this shirt that I found for her.  She wore it on her actual birthday and for her birthday party.

The day of her birthday I had class from dawn till dusk (seriously, all day) and other than some extra love from Daddy and brothers plus her choice for dinner, nothing much happened. 

Since both Mommy and Daddy were home the next day we gave to her our gift.  A  B I K E.  She has been asking for one for months.  We even scored an excellent deal on a princess bike.  She was estatic.

The next day was it -- the big girl birthday party.  She was very excited and was happy that Mommy had pick out things to do that would make her friends so happy.  Kate had requested a Tinkerbell birthday party and I was happy to help the birthday girl get her wish.

She wanted purple Tinkerbell cupcakes and this is what I came up with.

While the girls were here we made visors, bracelets, and played pin Cinderella in her window.

And of course, we had cake and ice cream.

Kate had so much fun... but it was not over.  Grandma and Grandpa Pinon could not make it to this party and so we had another small family party for Katie on Sunday too!  What a loved little girl!

At this party I was able to get pictures of her opening gifts.  It was to hard at the little girl party because they were all so excited about the gifts.  This is my favorite of the group.  She loves her Cinderella doll.

She also had a second cake.  For this one I got creative and did fondant.  I had been wanting to try it for a while and this was my chance.

All for our little princess...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATELYN!!!