t-ball

Tonight was Cale's first ever t-ball game. He was SO excited about it too! He asked me earlier today, "Is every single person in our family going to come to my game including Nina?" :) He wanted a crowd there to watch him play...he loves being the center of attention!

The coach handed out the team shirts and hats so Cale had to change before the game! He thought it was funny!

batter up

I LOVE the look on his face here!

He made it to first base and had fun jumping around on it. So much fun in fact that he didn't know that he really needed to be running to second base! He did that on all of the bases. We had to tell him to run every time...he was in his own little happy world. :)

waiting to take it home

Coby, Darren and Madison hanging out at the ballgame.

My favorite part of the game was when I heard Darren yell at Cale to keep his hands to himself. I wasn't paying attention and I was thinking he was pestering some poor little boy. Then I heard a dad say, "Well, at least he has good taste!" I looked up to see Cale next to the cutest little girl on the team. I don't know what he was doing to her, but it was pretty funny. Cale loves the girls already! He is the same way in school too. His best friends at school are all girls and I think it's so cute!

The other things about the game...while fielding, he got the ball and threw it to first. I was so proud! That was his big play/only play of the game since the rest of the time he was too busy talking to other kids while fielding (not a good mix!). I think his favorite thing about the game was jumping on the bases as he waited to run and the snack after game of course. He had a great time and kept telling us how much he loved his game on the way home. I am so glad! I can't wait until the next one. It's fun having both an 11 year old playing ball and a 5 year old playing. Their games are so very different. Cale's provides comic relief while Connor's are very exciting and intense to watch. It should be a fun, but busy season of watching both boys!

not much going on

Not much has been going on around here this past week. We've had a baseball game and practice here and there, Ellie got her last puppy shots (weighed in at 31 lbs.), and I spent several mornings at the school. I did do a few fun things like lunch with mom and Cale one day, Cale and I met Kristen (and Madison, Macy and Avery) at the mall on Thursday to see the Easter bunny and have lunch together, and another day I enjoyed breakfast at the Runway Cafe with Darren and Cale (I can't get over how many airplanes are coming in and out of there now...our little airport is really growing!). An uneventful week...just the kind I like...that included lots of family time!

We finally fired up the grill on Monday. Would it be pitiful for me to admit that it was the highlight of the week? I just love when Darren grills the meat and all I have to prepare are side dishes. It make the evening clean-up so easy.

I'm trying to enjoy every second of what's left of April because starting in May it's going to get CRAZY! Both Cale and Connor will each have about 2 games every week. I think most of their games will fall on different days so we'll be at one ballpark or another Monday thru Thursday nights (plus practice on Sundays). Cale also starts swimming lessons (every afternoon Mon-Thurs), each of the boys have tons of school activities coming up, and I'll be getting ready for a vacation that will take place sometime this summer.....I am determined to enjoy what little is left of this slow-paced April! However, at the same time, I am REALLY looking forward to the busyness that May will bring.

Here are a few snapshots from our week (all taken via phone)

Cale didn't want to go near the mall's Easter bunny (good for me since the cheapest package this year was $20!) so I just snapped a quick pic of him and Madison. He was a little put out that this bunny was white and not pink as he thought he should be. He decided that this bunny must've just been the Easter bunny's dad since he wasn't pink! He also asked me if it was just a man dressed up in a suit! :) I asked what he thought. He thought about it for a minute and said he really wasn't sure, but that he thought it probably was a man dressed up in a suit.

Ellie has started wanting to go with me to pick Connor and Coby up from school. When she hears me grab the car keys and my purse she runs to the door and sits and whines. Then once the door opens she runs into the garage and waits by the car door. It's pretty cute...and the boys love it when she comes along. I however find it very annoying because she barks at all of the kids as they come out of the school. She is not a barker unless someone is at our door, but for some reason when she's in the car she barks at everyone. I hope she outgrows that soon. Otherwise she won't be able to continue to come with me to pick up the boys! And that will surely make for one sad pup and two sad boys!

And the last pic was taken while I wrote this post. Coby brought me Cale's DS and asked me if he could pictochat with me (Isn't it so cute that he wanted to picto with me!?!). He sent me this message and I cannot express how much it meant to me read what he wrote.

I am SO thankful that Jesus died on the cross for me so that I can have eternal life with my Father in heaven. I talk to the boys over and over about what Easter is really about. It's not about bunnies, eggs and candy (although they are fun and we certainly enjoy that part of the Easter too). It's about Jesus and his willingness to die for us so that we can "live in heaven forever" and be forgiven of all our sins. And then Jesus ROSE from the dead. He is ALIVE!!!! When I think about it, it's absolutely beyond my comprehension. What an undeserved love.

Happy Easter!

growing too fast

Every Thursday the boys bring saddlebags home from school (they hold important papers/communications from the school). As I looked through Coby's saddlebag tonight I was shocked as an old picture of Coby fell out with the papers....

It took me a minute to realize that this was from last year. His 1st grade teacher must've found it and sent it home with him. I just couldn't get over how much he has changed since then.

the above was from this year (2nd grade)

and this is from this week

Unbelievable. I had no idea how much he had changed in such a short period of time. But goodness, he has. One think hasn't changed thankfully...and that is how sweet he is {most of the time}. He is still as loving, affectionate and helpful as ever. He is SO special to me!!!!

This is Cale the other day. It was nearly 80 degrees outside. I was watering and looked up to find him pantless, which is not uncommon around here, but he had apparently thrown on his Robin cape and a winter hat. The cape I always expect, but I'm not sure why he needed the hat!?! He told me he was Super Captain Underpants. He is always being something. I love his imagination. The other day during bath time he told me he was Santa, but not just Santa. No, he was the black Santa Claus. He would keep telling me during our conversation, I'm not Cale, I am the black Santa Claus. He always has a special voice he uses during this role-playing time too. He just tickles me sometimes.

Here is Ellie Mae at 17 weeks. She's getting so big and she pretty much stays in a state of trouble! Thank goodness she's sweet and cute. She gets her last set of puppy shots tomorrow and then we'll have her spayed next week. Poor girl! I'm not looking forward to that, but it must be done. I have a feeling the procedure won't keep this girl down for more than a few hours though! We'll see...

decision made

Over the past few months I've been struggling with an important decision. I couldn't decide whether to send Cale to half day or all day kindergarten. I know, this probably seems like a silly thing to lose sleep over, but I did.

You see, a few years ago our school started offering three full day Kindergarten classes and two half day Kindergarten classes. Most parents want their kids in full day and ironically I thought I would too. I just knew I'd send Cale to full day when the time came, no questions asked. I had always (selfishly) looked forward to the day when all three boys would be in school all day long. Many of the moms I know from school have said over the years, Hey Michelle, just ____ years left until you can send Cale all day....always assuming he'd go to ALL day kindergarten. Again, I did too.

Even at the beginning of this school year I posted about how Cale would be going to school all day next year. I didn't even think a thing about it. Of course I was going to send him all day. Why wouldn't I?

Well, now I know. When I started thinking about it, my heart just couldn't take it. Even Darren who doesn't usually doesn't offer his advice told me that he knew I'd regret it if I sent Cale all day (he knew I was really struggling with this one...and oh, he knows me so well!). I knew he was right, but I kept trying to fight it. I mean I was so close to having school days all to myself and I was going to get so much accomplished while the boys where at school! Maybe I'd finally stay caught up on housework and laundry...oh and don't even get me started about all the fun shopping days I could have. ;)

A week and a half ago it was time to make my choice. Cale is going to half day kindergarten and I am SO happy about it. No regrets. He's my last baby and I am in NO hurry for him to grow up. I've seen first hand how quickly time passes and I just refuse to rush it. This is the last chance I'll ever have to make the choice on full vs half day. I went with my heart and I am at peace. I know I made the right choice for both me and Cale. We will make the most of our last year of special time together (he only goes to school from 8-10:30 am). I will savor those moments because they will pass by in the blink of an eye. I am so thankful that he goes to a school where I get to choose. I chose and finally I am at peace. I can't wait to spend many more afternoons alone with my bug. Oh we're going to have fun.

As you can see, we take our days together very seriously! ;)

spring

We have had some very summer-like weather here lately. I am concerned that it is going to be a HOT summer since it's already getting up into the high eighties in early spring (not a good sign). We are trying to spend as much time outside as possible. The boys have been playing lots of basketball, baseball, and digging in the dirt field next to our house. I love this time of year. It just make me so happy to see the boys having fun outdoors....plus, they fall asleep the minute their head hits the pillow at night because they are wiped out! woohoo

It's so funny to think that I used to be so sad that we didn't have any neighbor kids for our kids to play with. I don't know what happened but over the past year the kids have accumulated many kids to play with. None of our neighbors have kids, but somehow our house winds up lots of extra kids on a regular basis. We're not sure where they all come from, but the boys have a great time playing with them! Our neighbors joke with us and tell us how they just sit and watch as all the neighborhood kids converge on our house after school. It cracks them up....but mostly I think they're just thankful that the kids are swarming our house and not theirs!

I took all of these pics this weekend. The boys were worn out from a long day of outdoor play so they hopped into the vette to hang out for a bit. I have NO idea why they like sitting in it so much, but they do. Coby likes to pretend like he's driving and Connor is just happy to chill. Cale of course rides on the hood. Where else would you expect him to be? ;)

See those freckles across his nose and those brown eyes? He got them all from me! LOVE IT....love him!!!!

change of plan

It's Friday again!!!! Woohoo! We always have family fun night on Fridays, but tonight we changed it up. Late this afternoon I mentioned to Darren that I really wished we could go out on a date. He called his mom and she was available. I was thrilled....I needed a night out with my man. We went to Outback, which is our favorite date place at the moment. We had a 20 minute wait which was actually really enjoyable because we had an outdoor bench to ourselves where we just got to talk (interruption free) and the weather was gorgeous. I had a lovely evening with my honey!

We went to pick up the boys and ended up staying at GramPat/Papa's for a bit because the boys decided we needed to play some baseball (I was the outfielder...it wasn't pretty!). We had fun, but had to get home so D get ready for work. :( Cale and I have been playing baseball in the backyard (under the stars...it is such a clear beautiful night) ever since. Cale has been batting, I've been pitching and Ellie kept running off with the ball was catching. It was so much fun and the big plus here is that it wore both Cale and Ellie out!!!! That's a win for me.

What a great night! I live for Friday nights.

our Friday

The boys were out of school today. Everyone except Cale slept in. Cale always wakes up the minute Darren walks in from work (which is way too early to get up on non-school days!), but I love that Darren and Cale have that special time together in the mornings. By the time I woke up the boys were up and playing. Coby had been building legos and immediately brought me some "flowers" as a belated birthday gift (see below). I know I say it a lot, but he is so sweet! His future wife is a very lucky lady. He is the most thoughtful person I know.

This morning the boys and I went to see the latest Diary of the Wimpy Kid movie. It was funny, but I liked the first one better. We went to the 11:00 showing because our theater has $5/person showings before noon.

I think Connor was humiliated that I was taking a pic on public....heaven forbid! (horrible phone pics)

my sweet boys waiting for the movie to start

It has been way too long since I took a pic of all three boys so I tried to quickly get one of the boys today before we left for the movie. As usual I just can't get one that I like of all three. But still, I got one with all three together (even though Cale has a crazy smile!). That's good enough for me! I just like having one of all my boys together every now and then.

The one below cracks me up. Coby was trying to lovingly put his arm around Cale, but it looks more like he was trying to choke Cale out. I'm pretty sure that Cale didn't like it too much.

Connor went over to Cam's house for a sleepover shortly after the movie. The rest of us enjoyed some time at home before heading out to a belated birthday dinner with mom and dad. We went to Redrock Canyon Grill and it was delicious as always. After that we went to Kristen and Kennard's to see their new townhouse. It is so nice and they have tons of room...I am so happy for them! The best part was getting to hold Avery (Macy was sleeping) while Coby and Cale played with Madison. It's been a great Friday!

Ellie update: She's 15 weeks and 27 pounds! She has lost two of her baby teeth over the last several days and whines as she chews on toys so I know her gums are bothering her (just like a baby!). She doesn't have to go out at night anymore (yay!) and she took about 4 weeks to potty train (we had 5 accidents total). She is a sweetheart and I am really thankful that Darren surprised me with her! I like having the company while he's at work and the boys are in bed. I'll just be glad when she's done "teething"!

She fills up her entire bed now...guess it's about time for a new one (she sleeps in a crate at night and while we're not home for now)

Awww....this is what Cale has been doing while I wrote this post. He fell asleep on the sofa at about 8:45 and he's still there. I love when they fall asleep anywhere other than their beds....it's just plain sweet!