Baseball 2017

We heard from our coach last week but with the rain we've received, there's been a delay in practices. Finally, we had a break in the weather, the fields were able to dry up a bit, and The Lime was ready to play.

This is the coach's first year participating and he seems really excited about the opportunity. The coach The Lime had for the last two rounds of baseball moved up to the AA division, which we were sad about, but I think Coach Travis is going to be super. He's a firefighter in Redwood City and recruited his dad to help him out. So far, so good.

The Lime is excited to be one of the older/more experienced players on his team. Two boys from his t-ball team are playing with him again and a friend from his class at school. It's always nice to see some familiar faces!

Since it was their first practice, they reviewed the basics of throwing, catching, and hitting. The Lime jumped with eagerness as they moved onto the next exercise.

His favorite place to be...the outfield  :)

LaVor was thrilled with everything in this picture

While The Lime practiced, Doodlebug whipped around on his scooter and begged to pet every dog that walked by. He's such a riot.

He does this thing where he keeps his head down but looks up with his eyes. It's creepy but hilarious all at once. Here he was, snacking on Goldfish while giving me "the look", except this is a toned down version.

This is going to be a great season and we can't wait to get things rolling! Play ball!

1,000 Post! And American Symbols

10 years and 1,000 posts later, this blog is still alive and kicking (for the most part).

The Lime, and the rest of the first graders, have been practicing for the past month getting ready for their American Symbols play.

The Lime's class represented the eagles and, by golly, they were pretty darn cute.

Only a few kids per class got a part to say and The Lime was chosen to recite, "I saw a great seal balance a ball on its nose at Sea World once." He memorized the heck out of it and did a great job when it came time to perform.

The Lime is the black eagle  :)

After the kids recited their parts, each class sang a song pertaining to their symbol. I didn't record the Liberty Bell's song (since my kid wasn't in that class) but it was pretty cute. In fact, all the songs were pretty dang cute.

I thought I was recording the kids when they sang "You're a Grand Old Flag" but it turns out I pressed record when I was done. Thank goodness they performed it a second time so I got a chance to re-record it!

Doodlebug was anxious to see The Lime after the performance and The Lime was anxious to take a picture with his buddy, Jordan.

Trying to get a picture of 25 first graders is quite the task. Trying to get a picture of 25 eagles is just as difficult :)

Doodlebug - Tally Mark 33

I felt like I needed to do an update, mainly because he's doing new things.

-Has to sleep with his Marshall blocks, Sky toy, and Zuma toy.
-Shrugs his shoulders and says, "I on't know" when he doesn't know something.
-Tells me to "hold on" numerous times a day.
-Asks me to turn the car radio up louder and louder until we're all deaf.
-Really hates sharing his toys.
-Loves eating Raisin Bran for breakfast.
-Says "orry, Mommy!" when he apologizes to me.
-Is a terror if he doesn't get a nap.
-Hates having his hands dirty, or really anything on him dirty. I have no idea where he gets that from :)
-Still calls water "awa", still has his little saying when he wants something and when he doesn't.
-Fits right in (or at least he thinks he should) with the big kids when we visit The Lime's classroom. All the little girls try and carry him or pick him up but he just wants to be one of the guys.
-Calls himself RieRie.
-Does an awesome job riding his scooter.
-Closes his eyes intensely when we say prayers.
-Has started using "cause" as an answer...gets it from Big Bro.
-Knows how to have a good time and makes us very happy.

Sunshine!

After nearly a month of steady rain, we have blue skies and sunshine today! We are ever so grateful for the much needed rain but the break was welcomed with open arms.

I've been wanting to sing "There is sunshine in my soul today!" and "Sun is shining, weather is sweet! Make you want to move your dancing feet!" But rather than singing, we've practiced baseball, played outside, and opened all of the blinds and windows in the house. It's been wonderful.

Doodlebug got a scooter from Santa but hasn't been too keen on using it...until now. He hopped right on that thing and raced The Lime up and down the street.

Every time he'd scoot by me, Doodlebug would say "Cheese!" and insist I take his picture.

Both boys got haircuts last week and, although I didn't think it was possible, they're so much cuter when I can see their sweet faces.

Our daffodils started poking up through the dirt about a month ago and have been beaten down with rain storm after rain storm.  They blossomed this week and I was so afraid they wouldn't survive the beatings.  But they did and I can tell they're loving the sun just as much as we are. I am anxiously awaiting our tulips to start popping up, too!

The boys got some sidewalk chalk for Christmas that we've only been able to use a couple times. So we put it to good use today by drawing a globe, a train, and plenty of hearts for Valentines Day.

It's amazing what a day of sunshine can do for your mood. We are rejuvenated and ready for the next round of rain!

The Lime - Tally Mark 84 - Part 2

-Still has Lucifer and gets a little freaked out when he doesn't have it
-Loves having his back rubbed before he goes to bed.
-Wears a size 2.5 shoe, 8 pants, and 7 shirts.
-Will put on the BMX shoulder pads our neighbor gave us and pretend he's a football player.
-Thinks he's a Warriors fan.
-Says "I believe so" quite often.
-Only brings home books about animals from the school library.
-Watches YouTube videos about Nerf Guns and has become quite the connoisseur.
-Spent the evening of his birthday on the toto. Poor kid.
-Has a tendency of bossing kids around at school and telling his tablemates who can stack chairs and for how long.
-Always orders pizza and french fries at Chilis. Also, he likes to tell waiters what he wants. And always asks if he can have a side of ranch.
-Still calls substitute teachers "step" teachers.
-Still sucks on his tongue when he's relaxed or getting ready to go to sleep.
-Always has a plan ready in case he runs into a bad guy.
-Loves to wrestle and snuggle.
-Likes to spend money as soon as he gets some.
-Still takes naps on the weekends.
-Blessed our lives 7 years ago and has continued to do so each day since.

The Lime - Tally Mark 84 - Part 1

Dear Freddy,

At dinner tonight, you said that you were ready to turn 7. I'm glad you're ready because I'm not!

I don't know where to begin...

How about with how big you are, literally and figuratively. When you stood up in Primary on Sunday for them to sing to you, you towered over the little girl next to you who happens to be a day older. I shouldn't be surprised because you've always been a long, lean boy. I know it's coming soon but I'm not looking forward to the day you'll be taller than me. Perhaps we should get you signed up for basketball sooner rather than later.

You are a wonderful big brother and help with Doodlebug all the time. Even though it's tight, you two love sharing a room and I love hearing you say goodnight to each other after I've closed the bedroom door. He usually wakes up before you do but on the mornings where I don't get him first, you kindly wake up, get him out of his bed, gather all his essentials, and bring him to the family room (unless he makes a beeline for our bedroom). You aren't shy to give him hugs and kisses when you line up with your classroom each morning and after school when we pick you up.

Speaking of picking up, you are a bit of a worry wort (like me!) when it comes to us picking you up. On two different occasions, we met you in a different spot and you did NOT like that. Your tender heart worries easily and you like routine. So I make sure to be at the same spot every day, on time, so the second your leave your classroom, you can see us and be at ease.

You scored big time at Christmas and your pre-birthday with grandparents in the "school" department. When we play school, you love pretending you're the teacher and I can tell what your teacher does in the classroom because you like to replicate it. She has been a blessing in your life and I love that you love learning because of her. You've improved leaps and bounds in just a few months and I know you'll keep improving in your reading, writing, and math.

You still love your bike and love being outside. Except it's been rainy rainy rainy and is going to continue to be rainy rainy rainy for the next week. Sort of like when you were born. But I can guarantee as soon as the sun starts to shine, you'll be begging to go back outside. Especially since your friend/neighbor/classmate, Emma, is home from vacation.

I love that you don't care, yet, about friends being boys or girls. We won't be able to have a friends party this year but you still want to have a special event with Emma. Talula is also one of your friends at school and you treat both of them with kindness and love. The boys are a different story. You seem to have a new story every day of someone griping about something that happened at recess. Silly boys.

You strive to be good, most of the time. You want to follow the rules and we encourage you to be a good example. We want your light to shine through because we know it's in there. Teachers, friends, and family always compliment us on what a great boy you are when they spend one on one time with you. You give us a run for our money at home but I'm grateful you're on your best behavior with others.

Six was an eventful age for you; getting glasses, breaking your arm, learning to ride a skateboard, learning to tie your shoes, eating coleslaw on your pulled pork sandwiches :)

Seven is going to be just as awesome!

You make me smile and my heart swell. I can't believe it's been 7 years since I held your tiny body in my arms and took care of every single one of your needs. I try to gather as much of you in my arms nowadays but it's not quite the same. So I will take whatever I can get and treasure each hug, snuggle, and kiss you'll let me sneak in. Continue to be kind, thoughtful, push yourself, and remember that you are capable of so much!

I love you, my sweet boy!

Mommy

Christmas Miracles

I am writing this post solely for our family's history.  I don't ever want to forget the blessings we've received over the last few weeks.

Last year, we were given a gift that made Christmas possible.  My goal back in January was to set aside a little bit of money each month, for this year, so that we'd have enough saved by Christmas to purchase gifts.  I'm horrible at saving and didn't get around to setting aside even a single penny.  Combine that with a slight pay cut and I was getting a little nervous as to how things would pan out.

To earn a little money here and there, I complete surveys online.  I earn points that I can then trade in for cash or gift cards.  I received a surge in surveys over the last few months that allowed me to earn some extra money just in time for Christmas.  But it still wasn't enough.

I should mention that I know the true meaning of Christmas isn't about buying gifts.  And I wish I did a better job teaching my kids this.  But can we please be honest and say that a 6 and 2 year old would be extremely sad if they woke up Christmas morning without any gifts?

Since October, I've been doing some work for my dad at his rental.  It's worked well with my schedule and, once again, gave us some extra money just in time for Christmas.

Almost two weeks ago, I was reading a bedtime story to the boys in their room when we heard a knock at the door.  "Who the heck is knocking on our door at 9:00?!" was my first thought.  I opened the door to find an envelope with our name on it.  I opened it up to find this note along with some cash. I instantly erupted in tears and couldn't believe it was happening to us. This is stuff you watch in movies or read in the Ensign but it doesn't really happen.

LaVor and I threw names around all night, trying to figure out who could have done it. We still don't know and it really doesn't matter. We are just so grateful and humbled by the generosity of others. Our prayers were answered and someone was extremely in-tune with the Spirit to know what we needed.

Last Friday, we received a large amount of consistent rain and the roads were slippery. LaVor was in a minor car accident on the way home but the only damage sustained to anybody or anything was the other persons mirror was knocked off.

After being home for a short time, he had to leave again. About 10 minutes after he left, he calls me and says, "I almost died." Not exactly the phone call you want to receive, especially after you got a text letting you know about a car accident an hour prior.

He was at a stop sign, getting ready to go, when a car was coming towards him but wasn't slowing down in the slightest. For whatever reason, she didn't T-bone him but rather missed him by inches.

I don't know what we've done to deserve all these tender mercies and HUGE blessings but I do know that Heavenly Father is aware of us, every second of every day. He knows everything we're going through and will always provide a way.

This has been a year of trials but also a year of growth, and Christmas miracles.