Welcome To the Exciting World of Little League

We're into our second week of First Grade and loving it! Yesterday was Coleman's first day of Little League. He's loving it. Me? I'm not so sure. He has three practices this week! This is going to be quite time consuming! And when it's over 100 degrees, a little unbearable to be at the ball fields. But I'm so proud of Coleman. He walked on that field for the first time yesterday with a team full of 2nd and 3rd graders who have been playing together for several years. He didn't get upset or discouraged. He just did what the coach told him to and had fun! I'll never forget 2 years ago in soccer when it was the 3rd game before we saw any action out of him! He's growing up.

Coleman (3rd in line) waiting to practice running through first base

Since this is our first time in Little League, I was unsure of all the gear Coleman would need. But I wanted him to be prepared for the first practice. He had a glove, and I was planning on getting him baseball cleats. So I asked the coach what else he would need. The reply: a protective cup. I'm not sure why I was so embarrassed to have to buy this, but it was a little strange for me. Yesterday after school the kids and I headed to Academy to purchase cleats, shorts, and a cup. I figured I should prepare Coleman for having to wear this. Spence was very interested in all things cup-related. He wanted to know how you pee with it on, if you glue it on, and what happens if somebody drinks out of it! Then at the store once I finally figured out which cup Coleman needed (ladies, there are lots of options), Spence wanted to carry it around! I was glad because I surely didn't want to carry it around! Well, I did survive the experience, just barely.

And now we have one practice under our belts. I just have to figure out how to keep Spence and Allie entertained for 2 hours and we'll be all set! Can't wait for the first game!

Allie hugging Spence and telling him she was sorry after she punched him today!

Astros Game

Last week Brian took a day off and he and the boys went to an Astros game. It was a great way to say goodbye to summer and spend some guy time together before school started! Here are some fun pictures:

Bring On First Grade!

Welcome back to school!

Today is Coleman's first day of First Grade! Where did the summer go? He was not excited about going to school, but there was no complaining either. I've realized that I cannot make these events into big deals for him. There was not much talk of going back to school or school shopping. The only new clothes we bought is the Star Wars shirt he's wearing today!

This is the best picture I could get of him before we left home. He did not want to smile!

Have a great first day Coleman!

Things That Are Snot Supposed to Happen

Brian and I feel like we may have broken some sort of record. We were parents for over 6 1/2 years before one of our children cut their own hair! Spence put an end to that last week. He had been working on some little projects with paper, scissors, and glue so nicely all week. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I shouldn't walk out of the room and leave him alone with scissors, but obviously I ignored it. For the amount of hair I found on the floor, it doesn't look too bad!



Allie has been really snotty lately. This picture was taken one day after she woke up from her nap. She was not in the best of moods.

I can't always look beautiful...

It Doesn't Take Much

One Friday night Brian and Coleman were playing a video game together, and Spence and Allie wanted to do something fun. So Spence put on his goggles and Allie grabbed her inner tube and I filled the tub up! They had a blast!

Spence lost his goggles earlier this summer and has been wearing my pink ones!

Allie looks like she's living the life!

Taking Time

Bedtime can be a draining experience. Sometimes I wonder why it takes at least an hour to take baths, brush teeth, get pjs on, read books, say prayers, and get tucked in. I have to remind myself that this can be a fun time to spend with the kids and not get irritated when they're being pokey. I guess it was when they started sharing a room that the boys would ask Brian to lay on their floor after story time. Allie was a tiny baby so I was always taking care of her. It was a great chance for Brian to talk to the boys and find out about their day. It has become part of the nightly ritual now. Sometimes when Brian would go to the gym or have to work late, they would ask me to lay on the floor. I would say, "That's a Daddy thing." But then I started feeling guilty, so I decided my back could handle 5 or 10 minutes on the floor.

Their "thing" right now is wanting to hear a funny story about Mommy or Daddy when we were little. Or a funny story about them when they were younger. They love the one about Spence smearing diaper cream all over himself, or the one where Coleman was bribed to eat two pieces of corn, puked it up on the floor, then said, "Can I have my cookie now?" (If I weren't too lazy I might link back to those posts. They are classics. Check back later.)

Since Brian was having to work late tonight, I laid on the floor after story time. I told them a story from my childhood where we were driving back from Florida and I had a stomach bug and didn't quite make it to a bathroom in time. I was really surprised that they said that wasn't too silly. They're a tough crowd. Then I told them about the time Coleman's stuffed animal named Chicken saved the day. I had forgotten to put up the gate on the stairs and Spence tumbled down, only to land safely on chicken. They laughed and laughed! I really thought the poop story would win in their books. Then the conversation turned all philosophical. Spence was asking if we'd sleep in heaven, and I said I didn't think we would need to. Then they started asking about food. I told them that I imagined the food would be really good, and nothing would be bad for us. Spence hopes there are grapes in heaven. And Coleman hopes that they add sugar to food, but it's not bad for us!

Sometimes it can be hard not to rush through the day and try to fill every moment with some activity to keep us all busy. It's nice just to lay on the floor, talk about whatever, laugh, and enjoy each other. Good night everyone!

Summer Happenings

We're in the final weeks of summer! And as you can tell from the lack of recent posts, it has been a busy one! I've been having a wonderful time working with Children's Church and Wednesday night Kids' Bible Club this summer. I've also been doing some planning for our upcoming MOPS year (Mothers of Preschoolers). Another lady and I are planning the Bible story and craft for the kids.

I'm pretty sure the kids will enjoy being back in the routine of the school year. Coleman and Spence start getting on each others' nerves when they spend too much time together. Coleman will start 1st grade on August 22. Then Spence and Allie will start Mother's Day Out after Labor Day.

Allie is still working on potty training. If I had my act together, she'd be trained by now, but I am just lazy. She's doing well though! Hopefully it won't take too long. Also, Allie still refuses to wear any kind of pony tail or clip in her hair to keep it out of her face, so I had to take her for a haircut today. I couldn't get a picture of her in the chair getting the few strands cut because she would only sit there in my lap! But I did get a before and after picture. And no, I did not comb her hair after. I wanted it to look like her!

Miss Messy Hair

Still messy, but she can see now!
She's eating Skittles and putting a sticker on her potty chart.

And just so I remember all about Allie's first haircut:
Date: August 8, 2011
Location: Great Clips
Stylist: Shentelle
Style: Trimmed bangs so her hair wouldn't be in her eyes
Cost: $5 (plus a $2 tip)
Behavior: She kept saying, "I get haircut!" But when we got there she didn't want to sit in the chair. She sat perfectly still on my lap, with a sucker of course, for the 3 minutes it took to cut her bangs!

And nothing to do with the haircut, but here's a funny picture from last week:

Why I have to put the sunscreen up... way up!

So that's what is going on with Allie. The boys are having a fun week also! They are attending a sports camp at our gym. Today they learned about basketball and tomorrow is football.


The boys (and Allie) are also enjoying a new toy they helped Daddy build. It's a ramp like one that Brian's dad built for him and his brother when they were little.


Hope you're having an awesome summer too!