Batter Up!!!

I knew our days of relaxation and coming home from work/school to just relax and do nothing were numbered as Austin crept closer to starting Kindergarten. Being an introvert who needs quiet to recharge and doesn't like constantly being "busy" I knew this was going to be a challenge for me. 

Well, we survived our first real "activity" and yes it was busy and a bit crazy, but Austin had a blast, so that's what counts!

We signed Austy up for 5/6 year old t-ball and we had two weeks of practices (two a week) starting in April!

The slightly stressful part was just getting off work early, getting the boys home, fed, changed and to the park. Neal was coaching golf this Spring so he would just meet us at the practices and games when he could after his golf practices. 

Neal was one of the assistant coaches (and really did the brunt of the coaching, to be honest) and did such a good job. The kids loved him! 

After two weeks of practice, we switched to playing games! 

Owen always had fun at brother's games. He got snacks, and to watch videos on my phone, and play with the other siblings, and be trouble. 

The games were adorable because no one really knew what they were doing. The ball would get hit and every kid out on the field would scramble toward it, or they'd just stand around oblivious to everything. Herding cats at it's finest!

Austin hit the ball at his first at-bat! They've changed t-ball and now the kids get three attempts to hit a ball pitched at them, then they switch to three attempts to hit the ball off the tee. 

Austin is pretty good at hitting the pitches, and good at making it to third base, since he doesn't really pay attention to when the coaches are telling him to stop running. Haha.

He's also very good at finding me when he's on base and saying "Hi Mommy!"

And he's good at running as fast and his skinny legs can carry him to slide into home!

The kids all rotated positions, one of Austin's favorites to play was catcher!

Ready to run! After finding me and waving and saying hi though. 

Practice swings! Thankfully no one got whacked by a bat.

Sometimes the game was dull and dancing was way more interesting. 

Or inspecting the dirt for bugs and such.

All those lessons of responsibility... being little is hard. Haha. Carrying his own bag, making sure his helmet and bat and cleats were gathered and came home with us... (which didn't always happen as soon as the after game snack was handed out, because that was way more interesting).. he's turning into a little man!

In just a few more years, we'll be doing the same thing with this one! How, by the way... do people have two kids in sports at the same time? How is that going to work? I need to work on cloning myself!

Not Real Poop... Jus' Easser Bun Poop (Easter 2017)

Easter this year was a fun one! Both boys seemed to understand we were celebrating Spring and new beginnings and that the Easter Bunny might visit. The only thing I don't like about Easter is that it's usually cold and rainy... which is was this year, but at least the day before was nice. 

We had plans to go to Gramma and Grampas this year, but before we headed down there, the Easter Bunny visited! How awesome he remembered!

Before we went to bed the night before Austin said "I think the Easter Bunny poops jellybeans" and lo and behold.. the kid was right. A trail of Easter Bunny poop was left!

The E.B. left them each an umbrella, a new movie, a Zsum-Zsum and a Lego set!

Whoa!! Look at that Easter Bunny poop!!!

We had to clean up and keep the Easter Bunny poop, of course. Owen loved telling everyone later that day that they got to eat poop! But it wasn't real poop (with his little hand flung out in the air in an "oh well" gesture). Just Easter Bunny poop. (hence the title of this post). It was adorable. 

The umbrellas were by far the hit of the day. Owen calls his an "brumbrella" and they basically sleep with them. They have been walking sticks, an assortment of weapons, but have yet to be used for their actual purpose. 

Once we were at my parent's we spent the day outside, it was so nice! I wish I could have went to see Val and her new baby but I had a cough and didn't want to be around a newborn. The boys enjoyed some wheelbarrow rides outside!

Owen got a Snuggi Tail! He was thrilled and just like brother, basically hasn't taken it off. 

We went to a little diner for dinner and the boys got to have milkshakes. SMALL milkshakes. Another thing that is not "small" in this world anymore. They came out and it was like holy cow! So they had to share with Daddy and Grandpa... because no way.

Easter dawned cold and cloudy. Naturally. Neal and I went for a walk in the morning then sat around the firepit my Dad had going. Poor Henry needed a wool sweater... but he managed to get warm and cozy enough in Daddy's arms. 

What is this nonsense of people thinking Easter is about sweet little summer dresses and outside Easter egg hunts?? Ha. Welcome to our Oregon Spring. 

There was much excitement over whether or not the Easter Bunny came to Gramma's.. which resulted in kids waking up before 5am. Ugh. Seriously. We have to DRAG them out of bed at 6:30 am on weekdays... but on a Sunday? Nah. Let's pop awake when it's still dark out!!

Owen couldn't make it and passed out hard right when we were supposed to be at my Grandma's house for Easter dinner. Neal stayed behind with him and let him snooze for a bit then joined us later. 

This picture cracks me up. Austin lost something under the couch and Gramma Darlene is kneeling to peer underneath, Uncle Brian is checking out the side, and Buddy is just in the middle of the chaos. Ha!

Well, that was Easter!