Go Reds!

I'm a die hard Cubs fan. But for the moment, I'm also rooting for the Reds. At least in Green Hornets 7/8 yr old world anyway.  I'm losing track, but I think today was T's 7th game of the season. He played catcher - that is him decked out behind home plate. Look at those ominous clouds.... the rain held off, but I swear, we've had such a rainy, cold Spring. So ready for some sunshine!

And Tanner got the Game Ball for "Outstanding hitting" today!  He was one happy boy!

He has a game every Wednesday night, practice every Friday night and a game every Saturday. Today we had to be at the field by 7:30 for an 8:00 game. And then from there, head across town for pictures. Basically, we live and breathe baseball right now!

His team has several more players on it, but several of the boys had a conflict with the picture time, so here's at least half of them anyway ;)

After pictures, the High School hosted a Pitch, Hit and Run clinic.

I sure do love a boy in uniform. Especially this one.

It's a Jungle Out There

Maybe it's because we have four kids, or maybe every kid is like this no matter what.  But when our kids get the opportunity to have one on one time with a parent of pure undivided, quality time attention.... they SOAK IT UP. Lacey has been SO excited about her upcoming date with her dad to the Annual Brownie Daddy Daughter Dance. This year, the theme was "Safari."

They started out the evening at Noodles and Company. Then went to the dance.

After the dance, Dave surprised her with a drive to Annapolis and a visit to Cheesecake Factory for dessert. I'd say she's one lucky lady......

Go, go, go Joseph!

Somehow my kids discovered a Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat DVD (1999, starring Donny Osmond) and watched it. They LOVED it. Next thing I knew, they put it in the DVD player in the van and we've been watching it over and over again ever since. I explained to them that it was actually a musical production performed live in theaters and I've had my eyes open ever since to find a local production.  Well, the stars aligned and I found a dinner theatre about 45 min- 1 hour away that was performing it, so I scooped up 4 tickets and planned a date with my kids (Dave stayed home with my Ella baby).

Well, he didn't exactly stay home.  He took her out for pizza.

And ice cream!

I wasn't totally sure if I should bring Riley or not. She's only 5 and the performance was from 8-10pm.  But she sings her heart out with all the actions in the car when watching it and she's a night owl, so I decided to give it a go. So glad I did. There was nobody behind us, so in the second half, after she was practically bursting out of her chair waiting to sing and dance, I let her get behind the table and dance to all the songs.  She was in heaven!  Strict no camera policy during the performance, so no pics of her cute little dance moves, but it was very cute!  

Front row seats!  And needless to say the dessert buffet that followed dinner was a hit as well!

Conference Sunday

Twice a year, on the first weekend of every April and every October, our church has a General Conference. So, instead of going to church, we stay home and watch Conference on TV.  In hopes of keeping the kids attention, our tradition has become for each person to pick two words and every time one of their words is chosen, they get one piece of candy.  Here the kids are with our bowls of assorted treats and "the list."

Lacey chose "he" as one of her words... I think that may be cheating, but she made out like a bandit. And so did Ella for that matter, since she didn't really know what was going on and figured she got a treat every time someone else did.  Which is just as well since her word was "three" (her age) and I'm pretty sure she would have been candy-less otherwise...

After conference, we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and head to the field by the school in our neighborhood.  Tanner, aka Spiderman, found a web to climb....

And Lacey learned to fly a kite.

Followed by T.

What a great day!

Time for a Trim

Ella is 3 years, 2 months and 1 week old..... and I FINALLY got her hair cut for the first time.

She was born with a full head of beautiful blonde hair that quickly grew and grew and grew. But after 3+ years, I finally decided to get it cut. 

She was VERY nervous....

The woman said, "So, you just want me to clean it up? Take off an inch or two?"  I told her I thought she should take off at least three.

All done!

But I should have told her more like 6-8" because it was so long that with 3" cut off, you can't even tell!

Although she does look a little bit older. Sigh. That's why I've been putting it off for so long!

Vegas Vicki

I moved to Vegas in 1999 and lived there for over three years.  During that time, I became very good friends with Vicki Jones, whom I love and adore!  She lived in the apartment complex next to me and we became running buddies.  I ran my very first half-marathon with her and ran my only full marathon with her.  I moved in Oct. 2002, and she followed suit a few years later, but we have always stayed close, despite living on complete opposite sides of the country. 

Every two years, she chaperones students from her school from Seattle to DC for a "field trip" over their Spring Break. She always calls me and lets me know when they are going to be touring the monuments and I hop in my car and meet up with her and her gaggle of students for a quick 30-40 minute visit. But it's worth it. Always so fun to reconnect with a friend of nearly 17 years.

Love my Vegas Vicki!

This time around, we saw the WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Korean Memorial.  Ever since being in Korea a couple years ago, I never look at this memorial the same.  All the sacrifice... and so many of these men just a few years after coming home from WWII.