Tickle me Tball

So t-ball season has started... yea!! Last year was crying and sitting in a field, with Daddy getting upset and telling Killian to "toughin up". It was seriously funny, because come on now, he was 3. And oh so stinking cute!!

He did and does love to hit, the best part of Baseball. I really just come for the cute stinking outfits!!

This year has been more of the same but since he's 4 whole years old now, the attention span has grown quite a bit (notice the large hints of sarcasm!).

This year is some serious business. That ball might make it to him. But if it did, he would probably be tackled by the other 4 and 5 year olds. Wish I could have gotten pictures of him throwing dirt in the air and catching it with his glove. That would represent this little superstar a little more. I mean come on... who can resist dirt!

Our favorite parts of the game are still when he is batting! Not just because he is actually focused on something beside dirt. But also because watching this kid run is the funniest thing ever! Pump those arms buddy. I can't wait to show his future wife videos of him skip running to the bases.

 Oh tickle me silly, I just LOVE little kids t-ball. Enjoying it while it's still not competitive; because if you know Jim and I at all, there will come a time when we are probably kicked out of one of our kids sporting events. ;)

My life began

Anabelle was born April 9th, 2007 by c-section. My stubborn little beauty was just shy of 10 lbs and was 21.5 inches long. And like her mother she came out her own way, turned around inside of me and pulled out feet first. Sometimes, I feel like we are still trying to pull her by her feet, but I wouldn't have her any other way.

 So far in Belle's short 6 years, I have learned more about my life and myself than I ever could have in the 25 years prior. She tests every fiber of my being. Her love of animals and people far exceed any compassion I have ever seen or known. She saves crickets, mice, spiders and anything else that needs her soft touch and sensitive heart. Meanwhile, I run into the other room screaming, or gagging at the smell.

Even as a toddler she was comforting other children when they were sad. She is the best sister and friend, I have never met anyone more forgiving. I guess that's a good thing with a first child, because I am definitely not a perfect mother and make mistakes daily. 

 

This doesn't mean she doesn't have a mind of her own. She's opinionated, sticks her foot in her mouth constantly, doesn't think before she speaks and questions anything and everything. She is my child after all. 

When I was little, I had all these dreams to be someone else: be kinder, not so defensive, more liked by others, be smarter, more beautiful, have blue eyes, love science, to still be girly and athletic, not be afraid to show how sensitive I really was. For years, I thought I needed to change myself and I couldn't understand why I couldn't be any of these things no matter how hard I tried. Then one day there she was, everything I wanted to be, wrapped up into one willful and wonderful little package.

I've heard many say cherish your wedding day, it's the happiest day of your life. But for me, the happiest day of my life was when I became a mother. She completes me, I was meant to be her mother and I know the world is better because I brought her into it. Life before she was born just doesn't seem to compare.

We love you Anabelle Margaret... Happy 6th Birthday!

31 is Awethome!

Well another birthday down and another wonderful year of living to go. Let's see what I can accomplish this year. Hopefully, my children are still misbehaving mostly under my roof alone, my health continues to be a product of the way I live, think and cook and the people in my life help me continue to be a better person.

That being said, the birthday week was some good stuff! My Mom was in town and we painted the town red, which included having an actually babysitter for dinner. If you live in KC, we went to a place called Louie's Wine Dive, definitely a recommender, it was FABULOUS! Here we are all "dressed up"

Look Shannen, you're famous!

On my birthday, my fantastic husband took a personal day to help us wrangle all the kids. We went bowling! It was chaotic, but lots of fun and the kids really seemed to enjoy themselves. Keeping tabs on Thing 3 alone was a one person job, so we rotated ;)

Then at night we all met up and went to dinner. Thing 2 has a particular affection for his oldest cousin Trent. Seriously, I could not even be alive to him when trent is around. Its so cute though, when we were leaving he's screaming out the window, "I LOVE YOU TRENT, DO YOU HEAR ME, I LOVE YOU!" My poor nephew. LOL!

Oh my gosh Trent, you are so cool, Awethome, juth AWETHOME!




Needless to say it was a good family fun time and I got everything I wanted for my birthday, family and food.
 And we all lived Happily, Ever .... THING 3, GET DOWN!

The Best Part about Valentines Day

So here's a sappy post, get ready you probably aren't use to my sappiness! In general, I am a believer that Valentines Day is just a Hallmark holiday. My husband is wonderful to me all year round. Okay, let's not exaggerate, most of the year round ;).

So what's the best part about Valentine's Day? Is it the flowers, the cards, the chocolate or the celebration of a special relationship with your spouse? Not for me. The best part about Valentines Day for me, happened almost four years ago, when on Friday, February 13th at 1:23 in the afternoon, this little man came into my life. He was 8 days early and came via c-section, weighing 9lbs, 8 oz and was 22 inches long.

He was such a sweet and quiet little bundle. Loved and cared for instantly by his sister.

If you couldn't tell I was a little more than smitten. This man had stolen a new piece of my heart.

This kids fuzz head was AWESOME!

 Belle was so happy to have her Pot of Honey aka her first minion!

Man this kid loves to SNACK... did I say eat, not, he is still the pickiest eater EVER! But some puffs or a cookies and no hands were necessary.

Cutest ever!

The first year went by so fast!! And tomorrow he will be 4! I know I have to give him up someday. I know some woman will come along and take him to start her own wonderful family, just as I did with my husband.

But until then, he is my squishy and I will kiss him and love him and squeeze him, until he's strong enough to push me away.... and once that happens I will just sneak into his room and give him kisses while he sleeps ;).


I love you Buddy!! Happy fourth birthday to the sweetest, squishiest, little man in my life. No Valentines Day will ever compare to February 13th, 2009

Nothing Small about Me!

So my youngest, Thing 3... is the sweetest, cuddliest, most mischievous little creature to be born into this house and is never short on stealing the spotlight. Here is a montage of looks I get daily.

And she chose the accessories herself folks!!

That night we decided to have a very rare meal of Chinese.. Crab Ragoon and Lo Mein are yummy stuff. As you can tell, she agrees.
I obviously wasn't feeding her fast enough and regretfully decided to take this picture of Killian ACTUALLY EATING! This was also for documentation purposes ;).

This is what happened because of my poor decision making skills.
Hand in noodles. Poor Thing 1, having to sneak in pictures! You are just as exciting! My next post, my beautiful first born, will be all about how you make my head spin in wonderful circles ;).

But the meal and the day, does have to come to an end, even when she is strapped down, in and being continuously feed, she does not appreciate staying in one place for long. And I'm out! Until next time.... maybe I should use duck tape ;)

A day in Atchinson

Whenever Aunt Andi has a home game on the weekend, we do our best to go up and support our team! Go Ravens!! It just so happened that this week was also the same week Jim's folks, Nana and Papa, were in town for a visit. The kids, especially Thing 1 and Thing 2, had not stopped talking about their visit. So we planned for them to make the trip up to Atchinson with us.

On our way!!

 

That is definitely a more accurate shot. Nice nose picking Thing 3!
We got up to the game, the kids were spoiled with popcorn and soda. Now you know there is a grandparent in town when they are allowed to have soda. And unfortunately, Belle can keep no secrets! Right after Nana gives her the sip of soda I heard, "Nana gave me soda." Way to keep a low profile huh ;).

The game was AWESOME to say the least and afterwards we headed to a local joint called Willies to have dinner.

 Daphne and Aunt Andi are discussing politics. Along with some serious conversation from Papa and Uncle Gregg.

While Thing 1 seemed to con Grandpa Gregg into a stuffed animal... SHOCKER!

Holy cow he's eating!!!
The best part of my night however was that Aunt Andi, who seems to enjoy this "Mother of the Things" disciplinary style, was being totally man-handled by Thing 3.

 At one point the conversation went something like this, "Daphne, you either need to sit on my lap, or get back in your chair. I'm serious, you can't get down. Ok, you're going back in your seat."

Daphne sticks out lower lip, starts to pout and TA DAH!

Yep... stone cold this Aunti is... stone cold.