Asher played catcher....

Mimi, don't read this....just look at the pictures! I used colorful language that will make you blush!

In last night's game, the catcher got hit with a ball and had to come out of the game. Asher quickly volunteered to sub in. The coaches were trying to get the back up catcher to go in, but he wouldn't....he was afraid of getting hit. I can't tell you how proud I am that Asher wanted to give it a try. At the beginning of the season he got hit with a ball and has been a little timid ever since. Every game he gets a little more courage, but this totally blew me away that he was brave enough to be catcher, especially after seeing his teammate get hit. So, as they were giving him the gear and getting him suited up, the coach handed him the cup. Asher said, "Oh, thanks, I need this for my knee." The coach laughed and said, "No, it's for your tool." Asher was pretty confused, especially when they started trying to help him put it in the proper place. I don't think he has ever heard that particular terminology. Fortunately I rounded the corner into the dugout about that time. So we finished getting him all padded and protected and I was quickly giving him pointers about catching, like don't stand up when they are swinging, stay squatted down, keep your glove up, don't get hit by the batter...as if I have a clue about catching...but from a mother's perspective they seemed like good ideas. So since it was his first time EVER to catch they threw a few practice balls to him. The VERY FIRST ONE came whizzing out of the machine before he was even properly positioned, bonked him right on the head, bowled him over backwards, rolled him on the ground. YIKES he wasn't even ready. I was so proud that he hopped right up, laughed and got into position for the nest pitch. FEARLESS!!! He did a really good job. I asked him if he wanted to catch again next game, he said no. I was surprised and questioned him because he seemed to enjoy it so much. He informed me that the catching was fun, but he DID NOT like that cup! Later at home when he was saying the prayer at dinner, he thanked God for the awesome day he had, and for giving him the courage to try out being catcher. I love watching my children "grow", overcome, and lean on the Lord!

Speed bike rally...

There was a motorcycle rally here last weekend and of course I took pictures. Some of the tricks were amazing, especially considering they were doing them at speeds up to 90 mph. So here is a little taste of the excitement for this little town.

Pardon me while I play around with photoshop...soooooo many cool things to do.

Ok, these next two just crack me up. The kid is not getting hurt, but it sure looks like it given his expression and the warning signs. I don't know him, just loving the sweet zoom that gives opportunity to capture things from so far away.

I actually have several other great pictures...but I won't bore you with any more stunts. None of the boys though, they had a brief reprieve from my torture.

A little about Asher...

Asher recieved an award at school and we had a great time celebrating him yesterday. When I woke him up, he hopped out of bed with excitement because this was his Junior Brave Day. He said he was going to scrub his teeth really good....I'm guessing so they would be extra shiney for pictures.

Asher has always enjoyed playing by himself and creating a scene to act out his imaginations. He loved building forts and hideouts when we were at the ranch. He decide to use the same concept of piling brush for fort building....but in our garage, with ummmm....whatever he could find. He worked several days on this masterpiece, and he was very proud of his perfect hideout. He was not happy when I decide to clean up the garage and destroyed his wonderful world of pretending. I hope you can see how he layered and stacked, positioned and propped each piece of building material. Just a little bit of Asher that I hope to remember forever, but I'm glad to see the mound of stuff put away.

Jadyn

Remember my sweet little great niece that showed up in this world three weeks early? I couldn't wait to take some pictures of her, but then she got terribly sick and was in the hospital. When she finally did come home, we stayed away for fear of spreading germs and didn't want to risk getting her sick again. Well, she is doing so well now and growing and healthy and I am such a blessed Aunt to get this precious little model. I can't tell you how excited I am to get to practice my photography skills on such a beautiful baby. Jade and I attempted to do a little photo shoot last week. We were a little pressed for time and Jadyn wasn't really thrilled about being positioned and dressed and undressed, so I was nervous that I didn't get any "good ones". I definitely see areas for improvement and things I need to work on, but I'm lovin some of these shots.

I love that we only live a few blocks from each other. I love that her older sister calls me Teya. I love that they have a huge, fun backyard and my kids always want to go over and play. I love that my boys "protect" and look after and adore their cousins. I feel unbelievably blessed by each little moment I spend with little Miss Jadyn, especially knowing that God could have called this little angel home. I am so grateful that He is giving us all the opportunity to love her. She is ohh, so lovable!

So what do you think?

a few field trip pictures

Addison's class took a trip to a local ranch. The kids loved seeing hundreds of chickens, a couple llamas, several peacocks (that were even kind enough to fan their tails for the kids to see all the pretty colors) and horses. Each child had a turn bottle feeding a couple of dogie goats and throwing a handful of food in the pond for the catfish. They all had the chance to go for a short ride around the ranch.

Can I just say, these kids ride in style, air conditioning, dvd players spaced throughout the bus...nothing like when I was a kid!

He is so excited, he can hardly stand it!

After we left the ranch, we headed to the local park for a picnic lunch and to let the kids play. They each got some bubbles and it was so neat seeing the bubbles fill the park.

and now it is time to go back to school : (

Busy, busy....

I have sooo much to do, so I really haven't had much time to play with pictures/videos and doing any posting. I went with Addison on his field trip yesterday. I can't wait to share some of those pictures. It was a blast getting to hang out with him all day. He crashed when we got home and I had to wake him up so I could take Asher to practice. I'm so behind on laundry and housework from all the running we have been doing. I have done about 100 loads of laundry today...ok, maybe only four, but it feels like 100. I so despise folding and putting clothes away. I used to make the boys have "folding parties" with me when they were home schooled. Now, I am left to party solo and it is waaayyy less fun than turning up the music and throwing socks at the boys, then calling them UNDERWEAR BOY AND SOCKBOY and sending them off to put the laundry away and save the day! I'm so looking forward to summer so we can resume our lovely parties, plus they can wear their swimsuits all day everyday and I won't have as much laundry to do. Well, on to a few pictures. These are not the best, but I am too chicken about getting hit with a ball to stand inside the fence and really position myself in the perfect spot. So, hope you enjoy anyway!

Thursday

Wow, yesterday was CRAZY! Normal day as far as the kids going to school and Robert to work, but we had a full schedule for the evening, then an unexpected wrinkle made life come into perspective. As soon as the kids got home we started homework and snacks. Mema and Pa were passing through town and stopping by, we then were swinging by Josi's house to wish her a happy birthday and let the kids slide down her new slide a few times. Addison had a tball game and Asher's peewee game was immediately following. Just as we were getting ready to head out to Josi's, Asher tells me that a girl just crashed in our yard. I thought he meant a little girl on a bike, but he explained it was a lady in a car. So I hurried to check. Our across the street neighbor had put her baby in the car and then run into the house to get something (they were on their way to the hospital to get a few stitches for a cut over the baby's eye), the 2 yr. old little girl got out of her car seat and climbed into the front, she hit the gear shift in the middle and put the car into reverse, mom came out about this time and hurried to stop the car, she was knocked down and run over by the car, the car headed down the driveway, across the street, over the curb, over a big dirt hump (the boys like to ride their bikes/four wheelers over), just missed the telephone pole, and hit the old t'bird park next to our house (Robert hopes to work on this car with the boys when they get a little older, evidently it has some sort of good engine or something). The mom was bleeding on the back of her head and was in total shock, she was crying and in a lot of pain. The daddy went to get the baby and found all the doors were locked. I had him stay with the mom and call 911 and I went to be with the baby. She wasn't crying and the car was still running, so I knew she was ok. I talked to her through the window and finally she unlocked the door. About this time my parents drove up, then the ambulance. The little girl is fine and the mom is too. She had to get stitches in her head and has a fractured arm, but overall I think that is a pretty good ending to what could have been a horrible accident. God blessed us with so many things, just in the moments of the accident. Only minutes before Addison had been riding his bike....right there, right in the path the car took. Thank God the old car was there too, otherwise the car probably would have come through the house, into the room where Asher was. I don't know how many times I have wished that old car was not there, in the middle of the yard, looking so junky. And of course the injuries of the mother and baby could have been much, much worse. We went on to Josi's and then to the boys' games. But all of us were.....well, I really can't think of the right words. These sort of things really make you think though.

The egg hunt

Coloring Easter Eggs

I was lazy this year and we didn't color eggs at home. Fortunately they got to decorate a few at the church party. Hope to post some pictures of the hunting tomorrow. We have tball and baseball practice tonight and our first games on Thursday. The boys are feeling great! They actually have made it through an entire week of school and the weekend without getting sick. Praise the Lord!!!