Opening Day::2013

Saturday was opening day for Capital Little League. It was just me with the kids and the plan was for opening ceremonies (be there by 9:30) and then Brendan had a game at 11:00 and Wyatt at 1:30. The weather could not have been more miserable. It was freezing and raining and windy. HORRIBLE. I put Easton and Annabel in the double stroller with the rain shield on (a fitted tarp with a window) and they were as cozy and dry as could be in there. I kept looking at them wondering how I could crawl in there too. Opening ceremonies happened and I found the boys and they were still planning on playing the game. So Brendan went to his field and I went to the car with everyone else. 45 mins of trying to soak up puddles with sand bags and they finally called the game! We went home, bundled up and watched movies. All the games were cancelled for the day so we have yet to have our first games. Thursday, maybe. The boys were bummed, but if we are going to have weather like that....NO THANK YOU! When the nice spring weather arrives, let's play some baseball!

Easter and Easton

Easter was lovely. We had perfect, perfect, beautiful weather. We went to church, which was good (as always). We went early and then came home and changed into our summer clothes and pretty much played all day. My dad and grandma came over in the afternoon and ate a casual dinner with us out on the deck and we soaked up all the beautiful spring sunshine that we could. It was one of those lovely days that you wish would just drag on a little longer.

Monday, however, came anyway. Rand went back to work and I took Easton to his 1 week follow-up appointment. He was in very good spirits and I couldn't help but think about how happy he has been (since his leg has healed enough to stop hurting). It can only be a result of the special attention he has been getting which makes me sad and glad at the same time. I think he needed it. A lot of holding and carrying and taking care of, including sleeping in my bed because it is too hard for me to get him in and out of his lower bunk bed that is basically on the floor. Anyway, he is happy, and that is good. He occasionally talks about getting that cast off, but for the most part he is really good about just being okay with the way things are. Perhaps he is even seeing the "gifts". He is healing well, but will have the cast for probably 5 more weeks. We go back again next week and they will probably follow his progress for a couple years just to make sure that growth plate heals properly. Here are a few glimpses of Easton that he rarely lets anyone see. Smiley, and goofy.

Baseball May In Fact Kill Us

er...I mean...WOOHOOOOO it's baseball season!!!! Okay, in case I ever forget what this "season" of my life is really like, let's review...[the post in which I seemingly complain and also brag in the same story]

We are a one income, one car family with 4 children whom we homeschool in a too small house with a too small kitchen: 9, 7, almost 3 and just 1. That in and of itself sounds crazy enough, and it is. The children are involved in AWANAs on Wednesday nights, ORLA on Monday and Wednesday mornings and small group on Thursday nights. This year I decided to start a new business with my mom in downtown Olympia (see above "one income family")..so far, we are still a one income family with a much crazier lifestyle.

We seriously considered not doing baseball this year. In the end we thought we might regret that because Brendan and Wyatt really, really love baseball, and they are good at it, and we had a lot of fun last year going to games and spending our spring doing baseball. Last year Wyatt played AA (machine pitch 5, 6, 7) and Brendan did try outs and played AAA (kid pitch 8, 9, 10). Wyatt is a good player and we found AA a little frustrating last year, but because he is only 7 and a skinny little guy we just decided to keep him in AA. In the mean time, a few weeks ago, we took Brendan to try outs and he actually got drafted to play in the Minors with 10, 11 and 12 year olds!!! He will be playing for the Yankees. I can't imagine him standing next to 12 year olds, but apparently they think he can hold his own!

We were having second thoughts about having kept Wyatt back in AA and talked a coach into letting him practice with his AAA team last night and just see if we should even consider bumping him up. He. Was. Awesome. He was a total stud. The coach said it wasn't even a question about whether or not he should play AAA, it was a matter of whether or not it was fair for this particular coach to pick him up. So we aren't sure which team he will play for yet, but he is so pumped he did so well! Both boys should improve a lot this season, playing with kids 3 years older than them!

We saw Brendan's practice schedule for the next month+ until opening day and it included practice 3 days a week....and that is just Brendan. We may need to figure out a solution to the one car thing, even if it is just for baseball season. It already takes a bit of juggling to pack everyone up, pick Rand up from work, make dinner and get to where we need to go. Now we have practice....and I have a job! It is crazy, and hard and busy and really fun. I can't wait for some of those sunny, perfect days watching my sweet little baseball studs. Stay tuned for an overload of baseball pictures in the weeks/months to come!

Here is Brendan at try outs (shortest one in his group...best little player out there.) Told you I would brag....

Spur of the Moment

Sometimes a spur of the moment trip is the best kind. Rand had Friday off since he worked last Saturday and we've been just waiting for the weather to get nice enough to head to the ocean. Yesterday the stars aligned and knowing the weather has been nice for "too long" and the rain has got to be coming, we decided to take advantage!
I lived here my whole life and have awesome memories of going to the ocean and so I am not sure why I thought my children would be any different than I was and choose to stay out of the ocean because it is just too cold for swimming? I mean really. So I packed all wrong, bringing blankets, sweatshirts and boots instead of swimsuits and flipflops. Did it stop them? Um no.
We played in Westport for the day and picked up saltwater taffy (because how can you not when you go to the beach) and then headed home just in time for Brendan's baseball practice and had a really perfect day.

Frozen solid

Typical. Remember this?

Snake!

We went for a little walk around our property today to show Aunt Joanie and Uncle Chris the beauty of the Great PNW. It was beautiful. On our way down the path we saw a little tiny dead snake. The boys were fascinated. I went on to tell them that oh yes, when it is warmer this summer we will see snakes, probably in the grass and probably much bigger than that one.

It turned out we didn't have to wait until summer. Joanie spotted a nice big one out in the grassy field and we chased it, took pictures of it, and some (one) of us even picked it up! *shudder*

how awesome are these trees??

A Garden.....Sort of

We have visitors this week. I love when people we love from far away come to visit. Rand's Aunt and Uncle from Minnesota are here. And I discovered tonight that they just laugh and giggle about how in the world I can knit and throw birthday parties, let alone blog at all with this new(ish) baby and 3 crazy boys. They even went so far as to tell me that they joked and said, "What's next? A gardening blog??" Well it just so happens that was exactly what I was going to do next and there are some gardening photos just sitting there on my camera card as a matter of fact!

We jest in fun, right Chris and Joanie??

So for real. I've been plotting a garden (and other things!!!) in my mind since we moved in here in November. Our "lower yard" where we have all the space is a great spot. BUT, we would have to rip out grass and rocks and break up hard ground and bring in good dirt and then protect it from all the animals and honestly I don't think we could have made that happen...at least not this year. (See??? I have limits!) So my mom came over one day and told me she had heard about this public garden in Shelton where you can "lease" a garden box for the summer and grow your own stuff. It's super cheap, it's filled with organic soil and compost, there is water and tools available. I just have to plant what I want and maintain it. If I have extra produce I can donate it and they distribute it to the food bank or others who need/want it. It's perfect.  I have a small garden space near the house that I will plant in and then I have my garden box in Shelton too! Seemed like a good solution for this tough "season" we are in right now.

So believe it or not....I've planted some stuff. It just feels irresponsible to not try to at least grow some of our food!

Opening Day

Well today is a sad day. I miss my brother. Today is the day that I say it out loud. Today 5 years ago changed everything. Does it need to be said? I don't know. It's a part of who I am. It's a part of my everyday and I don't need to say it to know it or feel it or so that anyone else remembers. I remember. It just is what it is.

BUT, that being said, I was glad to have something fun to do today.

Today was opening day for Capital Little League. Woot-woot!!!! The boys play at different levels, but low and behold they both wound up playing for the Cubs. Different teams. Both Cubs. So they look like they are on the same team, but they aren't. (This has happened before!)

They did great and had a huge cheering squad. Both of their games were at the same time which was good and bad. We didn't have to stay for the whole day, but I felt torn between both fields. And then another bummer was that Rand couldn't be there. I know, right?! It just felt so wrong. The one guy who has been grooming them for these moments, who is living a dream with these sons of his in baseball uniforms, had to work today. :( But there are lots of games and you better believe he will be there!

They both won their games and they are still giddy with excitement. This is going to be a fun spring. Crazy, but fun.

After the games we went to the Farmers Market downtown. I got some local honey and a few vegetable starts to plant. I met some family down there, but eventually we went our separate ways. All of a sudden I found myself in the middle of a very crowded market with all four kids, all by myself!!! I about had a panic attack. I pretty much high-tailed it to the car!

It's been a good day. Sad and happy. Hard mixed with joy. I really love my life. I really miss my brother. I really believe in God and am so moved today with the blessings He gives us here but also that there is something better beyond this. I'm glad those 2 exist together. There is sadness here and also joy. And thank God there is Heaven. And thank you, God, for baseball. ;)

Opening Ceremonies

Brendan on 2nd (he stole)

In the dug-out

Wyatt playing 1st