Happy 9th Birthday CLAY!!!

Here are some pics from Clay's 9th birthday. We celebrated it 3 weeks early this year so that Clay could invite friends from school because we were going to be in Louisiana for his actual birthday. We had a swimming party at the pool in Ransom. He had a great time, and thankfully the weather cooperated!!

Nothin' better than a good friend and an even better pickle!

Rope and his friend Dax met at their sister's softball games, where they not only discovered friendship, but pickles too!




This is so tasty!

Spring Band Concert

Chastin is in the high school band. He played the bass guitar during marching season (and yes, for those of you who are familiar with marching bands I said bass guitar - and for those of you that are not familiar with marching bands, guitars are not usually found. In fact he was the only one in Texas I believe. But after his skiing injury, he was, as we call it "promoted" to triangle player. He was NOT happy. I think he was the BEST little triangle player. :)

Hannah was in beginning band (yes that's her in first chair position, just like her mama!) She is loving band and gets to be a "roadie" for the high school band next year. Which means she gets to travel with the band to all the Varsity football games and help set up for the half time show. She's pretty excited!

The concert was very entertaining, with my favorite song being the Veggie Tales theme song!

Rope loving the music! He's so cute!!

The Ice Cream Truck

While visiting Nana and Papa's in Tulia, the ice cream truck came by. Wish I would have had my camera when we were picking out what we wanted. This was pretty cool in Rope's eyes! His first ice cream truck purchase. I did happen to capture them enjoying their tasty treats.


I love Rope's expression in this picture!!!

Mmmmmm! I'm liking this popcicle!


ClayHannah
Chance

Easter

This year I was excited about Rope hunting eggs since he can walk. I pictured him running all over the yard getting eggs and putting them in his basket. But he had a different idea of how this whole hunting eggs thing worked. He was really funny. He would walk around examining the eggs on the ground and only pick up the ones that were appealing to him. If we put an egg in his basket he didn't like he would take it out and throw it across the yard. Too cute!!




Chance and Hannah did a great job hiding the eggs.








Hmmmm? Which egg should I choose??



Their Easter gift from Nana.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Baseball season is officially in full swing and has found me busier than ever. I thought basketball was a busy season, but at least all those games were in the same town and gym. Baseball has found me running from town to town to catch a game. Like this morning, for example Hannah played at Roosevelt at 12:00, Clay had a game in Abernathy at 1:30, so I had to leave Hannah's game early (in the middle of her pitching I might add and after an injury - more later) to rush Clay to Abernathy. As soon as his game was over, we rushed back to Slaton to make Chance's game, which started at 3:00, just in time to get there to see him sit out the rest of the game. I completely missed him getting to play. But I was there! I was happy that I was able to make at least part all 3 games.


Clay and Chance are both playing in the Slaton league. We really like playing here, not only for the convenience of playing in the town where we live (my favorite part) but the kids are making so many friends here. For those of you who don't know, we don't go to school in the town where we live. I've been teaching at Roosevelt for 7 years and when we moved to Slaton, we didn't want the kids to move schools so we commute. Anyway, the boys play in Slaton. Clay plays machine pitch and Chance is in kid pitch.

Both my boys play 2nd base and Chance also pitches.


Chance looking happy on 2nd base.

Here's Chance pitching. On the 2nd pitch he catches the ball to get the batter out, throws to first to get the runner out, but unfortunately the first baseman misses the ball and two runners make it home. I love the outfielder's expression at the end of the video!





Clay on 2nd base.
Clay batting.


Wish I would have had my video camera rolling when Clay played today. He caught a pop fly (his very first one ever!) But in my rush out the door, I left the camera at home. :( I'll try to get a video of Clay at his next game.


Future ball player!


Now Hannah....
Hannah is playing softball for the first time EVER. She hasn't played since t-ball and I'm not sure if that really counts as playing if all you did was pick dandelions and chase butterflies. But peer pressure got the best of her (thankfully it was positive peer pressure) and she decided to play with all her friends in the Roosevelt league. The first practice came and went and Hannah was pretty excited. I was very glad that she was having a good time, but honestly I didn't know if she was going to get much playing time because she is a newbie to softball.

Ok, long story short, its the first game and we are winning 9 - 1, then the pitcher starts getting tired and walking every batter - score is 9-6. Coach calls a time out to switch pitchers and guess who they put in to pitch? You guessed it Hannah! I couldn't believe it. Are you sure?? Hannah's pitching?? I didn't know she could pitch. Well here's the video of her pitching and striking the batter out. We have 2 outs, bases loaded and we are ahead 9-8 (she walked 2 girls prior to this batter). We only need 1 more out to win the game. I'm so proud of her!!! LOL you can hear me on the video giving Bryan a play by play.

Oh and watch the girls in the outfield - I love how excited they get each time she throws a strike.







Hannah on 2nd base (yes she hit the ball!!)


Well we still have about a month left of baseball, so if you would like to watch a game - let me know! I'm sure I'll have more to post this season.

Chastin's Junior Prom

Here are some pics of Chastin at before his prom.


Trying to figure out how to fold their pocket hanky. Thank goodness for the internet!


Isn't he handsome?




Chastin and Taylor


Chastin, Taylor, Connie and Kyle

We're gonna have to buy a piano now!

We went to visit Rope's very first babysitter today, who just happens to be a long time friend of mine, Lael. (who we should visit way more often). He had a ton of fun playing outside with Lael's kids. I think they were excited that he wasn't a baby anymore and could actually play with them. Camille was very excited that he could sing like her! They were too cute!

Rope found their piano and got up on the bench and began playing. He's never been around a piano before and I'm so glad I captured this on video. He's adorable (at least I think so!)

Little Dribblers

#1 Fan!

Well we just finished the most crazy season of little dribblers I've ever participated in. Our 3 middle children were all playing this year. We play in the Slaton league where we live instead of the Roosevelt league where we go to school. I really like playing here not only for the convenience of playing in town, but this also helps the kids meet kids here in town. Anyway, having 3 children playing you can only imagine how busy we were. For about 6 weeks, we have had a least 1 game a night, but most nights we had 3. The boys both played at the junior high, but Hannah played across town at the high school. Thank goodness Chastin can drive. To make it even more hectic , I coached Hannah's team. I know, I know, I'm crazy. But I had a great time and loved every minute of it! I'm thankful for parents of some of my girls for helping out with my "assistant" Coach Rope. We had a great season but I am so glad its OVER! Now time for BASEBALL!

Hannah with her t-shirt. They gave the 5-6 players t-shirts instead of trophies. Pretty cool!

My 3rd place team the Comets. 3 of my girls are named Hannah. What are the chances? Made it easy sometimes "Hannah! Get the ball!" Somebody, got the ball! LOL




Chastin, Me and Hannah



Chance with his t-shirt. His team the Bobcats, were the Champions of 5th-6th grade.



Clay, so proud of his trophy! They gave 3rd-4th graders trophies. He was also on the Championship team!

Proud of my little cheerleader

Ok, I need to brag a little here, so forgive me. Hannah is in 6th grade this year, which means that she can try out for junior high cheerleader. She has been waiting for this moment since she was in kindergarten. I have been the cheer coach at Roosevelt for 6 years and Hannah has been my little "assistant" all these years. I remember a time at practice one year when my 7 year old daughter came over to inform me that some of the girls high v's were not right and that another girl was rushing the 2nd part of the cheer and that another needed to lock her knees in the extention. Cheer has obviously been her life. Well last Friday was the big day - Cheer Tryouts!! For those of you who have not been through the process of your child trying out for something they've had their heart set on for their life yet, just wait. It's the most stressful, stomach aching thing I've had to go through and I'm the coach! I remember telling moms every year to "not worry", "she'll be ok" "Your daughter is doing great" "You are going to be fine". Well when the shoe is on the other foot, now I know why they worry. It's so hard to sit and watch your child want something so bad and not have the control to give it to them. That's where I was. Well her hard work paid off. She made it! There are 8 girls on my junior high squad, 4 in each grade. We were so excited. Anyway, here is her tryout in front of the student body. Thanks for letting me brag! (btw - she's the one on the left)

Just because it comes in a pretty package

Ok, so I am officially on spring break, you know sleeping in and all that good stuff. Wahoo! Well sleeping in, if you don't have a one and a half year old who can escape from his crib. Ok, well Monday morning I'm awoken to the sound of a cute little voice calling me. "Mama! Mama!" and then his grunts and the rustling of paper. So I crack open one eye to see little Rope standing next to me begging me to open the "candy" he had found. I write candy with quotes, because he has found where I keep my tampons and he thinks that since they are wrapped in pretty green and yellow packaging, that they must be treats that mama has been hiding from him all this time. I quickly jump up, take them away and offer him his nice sponge bob fruit snacks, but NOOOOOO he wants mama's candy! So for 3 days, I've had to continuously take them away from him. I know, I know, find a new spot, or shut the door, but where and he can open doors now? You can't just keep those things anywhere you know? So anyway, I guess I'll continue to try and convince him that his candy is much better than mama's. :) Maybe he'll forget soon.

Does the tooth fairy leave money for a tooth that was knocked out by your brother?

Clay and Chance were playing basketball in the house (which they are not supposed to do, but with boys it happens!) when all of a sudden Clay comes running in the kitchen, blood pouring out of his mouth, screaming. Apparently Clay's tooth met up with Chance's shoe and knocked it loose (a complete accident of course). I cleaned him up and decided to see if I could just pull it out. He pulled back and informed me that it hurt. I reminded him that when a baby tooth is loose and ready to fall out, it doesn't hurt. That's when I found out that the tooth wasn't loose. Even though it was a baby tooth, it wasn't time to come out. So now I'm worried, but Bryan reassured me it was fine (because it was a baby tooth) and to just leave it alone, because it would either loosen up more or tighten back up if it wasn't ready. Ok, so I sent Clay back to play. Not even 15 minutes later, Clay comes running back in the kitchen, more blood, but this time with a tooth in his hands. This time while going for the rebound it seems Chance's elbow decided to finish the job! So Clay's tooth was knocked out by Chance. Thank goodness it was a baby tooth and not a permanent tooth! Boys!!


I'm sharing the picture because he's so proud that he didn't cry and as he put it "the blood is so cool!!"

Here's what's happened so far....

January - The new year started off great. The boys and I traveled to Dallas to spend a few days with Bryan. Hannah chose to stay with her Nana and Papa in Tulia for the trip. We had a great time back in trailerville. (oh the memories of the summer that brought back). We didn't really do anything exciting, but had a good time at the park and shopped just a little.

The boys waiting to go eat.

Big boy going up the slide all by himself!

Racing in the park.

My Accident Prone Child

School quickly started back for us and we were really excited about Chastin starting district play in basketball. We had a 3 day weekend mid January and he went skiing with the youth group in Ruidosa. They left early Saturday morning. We usually don't hear from Chastin when he's gone on trips from home. (You know he's a teenager, calling mom and dad is not cool.) So when we got a phone call Sunday, I knew something was up. It was the youth director, Chastin was enroute to the hospital via ambulance. Now those of you who don't know Chastin very well are probably surprised at this, but being his mom, my first question was "what now".

Quick update on the last year of Chastin's life -

1. Broke his wrist playing football when it got smashed between 2 helmets. ER visit - cast put on
2. Dropped a 45lb weight on his foot in weight room, ER visit, not broken, but needed crutches
3. Dislocated his thumb playing football, ER visit - brace
4. Severe abdominal pain - ER visit, infection,

I remind you all of this happened in the last year, so back to my story. Now don't get me wrong, I was very concerned about him, but I was not, surprised. I think this kinda shocked the youth director. Anyway Chastin was snowboarding, hit a patch of ice and fell. Xrays show that his collarbone is broken in 2 places - sling, but no surgery - thank goodness. After 6 weeks in a sling, he's still not healed. He's feeling much better and doing more than he really should. He's a trouper. If it were me, I'd still be on the couch in pain! We go back Spring Break for more xrays. Needless to say, basketball and track are not on the agenda for Chastin this year. :(

One of Chastin's friends snapped this picture of him being put in the ambulance. He managed to capture the whole event on film. Thanks JD for taking such great care of Chastin for us.
Chastin was in great spirits considering the situation. He said that the paramedics confessed that he was their first IV in a long time. LOL exactly what you want to hear in this situation.

Bryan finished the project he was working on in Corsicana and got to come home for a few days in January....so we thought. A few days turned into a few weeks. The kids and I were thrilled to have him home with us for a while. We caught up on some much needed quality time together.

Thankfully after an eventful month, January ended calmly for us.