Little League

There are many things I love about spring, but Little League baseball is definitely on my Top Ten list.

Elijah is good at every sport he plays (thanks to Joe's athletic genes), but he really excels at baseball.  He has a mind for the game, instinctively knowing how to make the next play or throw the next pitch.  My heart overflows with pride for him, and he claims he can hear my "pride" screaming from the sidelines :)

Whether he's on the bench with his best friend, Aaron...

or playing first base...

or up to bat, I am cheering for him and snapping pictures like crazy.

I sit on the bench and carry on with one of the other mom's, Chelle.  We have a great time, laughing and yelling and razzing our coach (in a very friendly way).  However, when Elijah takes the mound and pitches, I am up at the fence, focused and praying that he does well and stays safe.  Kid-pitch baseball can be dangerous, especially for the pitcher.  Elijah has quick reflexes and is even more focused than me, which you can tell by his many expressions:

(and yes, he is a lefty pitcher, but a righty hitter)

He doesn't even get nervous up there!  So calm and cool...this boy amazes me!

Elijah, you rock!

Project Update

Our garden has been a family project from day one.

Joe dug up the sod and laid the blocks.  I filled it with good garden soil.

Gabe helped me pick out the seeds at Lowe's, and Isabel helped me plant the seeds in my little greenhouse.

Then we watched them grow...

My clematis (which I planted during last year's garden makeover) is really taking off; this is also where the tomato garden will be.

The pole beans, carrots, squash, lettuce and peppers are here, below the deck.  We hope that by being close to the house, the bunny rabbits will be deterred by our "killer cats".

Yesterday, Gabe was thrilled to find the first three red (or almost red) strawberries in our patch!  I let the kids each have one, and they said they were delicious!

I couldn't for the life of me find a "before" picture of our master bathroom; suffice it to say it was linoleum, white shower insert and boring old vanity.  After months of hard work by my handy-dandy husband, it now looks like this:

Joe did every single thing by himself; moved the toilet, excavated the old shower/sink/toilet, laid all the tile on the floor, shower and walls, picked out the colors of the tiles and cabinets and walls and did all the installation (I did help hold the cabinets while he hung them and I picked out the decorations...it's the little things, right?)  I am so proud of him; it looks amazing!  If you live in the tri-state area, I do rent him out during the summer months when he's off school...

What projects are going on in your house (Suzann, I am anxiously awaiting pictures of your kitchen makeover!)?

Babies

Have you seen the previews?

Do you think you'll watch it?

Have you already seen it?

I think Isabel would love it; the boys, notsomuch.

I might wait til it's on Netflix.

What about you?

Can you tell I'm having blogger's block?

A mom is born...

"Before you were conceived

I wanted you

Before you were born

I loved you

Before you were here an hour

I would die for you

This is the miracle of life."

-Maureen Hawkins

(photo courtesy of Becky Higgins)

June 18, 1998.

December 21, 1999.

August 27, 2004.

Three times over, I was blessed with the gift of motherhood.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I wouldn't trade this job for all the money in the world.

Being a mom is the best thing that I have ever done.

Happy Mother's Day, sweet friends!

Loving to read

Our librarians know us by name, especially Gabe, who visits every week with his preschool class and loves Miss Barb to pieces.

Gabe is starting to read!  He knows all of his letters, and can sound out many words!  He is more excited than I am about this, I think...

I thank God that my kids love to read and be read to.  On our bookshelves right now are these books:

Gabe's current favorite, the Dinosaur Cove series...

And Isabel has read my series of Little House books at least twice through...

Elijah and Isabel both read the whole Percy Jackson series, and now Elijah is hooked on the 39 Clues series (they love a book which has a sequel, can you tell?).

They come by it honestly...I love a good series.  Right now, I'm into the Anna Pigeon mystery series by Nevada Barr.  And there's a new one coming out this August.  Can't wait!

So, what are you reading these days?  Do you like a series?  Do your kids love to read?

Countdown to harvest...

Carrots.
Butternut squash.
Grape, jellybean, Better boy, Early Girl tomatoes (I really like tomatoes!).
Tomatillos.
Pole beans.
Lettuce.
Red peppers, yellow peppers.
Sugar baby watermelon.
Strawberries, blackberries.
Thyme, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, basil.
Seven bags of soil with Miracle Gro, one bag of humus, two bags of mulch, at least fifty landscaping blocks.
Three days of hard work (and a pretty good farmer's tan to go with it).
A family effort.
The garden is in.

Kool-aid...only 25 cents!

Our little entrepreneurs...

Sold a cup to mommy, daddy, mamaw and papaw, and some kids from down the street.

Had to split the profits four ways.

Gabe's big dream of buying a "big giant Lego set" is on hold, at least until the next idea...

What's the best "lemonade stand" idea you had as a kid?  What did you want to buy?