Summer Challenges & Family Updates

My main challenge during the summer months is always laundry.  Between 2 boys changing clothes at least twice a day, pool towels and swimsuits, baseball uniforms, and just the usual everyday laundry that seems to pile up overnight, I can't keep up let along get ahead.  Another challenge for me this summer is to get John Michael potty-trained.  He's doing great,  it's just more of a challenge when we are on the go so much.  He's much to busy to stop what he's doing and tell me he needs to "go" so I have to constantly ask him and make him go and "try".  Just last night Samuel and I were talking about his goals for this summer.  Some of the things he mentioned was to continue his reading, master his multiplication tables, maintain his Bible memory work at church, swim everyday, and continue to improve his baseball skills.  He will have tournaments 4 weekends straight with his travel ball team beginning this weekend.  He will do Sports Camp and Art Camp and possibly attend a pitcher/catcher camp at Shelton State. 

He will be going back to school before we know it!

So far as John Michael's summer plans, he is definitely looking forward to his birthday party this month.  He is talking about it already and knows exactly what he wants for his birthday.... a firetruck with a hose that actually sprays water.  The commercial is on TV ALL the time and he just HAS to have it.  He will be taking swim lessons in July and will continue his weekly visit on the Tumblebus each Wednesday and his computer class on Fridays.  We will continue our Story Time Hour at the library which he thoroughly enjoys and he loves his Wednesday night Bible class at church.  Of course he enjoys the baseball activites as well since there are several other little brothers on the team.  He will play soccer in the Fall which will be a sight to see!  I can't believe he is turning three on June 20th.  Where is the time going?

One of the biggest changes lately for our family is that Joseph has started a new job with a new company which is about 45 minutes from our house.  He is the Controller for the Georgia Pacific plant in Belk, just outside his hometown of Fayette, population of about 500 (just guessing).  He is enjoying his new position with a great company and so many opportunities.  I am so proud of him!  However, with him being out of town now, I sometimes feel like a single mom with having to do all of the transporting of kids to and from activities and chase a busy soon to be 3 year old around at baseball practices all by myself with no relief or help.  Joseph has always helped out with chores, household duties and with the boys so much and now I am realizing just HOW much he did help.  I have taken on doing the lawn-mowing & gardening as well which I enjoy and usually am able to do during nap times or late evening after baseball and Samuel is a great help.  We also planted a small vegetable garden this Spring and recently picked 2 jalepeno peppers from that garden.  The plan was to make homemade salsa with the tomatoes and peppers that we planted but the tomatoes are not ready yet and neither are the bell peppers.  So, what to do with two jalepeno peppers?  

We completed several projects around the yard early in the Spring.

I love our front porch!  It is an extension of our home and we use it a lot throughout the year.  The boys and I love to read out there, I love to have my coffee out there, John Michael loves to play with his playdough out there and we enjoy congregating with the neighbors on long summer nights.  Just this past weekend we made homemade ice cream and enjoyed it with neighbors on our front porch.

Looking forward to many long summer nights ahead!

End of the School Year - Beginning of Summer

So proud of Samuel for having a wonderful 3rd grade year.  He finished the year making the all A Honor Roll for the entire school year & received the reading achievement award.  He worked very hard to maintain all A's and I am so proud of his accomplishment.  Last night his baseball team finished up their season playing in the championship game and coming just short in the final inning for a loss, finishing 2nd out of 9 teams.  Samuel had a great season and is now looking forward to his first practice today with his summer travel ball team - High Intensity.  First tournament is this weekend so here we go!!

Below, receiving his award for all A's for the entire year.  Only two in his class received this award.

Last day of school with his teacher Mrs. Osborn.  We will truly miss her and Mrs. Rummel.

Field Day with his buddy Tate.

Samuel, Aaron, & Tate at Field Day.

So COOL!

For this championship game the moms decided to really get the boys pumped up with balloons, signs, etc. 

First Pool Day of the Summer!

Last week on Tuesday John Michael's ENT doctor told us that he needed to have his tubes put back in his ears and have his adenoids removed.  So we did that on Thursday, two days later.  He's such a little trooper and I hope he feels much better now.  Below is a picture that afternoon after surgery.  He could barely stay awake!

This past Saturday my friend Karen and I went to Sips n Strokes and painted a Monet beach scene.  I think they turned out pretty good and I have mine hanging in our bathroom.  We had so much fun and I just love my dear friend Karen.

It's been a great start to a great summer. 

"Happy Mother's Day, Mommy"

My mother's day weekend started when I picked John Michael up at his school on Friday afternoon.  His class was outside watching the Blue Angels fly and he & I went inside to get his things.  He reached down and picked up the card he had made for me, looked up at me and said "happy mother's day, mommy".  All on his own and in the sweetest little voice.

Saturday, Samuel came into the kitchen and handed me something he had made for me at school, hugged me so tight and told me happy mother's day.  Sunday morning they gave me coffee mugs they had painted for me at All Fired Up with Joseph a couple weeks earlier and a beautiful red climbing rose bush that I have been wanting.  All day long, I was given hugs and kisses.  Later that night when Samuel and I were going for a walk he asked if it had been a good mother's day.  When I told him yes it had been wonderful he said, we probably should have done more for you. 

I have the sweetest boys and the best husband and am so blessed!

Baseball, Field Trips, & Everyday Life

I know I say this a lot but here I go again..... boy is this year just flying by!  It seems that we just started third grade & baseball season and now we are wrapping up both.  Samuel has had a wonderful third grade year and has loved his teachers and being in the same class with one of his best friends, Tate.  Below is a picture of them at our Apples of Gold Banquet at church a month or so ago.

And so far as baseball goes, he has had a great season.  Wonderful coach, great kids with great families, and a 8-4 season so far.  They lost the 1st and 2nd game of the season and then went undefeated until last week when we played the first team to beat us again and lost to them for the second time.  However, they beat the undefeated team in our league the next game and turned around and got beat by the last team in our league who had not won a single game all season long.  Thats baseball, right!  Samuel has had a great season and  is getting so much experience in a variety of positions.  While his main position is 3rd base, he also plays 1st, pitches, catches, and has even played 2nd and short when needed.  I'm so proud he is so versitile and can play most anywhere.  We are looking forward to summer baseball which will start right after tournament! 

Go Bluejays!  Below are some pictures of Samuel with some of his best buddies on his team.

Yesterday Samuel had a field trip to Tuscumbia to visit Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and Spring Park.  We made it a family affair and all tagged along.  John Michael was so excited about going on his first field trip. I have looked forward to this field trip all year long!  As a child I was fascinated with Helen Keller and still have the books that I read over and over.  Samuel read one of these books before this field trip just to be sure he was up on the facts about Helen Keller.  Ivy Green was so beautiful with roses blooming everywhere.  

 

After exploring Ivy Green we ended the day with lunch and fun at Spring Park.  This was the neatest little park complete with a train, carousel, and roller coaster.  It was beautiful also with the water fall and duck ponds.  The boys enjoyed sno-cones and a picnic lunch under a big shade tree. 

John Michael has had to endure a lot of big brother activities since he arrived almost three years ago.  With there being 7 years between them, he has spent many hours at the ball park since he was just barely 3 months old.  I must say that he has always been a little trooper.  One of his favorite things to do is play with his trucks in the dirt.  Below, after practice, he heads to the pitchers mound with truck in hand.

So blessed!  It has been a great spring so far and I'm looking forward to many more sunny days!

Below is one of my favorite picture of the cottage at Ivy Green.

A Blessed Day

I didn't realize it as it was unfolding with laundry piles and dirty dishes, scraped knees and "Mom, he hit me!".  I didn't realize it when I was frustrated and discouraged, or when I felt that no one even noticed.  I didn't realize it when there was homework and baseball for my oldest and dirty diapers and boo-boos for my youngest.  I didn't realize it when it was time for dinner, more dirty dishes, bath time, reading, and "Yes, you must clean it!".

But now, as the boys come spilling into the room wearing favorite pajamas and slippers, smelling of soap and shampoo, giggling and laughing... I realize that it has been a good day.  As I smell the loftover aroma of the dinner we just shared, I realize again that it has been a good day.  And as we read a story, say our prayers, and listen to the day's adventures, yes... a very good day.

Later, after the lights are out, the dishes done, the laundry put away, and I settle into my cozy chair I am reminded again that yes, Lord it has been a good day.  As I reflect back upon this day with its ups and downs, frustrations and disappointments, I realize that it has been a good day because it was filled with life.  The life you have given us to enjoy and delight in, to deal with and contribute to.  A life filled with a family to take care of, children to adore, and a loving husband and daddy.  A home in which we nurture and love, where we create memories to cherish for a lifetime.  Yes Lord, a very good day.  I wouldn't have wanted to miss a single moment of it and may I face tomorrow with a renewed spirit and relish in knowing that it too will be a good day, a blessed day.