Bragging Rights

Pic #1: Thank you Rooneys for the Spider Man present! He loves it! There is silly string all over our yard from his webs!
Pic#2: Thomas being silly at 1st base.
Pic#3: Nolan winding up for a pitch

We had a busy baseball weekend with my folks in town. Thomas had a good game Saturday morning. The kids are beginning to learn that there are positions to play, instead of all of them swarming over the ball. Thomas had some good hits and tried for a play at first even.

Nolan played first base most of his game, but pitched the last inning. It got exciting when he hit a ball way out int he outfield and brought in 2 runners. He ran to third base and kept going. The pitcher started running towards him at homeplate to get him out. There was a discrepancy whether he got tagged before or after he touched the base, so they compromised and sent him back to 3rd base. He did make it home though. He had a triple and 2 singles that game. And he's made the newspaper 3 times now! The most exciting news is he went to a Pitch, Hit and Run Competition after his game. I guess he got points depending on how fast he ran, how close he came to the strike zone, etc. And he won! He tied in the pitching category with another player. So now he goes to Saratoga this coming Saturday for another round. I think they keep weeding out players, and then the eventual winners get to go to the All Star game in St. Louis. We're so proud of him that he's trying so hard and just loves it so much.

It was great to see my folks and have a nice warm weekend, at least Saturday. Next weekend is Niska Day so hopefully it will be nice weather then too. I just wish it wasn't so busy! I keep wearing my turtle necklace to remind myself to slow down.

Baseball Weekend

We've become consumed with baseball now. Nolan has 2 games and a practice each week and Thomas has a game each week too. They are both loving life and playing great. On the way home from a game, Nolan told me, "Mom, I love baseball. It's all I think about." He said it so seriously. It's great to see him become so absorbed in something that he really loves, and be good at it too.

I've been planning an intergenerational event for our two parishes, co-chairing with my new friend Holly. The first time they had an event like this, 300 people attended over the two sessions. It's been a great learning experience and seems to eat a lot of my time, when I'm not on a ball field. We keep hitting road blocks that we have to work around. But I'm amazed at how people are giving of their time and talent to make it all work. I hope we get a good turn out with all of this effort. I'm getting to know the most wonderful people.

This weekend Mom and Dad are coming down to see our ball players. Nolan is going to try out for a Pitch, Hit and Run Competition. The winners move on and may have a chance to see a major league game in Saint Louis. We'll see what happens with that. We're sorry to miss Simon's 1st communion this weekend--good luck Simon! We're proud of you! It's Gaba's birthday this weekend, Mother's Day and our friend Danny's 1st communion too. Lots to celebrate!

Batter Up and a new Webelo

We had a beautiful, summery weekend and filled it with fun. Saturday Thomas and Nolan both had baseball games. They did awesome! Thomas seemed very confident and looked so cute in his baseball outfit and really big shirt. He had some good hits off the tee and even made a play to first. Nolan's game was later in the day. He played first base most of the time and got three outs. He also made it home once. He is on a new field this year and the kids pitch, so the game takes a lot longer. Thomas' coach seems great--light-hearted and making it fun for the kids. I'm hoping Nolan's coach does a little more instruction but otherwise is pretty easy-going too.

Sunday night was Nolan's Blue and Gold dinner. Despite how the picture looks, Nolan had a great time. The bridge they are standing on is the bridge that they cross over to become the next level. Chris did a great job with his video presentation and all the boys did funny skits. Now Nolan is a Webelo and Thomas a Tiger Cub. We will be talking about Cub Scouts in our sleep! But for now, most of our activities are over except the Niska Day parade and a pack picnic.

Tomorrow is Thomas' 6 year check up. More baseball next weekend, a CROP walk and a 1st communion celebration for a friend. And 40 days left of school!

Boston and Salem

We had a great time on our trip to Boston over spring break. We left early Monday morning and dropped Chester off at this new kennel on the way--a place in the country where he got to walk next to fields of horses and sniff fellow dogs. We stopped in Natick, MA to hit the Lego store there. The boys spent their gift cards and we headed eastward to Danvers where our hotel was. We had dinner in Marblehead at this great restaurant, The Barnacle. I had lobster that was caught from their own boat--yum! Chris had salmon and Nolan had fish n' chips. Thomas was a rebel and had chicken fingers. The hotel was nice except for an icky pool and the service was so-so. Tuesday we managed to find the train station and maneuver our way to the aquarium. We had a blast there, and it was so relaxing watching those fish swim by. Nolan was into the sharks and Thomas like the stingrays. I was partial to the turtles and jellyfish. Chris liked everything. We went over to Quincy Market to have lunch and then headed back to the hotel. Wednesday we went to the Salem Maritime Historical Site and learned all about trade in colonial times. Nolan was especially interested and even filled out a booklet with questions about the plaques and earned a junior ranger badge. It was great to see the ocean and experience a different place. We left tired and happy.

Now we're back in school and baseball is here in full swing. We have games this Saturday and already had a practice. Sunday is Nolan's Blue and Gold Dinner too--I can't believe he's going to be a Webelo!

Birthday videos

Kris will probably write some more about the exciting events surrounding Thomas' birthday. But in the meantime, here are some video highlights...

Some Pics

Last weekend we finally went letterboxing again. We've taken a long hiatus from it. I can't disclose the location of the one we found, but it was at an old section of the Erie canal. It was fun to poke around there that day. We ended it with a trip to Jumpin' Jacks---mmmm. I had vanilla and cherry swirl in the back of the car with Chester--I was cold! I think the picture of the boys eating their ice cream is funny. Thomas looks like he's about to give Chris the finger and Nolan looks like he's in love and about to kiss his ice cream cone.

Tomorrow Thomas turns 6. I really can't believe he is going to be 6, especially when he's barely 3 feet tall! He was the mayor of his school today, passing out his birthday cupcakes. Tomorrow we are having Gaba over for dinner. Thomas has requested Cookie Crisp for breakfast and chicken noodle soup for dinner. Since it's Good Friday, we're going to have chicken noodle soup without the chicken! I told Thomas he can play video games for as long as he wants in the afternoon, after we go to church. Maybe that's a little sacreligious. But he is very excited about the prospect. I think what he wants more than anything on his birthday is to do whatever he wants!

Saturday we will be brave and go to Chuck E. Cheese for his small kid party. Nolan has a baseball tryout afterwards. He's decided to try out for a spring travel team after all. If he makes the team, he'll be on 2 different baseball teams. The one team he is on doesn't have any of his friends on the team, so I think that's why he'd like to try spring travel. We just got his schedule and we're awaiting Thomas'. I'm glad religion classes and after school programs are over to make room for all this baseball.

Hoppy Easter to everyone!

April Showers

It's a rainy day today, and it makes me so happy to have spring finally here. I'm starting to think of what to do with my yard this year and how we'll spend our summer. The grass is already starting to grow a little. We are anxiously awaiting Thomas' birthday, Easter and spring break. I can't believe he is almost 6! We are taking him and 2 friends to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate. His birthday is on Good Friday this year, which is a weird day to celebrate, so we're going on Saturday. He's getting cupcakes at school on Thursday, so he'll have 3 days of celebration!

Not much else to report. We all had terrible viruses last week, but we're back to health this week. Their after school programs end this coming week, just in time for baseball to start up. We start working on the fields this Sunday. No word yet on the teams. Nolan wants to try out for the All Star team this summer. If he makes it, then that will keep our summer pretty busy. I hear it's 3 practices and 2 games a week. But we will be sure to get some camping trips in too, and we hope to join the town pool.

In case I don't get back to this, have a wonderful, hope-filled Easter!