June's off to a banging start!

June brought a lot of excitement and visitors our way!  We were so so excited to have the Blakes come and stay on their way to a soccer tournament in Snohomish.  What a fun treat for me to have my nieces and nephews in my house, and I want them all to come back soon.  We toured around Yakima and hit up our favorite places to eat and get treats, caught a movie and even got the girls a manicure!  It was a super great few days, and ended with a chance to watch Brittney play soccer.  Because of the horrible Seattle traffic we only made it to the tail end, but it having a chance to spend a little more time with family was worth it.  Our doors are open to any visitors who want a place to rest, eat, and get a little dirty!

To say that Lyvie was in heaven is a total understatement!  She loves Leah and these two love to be twins as much as possible - matching hair, bracelets, clothes when possible.  It was so fun to have some girl power time!

Not to be forgotten were some other events of note this month:

#1) Max's continued obsession with baseball - and now for catching!  He literally begged to put on all the catcher's gear, and it was super hot that night and waddled around, barely able to walk in the leg protectors.  It was hilarious!

#2) National Donut Day - a very important holiday at our home was observed with utmost respect:)

#3) This a typical scene at our house at night - baseball continues to rule the day and the night!
#4) This sweet little guy is not so little anymore and I find him to be completely adorable and endearing.  He says things like "De-wishous" for food that is especially tasty; and "you betcha" when he affirms that he gets to do something; and my favorite "Yay!" when I tell him he can have chocolate milk, play baseball or have more cocoa puffs!

#5) Lyv is a dream come true most days - and I'm so grateful to see a creative, organized player how finds so much happiness in collecting random things, putting them in corresponding groups and then turning them into some sort of art.  She is so fun at this age, and always says, "Mom, I sure did a lot of work today!" A busy little bee already!

#6) Lyv's latest "favorite" outfit - I will have to bribe her to wear other clothes until this one gets a hole or a stain!

Mozart! - almost Sam finished his second year of piano (2 more to go) and he wasn't able to attend his recital so I got a private concert.  As he tried to get out of more lessons, I heard myself giving him the same lecture my mother gave me at his age, when I wanted to be done with lessons….just until your 12….I just want you to know how to read music….it will be such a blessing later in life….you will wish you had stuck with it…. (and I do!)

Jack's Kindergarten Graduation

Jack's end of year celebration was a great day for the family.  He shined during the introductory reading - using extra big words that showed off his reading ability and always makes me giggle a little to hear his cute little voice saying such educated sounding vocabulary.  He made great friends in class this year and will be sad to be transferring to Cottonwood next year without them, but is looking forward to the challenges 1st grade will bring.  His teacher, Mrs. McGuire was a fantastic teacher - very patient, but firm and a great way for Jack to start out his school career!

Jack with his classmates. Amiah went with him for his walk to read sessions in the 1st grade classroom so they became really good friends, and she mothered him when he got a little off track at times.

Boys of Summer

Baseball season has officially come to a close.  What a crazy season it was.  Between trying to catch both Sam's and Jack's games and practices we were crazy to say the least.  But for as many games as I attend, and as many practices we drive them to, I would keep doing it and doing it.  Watching my kids participate in anything is one of the greatest part of being a parent.  It takes real courage for them to go out there and try their best, knowing that the results might not be in their favor.  

Sam especially had a trying year.  His team only won one game this year!  He took the end of season hard, but I had to remind him how well HE had done.  He played nearly every inning, at third base.  He hit nearly every time at bat - and in the last game hit an awesome double that scored two much needed runs.  He even got to try his hand at pitching, and he pitched an amazing inning striking three batters out to close the game.  It is hard to be happy with losing (I am one of the worst losers in the history of losing) but seeing the positives amidst all of the loss is what builds character.  I am so proud of both of my boys, and am I look forward to watching them participate in the years to come.

Jack had a great time with Shawn as coach.  I was grateful that these two had a chance to be with just each other - a rare event around our house.  Jack improved with each game, and learned that catching is his favorite position.  He also had the constant encouragement and support of his dad - that in and of itself made the season a success.

Mayhem in May

What is it about the end of the school year that brings on the craziest, busiest schedule imaginable?  Don't get me wrong I like to be busy, but holy macaroni…. the  month of May has flown by!  I looked over the pictures in my phone and found these gems that will have to do as a representation of what we've been up to.  I am the worst about getting pictures of the "actual" event - I'd rather witness the moment, but that leaves for some random photos to go in the scrapbook!

 Lyv finished up preschool on May 22 with a fun morning at Kid's Castle.  She had a great year, loved her teachers and her classmates.  She was such an eager learner and I am more than confident that she will love kindergarten as well.  I on the other hand am super excited to have her home all day again, and super sad that she'll be leaving me all day in September.  The time has gone way too fast for me!  And boy am I grateful for a little girl….I found this note hanging from our bedroom door the other night and it made my heart melt.  Love this sweet heart.

 Jack learned to tie his shoes!!! Yay! Yay! Yay!  This has been a long time coming, but I am sure glad he figured it out.  

 Max is a perfect little combination of Sam and Max.  First Sam - represented by the cape and the crazy antics.  He loves to run around as a super hero most of the day.  Second Jack - represented by the fact he could care less if he's sitting on peoples faces, hitting you, or causing your pain!  He can be a little stinker sometimes.  But even with those influences coming out - Max is still my Maxi!  His fingers continue to find their way into my hair usually once or twice a day.

 Memorial Day was spent in Yakima this year.  So we decided to have a BBQ with some friends and break in the new house.  The only picture to document this fun day was the flag cake I made!  Man, I am bad about taking pictures.  We had five families here and pigged out on salads, hamburgers, and gourmet s'mores.  The house survived…Shawn was a little worried about the amount of chaos that I was inviting in.  The worst incident of the night came when Jack's water bottle decided to have an Old Faithful moment and shot soda all over the wall, floor and ceiling!

 I was able to be a chaperone on Sam's field trip last week.  That is one of my favorite parts of being a stay at home mom.  I love getting into the schools and meeting his friends and teachers, and seeing what his day is like.  The kids went to the library and got an extra awesome treat at the Yogurt Shack!  Delicious!

 Sam's also finished up his piano lessons until September.  He is supposed to have a recital and play Ode to Joy, but he has a tournament that same night.  So I had him give me a private recital of his memorized piece.  He is LOVING piano, but he bears with me while I try to help him appreciate and learn a little more about music.

 Finally we had a special visit from Grandma and Grandpa Summers this weekend!  What a fun time we always have with them around.  The weekend also fell on the Gap2Gap race and Sam's double header so we were busy busy during their stay!  The kids loved having them, and loved being spoiled with extra love and attention.  I am so grateful for such supportive loving parents!

Gap2Gap 2015

Gap2Gap 2015 has come and gone and boy was it a hot, wild ride!  Both Jack and Sam participated this year and it made for a hectic morning coordinating with both teams and different race heats.  But they both had a great time and gave it their all.  Jack was part of the 6-7 year old race, as the Fantastic Four.  He ran the last leg of the race - the obstacle course.  He took off like a bullet, and hit the course hard, but going head first down the slip n' slide didn't appeal to Jack.  He is not one that feels a need for speed - it scares him to death, so literally scooted his way down the water slide!  

 Nick - Caden - Derek - Jack

 Sam competed in the 8-10 year old division with the Lancaster boys!  The besties were Big Hero 3!  Sam ran the steeple chase and did the kayak portion.  He was an animal!  It is was fun to have the boys work together this year.  Last year they competed in the iron man, but opted for a team this year.  A lot less work and more fun.

 Here are the boys in action:

May Moments

When did life get so busy, and time start flying so fast?  I can't believe we are half way through the month of May!!  We have had a very full month thanks to both boys' baseball.  We are either at practice, a game, and or both!  It can be a little crazy and hectic but it is all worth it when they get a hit or make a play.  Jack had a great game yesterday against the Rockies.  He had two great hits and made two plays in the field, so his spirits were very high!  Sam's team has been struggling this year, and have only won 1 game so far.  It has also been a big season for Sam, he has pitched his for the first time (CRAZY nerve wracking!!  I seriously wish he wouldn't' pitch, I can't handle it)… and he had a hitting slump.  But I am so proud of how he has pushed through and continued to give it his all in spite of having a slump. He has been manning third base for most games and doing a great job.  I am continually amazed at the progress we see each season, and love watching both boys playing ball.

 Max has taken the hint and decided baseball is his bag too!  He loves to play, and this is how I find him most days, saying "Wanna pay? (play).  Yes this is Sam's helmet, and yes it fits him like a glove!  Big heads are cool!

 Mother's Day turned into Mother's Day weekend, and boy did I feel the love!  Both Jack and Lyv had special Mother's Day programs in school, and I got pampered and loved.  Now that I have an older child, I especially appreciate these sweet programs and hand crafted cards and gifts, because they become fewer and further between as they get older.

Speaking of moments that I am coming to appreciate more and more - these are going to be a thing of the past in the next 5 months when Lyv starts school, and I am sad to see them go.  There are days when you are counting down the days when they will all be gone, but then there are days when I wish that all four were home, with no where to go and nothing to do but play.  

 Our yard isn't much of a yard, its more of a dirt pile with an abundance of weeds…but the kids are continuing to find ways to entertain themselves and keep busy.  This weekends adventure was finding a caterpillar, who is know called Jack Jr., and checking on the eggs of a bird whose made a nest among the weeds and grass in the middle of the back yard.  The three youngers could play outside all day, and I love that they can make the most out of it.