Go Rangers!

Hunter's played soccer for two seasons, but was adamant that he wanted to take a break from it and switch to baseball...and basketball will be next apparently.  He wasn't feeling too excited about it after the first couple of practices, but he had fun at his first game and seems more excited now.

 

His team is the Rangers, which we think is so cool, and four friends from his class are on the team, which is a lot of fun for him.  He was so cute when he went to bat...

Running to first...

Next time at bat...

On first base with Coach Sean...

He played shortstop...

And pitcher...

 The coaches do the pitching, but the kids field the ball.

He also played center field.  He said pitcher was his favorite, and I think he did best at that position.  I love watching him grow, and discover his strengths and interests.  We can't wait for Saturday's game!

Random iphone Pictures

When I was pregnant with Charlotte, people often told me that things would be so different with her...I wouldn't do a baby book or blog anymore or take as many pictures.  But that didn't really end up being true.  I love doing those things and didn't have any trouble finding time to do them, even when she was a newborn.

 

This time around, though, I am definitely slacking on the picture taking....so I'm really thankful for my iphone camera because without it, poor Grey wouldn't have many pictures of himself as a newborn.

 

Here's what we've been up to...

 

My friend, Laura (not BFF Laura, but my psychologist, ex-coworker, Laura) gave us an exercise ball before Hunter was born.  She said it worked wonders to get her son calm (he was 5 months when Hunter was born).  It has ended up being one of our most prized possessions with all 3 kids.  We bounce them whenever they are fussy and it almost always calms them down or gets them to sleep....

About a week ago I was in the shower and heard a loud noise.  Hunter came running in the bathroom asking if I'd heard it, and excitedly told me that the ball had popped while daddy was bouncing Grey!  Luckily, neither of them were hurt, and I was able to go to Target and buy another ball that same day:)

Grey started smiling this month, but I've had a hard time getting a good picture of it.  It sure melts my heart when he smiles at me...

The other day I was bouncing Grey on the ball to calm him down and Charlotte was playing with her baby.  I noticed that she picked up my boppy so I tried to turn around and discreetly watch her.  She lifted her shirt up and started breastfeeding her baby.  It was precious.  And hysterical.  I had to be really careful while taking the picture so she wouldn't see me...

She is such a good sister...and mom to her babies.  She loves to help Grey with his paci or talk sweet baby talk to him.  She also loves to take care of her babies like I take care of Grey.  I often find them in the swing or hear her playing in her room, saying, "It's okay sweetheart" in the most soothing, loving (and highpitched!) voice.

Have y'all read the pigeon books?  Hunter loves them.  He came home from school today with this picture he drew of the pigeon...

I think it looks really similar to the pigeon in the books!

He also came home with this little story...

It says "I would like to be a builder because I like to build stuff.  And I like to ride in a bulldozers and a digger that picks up dirt."  (I cut part of it off in the picture.)  I LOVE watching him learn.  My heart swells when I see little stories or notes he writes.  It is such a miracle to get to witness his little mind growing so much.  It's definitely one of my favorite things right now.  So proud of him.

Grey loves his bath, and he looked so cute today when I took him out, that I had to take a picture...

Hunter decided he wanted to take a break from soccer this season and try baseball.  It's his first time playing, and he told Dr. Halsell at his 6 year check up that he liked soccer better (after only 2 baseball practices).  Hopefully it won't be a long season!  He has 4 other kids from his class on the team with him, so at least he'll have fun with them:)  Here he is before practice this week...

His team is the Rangers (as you can see by the hat), which is so cool because we all already have Rangers shirts to wear when we root him on.  His first game is this Saturday.  We are super excited!

That's our life in a nutshell right now.  I am loving it, and feel so blessed that I get to live it everyday.

Disney on Ice

Char and I went to see the princesses on ice again this year with Amelia and Kim.  I read a blog post a couple of days before we left about the effects of Pinterest and Facebook and Instagram and Twitter on parenting our young children.  I've read many of them actually, and they are good reminders to me to live in the moment, get off my iphone, and be present with my kids.  Because they notices when I'm not.  And they won't always want my attention like they do now. 

The post I read recently, though, also talked about taking pictures (to later post on Facebook or Instagram) incessantly instead of living in the moment with your kids.  So I remembered that during our date to see the princesses, and I lived in the moment with Char instead of checking my pictures and retaking them until I had the perfect shot.  And I loved being in the moment with her. 

But. 

I kept thinking, as I watched her watching the show, that I really wanted to remember forever her big bright smile or they way she belted out the songs without a care of anyone around her.  I had that giddy feeling that I've had so many times while watching my kids...when the love just bubbles up and you can barely contain it.  Still, I refrained from taking a picture and just enjoyed being with her.  But y'all.  Now that I'm looking at my pictures...they suck.  I'll try to get over that, but I think from now on, I'll enjoy being in the moment with the kids while taking pictures of things I don't want to forget:)

Amelia and Charlotte were super excited to see the princesses...

They ran up to the entrance, but stopped abruptly when they saw all of the people trying to get inside.  I think Charlotte was a little startled because she gasped, "Look at all of those people!"  We got inside pretty quickly, though, and the show started before we knew it.

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald were our hosts...

I did try to get a couple of pictures of Char, but I got this face...

And this one...

 

Then I gave up.  So I could live in the moment;)

The stepsisters did a brief little dance...

We think they are so funny.

Then Sebastain came out...

 

And Flounder...

 

And Ariel!...

It's really difficult to get good, in focus pictures of those skaters.  Especially when you're trying to live in the moment.

After Ariel's story, we got to see Rapunzel's...

Charlotte loves Rapunzel...and Flynn Rider, but she calls him Eugene because that's his real name if you haven't seen the movie).  So as soon as he skated out, she yelled, "Eugene!!"  Actually, she yelled quite a bit during this part.  She really loves to sing the songs from Tangled, so she sang-yelled them during the show...but she doesn't know all of the words, so she just yelled out vowel sounds for the words she couldn't remember:)  It was precious.  The man in front of us kept turning around and looking at her (with a smile), but that sweet girl didn't even notice.  She was too busy living in the moment with Eugene.

There was an intermission after that, so we went down for some concessions...

Our Belle and Sophia the First being silly...

When we came back, we saw Merida...

And finally Beauty and the Beast, starting with Gaston...

Belle!...

She was dancing around, so I took this quick picture of her...

Mrs. Potts and Chip...

Lumiere...

Cogsworth...

 

Beast...

For the finale, they all came out again...

 

Kim and I talked about making it an annual trip because we all have so much fun.  Can't wait for next year!

Easter Sunday

Since Hunter had been sick, I stayed home with the boys while James and Charlotte went to church.  Hunter and I were both sad that we had to miss the church service, but we didn't want to get anyone else sick, so we just lounged around the house that morning.

 

James and Charlotte before they left...

 

Char requested a silly picture...

While we were waiting for them to get back, I put Grey in this hat and bib that Hunter also wore on his first Easter...

He got mad, so I got a picture of him crying, just like his brother did six years ago!  Hunter...

 Grey...

Hunter...

They really do look just alike.  I showed Hunter the picture of him crying when he was a baby and asked if he knew who it was.  He said, "Greyson!"  When I told him that it was actually him, he said, "Grey really does look like me!"

After lunch, Hunter requested an Easter egg hunt.  He was not happy that he had to miss the one with Grandpa the day before and the one with friends that day.  So I set up eggs around the house for them to find.  They were really good at finding them...I'll have to get more creative with my hiding next year! 

Most of the pictures of Hunter look like this...

And Charlotte was only wearing underwear, so I can't post any of hers on here:)

I really love Easter.  It's my favorite holiday.  I am humbled more every year at the gift that God gave us through the sacrifice of his son.  Knowing the love I have for my children, I can't imagine how unbearable it was for the Father to watch his Son go through such torment.  Specifically when Jesus called out to God as he was dying in Matthew 27:46...

"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”"

 

Jesus gave it all.  He was the ransom for all of us...this pure, holy man was the only one who was perfect enough to take our place, and He did it willingly.  Because he loves us.  I pray that my children will know that with 100% of themselves, and never feel alone because of the reassurance that the God of the universe gave his life because he loved them so much.

Holy Week - Resurrection Rolls

We had plans to go to my dad's girlfriend, Jennifer's house on Saturday, but since Hunter had the flu - Yes!  It was the flu! - we had to stay home.  That night he started feeling much better, so we made resurrection rolls.  James helped the kids make them because I was busy with Grey....

 

We all thought they were yummy!...

 

 

And we looked forward to Sunday...