Catch Up #2

Another thing keeping us busy throughout May and into June was little league baseball.  Both Harrison and John David played this year so we were down at the ball park at least three days a week, more frequently four.

This was Harrison's first year to play so he was on the Astro league.  They play on a small, astro-turf field.  Each game is only two innings.  Each inning, every player bats and gets to advance one base.  The last batter gets to run all four bases.  There are no outs and no score.  Perfect for a four year old.  It's also awesome that since they are only two innings, the games are short and sweet.  No long drawn out games in the sweltering summer heat.

Harrison was assigned to the Red Sox team.  He played with a great group of little boys and had a wonderful coach, Coach Lee.  Harrison adored Coach Lee.  He talked about him constantly.
Here are a few pics from his last game and the team party.

Warming Up!

Swing batter batter!

Standing on second.  I love the way his batting helmet is so big he can barely see out from under it.

Playing second base

Team huddle

All smiles

The trophy presentation from Coach Lee

Someone was really excited about his very own trophy

This was John David's third year for baseball and he moved up to the Rookie-6 division.  That means this year was the first year where there were actual outs and the boys had to hit off the pitching machine.  It was a big change, and at first he was pretty hard on himself because he wasn't hitting much off the machine, but as the season went on he improved.  We had to reassure him that hitting off the pitching machine was MUCH harder than hitting off the tee and that even professional baseball players, like his idol Big Papi (David Ortiz) struck out sometimes.  He has played with basically the same group of boys and the same coaches for three years and has had a blast.  Next summer he will move up to the next age division and the teams get shuffled (I think).  He even has to go through a draft.  

Here are a couple of shots form John David's last game and team party.

Playing short stop.  You can see the dreaded blue pitching machine in this photo.

Standing on third base.

A trophy.......whooo hooo

A ball game, dinner out with the team, cake, and a trophy makes for one happy ball player.

Another great season is in the books.

GO RED SOX!

GO PHILLIES!

Catching Up #1

May Going's On

So many things kept us busy in May.  Here are just a few of the highlights.

School Programs

Unfortunately husband was out of town on a work related trip (High School Mock Trial Competition) the week of the kids programs at school.  I videotaped the whole thing for him but that meant I didn't take many actual photos.  Here are a few I did manage to take in all the happy chaos.

Daddy may have missed it but someone was sure excited Granny Susie and Grandpa H. could be there.

Part of the family photo....You would think at least the adults could be looking at the camera.  At least Ava and I are.

John David's awesome self portrait.

After program fun with friends.

The following day it was the twin's turn.

Ahhhh.....twin love.

Playing the drums.

I tried to get a picture of all four of them.  You can see how well that turned out.

The twins' amazing self-portraits.

My favorite part (which I'm not sure you can see in this photo), Harrison's portrait was complete with tiny wire rimmed glasses.  ADORABLE!

Last Day of School

May also brought the last day of school and yes, I was that mother crying over another year being finished.  I love our little preschool.  It has been and continues to be a wonderful, loving place that teachers and nurtures my children in so many amazing ways.  I am so truly blessed to have St. Mark's in my life.  And my children ADORE going to school.  They love going to music, and chapel, and doing art projects, and practicing their letters, the playground, their friends, and their teachers.  This was John David's last year at St. Mark's.  He "graduated."  Now he's a 'big kid" and has to go to "big school."  I am sad every year when it is time to move on to the next class, but that made this year even more tough.  Thankfully the twins have another year at St. Mark's and then after that it will be little Ava's turn.  

Last day of school photo op on the front steps.  Gosh mom....it's sunny!

Here is the first day of school photo just for comparison's sake.

They have grown up so much in the last year.  

Last day in carpool.

Last morning drop-off.

Big hug from their fabulous teacher Ms. Tish.  We all loved her and will miss being in her class next year.  

John David and Ms. Beth.  Another fabulous teacher who taught John David so much this year.  John David will really miss her and being in her class but he is excited about Kindergarten and being in Ms. Estes class in the fall.

And so another great year at St. Mark's is in the books.  We can't wait to see what this summer and next year bring.

I'm Back!

I'm back.  These past two months have been the craziest and busiest ones I can remember, and it doesn't look like things are going to slow down anytime soon.  I don't know where the time has gone.  I can't believe it is already mid-July and my precious first born baby will be starting Kindergarten in a month.  Yikes! In all the  crazy busy-ness I let blogging slide.  But over the past weeks I have found myself composing blog posts in my head over and over again and haven't found, or made the time, to sit down and write them.  We have been up to so much around here and I want to share all of that with you...and I will.  I will get things caught up around here.

But before I do that....I have very BIG, EXCITING news to share with all of my friends.

My brother is engaged.  Yeah!  I am gaining a sister.  Another big Yeah!  Of course, I already think of Jessica (my brother's fiancee) as family but this is making it official.  We are all so excited and happy for both of them.  John Robert couldn't have nieces and nephews that love him anymore than my four (even though Ava is still a bit leery since she doesn't get to see him that often).  And Jessica, she was loved instantly.  She became Ella's "best friend" within moments of Ella meeting her for the first time.

I am "stealing" a picture of the two of them from Jessica's facebook page (I took the picture for them so it isn't really stealing, is it?).

Congratulations John Robert and Jessica!

We couldn't be more excited for you two.

We love you both with all our hearts.