Saturday, May 21, 2011

Baseball, and random silliness!

Lots of baseball lately . . . so much fun! Something "clicked" and Joshua is really hitting the ball well . . . so much fun to see as a parent!

Getting suited up . . .


This was on the way to last Tuesday's game -- out like a light . . head nodding and all!
(As always, Miss Kayla was being photogenic . . .!)


Our cheering section at today's game.

Grandma and Bem

Kayla and Johnny

Tyler managed to get Bryan to look at a book with him . . .



. . . which then morphed into this . . .

. . . and this . . . (where did these crazy kids come from????)

. . . giggles, giggles, and more giggles . . .!



More "reading" . . . Tyler loves that book -- can you tell?
Neighborhood game of T-ball . . . always plenty of coaching and umpiring going on!


Last weekend's little DIY project . . . We had quite a "tunnel" under the sidewalk, so since the grass was already buggered up, Bryan decided to tackle the issue.



As always, he had lots of help!




Why does that look like such a guilty look????

Monday, May 16, 2011

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Friday, May 13, 2011

Joshua suits up to catch

Kayla's cheer

Tyler's leg

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Crazy week . . .

Mother's Day 2011 . . Tyler was especially delighted about it all :)


We've officially started T-ball/Baseball this year, and Joshua is really, really enjoying it!

Here was the cheering section for his first game . . . it was a little chilly!


So, this was our "little project" last week. This past winter, my wonderful husband granted my request to let me paint our woodwork white -- the wood just wasn't doing it for me! And, so I began the three-year long process (at least that's how it feels at times!) But, I know the REAL kicker was going to be painting the windows that are really high in our big room . . . and I wasn't brave enough to use a ladder. One of our neighbors works for a company with access to scaffolding -- and I just happen to teach them piano lessons. So . . . we bartered some lessons for scaffolding use. Never thought my piano skills would come in use like that!


The scaffolding went up Sat. afternoon, and by Tuesday evening, we were done in the big room. It was really nice to have everything up there that I needed -- light, vacuum, paint stuff, etc. It would have been impossible with just a ladder.


However, we had one small window on the other side of our stairway "bridge" -- which meant the scaffolding had to be disassembled low enough to go under the bridge, and then reassembled for the last high window. My hubby was lovin' me! Here he is -- taking it down. (Mind you, this was all done after the kiddos were in bed . . .it is seriously a minor miracle that no one awoke!)


I kept forgetting to have Bryan take a pic until we were ready to take everything down. This picture doesn't really do it justice, but I am touching the ceiling . .. I must admit, on this window, I was getting a little queasy . . . but by Wed. night we were DONE and ready for a break.


So, we decided several months ago that since the trim painting was imminent, and we always get SEVERELY scorched by these high windows in the summer, we bought some motorized blinds to install at the same time. After dropping one of the motors from the scaffolding in the install process (yes, I was ill) they are working like a charm! We can't believe how much sun they eliminate.

Joshua's Kindergarten class had their Spring Program this past week. They each had a line prepared about what they want to be when they grow up . . . Joshua picked a baseball player because he likes to play baseball. He did a great job speaking in the microphone. He looked WAY too grown up in his uniform . . . (he's the one in front with the teal shirt on)


And, just because we needed one more thing on our plate (right, dear????) we had a garage sale this past Friday and Saturday too! Bryan had a lot of kid duty -- thanks, dear.


We made cookies and the kids had fun peddling their wears! It was Kayla's idea to bring out the cash register -- she was cracking us up! So, Sat. and noon we called it a wrap, packed all of our treasures up to take to Goodwill and collapsed!

Easter, 2011 & End of AWANA

Yep, a little late, I realize, but that's the way we roll around here! The kids actually spent the night at my parent's home on Sat/Sun Easter weekend (I played, so it means leaving house at 6:30am). So . . . she actually got an "Easter Sunday" picture of the kiddos (that's a rarity for us when your hubby is always gone Easter morning!)-- I just don't have it yet. So, this is the best Easter pic of the kiddos I could find!


Kayla and Mommy

Joshua



Tyler . . . not to be left out of the action.

Looking for eggs . . .


Still looking for eggs . . .


We wrapped up our AWANA program this past week -- and this is the only picture I got :( This was Kayla's first year of Cubbies, so for the Cubbies who were there (they actually had their final hurrah the previous week) they came up to the front for a few songs, etc. Joshua finished his first year in Sparks -- also a great experience. We are definitely ready to come up for air, though this summer!!!!

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Last Weekend

So, after our last swing set went ka-putt from the wind storm, a family in the church asked us if we would like theirs . . . provided that we move it! Talk about a total God-thing! It is sturdier, has more options, and actually fits in our lawn better than the last one did. Why does that not surprise me?




Trying to get a picture with all of them . . . well, I tried.

Our small group from church grilled out and the kids
enjoyed playing until it was time to eat.





This past Sunday, I had my first piano recital in KS. Just a handful of students, but it has been wonderful to get back to teaching, even on a small scale. The scariest thing? Trying to work up a piece I played in college 12 years ago to keep myself accountable as a teacher to keep practicing! The nerves were going!


Several days ago, Kayla had an "Arts and Craft" night at the preschool she will be at next Fall. She was so excited all day, she could hardly contain it!

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Wind Storm of 2011 and Kayla's Gynmastics

So, we had quite the eventful evening after Tyler's birthday shindig. It had been 92 degrees that day, and we knew that it was to cool off considerably . . . and let's just say the transition was memorable! Out of nowhere (it seemed) the wind started really, REALLY blowing.

Bryan and his dad (overseeing the home made ice cream, BTW!) were in the front outside when it really got bad. I looked out the back and saw several things: 1. the patio table flying across the yard towards the field; 2. The grill was next to go; 3. The swing set crashed to the ground and the tower part began rolling/flying towards the field.


Just for reference . . . this is the BEFORE . . .

. . . and this is AFTER. Whoa. The tower part ended up behind the tall evergreen trees you see in the first picture below. About that time, I looked toward the field and saw this vertical "column" of dust, dirt swirling and Bryan came in yelling, "GET TO THE BASEMENT." Pretty scary for a minute or two.


When it was all said and done, we experienced a "Gustnado" -- who knew there was such a thing???? We lost a few shingles, the garage door got all twisted and bent (go figure?), and also lost the swing set, patio table, and grill. Still waiting on the insurance adjuster to come out to figure out how it will all pan out. But, we're all safe, and that's all that matters. Needless to say, we've heard the kids talking about "wind" ALOT lately!

And changing the subject . . .We let Kayla take a "mini gymnastics" class at the Y for the last month or so. It's nothing spectacular, but I think she enjoyed it. These are pics from the last day . . .