Hit & Run

The White Sox had their first game over the weekend...

...and these two sluggers were ready!

It's so great that Alex and Emily are teammates this year! 

Not only has it been fun to watch them together...but it also makes things a little bit less chaotic not being in two places at once with practices and games.

It has still been a little bit challenging this year having Elizabeth in tow...these events don't seem to ever be in sync with her nap/bed times...

{don't let her calm, sweet demeanor fool you...this is after minutes of her screaming and me walking endlessly around the baseball diamonds...only for her to sleep for a mere 15 minutes!}

But she's a true trooper and we have been making it through...and although it can be difficult...I know that Elizabeth will probably not even remember missing some sleep and crying at baseball...but I don't want Alex and Emily to remember that both Dan and I couldn't be there being their number one supporters for as much as we can!

Anyway...I even thought that I didn't get that many pictures to prove it because I was walking Elizabeth around for over an hour and a half!  {What?  I always come out with plenty!  ha!}

Game one:  Alex did great!  He made two runs!

Emily was cracking me up when she was up to bat...

I'm not sure she was able to see much at all under that helmet!

{oops...and her shoe was untied!}

Even though she gave it her best effort...she wasn't able to get any hits this time.

We love their Coach this year...he told Emily she did awesome...and go get 'em next time!

She was a little discouraged...bless her heart...

They both did exceptional...and their team lost by just one run!

Alex stayed so focused...

{...um...on his dirt pile anyway!}

Good game!

Game two:  Emily scored two runs this time!

{coming home!}

{I know this picture looks so strange!  But I wasn't even ready...I was actually on my way around the fence but they told Emily to steal home, so I had to click fast!}

To say she was thrilled would be an understatement!  She was well over the moon!

And again...their concentration was impeccable...

{um...on this little fella!}

But the White Sox won the game...with Alex bringing in the winning run!

I'd say we're off to a great season!

Mother's {Day}

I feel so blessed every day to be the mom of these three!

And I had such a great day celebrating with them...after all, if it weren't for them...

I wouldn't get to be called Mom...

...and get all these wonderful memorable and one-of-a-kind gifts made especially for me!

From Alex:  a picture of him with a mustache and his brain showing while in a car...creative & interesting...ha!

his handprint {always a favorite!}

Top Ten Reasons Why I Love My Mom... {one of my favorites}:  no.5 I love my mom because she finds time to take pictures.  ha!  I can always find time for that!

From Emily:  flowers in a hand-decorated cup

a letter and portrait of us in matching outfits {which I had to frame!}

Dear Mom,
I like when we take family walks together.  I also like nice picers {pictures} with you and me.  I also think you liked the Ice Show very, very much.  I liked that day with me, you, Elizabeth, and Skipeper {Skipper}.  I hope you have a special Mother's Day.

Love,
Emily

{I love how they both mentioned something about me taking pictures!  hmmm...wonder why?!}

It has absolutely been a very special Mother's Day!  Dan brought me breakfast and the kids gave me their handmade cards and my gift...a nook Color!

I love it!  I can do more than read tons of books and magazines {in color!} but I can play games, shop {yikes!} and check email, facebook...upload photos and videos...and probably more than I will ever figure out!  Thank goodness I have my own personal tech support if needed {Alex!}  I'm not a gadget-y person, but I'm excited to try it out and have it when we drive to Florida this summer!  Thanks so much!

Then we had lunch at Chili's {yum!} and afterward the kids were brave enough to take the first plunge of the year!

It was a little chilly...but they were too excited to jump in! 

It's just one day out of the year that I get to be a little spoiled...but I feel extremely lucky to be a mother every day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I Would {Appreciate} a little bit of Nothing

After last week and finishing up Emily's ice-skating {well...at least until June!} and looking ahead this week...

I would certainly like to see a little more of this on the schedule...

This doesn't even show the other after-hour activitites the kids have at school and how I'm supposed to be at the dentist with Emily at 3:30 and then back to school to pick up Alex by 4:00...

...but I'm not complaining...

...somehow, it always works out...

...and if there was too much of nothing...I know I would be wishing for that calendar to be full again!  {maybe!}

This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week!  And although we are so ready for summer and for school to be over...we always take this time to stop and thank our teachers for all they contribute to make a great year for Alex and Emily!

{thanks to Kelli for giving me this idea!  is there nothing she can't do?!}

I printed the tag here and instead of tying it with twine like it shows...I cut a slit in the top of each tag after folding it over so it would fit right over the handles of the bags I had...cute!

Alex and Emily will each have a bag full of bright & colorful goodies to give their teachers!

{highlighters, dry erase markers, erasers and a gift card}

{hope this brightens their day!}

We also have a couple other treats for them through the week...

Our MOPS group put together a cookbook this year to raise funds for our wonderful group...so this was a great opportunity to support my most favorite moms and thank our awesome teachers at the same time!  win-win!

{MOPS cookbook, dish towels, pot holders, oven mitt and spoon}

{I'm thinking the spoon might make a great oar to paddle their way to school in the morning!  Will the rain ever stop?!  We seriously have had a month of rain here and flood warnings every other day!  sheesh!}

I hope you all have a great week!  I may feel like I have a busy schedule {with a little bit of nothing in the middle!} but I'm pretty sure that most of you have one that's even more jam-packed!

Don't forget to thank a teacher this week for all they do...and if you are a teacher...thank you!

Emily on Ice

Another year down! 

This is how Emily finished her weekend full of Ice Show performances...

{she is sure to be mad at me for this picture...but she is so precious!}

She loves ice-skating and looks forward to the next Ice Show as soon as the last one is over!

This is her third year performing and she has learned so much!

She was most excited about this year because she is able to glide on one foot...

...and because she was going to be the first one in the spotlight!

And she gets to hang out with her friends!

{they are so adorable!}

She had one glitch on the first night that broke my heart.  She went to the wrong side of the rink...realized it and came skating as fast as she could to the right side and fell back hard on her tooshie!  The crowd sympathized with her...and I could tell she was so devastated.  {my throat was choked up}

We have it on video...but we won't show it...and the only reason I bring it up is because we are so proud of her for getting right back up, keeping her game face on the ice, and finishing with flying colors!  Afterward she was all tears...all her friends were hugging her...it was so sweet!  She recovered like a champ!  I told her that even the best skaters fall.  {besides...she had three more shows to try again...and again...and again!}

{Elizabeth is getting some tips from a pro!  She might be out there on the ice soon!}

{getting ready for the second show}

And she did even more amazing! 

{They performed to classic tv-theme songs...do you recognize any of them?!}

{Elizabeth was a champ too...she endured three of the four shows!}

Grandma and Grandpa came to the final performance...and she couldn't have been happier!

{Her teacher Miss Liz...the one who helps make it all possible!}

It's been another great year!

Awesome job Emily!

...until next year!

{better rest up!}