ilove these moments

This has been a great week of letting the car sit in the garage, catching up on the laundry and letting the kids play with friends after school...summer is starting to set in!  It's starting to slow down just a bit and I love it!  One more tennis lesson, less trips to the allergy doctor since Alex's shots are back on maintenance, starting a new summer Bible Study {Romans} and hopefully more lazy days to swim {if the sun ever decides to show up again!}

Yesterday I soaked it in...

Alex finished his Lego kit that Dan brought back from Chicago and was so excited to show me...he just layed on the floor and drove it around so happy and proud from his hard work...

This is what I was able to do while I enjoyed his company...

I actually watched an entire, uninterrupted episode of Oprah!  {It was with Ralph Lauren, what a neat family!}  And I got to snuggle with Elizabeth {and Whiskers & Snowball}...

...it doesn't get much better than this!  And I'm not embarrassed to show myself with uncombed hair and no make-up {well...maybe a little} when it shows that this is my life today...in the moment...soaking up the little things that might get lost during those frenzied going here and there and everywhere times!  Although I love watching the kids grow in all their activities and am happy they have friends to celebrate birthday parties with every weekend...I'm truly a homebody and I like staying home and having no agenda!

And I love when we can all be home to eat at a decent time and talk about how our day was!

It's not always calm and quiet when we're home...don't think it doesn't get a little ugly when I start feeling the house and chores falling apart and toothpaste on the ceiling and chips in the couch and pet hair collecting on the furniture...sigh...

But I'm just here to tell you that these little moments outweigh the hairy ones {pun intended!} far more and makes it all worth it!

And that's what i want to remember!

{ilove this video because elizabeth was talking to herself and studying herself so intently...she could see herself as i was recording it...and each time i play it back, she screeches and jabbers back to herself!  ilove this stage!}

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."

-Mary Jean Iron

{I saw this quote from here after I posted this and thought it was just perfect!}

{these moments captured by my ipod}

Playing {Catch}up

Dan's home from Chicago...and the kids love when Daddy's gone...

...because he spoils them with gifts when he returns!

I'll tell you what...the kids spoil me when he's gone too...they are so helpful and take good care of me!  Alex loves to be in charge...and I'm so proud of both of them for helping me out and by being so self-sufficient and keeping Elizabeth happy when I couldn't!

Emily couldn't believe that Dan really went inside the AG doll store all by himself!  And the funny thing is...when we went to Chicago over Spring Break, he really wanted Emily to get Kanani then!  So he made sure to bring her back with him this time!  Ha! 

{Hey big sis...can I play with her too?}

And when Dan's gone...I was trying to {catch} up on the laundry...

...well...I'm always trying to do that..but a little help from little E can go a long way!  She's good company!

After playing with Legos and Kanani and climbing out of the laundry...it was time for the White Sox to score another win!

Alex and Emily have really improved this year!  When Alex isn't playing in the dirt...he's actually paying attention...he got two outs for the other team by getting the ball and tagging second base!  And Emily was more than ecstatic to play catcher this time!

{wouldn't you know it...I left my camera at  home...but luckily Dan snapped a few pics with his iphone!  I'm so glad we didn't miss this!}

{so funny!  she did great!}

I love baseball season...and I'm so glad they are loving it too! 

{Now...who's going to put all that laundry away...bleh!}

2 Weeks & 2 Days

That is all we have left until school is out!

And summer officially begins!

But we already got a head start!

Let the countdown begin!

Wordless Wednesday {Getting Cold Wet Feet!}

{and somebody please give me a pedicure...yikes!}

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!