Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

Never thought I'd be cheering for the New York Yankees, but Stacey III started coach pitch with Midway Little League this season so for the past several months we have been doing A LOT of just that. He has LOVED baseball and had a great season. His coaches worked tirelessly with these boys and taught him a TON about the game.

The first time he put on those XS baseball pants I about melted. :) 

 Fan club

These monkeys were a handful at the games but mastered walking over the course of the season and got much easier to entertain. The ring around the bathtub after games was testimony to good times in the dirt. And, thanks to Honey and GP they got to stay home for most of the late games.

 Score!

We were in 2nd place at the end of the season and got to go on the the City Championship. I was thrilled for the boys but not so thrilled that we were going to keep playing and practicing. :) However, Stacey loved playing in the tournament and it was actually a good experience.

Spirit lets here it!

Stacey III was number 3 and for most of the season played 3rd base. Love it :)

 Sandlot

 Precious little baseballer through the chain-link fence

 Practice, Practice, Practice

 Batter Up. Not going to lie you feel a lot of pressure for them when they step up to bat. It's intense!!

Can't thank these coaches enough for all the hours they spent pitching, teaching and training. They were not messing around and their methods payed off with a great season.

 Bahama Bucks to celebrate a job well done!

Buzz-tastic

My husband has been not so subtly telling the boys they should buzz their hair. You may recall the surprise double baby buzz a few months ago. Thankfully, instead of taking matters into his own hands while I was out, he just prompted Stacey and Wyatt to ask me over and over and over again if they could paaaaallleeeeaaaasssse get a buzz. After several hundred requests I caved and said they could buzz it as soon as school was out. So you better believe the first day of summer they were amped up for a new do by none other than hair style guru (if you consider a hairstyle that can be achieved in the backyard stylish), Daddy.

Before:

 After:

It's never going to be my favorite look, but they're still pretty darn cute. :) And I will say not having to brush their hair after showers or in the morning has been nice. It is much cooler in the heat of summer to be hairless. And, no question, the anticipation and thrill of the haircut alone were worth a summer of baldies.

Our Mini Graduate

Stacey III had a FANTASTIC year in Kindergarten. Thanks in no small part to an amazing school and an incredible teacher. He had A LOT of changes in his six year old world this year and I am so thankful that God orchestrated all the details, including a move and financial provision, allowing him to be at Woodway Christian. It wasn't even a blip on our radar last year as we attended Kindergarten registration in Richardson, but as usual His plans are often better than my own. :)

What better way to honor our hummingbird than with a candy graham. 

I know Kindergarten graduation isn't really a big deal but you don't have to twist my arm too hard for a reason to celebrate.

 I could have just eaten him up in his little tie - cutie pie.

 Big fan

 Honey doin' her thing

 I mean come on, how sweet is it that his grandmother is the principal!!

They sang some awesome songs and quoted scripture. I know I have said it before but here is just something SO moving about kids hiding God's word in their hearts!!

Each graduate was given an award and a corresponding scripture. Stacey received the "Integrity Award" for being honest and trustworthy. Makes a momma pretty proud. :)

His verse was Psalm 25:21"May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you."

Oh how I pray he continues to grow into a man of integrity putting his hope in the Lord.

 Hugs from Honey

Mrs. Sims, his incredibly gifted teacher.  She is so calm and patient (two qualities sadly not at the top of my gifted list) and taught Stacey SO much this year. He LOVES her and the only reason I'm not begging her to go with him to first grade is knowing Wyatt might have her next year.

 High five

 For a special snack we made some graduation hats.

 Not sure if Kindergarten is ready for Wyatt ;).

Mother's Day

I had the absolute best Mother's Day this year. There is NOTHING that I am more thankful for, other than Jesus Christ himself, than the Lord allowing me to be a Mother. I didn't earn it and I don't deserve it but for some reason he saw fit to bless me with these four boys and it is my great privilege to be there mother!! It is hard and I fall short as often as often as I succeed but I love love love being a Mommy!!!

I started off my weekend with a Mother's Day Brunch given by the preschoolers at Woodway Christian. Wyatt bestowed this beautiful corsage on me and presented me with gifts galore!!

Favorite Food: Salad (yeah right, but at least he has seen me eat it. ;))
Favorite TV Show: Baylor Sports (WHAT?? Wreck em Tech - Waco, you are brainwashing my children! ;))
Favorite Book: She doesn't have one (So maybe Mommy reads more People Magazines than books and maybe some mommies got Bible answered on this one, yowza ;))
Favorite Place to Shop: HEB (Oh the sweet limited perspective of 5 year-olds, Anthro, why No, I think I'll choose HEB.)
Things that make Mommy happy: When our house is done (Now we're talking, this boy KNOWS his Mommy!)

 I think he had babies on the brain, not sure if he is an infant or if he drew himself in utero.

 Sweet love. They song lots of fabulous songs and I loved every minute of it.

On actual Mother's Day Dad and the boys cooked lunch and we gathered at Mom and Dad's to celebrate.

Honey opening some gifts. What a blessing to have a Mother that I LOVE so much!!! I have learned and I am still learning so much from you.

 Woods

 Smiths

 Warrens

I am so lucky to get to be a Mommy with my amazing sisters. I COULD NOT do it without them!!

But I saved the best for last. Stacey III was SO proud and excited to give me his gifts. He guarded his backpack all weekend full of secret treasure for me. Sunday morning he couldn't wait one more second to give me these precious gifts.

First a framed picture of "When You Thought I Wasn't Looking" adorned with his precious kindergarten handprints.

I know you can't read it but it is such a sweet poem and had me tearing up. 

Then a little book all about me. I know it is a lot of pics and explanations, but I want to remember this precious gift and heaven knows the book probably won't make it through the long haul.

This is a picture of us at the movie, Chimpanzee. A few weeks prior I was trying to take advantage of Debbie having the babies (a shout out to the other AMAZING mother in my life!!) and picked up Stacey a few minutes early from school for a surprise trip to the movies with my big boys.

 That is Stacey, Wyatt and Daddy in the little car and me waving goodbye in the morning.

Stacey III might be the pickiest most frustrating eater in the universe so this picture of me making him spaghetti and him saying I am good at cooking really hit the right note with me!

 Because all the great cooks are making spaghetti and eggos. :)

 You bet!

 This is a picture of me helping Stacey put on his soccer socks.

Sometimes helping put on socks that he should be able to put on himself for the 10th time, fighting through endless dinners with picky eaters, making eggos in my zombie morning state, getting the boys out the door for school every morning, letting baseball dominate our routine for a few months, and even trying to make something special out of the little things, like a trip to the movies, can be exhausting and sometimes leaves me feeling defeated. But this little reminder that he sees and even appreciates some of the little things that make up our days just made my cup runeth over. :)