Easter 2010

Play Ball!

I am so unbelievably behind in my blogging. I used to have some time here and there to throw something together (while at work.....oops) but these days those moments are just not there. And we currently have no internet at home but very soon, I will be blogging like a maniac in my new home with my wireless service. Yaw-hoo!

We are nearing the end of the Little League season already and, by some miracle, I've been able to grab some shots of d1 and d2 from some games and wanted to share.

d2 up to the plate



d2 on the sponsor trailer - little guy on the far right bottom row



d1 crushing the ball - recognize the pitcher?



d1 behind the plate



d1 celebrating a win - he's the one facing the camera, with the catching gear on - yes, that is his CONSTANT enthusiasm




d1's team did okay this year, and I know d1 had a great time and made some new friends. d2 seemed to enjoy playing, although there were many games that we had to shout out 'Get up out of the dirt. This is no time to make dirt angels. Get your finger out of your nose. Put your glove on. Stop picking flowers.' Fortunately, this seems to be the norm with this age group. He did get better at his attention span as the season went on but we just wanted him to have fun.

Back to that miracle mentioned above. If I said that I was sad the season is coming to an end, I would totally be lying. In fact, this season has been a love/hate kind of relationship. I know and realize and understand that my boys playing ball is not all about ME but.....it kinda is....in a way. You see, I love watching sports, always have. When D1 and I were dating in college, I was at every one of his games when he coached high school sports. I was even the scorekeeper for many of those seasons. So you can imagine how much I looked forward to watching my own children in their athletic adventures. And I was especially excited this year for coach-pitch baseball. A good bit more fast paced and competitive which typically equates to fun and exciting. And it was. But I wouldn't really know. And here's (the biggest part) of my reason.....




I had envisioned myself at these games with my lawn chair stationed behind home plate and my sweet toddler right next to me, watching the game. I have been through this before when d2 was a lil' tike and it went fine. I knew to come prepared with 14 different types of snacks and there would be no problem. Turns out d3 is NOTHING like d2. In fact, more and more like d1 everyday (deep breath). He wants nothing to do with sitting on my lap, and the only way he will sit in the stroller is if I'm pushing it at a slow jog (which isn't easy to do with gobs of parents actually watching their kid play). Of course I know it's not his fault.....it's the parks & recreation departments fault. I mean, did they not know I have a toddler that is in meltdown mode at 6pm? How dare they schedule baseball games at that time? It is often the longest 90 minutes of my life. So, how about a little timeline portraying actual events at a recent game? Here we go:

5:45 - arrive for warm-ups, d3 screaming for his first snack
5:50 - d2 has to use the (gross) bathroom for the first time
5:52 - take d3 out of the stroller, he arches his back and screams because he doesn't want to be held (but has no intentions of learning to walk) so back in the stroller he goes
5:55 - place cooler on edge of bleachers where I can hopefully park the stroller at some point and sit for a few minutes when d3 is almost asleep
6:00 - take first lap around the park while other team bats
6:05 - come back to the spot where I left my cooler, only to find it has been moved and someone's Gramps with his stadium seat and sunflower seeds has taken up residence in my spot
6:07 - d1 up to bat - camera is out for a picture
6:08 - d3 throws his sippy cup at me while I'm trying to snap the picture so I turn around to give it back to him.....just as d1 hits a double and I missed all of it
6:10 - second lap at a high speed to keep d3 from screaming and drawing stares
6:15 - back to try and catch a few minutes of the game while d3 is gazing intently at the stray dog passing through
6:17 - try to locate d2 - he was just right HERE
6:22 - thinking what I'm going to do to him when I find him
6:25 - d3 screaming for his next snack so I lob some grapes his way on the tray while I'm frantically searching
6:28 - after a near panic attack, a parent points me to my child who has that blank, lost-kid stare on his face; communicate threats of what will happen if he goes that way again
6:30 - d3 is in a full scream so I get him out of the stroller....again....and search for that stray dog....hoping grapes will entice him our way
6:35 - d2 needs to poop in that gross bathroom where there is no toilet paper and he shouts it loud enough for the players on the field to hear. I ask him if he can wait to which he replies, 'I'm 'bout to poop in my pants and, Mommy, you don't want that. It stinks really, really, really, really, really bad.' (he's taken on this new method of exaggeration these days, hence the # of really's)
6:40 - next snack....and it's the last so I REALLY hope d3 falls asleep...resume pushing the stroller

And the game is only half over. Do you see how lucky I was to get those pictures? Although I had hoped for some really good action shots (and for all d1 knows, I saw EVERY play he made), I'm just thrilled I got what I did and can hopefully repress the other memories of this season. d3 is just at the age where he doesn't want to walk yet I can't let him crawl on the concrete so next year is going to be better. It WILL be better. Has to be, right?

A Moment of Excitement

Look below. That's our new house.








Or at least the one we now have a contract on. Only one more hurdle to clear.....our current home's appraisal. We were just informed that it will take place early next week and when that day comes, you better believe I'll be calling on you all to pray. Pray that the appraiser they send doesn't decide that our home's value is in the toilet solely based on our subdivision's recent turmoil.

Side note: our new 'neighbors' that laid claims to the foreclosure previously mentioned have not left a great first impression on me. Tuesday night, while unloading their U-Haul, our homes were vibrating from their unruly noise they call music. Kids were running around outside at 10:30pm. I considered welcoming them to the neighborhood with muffins but after that encounter, the muffins might be spiked with Ex-Lax.

Oh new house, how I (will) love thee, let me count the ways:

*My current 45 minute commute to work will be reduced to 25 minutes. And that's doing the speed limit, which isn't really my thing. And the drive to everything else is WAY better! Church, FRIENDS, shopping, pool......

*On that commute, I will pass Starbucks. Everyday. Fortunately, for the sake of my allowance, I have a really hard time paying $3.40 for a latte I can come very close to concocting at work for $2.50 per week. But still, I pass Starbucks. You learn to not take it for granted - all I pass now is a Dunkin Donuts, no longer in business.

*Hot tub conveys with home. After a long day, the thought of relaxing in my new (to me) hot tub is pretty cool. Or hot.

*Walk-ins - food pantry and master closet. Both amazing.

*Subdivision is beautifully landscaped and maintained. That was a problem in our current subdivision so we're thrilled to be going into covenants and restrictions that people actually HAVE to follow.

*Schools are AWESOME! Some of the best in the area. Nuff said.

Believe in Miracles - They DO Happen!

A recent post of mine was a discouraging one. We had just found out that the house across the street went up for sale (in foreclosure) for a ridiculously low price and was likely going to squash our hopes of selling our home for awhile. We pretty much accepted it but decided to keep our house on the market until the end of our contract with our realtor, just in case a miracle occurred. Well, turns out they really do happen! And not that I'm surprised at all. I mean, come on. If you've ever heard all the events that happened when we were thinking of moving to SC, you would totally understand that there is no such thing as a coincidence!

Anyway, back to the current miracle in our lives. Two weeks after this disappointment, we had a showing and three days later, we had a pretty nice first offer. We countered and they accepted. According to their realtor, the buyers LOVE our home. They asked for a later close date in June for different reasons, which is great for us as it gives us more time to find 'the' house for us in the 'burbs and more time to pack up our home. We are ECSTATIC! I can't wait to live 5 minutes from Target, Taco Bell and TCBY. And to be 20 minutes from my office would be SUH-WEET!

With all this being said, we are not completely fooled to believe that things can't go wrong. Though our house is definitely worth the sales price, that doesn't mean the appraiser will think so. We are praying he/she doesn't use many of the homes in our subdivision as comps but we can't know what approach they will take. We're just praying it works out. I definitely plan to keep the appraiser company while they complete the assessment - maybe bake some cookies or cook a 5-course meal. Is bribing an appraiser some sort of felony? Kinda sounds like it.

Happy 1st Birthday!

Today is d3's (aka Dayne Josiah) first birthday. Just crazy how fast the time has gone. He was such a surprise but I cannot imagine my life without him now. His beautiful blue eyes melt my heart and when he says (or yells) 'MA!' I just want to eat him up! Love you little guy!

Gas Station Granny

I knew I forgot something about the crazies of Tennessee. One more tidbit I don't want to forget (or maybe I do want to forget?) -

We were stopped at a gas station (which was the most AMAZING gas station, complete with a playroom and 10 different flavored creamers at the coffee machines) for a fill-up and potty break. While D1 was taking the older two to the bathroom, I was admiring all the nice little features of this place when a random lady walked by. d3 has recently learned how to wave and decided to target this lady with his cute baby wave. She came up and started the baby talk to him. She had a cup in her hand (not exactly sure WHAT was in the cup - best guess was Pepsi with a 'twist') and thought he was thirsty. So she took it upon herself to offer up her drink to my baby. I kindly and politely declined on his behalf but she protested that she was a grandmother and knew he just needed a drink. At one point, I was physicially pushing her styrofoam cup away from his mouth and walking away. I'm pretty sure I don't want my kid doped up on caffeine for a long car ride but THANKS GRANNY!

Funny now - a little bizarre then.

Mini-Vacay

If you read my last post, you know that I was in somewhat of a panic over all the things on my to-do list in such a short time. And although my sweet husband was aware of this, he thought he had the perfect solution to my stress - leave it all behind and go on a mini-vacation to family & friends. At the last minute. To a place that takes 14 hours to get to. In the car. With three childr....er, boys. LOUD boys. Of course. That should definitely cure my anxiety. Even though I said 'NO' a few thousand times, in the end, I decided to try out the little thing called spontaneity . I texted my boss to let him know I would be off a few days (totally NOT my style), packed my entire family in 20 minutes and at 9pm EST, we were officially Midwest-bound.

No real drama on the drive in except the I-40 detour and my speeding ticket. Yes, by now, everyone has heard about my speeding ticket. Apparently D1 has forgotten that he had one of his own less than two years ago on Father's Day. And I remember very clearly how understanding I was but he wasn't quick to reciprocate. We were just under an hour from our destination and I was going a bit over the speed limit (just 86 in a 70) when a trooper pulled us over. This encounter was not without humor, though (as if I thought it would be, given the company I keep). D1 happened to be in the 3rd row with d3 and the other two were sitting behind me in the captain's chairs. I pull over on I-70 and Sarge comes up on the passenger side and before he even mutters the dreaded 'license and registration,' d2 shouts to him 'Hey, what's your name? I'm going to my grandma's. We live in South Carolina. Is that a fireman's hat?' Sarge didn't really have a sense of humor. He then informs me of my excessive speed but tells me he would reduce me to 82. I figured it must be a significant reduction in fines. Uh, yeah. A whopping $20. In comparison to the total, it's peanuts. When he returned to give me the citation, d2 was firing off another round of loaded questions when Sarge asked if they all belonged to me. The sarcastic side of me could have answered that in a few ways but I just decided to stick with the compliant response of 'yes, sir.' And in hindsight, I wonder if he thought D1 was one of mine, too. After being up almost 30 hours, I probably looked the part. Had we thought about that a little longer, we could have had a little fun with that, too. D1 could have easily played the role and likely gotten me out of the ticket - or in jail.

Once we get there, all the boys want to do is ride the mower or sit in the 'ole red truck and pretend to drive. Constantly, back and forth. I have pictures but Blogger is not cooperating to post them. Picture two little boys on a zero turn lawn mower. One smiling, one frowning. I'll let you decide which is which.

Our visit was definitely a whirlwind but it actually was one of the best, even if we didn't make our rounds entirely. We did get to have a big dinner with many of our close friends, which was lots of fun. I got to hand-deliver some baby gifts that I otherwise would have mailed and see these momma's in their glowing selves. The boys got to spend lots of time with their grandparents, particularly Grandpa S. In the truck, on the mower and in the hot tub. They love it. d3 developed yet another obnoxious cough while we were there that is still lingering.

Although D1 was on spring break all week, I had to get back to work to close out the month so late Monday night after the boys were sound asleep, we packed it up and headed out. The drive home wasn't horrible but we had a few encounters I could have done without. First of all, Tennessee drivers are the WORST. Sorry, M. I think you are from TN so don't take it personally but they (some) are just horrible. Our cruise control is very random (and we WILL have that fixed before the next trip, husband!) so on the occasion that it works, we certainly don't want to have to break it because someone is in la-la land. Which happened more times than I care to remember. I totally understand road rage and how people can go loco. I was on the verge. At one point, going up into the mountains, I had some lady in front of me and just refused to get back over so that I could pass her. So I decide to go around her in the RIGHT lane and just as I get next to her, she blows me a kiss and speeds up so that I can't get around her. Seriously? And we played this game back and forth awhile before I finally put her in the dust. D1 wanted to blow her a kiss back when we went past her but we decided to take the high road - even if my thoughts were anything but mature.

And then there was Shoney's in Knoxville. Let me set the tone. It's 7am on a Tuesday morning and the boys have been strapped in the car for 11 hours. They are bursting with energy in their matching Spiderman jammies. Remember - Shoney's on a Tuesday morning. There are NO children in this restaurant at the time. Instead I can only guess everyone dining are either members of the Rotary or the Red Hat Ladies. So to say we were stared at is an understatement. In fact, we noticed some individuals that came in later that flagged the waitress down and requested a move to the other side of the restaurant away from us. Ouch. I guess I just can't understand why some people wouldn't want to hear d1 complaining that I didn't put enough syrup on his pancakes. Or d2 detailing what he needed to do in the bathroom. Or even d3 in a non-stop coughing fit that sounds like he has TB. You KNOW that terrifies the old people. And then d2 flings half his yogurt all over the place. Wouldn't you want to sit near us? I'm confident that had we been there 5 more minutes, we probably would have had a free breakfast - I'm quite certain the Red Hats were pooling their bingo fees in order to pay our ticket and get us on the road. We weren't getting those old people, grandparent looks of 'awe, how cute!' I was seeing contempt and lots of it. If I weren't so darn respectful of the elders, I just might have posed the 'can't you remember what it's like?' question. My children aren't horrible, they are just young and energetic. Yeah, that sounds much better than obnoxious and annoying.

So my feelings for TN weren't the most positive but we made it home - Praise the Lord - and it's good to be back. I'm still recovering. I remember thinking how old people had to 'recover' from trips - does that mean I'm getting old?