another first!

Camden had his second game of his first baseball season today. The game was originally scheduled for yesterday, but thank goodness, it rained too much and was postponed to today. Yesterday was freezing (for Houston), mid 40's! Today was much nicer, high 60's. It was a great day for baseball! I wasn't aware of this when we signed up for t-ball, but they don't keep score, they let the entire line-up bat each inning, they don't keep track of "outs" and the coaches pitch 3 balls to each kid and if no hits, they are then allowed to hit off the tee. It seems to be really great for the kids, they seem to stay interested and really enjoy themselves. Camden was placed at the "pitcher" position (the kids don't pitch in t-ball) for this game and he did really well. As you can imagine, in t-ball, most balls are hit to the infield and the pitcher gets a lot of action. Camden did really well fielding almost every ball that came his way and he made very good throws to first base to get a few "outs" for the team. After the game was over, the coach passed out 2 game balls and he handed them to Camden and the first baseman!

Way to go Camden! You got the first game ball of the season!!

ahhh..... the memories!

With 3 young kids, I feel like I'm constantly behind when it comes to sorting through their clothes, weeding through the old, dingy and too small. This last weekend I spent some time doing just that and of course, some clothes bring back memories. Some sweet, some funny, some not so funny. I'm kind of middle of the road with this memory - between funny and NOT so funny. People always say "Oh, you'll look back and laugh at that someday!" Well this story I laugh about (a little) but I still boil a little inside when thinking about it.

A couple years ago I was in the kitchen cooking dinner when I realized the kids were being entirely TOO quiet to be doing anything good. I walked to the front of the house where the kids have taken over the front two rooms as toy rooms to check on them. I see Maya and Camden sitting in the foyer covered, and I mean completely covered, in black permanent marker! I really try not to get too frustrated at first because they're kids and they're curious and I must take some blame for leaving a marker within reach of two curious toddlers (they are probably 4 and 2 years old at this time). But I can tell as I start to ask Camden what happened that my blood is starting to boil.

Me - Camden, what in the world happened in here!
Camden - Maya did it!
Me - Really? Well then why is there marker all over both of her arms, legs and face? You're telling me she did ALL of this herself? And if so, why didn't you come tell me? You know this is bad!
Camden (realizing that I know he's lying) - Well... uh.... uh... I'm sorry mommy!

At this point, it's all setting in and I start to look around to survey the damage and there is permanent marker everywhere! The walls, the floor, their clothes, ALL over their bodies! I'm thinking to myself... there is no way they have been quiet for more than 5 or 10 minutes and they've done all this damage!? I decide I'm just too angry to spank them so, as usual, I start to lecture them!

Me - Camden and Maya, this is SO bad! You are NOT to play with markers, crayons, pens, pencils, or ANY writing utensil except at the table when you are coloring and an adult is watching you! You NEVER ever write on walls, floors, furniture or people! Do you understand me?
Camden - Yes mommy!
Maya - ....she's just crying at this point
Me - This marker may stay on you forever! I can't believe you guys did this! I'm going to have to re-paint the walls now!
Camden - Well mommy, can't you just paint the walls black??

How can I stay mad at him after that? Such a smarty!

I'm not sure if this is the shirt Maya was wearing that night because I seem to remember marker being all over her arms. So obviously she found a marker another day as well... you can see the black marks on the sleeves and on the belly! Regardless, this shirt brought back the memory of that night.

Oh and the markers and all other writing untesils are out of all of the kids reach now!

a quick shout out!

Over spring break the kiddos were lucky enough to visit my Aunt Mary and Uncle Roger and they had such a blast! They keep asking if we can go visit them again. What they seem to forget is that Kansas City is quite the drive - so we can't just go on a Sunday afternoon. They had such a great time and can't wait to go back. I'm sure all the toys that were bought for them had nothing to do with it. ;-) Thanks for a great visit!!

We love and miss you guys! Thanks for the t-shirts... Love Maya, Camden and Braeden

Can't have a serious picture without a goofy one...

A 3 year olds favorite sayings...

Well at least these are my 3 year old Braeden’s favorite sayings. He uses the following phrases often and sometimes together and generally with a sassy little 3 year old attitude!

I KNOW that!
Weave (leave) me alone!

I sorry. I made a mistake!

For example…

Almost anytime Braeden is disciplined these days for doing something he shouldn't be doing he says “I KNOW that!” Like I’m the stupid one for disciplining him. I can tell him “Braeden, we’re in a parking lot, grab a hand and don’t run in the street.” Of course, at the time he doesn’t have a hand and he’s wondering off, but he quickly recovers with “I KNOW that!” and grabs a hand – like he intended to all along and I was out of line implying he wasn’t going to do that in the first place!

His "I KNOW that" snarl...

I think the ‘Weave (leave) me alone!” is a given for most toddlers, but Braeden mostly uses this one when he is “hiding” and trying to avoid going to the bathroom. For some reason, he is still terrified to do more than pee in the potty. He’ll do it, but he doesn’t like it. And if he thinks he can avoid it by hiding then that’s what he’ll do.

He also likes to use the “Weave (leave) me alone!” phrase when someone is telling him to take his thumb out of his mouth. This is another one he thinks he can “hide” from us. He’ll cover himself up with his blanket and just leave enough of an opening to see through and he thinks we can’t see his thumb is in his mouth.

His attempt at hiding his thumb sucking...

Maya and Braeden were taking a bath the other night and Braeden hit Maya over the head with a toy and he immediately says “I sorry. I made a mistake!” as if saying this forgives him of all wrongdoing.

Braeden will steal some food off of one of the other kids’ plate and after it’s in his mouth, with a mouth full of food, he’ll say “I sorry. I made a mistake!” Again, as if saying that will forgive all and bring the food back.

But then I see this adorable face and am reminded why I love him so much!

a night of firsts...

Last night marked Camden's first ever baseball game!! It was SO cold that I'm not sure the kids enjoyed the game as much as they would have in nicer weather. Camden started out playing second base and he stood there most of the first inning "holding himself" (think Al Bundy from Married With Children). So when they ran off the field to bat I ran over to take him to the restroom, thinking surely that must be why he's standing there holding himself!! But no, I guess he was just cold! Camden was the first batter, got the first hit, scored the first run and got the first and only defensive out for his team!

On top of all the baseball excitement, Camden lost the other one of his front two teeth!

His first time at bat...

It's freezing mommy!!

When Braeden didn't have that thumb in his mouth he yelled the same few things throughout the game:

"Aww....good try everyone!"

"Way to go!"

"Good job guys!"

Great first game Lugnuts!!

Get me out of here... no more pics please!

THAT party...

You may recall a few posts back I wrote about Amber's birthday party. Camden was really looking forward to going to this party - he said he was excited because the party was at Chuck E Cheese, which I'm sure was a part of it, but I think mostly he really likes Amber. Well the party was this weekend and it was pretty cute to see Camden interact with Amber. When the kids were called back to the party table for pizza and cake I could see Camden panic a little. He walked up to the long table to see that most of the girls were already seated and just a couple of the guys had sat down. Camden immediately walks to the very end of the table and sits down by himself. One of the other girls from his class, Taylor, got up from her seat and went to sit next to Camden (if you read back to the Open House blog she was the little girl chasing Camden). As Amber walked up looking for a place to sit, she sees Camden at the very end of the table with Taylor sitting next to him. Amber walks up to Taylor, taps her on the shoulder and says "Taylor, can you move down? I want to sit next to Camden." Taylor said "no" so I offered up a solution for Camden and Taylor to switch seats so Camden can sit in between the two girls. Camden looked at me like I was crazy and said he wasn't moving! Well Amber ended up sitting next to Taylor and I sat at another table and watched the kids interact and laugh and play, it was so adorable! Until I look over and see this...

Camden had decided he would be the funny, cool kid and eat his cake with no hands!! Of course it worked, all the kids laughed and Camden talked about how funny HE was the rest of the afternoon.

Opening Day and School Carnival

Saturday was yet another busy day in our house! We had the little league opening day ceremonies and Camden's school carnival. It seemed like we ran all day long. I had to have Camden to his parade float by 8:15, but I also ended up helping with some of the decorating of the float. We then rushed to the road the parade route was traveling on because the road was supposed to be closed at 9. The road closure didn't happen until closer to 9:45 and we had to entertain two small kids on the side of a pretty busy road until the parade started. After the parade, we went to the fields for the baseball carnival for a short time. We were then in a mad rush to grab some lunch so that we could make it to Camden's school carnival before it closed. After the school carnival I forced the kids home for a sugar crash and a quick nap before we had to make our way back to the ball fields for closing ceremonies at 5:30. We literally moved all day long except the hour and a half nap I made the kids take... which I couldn't tell you with all certainty if they slept because I fell asleep myself!!

I looked it up and to my surprise there is a minor league team named 'Lugnuts'...

Waiting for the parade...

Reminiscent of Mardi Gras...

Bring on the candy!!

Finally!!! The parade and the candy is here!

This is about the time I got nailed in the head with a Tootsie Roll Pop!!!

Can we please go to the other carnival?!?

And we're off to the school carnival...

Everyone had a few turns down the big slide!

Then they were off to the bouncy 'tension' run... not sure what it's called, but you run as fast as you can and a pulley/tension rope pulls you back once you pull it so far...

Back to the ball fields for closing ceremonies...going all out with fireworks!

"I guess I'll line up if i have to!"

another one gone...

Camden finally lost one of his front two teeth! I was so glad to see the little sucker go because Camden kept messing with it, moving it all around and grossing us all out. The tooth fairy gave him $5 which I felt was pretty generous. Camden, on the other hand, felt that since he got $5 for each of his other two teeth when he was 5 years old that now that he's 6 years old he should have received $6 from the tooth fairy. Go figure! Can't blame the kid for trying!!