Lukeeeee the Graduate

 

 

Here he is, the preschool graduate! Doesn't he look so cute? Sharon, his godmother said he looked like a little GQ! Not only handsome, he is smart too. He was a bit nervous but didn't crack under the pressure. And he sang his little heart out and said his poems and bible verses. My heart is so full of joy just watching him being so proud of his accomplishments. This is only the beginning.

 

Here is his class, only 7 of them, at their end of the year party. We went to the creek and they had a blast!

Update on Andrew's baseball team and nice people

Andrew's team played Thursday night and WON again! and I didn't hear too much negativity coming from the coaches. It was a good game. Andrew threw a player out at second and also threw a player out at home--really hard to learn to do when you are playing catcher! so proud of him. remember he didn't want to play catcher but now loves it and he is good at it! After the game, the coach had his team talk way out in the outfield--where no parents could get to nor hear what he was saying--smart guy!!!!! But Andrew said he didn't say anything negative. Maybe he really did hear what Jimmy and I were saying.

On to nice people . . . I received an email yesterday from a woman named Melinda who had bought a scrapbook related item from me via ebay last June. She contacted me to say that there was a birth announcement, picture and various other momentos in the back of it that she had just found that must be mine and she wanted to return them to me. It is things from Asa's birth. I am thrilled to get these things back. Of course, I never knew they were missing but eventually I would have, right? Anyway, BIG thanks to Melinda!!!!!!!!!! There are still nice people out there and I have just "met" one of them.

Andrew's ball game . . . .

Monday night was good! They won so we were proud. However it wasn't the greatest game; but they are not major league players so no big deal, right? well, afterwards the coaches were chewing on them negatively, telling them everyting they had done wrong and I just couldn't take it anymore--like a volcano erupting from two seasons of negativty and I burst out, "Do y'all ever say anything positive?" at this point, Jimmy joined me and we had about a two minute conversation with the coaches, where of course, they thought we were crazy. What do they not get about it? You build a child's confidence, make them think they CAN do it and they WILL! not tear them down. So upset for my child to be subjected to this game afer game. However, Jimmy and I both admit that we should not have made a scene in front of the team. We did not pick the right time to bring this up. And we feel bad about that. But one mom called me the next morning to say that her son said he was glad we did what we did, he felt like we took up for the team. We apologized to Andrew and I asked him if we embarassed him and he said "no" and that he always comes away from the "team talk" feeling bad. This is little league baseball. It is supposed to be a positive learning experience. Makes me so sad! When we got in the car, Noah said, "Mama, that is why I quit." Man, that hurt! He quit baseball two years ago but would never say why. Now our suspcisions have been confirmed. Why is it when you stand up for what is right, you feel so bad inside? Like we were wrong. Well, we know that we weren't wrong in what we were saying. We just hope that the coaches will atleast think about what we said and maybe make atleast a little change. I observed a little bit of Andrew's practice yesterday and the head coach did seem a little bit more encouraging. If this continues, then making a public spectacle of ourselves was worth it--for our children's sake.

Noah does it again. . .

Yesterday Noah hands me the JV basketball summer practice schedule? WHAT!!!! Our summers are NOT for this!! Looks like I am in for a rude awakening! Then today, he told me that he was elected to class Treasurer for next year.

6th grade graduation, class officer, JV basketball--my heart can't take it -- can I freeze him?

Luke's First TBall game

 

Last Saturday was the day Luke has been waiting for for a long time. His first Tball game. I did not let him play last year to make life a bit simpler and knowing that he would have two more years he could play. Anyway, he woke up Saturday morning singing, "Today is my tball game; we're gonna win first place." and so on. So Cute! He hit the ball both times up to bat and got his hand on the ball a few times playing in the field. He was promised a snowball after the game however the snowball stand was closed so he got it Monday night during Andrew's game. Tball, here we come for the next five Saturdays!

 

Asa's First Communion

 
 

Sunday was a BIG day for Asa! He made his First Communion at church, something he has been working on and preparing for for a year now. It was such a special service with the five children participating in the readings--Asa even collected the offering. He looked so handsome in his shirt and tie. Growing up too fast. I am amazed at how at such a young age, he truly "gets it." The whole salvation issue. Even though he is being brought up in a different denomination, it all reverts back to the same. Jesus, the Son of God, died on a cross for our sins so that we may have eternal life with him. And the bread and wine are there to fulfill us with the Holy Spirit. Speaking of which, he didn't like the wine and is glad to hear that he doesn't have to drink it every time. It is optional in the Catholic church--not sure why--for me it would be because they drink out of one cup--yuck! I can't get past that. Anyway, so proud of our little man.

Sad and Scared

I was in McComb on Monday, picking up baseball uniforms when I heard on TV about the shootings at Va Tech. After the shock wore off, now I am just sad AND scared. Sad for the lives lost, mostly young men and women whose lives were just beginning and sad for their families. Can you imagine sending your beloved child off to college and having this happend? Oh my, what despair! AND scared because THIS is the world we live in today--the world that my children are living in. Scared for them to grow up, never want to let them go, never let them out of my sight. Scared because there are just some things that are out of our control and we never know when it might be "my" child. I am just overwhelmed with emotions as I think about this tragedy and all of the others that are happening on a daily basis in THIS world. So I suppose that the lesson here might be to NOT be 'in' this world because we are promised a better place someday . . . . . .

Gotta brag on NOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was nominated by his teacher to be a part of the Quiz Bowl team for next year -- 7-12th graders! Yeah Noah!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend highlights

Thursday
Asa and Luke -- ball practice
Andrew -- game (see previous post)

Friday
hard to get up!!!! b/c of late night at the ball park
school
I worked at school all day preparing for Field Day
Asa game--awesome game, lost by one point but our boys played so well! proud!

Saturday
Field Day at CA, weather was predicted to be severe but it held off and turned out to be a beautiful day and we had a great time. Asa won three second place ribbons, Andrew won a first place and a second. Noah just had fun! played carnival games and ate lots of carnival food. Luke and Noah and I won a drawing.

Sunday
TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Asa sick with fever and sore throat! I think we have all hit a brick wall and just need a day for rest so that is what we are doing today!

Andrew's first game of the season

and his first minor league game . . . Andrew moved up this year to minor league--big step! hitting of a pitcher, not the machine. He did so well. played catcher which is the hardest position on the team in my opinion. When the coach put him there on the first day of practice, he was not happy, wanted me to tell the coach that he didn't want to play there. But I told him to do his best and that the team "needed" him there because he was the only one who could throw from home to second (which is a must because they steal in this league and you have to be able to get them out at second). He still was not happy about it but after a few practices he realized that he could do it and now he likes it. In fact in the last inning of the game, he was moved to second and I later asked him if he was more comfortable there and he said no that he liked playing catcher better. Boy did that make me proud. He is really maturing and becoming a young man. Anyway, he played catcher and got one out at home and two at second. Still mistakes made and lots to learn but I am so proud of my little catcher. His next game is this Thursday. So fun to be at the ball park watching my boys play ball!

ps no pics b/c Ms. Treva was there taking pics with her good camera so I will get some of those from her.

Play Ball!!!!!

Tonight was Asa's first coach pitch game of the season, this being his second season to play in this league. He is playing in the pitcher position. He had a GREAT game! Hit every time up to bat, scoring atleast one run, getting out at third once. He made many outs, stopping the ball that was hit to him and throwing to first. His team won 20-0! He is so proud of himself-- Love that big grin he is wearing right now!

Look at him goooooooooooooooo!

What a milestone . . . Luke learned to ride his bike today without training wheels. One wheel came off last week so he has been riding with one training wheel, then today he took the other one off and away he went. Really! just that simple, he was riding by himself. No push from me or anything. We took his bike to Asa's practice so he could ride on the pavement and he rode with no fear! with the biggest smile on his face! My heart is so full of joy just knowing how happy he is!

Zoo Trip with Luke

Yesterday, Luke and I went to the zoo with his playschool class and it was very nice. The weather was GREAT! and the kids had a ball. I am so happy to create these memories with Luke and my other kids. So nice to have a one-on-one date when I can.

I dreamed last night . . .

that we were at my Maw-Maw Betz's funeral (she died two years ago this May) and my daddy was giving a eulogy when the funeral director came in and told us our time was up--that he had another funeral to do in that same room. At this point, I got very irate with him and told him how rude he was and that my grandmother deserved the time that she had paid for (what a way with words I have, I know) and he gave me the smirkiest grin. And I said, "I'll slap that smile off of your face." to which he replied, "I can have you arrested for that." So if you dream that I am in jail, now you will know why.

Weekend highlights

Friday:
Baseball practice and fried fish and fries for supper.
Visited with John and Vivian for a while--very nice couple!
Darren, Jill and Cole arrived with their horses to spend the night. They brought us
a hound dog named Rufus.
Late to bed.

Saturday:
Awoke to help all of the men and boys get off on a trail ride.
Jill, Luke and I spent two hours in the WalMart parking lot selling 5 of our 8 baby
rabbits before being asked to leave--against company policy--oops!
Insert long nap here--woohoo!
Popeye's chicken for supper--yummy!
Darren and family leave.
Long bath with a good magazine--aaaahhhhhh!

Sunday:
Church.
Tucker's 3rd birthday party--Fun!
Noah rode his "unbroken" horse which makes Mama a nervous wreck.
Hung out outside enjoying the spring weather.
Played baseball at the practice field in C'ville.
Wrote note to tooth fairy for Asa who lost a tooth tonight and then "lost" it before putting it under his pillow. I think she will understand and leave money anyway!

TEXAS--what an awesome state you are!

We got home last night from an AWESOME trip to Houston, Texas! it seems that everything is not bigger in TX but better! What a great time we had! We spent four fun-filled days at Jimmy's sister's home and were warmly hosted by Louise and her husband, Mike and their three children, Megan, Janelle and Michael. There was never a dull moment . . . we started off our first evening there with birthday cake for Luke, then the next day toured the Blue Bell Creamery, a mini-horse farm at a monestary, and picnicked at a roadside park with a beautiful stream where some of our people got wetter than others and Noah's shoe made a trip down the stream and Jimmy spent quite a bit of time trying to rescue it, which I will say he did successfully. We made it to the Cotton Gin museum where he wore a plastic bag over his foot in his shoe which peaked the curiosity of the nice lady at the museum. She couldn't quite figure out why he had a bag on his foot--too funny! Janelle is really into GeoCache-ing--which is a nation-wide scavenger hunt of sorts using a GPS--we had not heard of this craze until she told us about it at Christmas-time. We really like this "game" and found three caches while there. Of course, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was good as was the concert by Dierks Bently--what a hottie! he cut his curls off and is super cute now! By far the best part of the trip was just being with the cousins. They live in a subdivision with a park about a block away so everyone just rides bikes and scooters back and forth--now worries! so cool. Asa has a twice-skinned knee to prove that he was very busy on the bike! We had birthday cake for Noah right before we left and then ended our Texas trip at a boot store for Noah's new boots for his birthday which was yesterday. We ate dinner with the Abadies and Marty and her family at Cracker Barrel in Lafayette on our way back. Noah was serenade by us with "Happy Birthday" and then two Shriner's clowns came over and did the same. As one clown put it, "A bit of public embarassment builds character." and embarrassed he was. You know he's 12 now! Thanks to Louise and her family for an awesome time! Noah said it best, "this was the best vacation ever!" We can't wait to go back.

I forgot to say "Thank you" . . . .

to Ms. Debbie for keeping the boys AGAIN while I got away. You are a life saver! and it means so much to know that my boys are well taken care of by you while I have a bit of time to myself. But mostly a BIG "thanks" to my dear sweet hubby for holding down the fort for me. He brought the boys to Ms. Debbie's for most of Saturday while he worked but then after he and the boys went to church, he took them to the LSU baseball game. What a dad! It melts my heart that he would plan a day just for he and his boys. Thanks Jimmy! I am so lucky that you are mine and that you are my children's father.

P.S. In my previous post I forgot to mention that after being gone for 36 hours, I was not home 5 minutes when Luke puked his guts up and didn't make it in the toilet--mental picture here, I know--thanks to his daddy letting him eat apple juice and half of a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos! so cleaning up puke was my "welcome home."
(I said he was a good daddy but didn't mention that he doesn't plan the best meals while I am away. haha!)

What a weekend I had!

I had a girls' weekend straight from Heaven. I went to Scrapfest in Mandeville with Lisa, Shara and Benita and my dear friends, Robyn and Joelle met us there. Words cannot describe 15 hours of scrapbooking to those of you who don't get "it" nor can I put into words seeing Joelle and Robyn. So good to be with old friends. Not old as in age but old as in "you know everything about me since we have been friends for so long." I spent the night at Robyn's and on Sunday morning we went into the French Quarter and had beingets at Cafe Dumonde and walked around. So nice, so fun, so good for the soul to just "be" with a friend.

Gobble, Gobble . . . BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!

Noah killed his first turkey this morning and is now cleaning him so I can cook him for supper. Nothing like free food straight from the woods! He is soooooo proud. First time turkey hunting for him and he gets one. I am proud for him - he couldn't wait to show me . . . although he could have waited til a little later instead of waking me up so darn early! Congrats Noah! I am happy for you, man.

Getting to know me . . . .

My friend Tracy sent this to me so I thought it would be fun to share. Enjoy!

1. What is your occupation? mother

2. What color are your socks right now? none, in my slippers

3. What are you listening to right now? sound of my computer

4. What was the last thing that you ate? brownies at supper club last night

5. Can you drive a stick shift? yes but i like automatic better

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? red

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Jimmy

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? yes, she is a dear friend whom I admire for her courage throughout the last ten years!

9. How old are you today? 36

10. Favorite drink? dr. pepper

11. What is your favorite sport to watch? my boys playing baseball


12. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes, silly question!

13. Pets? none for me, but the boys & Jimmy have about 17 horses, 20-something rabbits and a cat that won't die!

14. Favorite food? boiled crawfish

15. Last movie you watched? Flag of our Fathers

16. Favorite Day of the year? not sure

17. What do you do to vent anger? not sure, ask my children!

18. What was your favorite toy as a child? dolls

19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? spring

20. Hugs or kisses? hugs


21. Cherry or Blueberry? neither

22. Do you want your friends to email you back? yes


23. Who is most likely to respond? benita

24. Who is least likely to respond? everyone else


25. Living arrangements? 65 year old farm house that we have severely outgrown about two kids ago, but it is home

26. When was the last time you cried? can't remember, I am probably due for a good cry


27. What is on the floor of your closet? shoes and clothes that fell off hanger

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Joelle

30. Favorite smell? a newborn baby

31. What inspires you? people who have triumphed over tragedy, like Tracy!

32. What are you afraid of? losing my children and my parents dying


33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? plain

34. Favorite car? the one that is paid for

35. Favorite cat breed? none!

36. Number of keys on your key ring? lots


37. How many years at your current job? Noah will be 12 next Saturday, so 12 years


38. Favorite day of the week? Friday, b/c the weekend is coming

39. How many states have you lived in? 2 louisiana and mississippi

40. Favorite holiday? Christmas