baseball

With spring fading into summer, baseball comes to an end. 

I love baseball...

 I'm so thankful that we have some baseball players in our family.

  Ethan played on a AAA team this year.

(I'm thinking this is his face of concentration)

He did great! His batting has really improved this year and his knowledge of the game at ten is amazing!

 (there's that face again!!)

It's obvious this boy loves playing this game and he's hoping to continue as an all-star!

 And he should have a good shot! He's a really good catcher!

 As a freshman this was Seth's first year on Varsity. We love watching him play!

 He batted .395!

 And he scored 15 runs!

 He was the team's utility player and played in any of 6 positions! His favorite though? Still first base where he should be the starter next year. 

Both boys had a lot of fun playing this year and both did great. I'm glad they both share a love for this sport. Determination and hard work are important traits to develop in young men. I guess it doesn't really matter to me what they play or work hard to do, I will always applaud their efforts. Because the one thing I want them to always remember is that I was their biggest fan!

brothers

This past week was filled with small and big celebrations. The small was Zane turning 5 months.

 And who could possibly resist that giant, toothless grin?

 He's all about grabbing his feet these days. Don't you love that? I think it's just the cutest!

 We are trying to decide what his hair color is going to be. Blonde, strawberry-blonde, turn dark later? Not sure, but those eyes are definitely blue and look to be staying that way! Yay!

 He weighs a healthy 17 lb 11 oz now. Not our biggest or our smallest, but perfectly sized to snuggle, that's for sure! 

 We love this happy, easy-going boy!

And just for fun, here's how most of the photo shoots end! "Take my picture too!!" Haha!

Our bigger celebrations this week were for two birthdays.

 Josiah turned 4! He loves all things Batman and has an amazing imagination. He loves wrestling with his brothers and playing with his sisters (except when Anna doesn't cooperate. Did I mention she's independent and spunky?). He's a cutie, and will talk anybody's ear off!

 The day after Josiah's birthday was Seth's 15th birthday. I can't believe how grown up Seth has become. He is hard-working, strong and reliable with a quick wit and an easy-going temperament. He plays multiple sports and loves animals and his siblings. He's a great guy and we love him so.

I am thanking God this week for the privilege of mothering these three boys as we celebrate them. All three at different stages of life, but tied together forever as brothers. 

My Birthday Boys

Yesterday Josiah turned 2 and today Seth turns 13. Born one day shy of exactly 11 years apart and yet more like twins than just brothers.

They share a special bond that makes my heart happy. Seth has tucked Sy under his wing. And Sy thinks of Seth as his hero.

We celebrated their birthdays together last night and had a motocross birthday cake.

 Sy loved his birthday present, a PW50.

 Which allows him to be just like his big brother.

 Who is an amazing guy! I love him so. I wish him a lifetime of happiness!

 And also to you, mini monster man. May you grow to become everything God wants you to be.

Happy Birthday, my sons! I hope you both know how much you mean to me.

A Birthday Banner

Two birthdays in two days equals a whirlwind of fun! :)

I made Seth a birthday banner using my Silhouette SD.

I cut out triangles and letters from various papers and glued them together. Then, I punched holes in each top corner and threaded a ribbon through! Super easy!

And just because he's so cute, here's a picture of Josiah enjoying his first birthday cake:

 right before a much needed bath! :)  
(Please ignore the pink bib! That's what happens when you have so many sisters! hehe! Pink is "in" for boys these days, right?) :)

The Mummy Project

I only have one sister (whom I love dearly). Yep, just the two of us! No brothers!

Now you're probably wondering if my husband, Scott, came from a big family? Nope! He has just one sister also. So how did we end up as a mega-family? Well,.... that's a post for another day! :)

Anyway, as I was saying writing, I don't have any brothers. So before Scott and I had any kids, I told him that I would be perfectly happy with a house of daughters! I didn't think I was at ALL prepared to raise sons!

Our first child? A son! I was more than a little nervous to enter this foreign land of male. Fast forward almost 18 years later, I not only have one son, I have FIVE!!

But I shouldn't have worried! God knew exactly what He was doing (of course!)! I love baseball, I can hold my own in a Nerf battle or a round of Super Smash Bros. Melee, and an active game of balloon volleyball? I'm there! :)

So, when my son, Seth, told me that his Bible project was on mummies, it was time to come up with a boy-pleasing presentation! (I hope this isn't too graphic for anybody! Those with sons or mummy projects will hopefully appreciate it!)

First, we made our guy to be mummified:

Love the unhappy face drawn by Seth! :)

What did they do to prepare a guy? Well, they removed the brain out their nose (disgusting, but true):

We made sure our guy had a nose opening for presenting.

Ewww? Totally!

Here he is with his "brain", made from strips of fabric, randomly stitched together:

I'd look unhappy too! :)

Next, they would remove the organs:

I sewed up the "organs" that Seth designed and connected them for easy removal.

Then, came the intestines:

Disgusting? Totally! You feeling the boy-ness? :)

And here's the total project:

Guy, innards, bag of straw to stuff him with (ok, hay, but that's all we had with a pet bunny!), and strips of cloth to wrap him in!

Seth can't wait to present his project!

And for me? Any further desire for a house of just girls? Not for a second! :)