The Game Ball

Don't let his casual demeanor fool you.

While he spends most of his time with a broad smile on his face cracking jokes, mouthing off, and otherwise doing everything other than what he's supposed to be doing much to my constant chagrin... He's one FIERCE competitor.

And this past weekend he earned the game ball for it.

He made an awesome stop running from the midpoint between 2nd and 3rd base running past what I can only assume was the actual short stop to snag a ball headed for 2nd base.  He came up with it, and made the throw down to first.  While the kid was actually safe it was one impressive play and some serious hustle to pull it off.  Way to go, Ry!

Field Day in Photos

Field Day in Photos: 

Kevin took some pictures, too.

Our First Field Day

The boys had their first field day yesterday.

In a word it was: Grueling. Long.  Exhausting. AWESOME.  Okay, so I guess that's technically 4 words.

I was burnt to a crisp by the end.  From the sun (don't worry... I made sure the kids got sunscreen!), and holding and lugging my heavy camera all day, and just the non-stop action.  I was just plain worn out.  And all I did was follow them around all day. And I do mean ALL DAY.  From about 8:45am to sometime after 2pm.  We had a short lunch break and a couple of little rest stop stations in between, but don't let that fool you.  The kids worked hard ALL DAY LONG.  It's amazing they could even stand when it was all said and done.  

And at the end all I could say was still "It was AWESOME!"

I have about a million pictures.  Literally.  I fell like I have been working on nothing but pictures for the last 24 hours.  Other than the 4 hour dinner break we took with friends after last night's baseball game.  I even skipped soccer this morning as I was so wiped out and needed to finish picture processing for the yearbook deadline.

So I will be back with pictures later when my poor fingers and eyes recover.  For now, you will just have settle for these teasers.

Oh, yeah.... Tie-dye.  And yes, yes, we do match.  :) All in people.  Go big or go home.  :)

Sneaky Little Leprechauns

Have to admit I was a complete and utter slacker when it came to St. Patrick’s Day this year.  J  We read the Night Before St. Patrick’s Day, and had green shirts to wear but that was the extent of my planning this year.

Thank goodness for the internet!  A few weeks ago I stumbled on this scavenger hunt printable and had bookmarked it to come back to. 

So at lunch ON St. Patrick's Day I printed the clues out, made a mad dash to the dollar store for "treasure" and then ran home to set it all up.

I staged the first clue on the dining room table - a pot with some "shinies" to get the kid's attention with the first clue in side.

From there they were off to the races!   And believe me when I say I didn't make it easy on them - I did my best to make the clues almost impossible to find (yes, it's a sink - but which one - and WHERE!?!), and yet they managed to find each one in less time than the last!  

They did at last find their treasure in the fridge.  And even though it wasn't "real gold" they were still tickled pink with their find, and even more so with the fact that sneaky little leprechauns came to visit us.

Ryan & Connor's 6th Birthday

Speaking of birthdays...

The boys celebrated their 6th birthday a few weeks ago.

And yes, that's Mutt & Jeff.  Dressed alike for the first time since school started I think.  And yes, there really is a 3 inch height difference between the two of them.  Right along with that 3 size gap in shoe size, too.

For their birthday I finally really did, figuratively at least, write that check to the bounce place and let them take care of most of the work.  :)

I also went with {gasp} store bought cupcakes.  :)

Ryan blew his candles out in one fell swoop.

Connor on the other hand...

huffed... and puffed...

And blew them out... one... at... a.... time....

And while we settled for the "ease" of a birthday place you knew there had to be a twist, right?

I told the boys that after cake they could spend the last 15 minutes (which turned out to be more like 30 because they were ecstatically thrilled with the idea and I just couldn't wait anymore...) socking each other silly with inflatable hammers and swords.

Of course as soon as everyone saw the weapons cake was quickly forgotten and everyone grabbed their weapon of choice and the melee began on the giant bouncing pillow.

Trust me when I say that words simply can't adequately describe the awesomeness of an inflatable fight.

It was worth every second of the two hours Kevin spent airing up 60 or so hammers and swords.  I am pretty sure even he'd agree with that statement.  :)

And don't think the fun was limited to the kids.  Plenty of the parents got in on the action, too.

Including a crazy red faced woman who dove in hammers a swinging... Who invited her??

With just as much vigor and enthusiasm as the kids.

And of course we couldn't have a birthday party without favors...

It was all, a big, big hit.  :)