Willy B and Destiny

Well Spring has Sprung - and so has baseball season!

Will joined up with a new select baseball team this spring - Destiny.

He is really, really, really enjoying baseball.  

He hates it when we make him miss practice (because of homework due or tests the next day!)

He just LOVES the sport.

And that makes us so happy.

So 8 year old ball is definitely a transition year for most.

It is the last year before the kids start pitching and they begin to be put in defensive positions that challenge them and help out the team.  Most kids also start really crushing the ball at this age group so outfield positions become increasingly important. 

Will started off the season playing his usual second base, but was swiftly moved to center field as he is a great catcher and knows exactly what to do with the ball when he has to hit a cut-off man to prevent a runner advancing to second or scoring at home. 

His arm strength has really impressed us.  He throws strikes from center to second and center to third.    

He has been working really hard with Billy on judging pop flies and it is so much fun to watch.

Those two just have the best time!

John and I usually spend the games playing He-Man or coloring.  John loves being out there and is such a trooper on days we have double-headers.  Before too long it will be his games we are all sitting on the bleachers to watch!  We can't wait!

Between games on the weekends - Johnny is part of the team - messing around with the big boys and yucking it up.

 Will is definitely one of the tiniest guys on the team...here he is...our little #2.  (FYI - 2 was my softball number :))

But don't let his size fool you - he's been working extra hard at batting, getting lessons, and working with Billy on the weekends.  And he is absolutely crushing it!  He is such a powerful hitter - driving it most often to right center.  And he has developed such swagger when he gets up to the plate - wiggling his bat like a pro haha!

 Another thing teams underestimate is Will's fight.  He is not afraid to drive into second, third, or home cleats first right into the faces of other players.  Full.Speed.

 And I love his sliding skills.  At this age, they are prohibited from sliding head first - thank GOD!  Here is some good Nikon footage of him sliding into home - he times them perfectly - and uses his momentum to just pop right up and head to the dugout.  So great.

We are excited for the season and for our little dude.

Go get em Destiny!

John the Gymnast

A few months ago - Billy and I decided to put John in a gymnastics program.  

He loves tumbling, climbing, and we needed to channel all that energy in a productive fashion!

He's doing great!  And better yet, he's enjoying it!

Here is a short clip of John at a recent session...his coordination and strength are incredible.

The funniest part was watching him move the staircase farther and farther away from his jumping post - to the dismay of the other kiddo in the class who had to keep moving it closer and closer.  

He tests his limits - that is for sure!

And we love that ;)

Home is Where the Heart Is

February 18th I was done with the work nonsense and was on a 7am flight out of DC the very next morning to get home to my beautiful boys.  I surprised them both by picking them up early at school.

When I showed up to John's daycare - he was still napping, so I snuck in next to him, slowly woke him up, and he leapt (yes, literally leapt) into my arms - clinging to me like a koala (and if you know John - you know this behavior is not common!).  I melted into a pile of mommy mush right then and there.

Next we went to go pick up Will.  When he saw me, he (for real) high fived me and said "what's up mom!".  LOL! Not exactly the reaction I was expecting.

I was so excited to see them...I don't know how I managed to be apart from them for so long.

So I stayed home with them for the past month - before reporting to my new position in OKC.  

So I've left them again.

Sigh.

Worst - Mom - Ever

I will see them much more often now though - every weekend or so - until all three of my boys make the move up to OKC in June - then we will be right as rain again :)

xoxoxoxoxo

Donuts With Dad

Will had his annual Donuts with Dad at school while I was away and I think he and Billy had a great time!

What a sweet gift to for such an amazing daddy!

xoxoxo

Johnny's FOURTH Birthday!

John turned FOUR on January 5th. 

It seems like just yesterday he was our quiet, peaceful, little brown haired, blue eyed newborn.

Now he's our big, energetic, dirty blonde haired, green eyed four year old.

MY how things can change.

And he is amazing.  He is full of life, energy, imagination, and love.

Here is how little Johnny measured up at 4 years old:

Height: 3' 3" (22nd percentile)

Weight: 33 lbs (24th percentile)

And did I mention he has a sense of humor well beyond his years?

Here's a little bit of how his 4 year well visit went at Texas Children's (and to think he walked out of there with a lollipop!):

Nurse (talking to Billy): "Does he know his first and last name?"

Billy: "Dude, what's your first and last name?"

John: "Human Torch"

Nurse: "I guess that works."

Nurse (asking Billy): "Does he know how to speak in full sentences?"

John (interjects): "Hey, what do you mean by saying I guess that will work?!"

Nurse (sheepishly): "I guess that will work as well!"

He is such a character!

Any who, he chose to have a super hero birthday - and it was absolutely phenomenal (not that I was there, but I did get quite a few photos and videos to prove it!).

On his actual birthday, Billy, Nana Rosie, Papa Max and Will had a quiet little celebration at the house :) with cupcakes.

Then it was time for his party.  

Theme: The Superfriends

Location: Wonderwild 

Birthday Manager: Billy 

And before I go on - let me just say - that this whole shindig was entirely made possible by BILLY - the greatest dad in the world.  I don't know how he did it, but he did, he pulled it off, the greatest 4th birthday party EVER.

 Billy and I chose the invitations together - and then Billy surprised me by photo shopping in a cartoon Johnny head!!!!  What a great and creative idea!!  Even better was Billy placing him next to Apache Chief - John's favorite Superfriend.

I was in charge of ordering the cake - basically the only thing I could do from Virginia.  

So I asked John which two villains and which two superheroes he wanted represented and he chose:

 1. Batman

2. The Riddler

3. The Flash

4. Captain Cold

FABULOUS!

Billy was in charge of everything else and I never, ever, should have doubted his craft skills or attention to detail!

Below are a few photos of the most creative dad in the world putting his skills to the test to ensure his little 4 year old had the best birthday ever.

Treat Bags (characters chosen by John):

Johnny Apache Chief

Johnny The Flash

Johnny Green Lantern

Johnny Bizarro Superman

Thank You Giveaway Bags:

Center Pieces (characters chosen by John):

Johnny The Riddler

Johnny The Flash

Johnny Black Vulcan

Johnny Apache Chief

Johnny Bizarro Superman

Johnny Sinestro

Johnny Green Lantern

Johnny Captain Cold

Entertainment: Superfriend Bingo with Johnny cartoon head playing pieces!

The day of the party, Billy got the kiddos dressed in their birthday celebration shirts.

John picked his own, and seriously, all joking aside, he can name every single character (about 40) on that shirt!

And then it was up to Nana Julie, Nana Rosie, Papa Max, Billy, and Will to set up the birthday room.

I think they all did a marvelous job!  I couldn't have done it better myself - really!

Here's a snippet of his friends and family singing him Happy Birthday!

From what I understand, everyone had a blast - Johnny had a fantastic Superfriends birthday party!!!!!

Two things I may never forgive myself for as a mother - missing John's 4th Birthday and missing Will win the Little League World Series a few years back.  I'm still learning to cope with this mother's guilt thing - 8 years now - still learning.  I'll make up for it!  Somehow, some way!

Home For the HOLIDAYS!!!!!

I never really understood the Christmas song "Oh there's no place like hoooome for the holidays" until this past year.  UGH.  After making it through the first three months of my work trip - I was rewarded with a wonderful trip home for a few days during Christmas.  

The trip started with Mass, which I nearly dozed off in I was so tired!!!

Then we set out milk and cookies for Santa and his reindeer :)

Even though they are getting older (and I'm pretty sure Will is on to the whole Santa thing) the kids were very excited - as was I - for Santa to arrive and bring us all presents!  The best part about the boys getting older is fewer gifts!  Why? Because the gifts get bigger (and more expensive lol).  They are now getting gear instead of bunches of little presents.  Which makes our lives a lot easier... :)

 For example - snorkels and flippers for summers in Michigan!

 And scooters...

 And big boy bikes...

Christmas 2015 came and went way to fast for me.  

Yet, it was so great getting to come home if even for a little bit.  

It was terrible leaving them all again....but I had comfort knowing I only had two more months to get through!