Obligatory Easter "Front Step" Pictures

"Mooooooooooooooooom, Can we PUHLEASE be done?"

It takes a lot of effort to make a 2-year-old and an Almost-5-year-old look sparkly, so, darn it, I need to document this day. Stand still and smile!

Easter Morning: The Good, The Bad, and the Handsome

Good = Candy.

Bad = Having to put on a real tie and new shoes.

Handsome = If I have to explain this to you, then you are hereby exiled from this blog.

My boys were serious troopers about having to wear "fancy clothes" and uncomfortable dock shoes. They wore their ties willingly because they were "like Daddy usually wears". They even managed to only spill their breakfast on the satin chair covers at Redstone...none on themselves!

Happy Easter!

The Tee Ball Season Continues...

Jeremy has been helping Brady's coach out by organizing batters, etc., over the past few ball games. When he's not encouraging bitty ball players to get a giant helmet on, however, he is in the outfield cheering Brady on. Brady gets a little "frustrated" if the ball doesn't come to him, but he still seems to be having a great time. Either tee ball is more for him than soccer was, or he is just getting older and more patient. It's much more fun when Brady's having fun, though. Carson, of course, is itching to join the team. He brings his own glove to every game just in case they need him!

Carson Relaxes

After bath time, Carson's favorite thing to do is curl up on the floor with his towel wrapped around him and his coolie in the air. He still thinks I can't see him if he can't see me. Is that normal? Regardless, I will be sad when it changes...it's so cute!

Our Third-Baseman

I seem to remember a similar soccer video. I must admit, while I want to raise independent, confidant children, it will be a sad day when Brady is too old to run to me for comfort!

Brady's First T-Ball Game!

Yesterday I learned that nothing...NOTHING...is funnier than a 3 and 4-year-old t-ball game. After standing back to learn the social mores and taboos if this new Saturday morning ritual, I have gathered that the rules seem to go as follows:

1. When a batter hits the ball, every player from the field shall descend upon it, elbowing and wrestling to be the winner of this coveted prize.

2. The batter is not always left out of the afore-mentioned ritual. A batter may, in fact, go after his or her own ball for any reason, especially if they desire to hit again, or even if they just want a firm hold on the ball while they are getting to first base.

3. The bases may be run in whichever direction a batter chooses.

4. Batters can and will have a chat with their coach during an at bat.

5. Mommies or Daddies are expected to run the bases with their companion batter.

6. Batters and outfielders never, I repeat NEVER, listed to what is being yelled at them, so don't even bother. It better to just grab an arm and guide them in the correct direction.

7. Lots of hugs and snuggles are expected in between, and sometimes during, each play in order to reassure a player's ego. (While this would be annoying in an adult, I find myself dreading its ending for my little boys.)

Hmm, that about wraps it up. I can't remember a sporting event where I laughed more. I truly wish I taped the whole thing. By the way, if you, dear reader, didn't notice, Brady's team happens to be the PHILLIES! I think it's a sign...I'm raising the next Chase Utley.

Santa Was Here

I know, I know...Santa was here in December and it is now February. Where has the time gone? Well, yesterday the groundhog (which Brady called a beaver...Justin Beaver, to be exact. What is he learning at school?!) saw his shadow, so we have another few weeks of winter. If it's still winter, I'm off the hook for lateness. Did you follow my logic?

Anyway, here are a few picture of the boys enjoying some of the same rituals and traditions that we enjoyed as children. Well, I think they enjoyed the cookies, but waiting on the steps while I took all of the pictures I wanted to take might not have been as much fun. Consider it a lesson in patience!

A Carson story: As soon as the boys came downstairs on Christmas morning, they ran to see if Santa had eaten the cookies they left. Santa ate everything except one piece of cookie, which Carson happily grabbed and shoved into his mouth. We all laughed so hard that he got startled and it scared him. He ran and jumped in my lap, hiding his face. It took a while to coax him into opening presents. Poor little guy, he just didn't want to waste a perfectly good piece of cookie!

Stay tuned for more.