Today started out so promising. The kids all got dressed by themselves. The boys did their own hair (Ethan wanted a 'cool' mohawk and Austin wanted to look like a jaguar. Naturally.) Such happy little kiddies for Sunday.

After church we took a little walk/ride to enjoy our relatively nice weather. It was calm and peaceful until Ethan took a face-plant down our neighbor's steep cement driveway. Oooh, the poor child. The only way I was able to get the grim out of his arms and head was to put him in a bath and sponge him. He was in so much pain, he was shaking. Luckily nothing was broken and he was wearing a helmet (which took a beating, so thank goodness he was wearing it!) Robert thinks the initial hit knocked the helmet back and then the rebound hit skinned his forehead. After his bath we let the air get to his wounds.

I kept him busy all evening with a scintillating game of Monopoly (why me?!) but when it came time for bed, we had a problem.

No matter how he tried to lay down, some part of his raw skin was hitting the bed and hurting him.Isn't he pathetic? Poor sweetie. So, I used some gauze and taped it on with band aids (tape would have worked better, if I had known where it was.) Still, we weren't able to put his arms down without a lot of pain.
Until, of course, I came up with my brilliant plan of having a reverent sleeping boy. That seemed to work and cheer him up a little. A few minutes later and he was fast asleep. I just hope he feels better tomorrow morning for his first field trip.
What do you think would look worse? Giant gauze strips taped to his body or the bloody, scabby bruises?

Laina Girl. What a cutie-patootie.
And here is what happened when I tried to get the boys in on the photo. Silly kids.
One early morning we found the kids lined up on the stairs like this. Guess they were too tired to actually make it all the way down. Notice how Alaina is the only one who actually fits.
Last week we were in a rush (big surprise) to get to our T-ball game. I told Alaina to run and and get dressed as fast as she could. This is how she came down. She did manage to get the team hat on, but the child seriously thought she'd play ball in Halloween shirt, tights and a short skirt. She is determined to make a statement. Well, another day, maybe. A few seconds after I took the picture, she was rushed upstairs to get her uniform on.

I love this picture of Austin with his cars. I don't know if you can see it, but there is a lego man standing in front of the line up of cars. How long do you think he was able to hold back the traffic?

Another sneak picture, taken by Rob. Austin was reading he kids a story. Awww.

And this is why you shouldn't drink and drive a lawn mower. Rob was at it again, making silly tracks in the grass. They only lasted a few hours before the real mow job started. The kids went crazy running around the backyard. And this is why he is the favorite parent.




After all those pictures, I bet you thought I was about to wind down. Quite the contrary. I still have to announce the biggest news of the week. Guess who is riding a two wheeler bike by herself?!!! That's right, my little Lane.

A couple of days ago she asked me to help push her around on the bike. She was able to get her balance OK after she got started but really was struggling to start and stop. My neighbor came out to the court and so I started gabbing away. Alaina patiently waited for me to stop talking and start pushing again. She waited. Asked me to push. Waited. Asked me to push. Then gave up on me completely and took off. That's right. No help. Just like a pro, she circled the court and came back. I couldn't believe it. When I rushed over and offered to help, I was stopped short with a, "Mom. Don't touch my bike. I can do it myself!" (oooh, she is determined!) And off she went again. She's only gotten off her bike to eat, sleep and go to school. When this child of mine decides to do something, nothing ever stands in her way. I have mixed feelings about this. I'm sending her to Mom's when she's a teenager.

And here is my pill, Ethan, speeding past while I was trying to take the 'Laina Victory Shot.' Good thing he is so cute!

Off she goes...

T-ball time! Laina took this opportunity (as she has had a habit of doing lately) of working the camera on the stairs. She pulled at least 10 poses which, I'm sure you are sighing with relief, I'm not going to post. I spent the majority of my youth trying to find new ways of avoiding the camera and my mini-me can't seem to get enough of it. What will I do with her?
Take more pictures, of course. Doesn't Ethan seem to dwarf her these days?
All three kids were very anxious to get out on the field for their first game. Shoot, it was their first real practice if you don't count the 20 min. that we spent shivering in a downpour last Tuesday. (I don't) Coach basically had them hit the ball off the T a couple times and then run around the bases once so they knew which direction to go.

They all caught on pretty quickly.

Ethan was pretty confident out there. He liked the batting part of the game, but when it came to catching the ball and throwing it to first base, it was, ahem, a bit more like football. I'm afraid he elbowed his teammates out a couple of times getting to the ball first.
And its outta there!

Happy boy on first. I love t-ball. Everyone hits. Everyone runs around all the bases. Go Huskers!Ethan is on the older range of kids on the team but there are a good number of 1st graders out there.

Austin looked a little worried in this picture. He actually hits the ball really well too. Short sprints have always been Austin's modus operandi when it comes to any kind of exercise, so baseball might just be his thing. We'll see. Although, when he was out-fielding, he was completely bored and kept trying to come in.

But he was sure happy when he got to first base!

Alaina is not one to pick up sports easily. Don't let that make you think she won't excel She is the most determined little thing I've ever seen. The assistant coach told her one time to stand with her knees bent a little, crouched down and that little goose stood like this the entire inning. If you've ever experienced a t-ball inning, you can imagine how burning her legs must have felt. She's so serious!
Here's my doll on first.


And off we go! A pink helmet and pigtails. T-ball doesn't get better than this.