Lets Play Ball!

 Andrew started "T-ball skills" this month. The practices teach the kids how to play T-ball. Andrew is learning a lot. He is learning to keep his eye on the ball, patience and listening. The coach always instructs the kids to only run to first base then stop. Then when the next kid hits the ball, you run to second. Then when the third kid hits the ball you run to third, and finally when the fourth kid hits the ball you run home. Well it never fails, every time Andrew goes up to bat, he never stops, he run all of the bases and hits a "home run". It is a crack up! No matter how many times he is told what to do, he just keeps running. And this kid runs fast and serious. He takes his speed personally. He pumps his arms super fast and the look on his face it one of a tough and strong four year old.
I love seeing Andrew learn new sports and interact with a coach. He is always so proud of himself at the end of each practice. He wears his glove home and is always found punching the inside of it, like a pro ball player. Both Grandpa's are thrilled he is learning the game, and daddy can't wait to introduce him to water polo...maybe next summer.

Rub-a-dub-dub

All three babies in the bath. WOW! There is a lot of arms, legs, toes, and fingers to clean now. It is much easier to stick them all in the tub, with Ashley in her bumbo chair. It is so much fun to have Ashley included in the big kids activities, even if it is just bath time. Andrew and Allison have so much fun together and can't wait to have Ashely join them in their adventures. They love when I do something for the first time with Ashely. They get just as excited as I do. Ashley didn't think much of the bath, if anything she got annoyed when the kids splashed or yelled too loud. I guess I will have to introduce her to their world slowly. But watch out Ashely there are years ahead of loud splashy baths with your siblings.

A warm afternoon nap

Ashley Marie is so easy going. She needs to be I guess to keep up with this family. At this age, Andrew and Allison were on a strict schedule: Nap from 10:00-12:00 then again from 2:00-4:00. If I implemented that schedule, it would leave no time for Andrew and Allison to get out and explore their world. So being the super awesome little sister, Ashley goes with the flow and it not picky about where she sleeps. She gets dragged to the beach at least two times a week, concerts in the park once a week, playdates, movies, wading pools and long walks and bike rides. This after noon it was too hot to go anywhere, so the kids went for a dip in the kiddie pool in the backyard. Ashley played on the blanket on the grass and soon drifted off to sleep, binky in mouth. Liberty would walk by every so often, lick her face and then the kids would splash water on her legs. She is laid back, sweet, soft and portable.

Happy Birthday Grandma Bug!

I am very blessed to have such a wonderful person to be my mom. I wanted to celebrate her in a big way. I wanted a carnival in the backyard, a guest list of at least 100, a taco bar, and of course a DJ. When I ran this by my dad, he told me that mom would be much happier with something low-key, just small and sweet, and he was completely right. Instead of her walking in to a room full of people, we decided to just have people show up to her house. My family and I were first. My mom didn't know why we stopped by, but she was happy. She went to go get ready and then her friends started to show up. While she was distracted and talking with her unannounced friends, I managed to decorate the house. She couldn't get over it, and was thrilled with her 60th birthday party. My mom is a strong, strong and did I mention strong woman. Growing up she was always there for me. She was always a loving mom and now that I have children of my own, I pray that I can be a mother to my kids, like she was to me. Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world.

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America. We had our annual block party again this year. We set up our tables, BBQ, pool, ping pong table and toys in the front yard and had Mom and Dad D. join us in the festivities. We played with the neighbors, the kids tried out all of slides and bouncy houses available. I had to go to work that night, which was a bummer, but Trisha joined me and it made it a little easier to tolerate leaving my red, white and blue family.

Human Food

 

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This month Ashley Marie was introduced to solid foods. She is 6 months old, which is much older than Andrew and Allison were when they started solid foods. I am not sure why I waited so long this time around. Maybe becuse I am so busy with the other two kids, that I simply didn't have time to make the food like I want to, or maybe it's because she is such a dedicated breast feeder, that I didn't want her to give up on my milk once introduced to the other wonderful foods God has blessed up with.

This month I made sweet potatos, carrots, pears, and peaches. We also gave her avocado and bananas. The above photos are of her eating rice cereal. She wasn't much of a fan until we mixed in some bananas. Andrew and Allison were very excited to see their baby eating and the best line came from Allison when she said "Look Andrew, Ashley is eating human food!"