On Saturday, Jake and his cousin Tyler were baptized. It was an awesome service with great praise to our Lord and sweet words from the boys' daddies and others involved in the baptism. It was a very special evening filled with love and worship for our awesome Savior!

Vacation

We were so blessed to spend a week with my family in Fort Worth and San Antonio. We had an awesome time, memories that will last forever!

Sweet girl

Today is sweet girl's birthday. The day our family went from 3 to 4. The day Jake became a big brother. The day Trey became not only a dad, but a dad to a little girl, a girl he will give away one day. A girl who changed our family forever. A girl who was so chubby that she out grew her infant car seat at 4 months (maximum weight was 20 lbs and she weighed that at her 4 month well baby appointment). A girl who loved her pp (passifier) so much she carried a purse around that was full of them. A girl who would cry "I want my pp" as loud as she could in the middle of any crowd. A girl who loves to be gross and rough with her brothers. A girl who excels at school. A girl who loves to be around friends and laugh and play. A girl who would rather wear her softball jersey than any cute girly outfit. A sweet little 9 year old girl who still loves to cuddle with her mom and dad. God has blessed our family immersurably and one of the best 3 blessings is Addie. She makes us laugh. She makes us proud. She makes us better. She is our sweet little girl who we love very much. We prayed for her and continue to pray for her. Love you Addie Grace!

Mama, what is a lake?

I know it is sad, but my kids have never been on or in a lake. They have been near a lake and stuck their feet in, but never all the way in and surely never on a boat. So, when our friends asked if we wanted to come spend the day on their boat, we jumped at the chance. Jake was at camp, but Addie and Max loved playing in the water. Addie LOVED innertubing and going fast. Max was a little more reserved which totally suprised me because he is a dare devil most of the time. We had a great day, thanks Mahoneys!!!!

Hey now, you're an all-star

OK. So, I know the title of this post is really dorky, but this my blog, so I get to be dorky! Addie girl got picked to be on the all-star team for her 8U softball team. She also got votes for her 10U team, but she is only eligible for 8U. She and her proud brother showing off her new trophy. (she has 2 proud brothers, but the other one was at a friend's house) Also, her running to get her trophy after she was announced. Add, you are always our all-star in all you do!

Camps, camps, and more camps

Our kids love summer. They love to be out of school, swim, play in the front yard, and travel. They also love to go to camps, so that is what they have done the past few weeks.

Addie: AHS volleyball camp & RHS softball camp

Max: RHS baseball camp & AHS baseball camp

Jake: RHS baseball camp, THS golf camp, and GT camp

They had a lot of fun, but we are done know...just summer fun for a while. Last week this was our schedule:

Max 8:30-10:30 AHS

Jake 9:00-10:30 Comanche Trail

Addie 10:00-1:00 RHS

Makes me tired just thinking about it again!

These are a few pictures from some of their camps!

In the dog house

I don't really even know what to say. He really wishes he was part dog. Strange, I know...

Top Ten

Top Ten from the end of the school year:
(in no particular order!)

1. Jake got lots of awards at his ceremony including 400 club for AR reading, smartest kid (voted on by the students), 3 commended TAKS tests including one 100, best mathematician, and A honor roll for the whole year.

2. Addie played volleyball and softball. She is improving on her serves for v-ball and getting more aggressive. She has been playing 3rd on both her softball teams and doing well. She loves both her sports and loves being around her teammates.

3. Max played baseball and flag football. He loves being catcher and shortstop. He made 2 put outs at home back to back while his favorite catcher from RHS was the umpire. Matt (the umpire) was really excited and said that doesn't happen very often even in high school ball. Max was thrilled. Trey is coaching his football and they are having lots of fun, too.

4. Trey got a new boss and is really excited about a new season. He was more excited that summer finally arrived! The baseball team went very deep in the playoffs again and of course we are very proud of them.

5. Max and Addie enjoyed field day/picnic day the last week of school. Max's team went undefeated in the tug of war competition. Addie's team only lost one.

6. I helped run Jake's class's game at his field day. It was a fun day, too.

7. Our nephew, Hunter, graduated from high school. Congratulations!!

8. Addie made a 100 her math TAKS test and missed one question on her reading TAKS.

9. We helped Trey on a scouting trip to Ft. Worth. It was a fun free trip full of baseball and family.

10. School's out! After that final bell, we ordered pizza and hit the pool.

Here is a letter Addie wrote to me at school about this summer:Hey mom, I love spending sumer with you. Each day we have so much fun together. We go to the swimming pool and to the Rangers game, we go forever. My cousins are coming to stay until winter. With my cousins, we are going to Sea World. The fun will start when we enter. Shamu never washes with his shampoo. We love to go to the dolphin show. Let's go and play at the waterpark. Mom, why don't dolphins have toes? Do you know if Sea World has sharks? Mother, I hope you like this summer together. I will remember this forever.

From your album: "May (and some momma bragging mixed in!)"
Sweet girl wrote this note the 1st week of school, she brought it home yesterday.

I am special because I am the only girl in my family. I am special because my dad is a football coach so I get to meet the players and I get to play on the field before and after the games. I am special because my parents and brothers love me.

Road Trip

Last weekend we went on a scouting trip with Trey. He usually takes one of his former players with him, but they couldn't make it. So, we took advantage of a free trip! Jake helped Trey scout by keeping a scouting report on one of the teams and Max helped by letting Trey know what he thought of all the players. Jake did a great job and Max really knows a lot about baseball, too. Addie and I watched and enjoyed getting away for a few days. We also ate at some good restaurants, went to the movies, and visited my sweet granny. The school provided a car, and I do mean a car. We are used to an SUV, so this took some getting used to. Actually, on the way home, I think the car began to shrink. Everyone was getting closer and louder. But, the kids really did well despite sitting right next to each other. We decided to play 20 questions about an hour out from Amarillo. Playing 20 questions with Max is interesting! Here is an example of one of his turns.

Here are some clues we learned while asking him questions:
It is something made of copper
It was a gift
It is not in the USA
Someone made it
Do you know what it is???

I bet you didn't guess the Liberty Bell. Neither did we since he said it was not in the USA. However, that was the answer. He said it is in Philadelphia, not America. Jake informed Max that Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania and that is in the USA. Oh my, we spent 20 minutes on asking questions and guessing that. We also made note that maybe we needed to work on Max's knowledge of the 50 states.

Here is another conversation between the kids:
Addie (playing Nintendogs): my dog has ticks
Max: my dog had tittens, too

How about one more:
Max (playing 20 questions): it is a pacific kind of monkey
Us: It is from the pacific?
Max: No, it is a pacific one
Us: what???
Then we realized he meant a specific kind of monkey

We had a great time spending time together, laughing, swimming, watching baseball. I love my family!

sweet little boys

I read a book that had part of this poem in it. I was subbing and trying to keep the tears from ruining the teacher's papers on her desk. Here is the whole poem from the book Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsbury.

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be thinking ofa lifetime of lasts...
The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips.
The last time that I lifted youand held you on my hip.
The last night when you woke up crying, needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket,wanting to be rocked.
The last time that you ran to me, still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held you longer if I'd known they were your last?
Our last adventure to the park,your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten, those last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made.
I never said goodbye to all your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-will I recognize your lasts?
The last time that you catch a frog in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.
Silly, scattered images will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,never quite sure of your lasts...
The last time that I comb your hairor stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with youand tuck you in at night.
The last time when we cuddle with a book, just me and you.
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.
The last piano lesson,last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come top pass.
But as I do, I sometimes misstoday's sweet, precious lasts...
The last time I help you with a math or spelling test.
The last time I shout that yes,your room is still a mess.
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.
My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.
I want to hold you longer-want to recognize you lasts...
The last time that you need my help with details of the dance.
The last time that you ask me for advice about romance.
The last time that you talk to me about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
I've watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold on to your lasts.
For come some bright fall morning,you'll be going far away.
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way.
One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand just how much you will be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God,to every precious last.

I know that I talk about Trey all the time, but I never have pictures of him. So, here is a picture of Trey during a pitching change in the Black vs. White series (the practice series between the varsity during the swine flu scare that shut down UIL sports). I know it is blurry, but it is the best I have. I also added a picture of Addie looking for a fly ball and Max diving for a ball up the middle. Max is the one who is diving head 1st.

I'll

Jake got to bring home his science class's guinea pig last weekend. His name is I'll, short for I'll Bite. It was fun to have him around for a few days and know that he would soon be going back! Rowdy didn't like him very much and I'll could have cared less about the dog. Max had to show Rowdy some extra love since he had a rough weekend sharing the pet attention.

What's been going on lately

This time of year is always busy for our family and we love it. The kids are enjoying all the end of year activities at school, Trey is entering post season time in baseball, and I am anxiously awaiting our summer together. A time to slow down, go swimming, eat Popsicles, play games in the front yard, and stay up late. Well, I cannot wait for that, but first I need to share what has been going on with us. Jake won an award for a photography project, he was 1st in the school of got an honor of merit at the district level. He is ready for his aviation camp and movie making camp this summer. He will also go to baseball camp at RHS and TX rangers father/son camp. Jake had to take 3 TAKS tests this semester. We know that he got commended on the two we have results for missing 1 on the reading and 0 on the math. YAY! Addie's softball and volley ball have started up again. She loves to be out playing her sports. Add took 2 TAKS tests, but we only know the results for the reading test. She missed 1 question and was commended. She is going to GT camp, volleyball camp, and softball camp this summer. Yesterday, we moved my old bed into her room, she loves it! It is such a big girl bed, she is getting so big! On to Max. Max is playing baseball, of course, and doing really well. He is mainly playing catcher which he loves, but he is really missing playing in the field. He has made some outs and home and Saturday he made 2 outs in a row at catcher. This was really special because it is rare to have 2 outs in a row at home and his favorite Randall catcher was the umpire at the time. My kids idolize those RHS players, so he was thrilled. He really wants to be a catcher, but he misses being a part of the action in the field. He is also hitting well. Trey is coaching both boys in flag football this June. A great program that they love. Max is going to baseball camp and the TX rangers father/son camp. Trey's freshman team did well this season, but they did not win district (first time since Trey started). The varsity is doing well and just waiting for the UIL to reinstate games around the state to continue on with the end of the season and post season. The head football coach took another job and so we are awaiting a new boss! Hopefully, someone awesome! I am doing good, too. Just trying to keep up with everyone and make sure they are all fed, clean, and happy. We have lots to look forward to this summer including a trip to Sea World, Rangers games, camps, and most important Lance, Carrie, Tyler, and Emily!!!!!! Every day we are so truly blessed. We have our health, our family, and most important Our Lord. Thanks to him who can do immeasurably more than we can ever imagine. Here are some fun pics of our fun fam!

1st Day of Max's Baseball Tournament

Max's team played in a tournament here in Amarillo this weekend. Their first game was Saturday morning followed by game #2, they went 1-1. Here are some cute pictures of our little baseball player.

Here is Max trying to catch a pop up. He slipped over the bat and the ball dropped. So close!!!

The ball dribbling away.

The game was tied, bases loaded with Max up to bat. He hits in the go ahead run and ends up scoring later in the inning.

Max running to second and watching the 3rd base coach.

Getting the force out at home, good job bud!

2nd Day of Max's Baseball Tournament

Poor little bud. He woke up around 4:00 this morning with a bad stomach. He threw up and had diarreha until 9:00. His game started at 9:30, so he didn't get to play. He misses playing with his team, but he is ready for the next game!

Easter

There are no pictures of a pretty dress, new shirts, or egg hunts on this blog. Oh no, our poor baby girl had the stomach bug on Easter. We did make it to church and then to The Plaza for lunch, then things took a turn for the worse and we sped right home. So, no pictures of 3 smiling kids. A picture of one sick girl and pictures of 2 boys trying to be quiet while dying eggs. Sorry sweet Add!

As we left church, I asked the kids if they believed in the resurrection. They all chimed in with a great big YES! What joy filled my heart to know that my kids believe the way that Trey and I believe. When I think back to the things that happened thousands of years ago this past week, I just cannot even find the words! I am thankful that we serve a God who is real and alive!

Max has kept busy this past week. He is still playing baseball. Here is a picture of him on second ready to come in and score. He is still getting to play catcher which he really likes. I am hoping that he will grow to love his new team team. He likes playing with all of his friends, but is really struggling to just enjoy it all. It is hard for me to see him hurt and be upset especially with the game that he loves so much. Now, don't take that the wrong way, he still loves his baseball and wants to play! On to cowboy day! Max's teacher has horses and competes in horse activities. I know, I have no idea what I am talking about! Anyhoo, the first grade classes had Texas Day that centered around a cookout, games, and most importantly The Horses! Max dressed up like a cowboy best he could coming from a house of people that have never been in to the whole western thing. He got to watch Mrs. Rains ride her horses and show some tricks with them, see their trailer, and pet them. It was a fun morning. Thank you Mrs. Rains, Ernie and Doolittle!

If you have never read the blog bring the rain (on my sidebar), please read todays entry. I do not know this family, but they have been through so much and she always shares her heart. Today is no different. Please take time to read!

Max's team won a tournament this past weekend. They had a lot of fun. The other teams in the tourney were not like the teams we are used to playing. Our team probably had more than 20 in the park homeruns and quite a few grand slams. Singles and doubles suddenly were home runs! Max hadat least 3 homers himself. All of the boys did wonderful and had a blast getting the chance to go out and win all their games. They actually won by run rule in all 5 games. This is not how all their games will be, but it was fun while it lasted! Way to go Wildfire!

snowball fights and snow forts

Max and Add made their own forts today (with a little help from mom and dad). Max even made a chair in his to sit in and wait for attack. Add made her's in the front porch area. Later, some neighborhood boys came over to fight, until Addie told them to leave because they were messing with her fort. Addie really didn't enjoy the snowball fights, but the boys had a blast! It was such a nice day to play in the snow, lots of snow and lots of sun.