Wildcat Baseball

It's an early summer Friday morning and 9 boys wake up early. 9 boys pack weekend bags. 9 boys travel several boring hours in the car. 9 boys give their all on the field in 100 degree weather. 9 boys are committed to a team effort and a love for the game.  Now 9 boys who are serious on the field yell and rough house in the hotel pool.

Big sister, little sister

As I sit at guard practice watching, I am a bit overwhelmed.  It's summer.  Most kids are sitting on the couch doing little to nothing  My big girl had 5 hours of guard practice on Saturday.  She's back today for 4 more hours of practice.  I'm so glad she has a passion for guard.  I've watcher her do incredibly hard things and push herself in hard competitions.  What I'm most moved by today is that in the midst of her high school friends she invited her little sis to stretch with her and be part of the group.  Little Miss Izzy looks up to her and it means the world to her to be included.  She's the best at teaching Izzy to be a good big sister.  I hope Izzy will return that same kindness to Shelby Lynn someday.

Intruder

After being in Van Buren most of the week for band camp, we returned home last night dirty, exhausted, and past bedtime.  I was trying to rush everyone along to unpack, shower, and get to bed.  Izzy got out of the shower and went to her room.  She immediately started screaming a terrible, scary scream.  I knew something was very wrong.  I instantly thought there was an intruder in her room.  In that split second I was terrified, I had to protect my children, and I needed someone to call 911.  I pushed the baby to Laura and yelled for her to grab the phone.  I wanted the phone in her hand ready to make that call.  I had to protect my child.  I rounded the corner to her room to find the intruder...

a frog.  She continue to scream and cry and shake.  Elijah jumped out of the shower terrified and Laura cried from the adrenaline rush of fear.  I rocked Izzy and oiled and massaged her to try to het her to relax as my own heart raced from the "excitement".  She slept in my room for the night.

When baseball is cancelled

With the scattered showers, baseball was cancelled yesterday.  So, we decided to make a trip to Joplin for a quick family visit.  On the way the blinks were getting longer and longer.  I asked Miss Shelby Lynn if she was tired.  The look she gave said it all.

Within seconds of giving that nasty look she couldn't keep her head up any longer.  Sweet dreams!

Parenting...It's not for the weak.

I am most definitely doing something right.  Today wasn't all crazy, but there was that moment when I was making diner (When I say making dinner I really mean heating instant oatmeal in the microwave, but it had fruit in it.)  I took my eyes off of the 17 month old for 0.25 seconds.  She snatched the honey from the Lazy Susan, took the lid off, and poured a puddle of honey on the living room carpet.  I'm definitely doing things right.