3.28.2011

222 Miles, 7 games, 12 hours

This weekend was a whirlwind of activity. All said and done we drove an estimated 222 miles, played 7 baseball games, and Rick and I got to enjoy a 12 hour night away in Gruene (of which 7 were spent sleeping).

Saturday started with Rick and JT driving out to Kyle, Texas for the first of 2 games in a tournament while Zach and I headed to Manor for his league game. Afterwards we met up with a portion of the Voodoo league team for a game in Manor before driving back to Kyle for another game.

Games Review

The Thunder t-ball team played well. They had multiple innings with outs and at least 2 innings with 3 outs. The Titans (which is our undercover Voodoo select team - please email if you want me to break this all down for you!) had a tougher weekend. They played some phenomenal defense including one outrageous diving catch by JT to ruin what should have been a line-drive double (even sweeter it was during a game against our arch-nemesis team). The Titans also had at least 3 double-plays including one incredible 3rd to 1st double play. The tough part of the Titan's outing was our batting. Our team was flat and we just couldn't pull out of it. 


Some baseball shots from the weekend including JT fielding a catch that may have been a little high but getting the out. Two shots of JT and Rhys folding in the last game (of which we were losing) both boys got forced out (Rhys at home and JT at second). What is most important to note is the awesomness of the Kyle fields, check out the llamas and mobile homes in the outfield. Zach has worked hard on his swing and isn't dropping his shoulder as much and who doesn't love a cute shot in the dug-out (all these boys have older brothers so they love to talk the talk in fact Zach played catcher and I wish I could have caught a photo of him giving Wes (far left) signs when Wes was mock-pitching.

Gruene Review

Long before we knew we were having a tournament, Rick and I made plans to see a Todd Snider show at the legendary Gruene Dance Hall, which is on my unofficial Texas Bucket List. We even booked a night at the Gruene Mansion but it wasn't what we had envisioned. We didn't get in to Gruene until after 6 at which point we both had to clean up (I forgot to mention temps were in the upper 80's during the baseball games on Saturday) at which point I realized I left behind my contact solution and other personal items. After locating a $10 bottle of travel size solution and eating, we walked past the Gruene Dance Hall and saw that the show wasn't starting until 10:30 so sadly we went back and took a 30 minute nap before heading back out (everything was within walking distance). We had a great time at the show unfortunately that is where it ended though because we were up by 6:30 to get out by 7:30 and back to Kyle for more tournament baseball. I am sad because we had such a cute room with a sweet little kitchenette. I know we will go back again and this time be prepared to actually stay longer than 12 hours.

All in all it was a fun weekend. We would gladly redo it all but perhaps not all on the same weekend. And of course, we owe a huge thanks to the Largents for helping us make this all possible by carpooling, housing a dog, taking care of kids, and endless hours of baseball talk.

3.20.2011

Spring Break - Part 3 - Man o' War Invasion

It is getting late and despite my discovery of "My So Called Life" on netflixs, I have to admit (to myself) that tomorrow I must return to the real world (aka work). To tell the truth, I am dreading it. But before I leave, here are a few shots of what JT and discovered one morning on the beach. We opted to stay away that day especially after I read that turtles eat man o' wars and sharks like turtles.



I have lots more photos. I have yet to scratch the surface of the boys swimming, Lauren photos, or the adventures that weren't on the beach.

Spring Break Part 2 or a Ton of Beach Shots

 As you can imagine, the boys wanted to spend every possible moment at the beach. We had  four good beach days. The boys got boogie boards, which they thought were awesome and also managed to befriend a family next to us that set up a volleyball net. Jet even made friends with their Border Collie (Sydney) and a Portguese Water dog (Jack). JT also made friends with some boys that showed him how to find crabs (there will be another post on that one).







 Of course the people from Oregon have to find some random tar-ball-like thing on the beach.




Spring Break - The Arrival

Our Spring Break adventures started with me, Zach, and Jet having to drive by ourselves to Galveston to ensure that we made the rental agencies 5 pm check-in deadline. If I can take a moment to digress from the trip itself, to talk about driving through Houston. Prior to marriage, I didn't mind driving, I used to love driving to and from Helena. These days Rick drives and I co-pilot, we have a good system worked out so there was some trepidation on my part with driving to Galveston alone. I knew I could do it but it had been a long time since I had driven more than an hour alone or with a kid and dog. Needless to say, the three of us arrived just fine with 40 minutes to spare. The only bad thing that happened was when I pulled off to get gas and let Jet out, I somehow (ok - it was one of those moments when I tried carrying too many things at once rather than just using my purse) dropped my phone and managed to do this.



As soon as we got to the house, we brought up our bags and Zach, Jet, and I headed to the beach to check things out.





After a quick trip to the beach, Zach and I went back to the house to unpack. I asked Zach to put away some of the items we brought including the cups and found that he took the time to do this.

3.15.2011

Spring Break

We are living it up in the Redneck Riveria (aka Galveston, Texas). We have a nice house in a fabulous location and we are enjoying the break from our daily routine. I think I personally am finally unwinding despite the fact that I have had to get online a few times to help with some minor work issues.

I will have more to post and talk about but for now here are a few shots.

The boys and Jet loving the "bath water warm" water.
The view from the top deck and yes that is JT walking towards us and that is Gavin and LJ under the blue tent. How awesome is my new camera?!

3.10.2011

The Art of Zach

Zach brings home lots and lots of artwork. He recently has been on a book creating craze. He writes and illustrates short stories and staples them together. And of course as you know we get a lot of tigers and jedis. I found one in his folder today and to tell you the truth, I put it in the papers to recycle as soon as Zach isn't looking but then Zach asked if I saw the picture of the dog. I held up said drawing and asked who drew it. Zachy, a bit offended, claimed the drawing and Rick (who subbed in Zach's class yesterday) supported the claim. Then Zach showed me where he got the inspiration.


The book is "The Principal From the Black Lagoon."

3.08.2011

a couple shots with the new camera

JT had his first baseball game tonight (it was the make up from our rainout on Saturday). It was a great game especially for a first game; the Voodoo won 20-6.
I took my camera for a test drive. I was a giant dork sitting in the bleachers before the game and then decided that the directions were over my head and I should just start experimenting. Lucky for me one of JT's teammates also got a new camera and he has an absurd knowledge. He showed me a few things on mine and had me up and running for the first part of the game. When it got dark, I wasn't doing as well  but I feel like this first outting was fairly successful. Here are a few of my better shots.

i am in love!


my camera came today! i can't think of any other time that i have been so in love with a thing. i have no clue how to use it and i am torn between reading the manual and just jumping in. ok, techinically i have already jumped in and taken a few photos but I have no real clue what i doing but i know that i can take photos really fast. get ready, we have a baseball game tonight so i will be mastering my skills.

Correction

Zach informed me that it is Cheap Code not Cheat Code (when looking up how to beat a level in Angry Birds).
Sorry if I caused any confusion with the world.

3.07.2011

Another Dose of Zach

We had baseball photos this Sunday. I got my camera to work and of course now I look at these photos and feel like maybe I could hold on another year or two with what I have but maybe I should wait until I have that new camera in my hands tomorrow before I make a decision!


Here is Zach striking a pose with his most serious face.

My struggle to get Zach and Grif to do something cute resulted in only one photo as they were more interested in acting out the following pose.



Serious face but this time he is trying really hard not to laugh at those of us heckling him from the side.

Saturday morning was a blur. We had to be out the door by 7:00 AM to run errands and be available for concession stand duty by 8:00. I kept repeating to the boys that they needed to write their names "in" their hats. Zach took it upon himself to add some Zach flair to my instructions. It is guaranteed that no one else will use Zach's hat during the season.

Zach Fuism

I laid awake in bed on Sunday morning and Zach started mumbling to me:

Zach: Mama, wouldn't it be cool if they had kits where you could make your own money? You could put anyone's face on the dollar?

Me: That would be cool. Whose face would you use?

Zach: Lady Gaga.

_____________________________________

I am sitting in my office doing a little bit of nothing while Zachy plays Angry Birds on my phone (google it, it is this insanely addictive game with birds flying and trying to destroy pigs). Zach has oddly (because he doesn't have this personality at all!) become obsessed with the game. He has also discovered that he can somehow watch youtube videos on my phone that show him tricks and "cheats" for the game. He just now discovered some golden egg and is running through the house letting everyone know. The good news, he knows to put my phone on wifi so he isn't running up my phone bill watching youtube. Sweet kid!

3.03.2011

oh my!

Let's chat about cameras. I like taking photos and  it is especially easy when you have two fairly cute boys to take photos of. When JT was born, I had post-partum panic attack about not being able to get photos out to my parents and far-away friends quick enough with the old-fashioned film cameras so early one morning I sent Rick out to buy our first digital camera. I remember looking through the newspaper ads, finding one that seemed affordable, and shooing Rick out (although I have a feeling he was all to happy to get out for a break). We used that lovely Fuji camera for a few years and that is when I realized I don't really like taking photos, I LOVE taking photos and digital cameras fill my instant gratification need (lack of patience) perfectly. So before Zach was born, we made the plunge, went to a real camera store and bought a fancy Minolta that I thought was the Holy Grail of cameras. I loved that camera and we made plans to run away together until one fateful day when Rick and Grandpa Pete sunk my camera in a North Carolina lake. The story is too painful to retell but I soon found myself at Target  settling for a Kodak camera. Don't get me wrong, this little Kodak camera has been a good friend but there are days when I yearn for a little something more. Something that will help me take even better action shots of the boys at baseball; something that doesn't require me to stand at the fence and poke my lens through the hole to get a shot; something that will take awesome photos. I have craved a DSLR camera but I just haven't been able to justify the expense. I am still not sure I can justify but I have fallen in love with this guy and soon he will be mine. It is a huge $ investment and I am super stressed about it but also super excited.



My sweet little camera comes with an additional lens (and yes I did order a red one). Really, I am a bit intimidated and clueless about this DSLR world I am entering but sweet blog readers, get ready because I feel certain you are going to get some photos that rock your world! Ok, that part may be a bit much but my camera should arrive in time to take it to the beach and capture every day of our week long visit with the cutest girl in Portland. Bear with me as I learn how to use it.
I have bothered Rick incessantly about making such a large purchase. And in true Rick form, he just sweetly tells me that if I really want it I should get it. He has warned me that I must take good care of this camera (he has issues with my care of the Kodak but let's be honest we weren't a match made in heaven, we were just a temporary arrangement that has lasted for 5 years). So I am making a small blanket and bed for this new baby that will sleep with me and basically go where ever I go. I am worried about having to lug yet another thing to baseball games as I already look like a bag lady but I am sure I will manage.

You will no doubt hear more from me about this camera and you will no doubt get lots of photos very soon!