Baseball, Baseball, and More Baseball

I feel like all we did this week was baseball.  Merrick had three games this week and given that two of those were played in the pouring rain, that was plenty.  He is doing a great job learning to play all of the positions.  This week he had some great plays at first and third and even got to try his hand at catcher.  Carrigan has been a great sport about braving the rain to watch her brother.

Maybe it was all that braving of the rain, but after a week that has been all about Merrick, Carrigan has decided to get herself a little attention by coming down with a fever.  We had a rough night last night with some really fitful sleep.  She seems to be feeling better now but she and I are laying low today, playing hooky from church, and watching The Little Mermaid.  She is adorable even when she is a sickie.

Hopefully no one else gets sick because we have a busy week coming up with Carrigan's birthday and the father's and son's camp out.  I better go round up some vitamin C for us all.

Pre-Birthday

For any of you that I am on Facebook with this will be a bit of a repeat so forgive me.  Friday was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  Those are a rarity lately. (Our friend said yesterday "I don't know why people are complaining about the weather.  It has only rained twice, once for 45 days and once for 35 days.")  Anyway, Friday it was 70 degree without a cloud in the sky and we decided to seize the opportunity to go to the park and let Carrigan have an early birthday party with her cousins before they leave town for two months.

We went to what is affectionately known as "The longest slide park" (it has a crazy long slide carved into the side of a hill) for some sliding, swinging, playing, presents, and of course cupcakes.  Even though it was a few weeks early, I know Carrigan was really excited to get a chance to celebrate with her bestie cousins and now she is even more excited for the main event coming soon.

Easter 2017 (plus some baseball)

I am a little premature on this post since Easter is only about half was over, but our Easter celebration started yesterday and I already have so much to share so we are forging ahead.

The fun began yesterday morning at the City of West Linn's Annual Easter egg hunt.  I may have mentioned this in past years, but it is a mad dash across the football field to grab eggs that lasts about 30 seconds.  The kids have a blast though and never want to miss it.

After the hunt Merrick had his first baseball game.  He did a great job and had a blast.  He got an out while playing third base and got a hit every time he went up to bat without having to use the T (they get five pitches from the coach and then have to switch to the T).  Carrigan enjoyed the sunshine and entertained herself while doing her best not to watch baseball.

We finished the day at the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minnerals.  They were having a "thunderegg extravaganza".  For those of you who don't know about Oregon's state rock, the thunderegg, they are ordinary looking rocks on the outside with really cool minerals, crystals, and agates on the inside.  At the museum they had plastic eggs around the property.  If you found an egg of each color you could trade them in for a thuderegg which they would cut open for you.  It was really fun to do something so out of the box.

 

This morning the Easter bunny stopped by our house and left toys, clothes, and candy galore.  He is always so good to us.  After taking a peak at all the goodies we headed off to church to be reminded of the true meaning of Easter. 

In a few minutes we will head to Nana and Papa's house for another egg hunt and dinner.  It has been a memorable Easter and one that makes me grateful for all my blessings, particularly my Savior and my family.

Doing That Thing You Do

We had a busy week this week crashing back into our regular routine after spring break.  In addition to our normal schedule, the extra-curricular activities are really ramping up.  This makes for busy weeks, but it is so fun to see the kids growing and learning new skills while doing the things they love.

Carrigan has been doing ballet for a few months now.  They don't really expect too much at her age, but it has been fun to watch her develop new skills.  She is always excited when it is ballet day and she is quick to listen and try in class.  The pictures this week were taken while learning turns across the floor.

Merrick has also been busy after school.  I may have mentioned that he started piano lesson in January.  That keeps him busy not only on piano days, but also with practicing throughout the week.  He has already come a long way.  This week he was really excited that (with a little help from dad) he figured out how to play some of the Star Wars theme song.  He had noticed that one of the songs in his practice book had a part that sounded kind on like it, so he played around until he found the right keys to play it.  He is pretty proud of that.  He will have his first recital in two weeks.

That's not all for Merrick though, this week he also started baseball.  This is our first year playing baseball (we decided to skip t-ball and go straight to coach pitch) and I think he loves it already.  I am not sure I am going to love cold, rainy games and practices, but thus is Spring baseball in Oregon.  Like I said, we just started so I am sure there will be more to come on this topic in the coming weeks.

As you can tell, we have had a busy week with more busy weeks in our future.  I am just glad to see my kids out being themselves and doing the things that they love.

Spring Break Continued

Today is the last day of spring break (insert sad face emoji).  We have had a great time and the time has flown by.  We have spent hours at several different parks, had slumber parties, and played with friends and cousins.  Jeremy took Thursday and Friday off work and we took the party up an notch.

On Thursday we went to OMSI.  Right now they are having a traveling exhibit called "The Art of the Brick" by the artist Nathan Sawaya but more about that in just a sec...

On Friday we went to Bullwinkles Family Fun Center and rode bikes with cousins.  It was one of the first days this years that actually felt like spring.

Now back to "The Art of the Brick".  The artist uses exclusively Legos as a medium for creating art.  He recreates famous pieces of art as well as original pieces.You are going to have to bare with me today because this exhibit was hands down one of the coolest things I have ever seen.  I found myself taking pictures of almost everything and I don't know how to choose what to share here so I will share way too much (sorry).  If you ever get a chance to see then this exhibit I could not recommend it enough.

What a fun week!  Now here come all of the pictures...