Bend, Baseball, and Girl Time

 It's been a busy couple of weeks since I last wrote.  Last weekend we were in Bend for a Memorial Day baseball tournament and there was little time for blogging.  The trip was a good one.  We got knocked out of the running for the championship with a loss in our second game but went 3 and 1 over the weekend.  Merrick's bat was on fire and he had one game with two triples, both hit on a bum leg after getting hit while standing on third base by a ball coming off a teammates bat at about 75 mph.  Once the adrenaline wore off, he was barely able to walk.  He somehow also pitched the next day on his bum leg and looked the most like himself from the mound that he has in months.

Given that our 4 games were spread over 3 days with the long weekend, we also had some down time for visiting the local waterpark, playing ping pong, hanging with friends, and riding bikes.  The girls were glad to have some non-baseball time and Elsie discovered a love for a tandem bicycle.  She asked everyone she could to take her for a ride.

This week has been crammed with things to get ready for the end of the school year.  This coming week will be Elsie and my last week of preschool and then the big kids have one week left.  I have been running around preparing graduation hats, certificates and gifts and talking to the new owners about the transition.  I have to get docs drawn up and then we will sign the agreement on June 15th.  

This weekend we didn't have a tournament, but we still managed to make it about baseball.  On Friday night we had a scrimmage with our coach's team from last year.  We played them about half a dozen times last season and, while we haven't faced them this season, we have attended several of the same tournaments, we watch each other and cheer each other on.  On Friday we mixed up the teams and had a friendly scrimmage.  It was a lot of fun and Merrick had another great pitching outing.  I don't want to jinx it, but we may be getting back on track.

Yesterday,  Jeremy and Merrick went down to Salem to watch our high school team win the state championship.  I decided to spare the girls more baseball and we had a girls day instead.  We did a little shopping, went to the theater to see the new Little Mermaid, and went to lunch.  Elsie declared it the best day ever.

Just a quick note on Elsie before I wrap up.  I can't believe this is my last week of preschool with her before she moves on.  I have seen so much growth in her in the last several weeks.  This week she and I tackled a 100 piece puzzle and, while I helped, she definitely pulled her weight.  She also gave her first talk in Primary (our church children's group) today.  She is growing in leaps and bounds and is going to kill it in kindergarten and I'll be in the corner bawling my eyes out. 

Kindergarten Roundup

 As predicted, it was another full and busy week, but somehow it came together and was more manageable than I anticipated.  The weather has been beautiful all week and so we had tried to take advantage of that as much as possible, whether it being eating dinner outside, jumping on the trampoline, or closing out our day with a quick game of backyard baseball.

The biggest highlight of the week came on Wednesday, with Elsie's kindergarten orientation.  She got to go to a classroom with one of the the teachers, listen to a story, and make a craft.  She then got to take a ride on a school bus.  She was sad and nervous when it was time to go to the classroom, but she was brave and went anyway.  Ultimately, she ended up enjoying herself.  The actual big day will be here before we know it.  I think it will be tough on both of us, I know it will be tough on me, but she is so ready for this next step.  Plus, she has tons of friends at school already so once she gets over the initial hurdle, it will be a piece of cake.

A couple big things on the Merrick front, he graduated from PT this week.  We have gone weekly for the last several months to help with his nagging, sports induced back pain.  Thankfully, he has made huge strides and has been pain free for a while now.  The other big new is that he was asked to play up and pitch for the 14u "A team" this week.  Merrick has been really struggling with his accuracy at the mound as of late so it was a big deal that they asked him.  While he didn't have that outing he would have hoped for, it was still a good experience.  Since the game, Jeremy has had a chance to work with him bit and we think we may be back on track with things, but time will tell.

Before I go, while Mother's Day was last week, since I opened my gifts after I wrote last week's blog, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the thoughtful gifts I got from my family.  Carrigan made me a pinch pot to keep jewelry in and Elsie made be a picture frame with a picture of her.  Merrick reminded me that he had made me breakfast as his gift and I'll take it.  Jeremy got me an apple watch which, while not homemade, was very thoughtful as his intention was for it to help me keep an eye on a health problem I have been having.  Probably more on that another time, but today I am just so thankful for this family of mine and their thoughtfulness and that we made it through another crazy week.

Wild Ride

This week started out as a wild ride.  Jeremy was out of town until Wednesday mid-morning.  Unfortunately, Tuesday, I started the day with a car that wouldn't start.  It turns out that my starter had gone bad so, obviously, when I got a neighbor to help me jump it, it did nothing.  Thankfully, despite my stress of having to deal with it on my own, I had family, friends, neighbors, and preschool families who showed up to help me with various parts of my day.  A neighbor, who is a mechanic, ended up coming to my rescue when he got off work at 7pm and delivered me a fixed car at 10pm.  I went to bed feeling so blessed that while the day definitely didn't go the way I hope, it ended up being ok in the end.

Wednesday and Thursday were uneventful and then Friday Elsie had a surprise in store with a strange ring that appeared on her back.  After panicking and texting Jeremy, my mom, and sisters, all of whom were stumped, I called the doctor and scheduled an appointment for her. Turns out the doctor was just as stumped as everyone else.  She concluded that maybe it was a very strange bruise or maybe it was a strange reaction to a bite.  In any case, we were just supposed to keep an eye on it and thankfully it seems to be improving.

Saturday was an excitement filled day, as we finally had a break from baseball and were able to have a birthday celebration for C.C..  She has had a little bit of friend trouble as of late so we opted for a girls day with just a few close friends, rather than a big party.  

She got to call all the shots and we had a whole afternoon extravaganza.  We started with a trip to 7-11 for slurpees.  Then we came home for a foot spa and nail painting session.  Once our nails were dry, we opened presents and decorated mini cakes.  We only had one disaster of a cake completely falling apart.  The rest were pretty successfully decorated.  We then had pizza and cake (a separate one so they could take the cakes they decorated home).  We rounded out the evening with a movie and then some jumping on the trampoline.  Five hours after all the girls showed up, we wrapped things up and I took them home.  We were all wiped but I think it was just the party Carrigan had hoped for so that's what really counts.

Today is Mother's Day and I was awoken by sounds of my children in the kitchen.  I did my best to keep sleeping but as soon as my eyes popped open, my children appeared at my bedside.  I had not yet taken out my mouthguard or even sat up before I was handed a cup and a plate of food.  I managed to get them to agree to take it to the table so I could at least have a second to get up.  They made me an egg, a piece of toast, a couple pancakes, and some blueberries, along with some very strong and tart lemonade.  When I questioned them about the lemonade, they said the only other option we had in the house was fruit punch and fruit punch wasn't good for breakfast.  Apparently lemonade is.  I was very touched by their thoughtfulness.  Now Jeremy is working away in the kitchen on a deluxe dinner and dessert and they have all gotten me gifts that I can't wait to open.  I am definitely feeling the love.

I would like to say that this coming week should be a little calmer, but looking ahead, we have 1 doctors appointment, 3 dentist appointments, kindergarten roundup, two PT appointments, 3 baseball practices, and 1 church activity on top of our regular work and school schedule.  Welcome to the end of the school year when everything gets crammed in.  Wish us luck!

Carrigan Turns 10

The major news of this week was that we celebrated Carrigan's birthday.  She turned the big 1-0 and I can't believe that I now have two kids in the double digits.

Her birthday landed on a school day and, after some discussion, she decided she wanted to go.  Since we still wanted to make sure we had time for a big birthday breakfast, we were up early to celebrate with cinnamon rolls.  She even managed to open a few presents before we headed off for school.

After school, we had planned to stay and play on the playground, but mother nature had different plans.  Instead, we headed home and, while we waited for everyone to finish school and work, she was more than happy to start making the most of the presents she had already opened.  She tested out her new paint markers and she and Elsie played a game with her new tennis racquet.

That evening we had a family dinner of her choosing, homemade soft pretzels, sausages, and cheese sauce and prepared for the extended family to arrive for dessert.  She again got to call the shots and she requested mint brownies and mint chip ice cream.

After dessert, we finished opening presents.  She got a fashion design book and new volleyball and knee pads and now she's all set for volleyball in the fall.  She also got a cool 3D pen from Grandpa and Lollie, a girls day from Aunt Emily, and a special sleepover and party day with Nana and Papa.

This girls is SO loved.  We are so blessed and grateful to have her as part of our family.  This past decade has been amazing and we can't wait to see what the next one has instore for our sweet C.C. girl.

New Life, New Skills

 It was another busy week (will it ever not be?!?!).  The major highlight of the week was that on Thursday we welcomed two new family members.  Jeremy's brother, Garret, and his wife, Breanna, had twin baby girls.  They are absolutely perfect.  Audrey Carolyn and Monroe (Rori) Carrie were both well over 6 lbs and didn't require any time in the NICU.  We are already obsessed and can't wait to meet them in person.

Back at home, this weekend was all about baseball.  Merrick's team had a rough weekend and got knocked around pretty good.  They ended up getting knocked out of the tournament fairly early this morning.  The only bright spot is that Merrick had a great weekend at the plate.  He even laid down his first successful bunt, something that has alluded him this far in the season.

While Merrick's weekend didn't go the way he wanted, Elsie had a banner weekend.  While Merrick warmed up for his first game, we took advantage of an empty field and taught her how to ride her bike without training wheels.  She has been a pro at her balance bike for a while so it shouldn't have surprised me how quickly she picked it up, but it did.  It took about 5 minutes and she was off and riding on her own.  She still needs just a little help when starting, but she's even getting close on that.  I feel like these big milestones with her are just flying by.