Dad's Night

After both Price and Evan played in their ballgames yesterday, our family headed to Richmond to watch the Braves play – the kids had given Doug tickets for Father’s Day. It was “Family Night” so everybody got a t-shirt - great in theory but they were all X-Large and I am not sure Brynn’s will fit her even when she is full grown and in need of a nightshirt. Then, in the first minute of sitting down, Brynn managed to kick over the soda belonging to the not-so-happy man next to us. We bought him another one but I don’t consider it her fault… he put it on the ground in front of her seat because his lap was taken up with one of those scorebooks and Brynn really was being still at the time. I'm thinking he is an only-child bachelor (and therefore had limited experience with children). I saw this coming the moment we sat down but wasn't sure if I should speak up... hindsight is 20/20.

Anyway, after a rough start, much of the game was spent stalking Diamond Duck (also called Donald Duck and Simon Duck depending on the child and the inning). We were down near the field so first Evan and Brynn got his autograph on their shirts, then Brynn wanted to just say hi, then they had to get a picture with him, and then Evan had to have his ball signed by him.

The ball. Evan did not actually catch the ball. Our seats were in the row in front of the boxes. Evan climbs like a monkey and before I could stop him he had climbed the railing behind us and was staring into the box as if he was watching television. I don’t think he realized that the people he was gawking at could see him and this man inside, out of fun, made a monster-type lunge at Evan (there were windows inbetween so he was not being mean) and let’s say either that, or at this point me yelling at Evan to get down, got Evan down in record speed. Later in the game, when the Braves staff was throwing out balls, the man came out, caught one, and gave it to Evan to make amends. Evan hasn’t let go of that ball since. Only Evan would get rewarded for not-so-good behavior!

Brynn asked every batter if the game was over but other than that, and the fact that the Braves lost, the game was fun. With the final score of 9-3, there were plenty of hits and errors to keep things interesting and the ice-cream after was delicious!

On a completely different note, on Friday, our family tree grew a bit fuller! Our kids are very excited to have another cousin – and for the first time – a GIRL one and Doug and I are equally thrilled to have a neice. My brother and his wife and their two boys welcomed Allison “Allie” Elizabeth into the world and everyone is doing well! She is a cutie! Congratulations Ron, Stacey, Robbie & Scottie!

Wordless Wednesday

A Guessing Game...

Let’s play a guessing game about yesterday…

1. Which S child did NOT need a band-aid at the pool?

2. Which S child needed three? Hint for those of you who know us in “real life” - it is probably not the first one that comes to mind.

2a. Which S mom actually had supplied the pool with Bandaids prior to today so they were readily available without counting on another, more prepared mom, to bail me her out, again?

3. Which S child managed to smash the basketball backboard by hitting a golf ball with a baseball bat?

4. Which S child called mommy a meany and grumbled for 15 straight minutes about unfairness, that cleaning was no fun, and I think child labor laws when asked to clean up toys in the living room while mommy giggled quietly?

5. Which S child decided to throw Yogos (brought by another mom who obviously has much better taste in snacks) into the pool?

6. Which S children thought they could retrieve the blue/green colored Yogos from the bottom of the 8 foot section of the blue-bottom pool?

7. Which S child gobbled down pickle flavored Pringles (also brought by the same mom thankfully since I clearly do not feed my children) with gusto and begged me to buy some next time I went to the store? Yes they make these. Yes, they are gross!

8. Which arm-floaties-required-so-not-to-sink S child is proud to show off a new jumping in the pool talent that doesn’t require catches from mom and especially likes to do this in the eight-foot section, surrounded by 8 older kids in a jumping free-for-all?

9. Which S child was an accomplice to our golf cart turning on, the brake being release, the go pedal being pressed, and the golf cart running into the bushes while mom was getting all our stuff together to leave the pool?

10. Which S child told me he/she was too old to be hugging mom but smiled while saying it so I don’t think he/she really meant it?

11. Which S child told his/her dad to tell mom, “I love her” when dad tucked him/her into bed?

12. Which S child waited patiently for mom to finish typing up an email so I could tuck him/her into bed?

Okay, the answers are: 1. Price, 2. Caleb, 2a. ME! Can you believe it?, 3. Evan, 4. Brynn, 5. Evan, 6. Price & Caleb, 7. Brynn, 8. Brynn, 9. Evan, 10. Caleb, 11. Evan, 12. Price (the word “patiently” should have given the last one away). They keep us hopping!

Derby Day

Yesterday Caleb had what I know will be the first of many Soap Box Derby races. For the last month, when Doug and I simply could not fit one more thing into our schedules, PaPa has been busy working with Caleb on driving the car that his business sponsors and bringing him here and there for meetings, weigh-ins, car impounds, etc. And we cannot thank PaPa enough because Caleb thoroughly enjoyed it! We have not seen that ear-to-ear grin from him in quite some time but it was spotted quite a lot yesterday.

Just as we did before Caleb’s first wrestling match earlier this year, we prayed that Caleb would win just one race. These races are won and lost by fractions of seconds so the time between knowing the race ended and the announcement of who won took forever. Caleb made it through 2 rounds (2 races per round) and then went on to win one of the two races in the “Sweet Sixteen” but lost out that round due to the combined total time. But he still came out of that car grinning and ready to do this again next year.

Doug enjoyed spending one-on-one time with Caleb as they waited for his next race and I know Caleb enjoyed the time with PaPa and his cousin Josh who also raced and has been doing so for years. Thanks to all the “fans” that came out and cheered the boys on. I know Caleb and Josh had the largest, and loudest, cheering section!

Here is a very shaky video of one of the races. It is hard to get a steady video with so many kids around. ;) Caleb is in the white car. He won this race, though I didn't film the announcement part... regreting that!

Take me out to the ballgame again and again and again...

Summer baseball has begun! With two boys playing I think we will be at the field a few nights each week but thankfully, games at their ages don’t last an eternity.

Price is playing Jr. League ball where they use a pitching machine, which isn’t a problem for our family since the boys have refused to use a tee since they were about 1 ½ (even though I continuously beg them to because it allows me to be lazier) and the machine is more consistent than my arm so it has got to be easier to hit from. The posed pictures could have been taken at 9am even though the game was not until 6:45pm. Well, that is an exaggeration but if the uniform pieces had not been scattered about the house, he probably would have slept in them the night before. Doug is coaching and I am so excited because not only is Price on a team with a lot of his friends, but his friends have parents I love to talk to. Price was so excited for the game and he played very well. He was very attentive in the field (no picking daisies or throwing dirt for him), made a great play as short stop, and he hit well, giving us a big grin when he made it around to third base, near where we were sitting.

And here is Evan – t-ball master! We had all been waiting for this day forever (his first day of his first love) and happily, not a drop of rain to ruin it. The sleeping picture is Evan, pre-game; he was exhausted from playing at the pool (not from swimming but from some game called "pickle" which looks to be like the running part of baseball). I was a bit concerned what he would be like when he woke up. But I worried for nothing because Even delivered, and he was as intense as we expected. A great play in the field (followed by a potty trip-to-the-woods-break) and two super hits and he ran those bases as if it mattered (no one gets out in t-ball). When I told him he hit well, he said, "Yeah, I almost hit those two girls." Later he told his Uncle Darryl, "Those girls weren't paying any attention to the game." I'm just glad that the watered-down rules of t-ball didn't make him angry since he is used to playing with either bigger kids/adults, by his own rules, or both. He had quite a fan club of family and friends (thanks everyone!) and though he was quiet afterwards, I know he loved it all.

We celebrated both games with a trip for ice cream. Good thing there is no game tonight. Mom has gotta get some exercising in to work off all the Moose Tracks!

And finally, here is Brynn pregame. She technically is old enough to play but I know she is not ready. I of course have told her she is not old enough. She cried and cried tonight because, "It not fair. Eban get to play. I not cheer for him." We promised her she could pick where we got ice cream from after swim lessons next month and that helped a bit. I think we are looking at four kids in sports this fall and her sport won't be cheerleading because she wants cleats like her "bruders."

Wishing it was a Wordless Wednesday

Dress Up Play, Brynn Style

The other day Brynn decided she wanted, for the 1st time since receiving "dress-up" play clothes for Christmas, actually do more than dump them on the floor. She came sliding into the kitchen in fuzzy heels, an Easter bonnet, and large, sparkling earrings. I put on sunglasses, a tiara, and a boa and joined in as best I could for being in the middle of cleaning the kitchen. At one point, she announced she was going to a "dress up party" and left. She returned a few minutes later and I asked her what she did a the party.

"We talk, and we eat.."

And, just to make sure there is no doubt that she is still a tomboy, she put her fists up, punched the air, and said,

"... and we practice boxing."

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there but especially to Doug, my dad, Doug's dad, Uncle Darryl, and Uncle Ron for all you have done, and continue to do, to make our lives better and better each and every day! We love you all and know how blessed we are!

Kate and kids

New York, New York!

Earlier this month Grandma and Grandpa took Caleb and Price up to New Jersey to visit their cousins and into New York City. The boys had a blast (they took their own pictures which I am getting developed; these are Grandma's). Price enjoyed playing with Robbie and Scottie, Aunt Stacey and Uncle Ron, visiting the Statue of Liberty Island, riding the ferry, and going to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building. He also liked seeing all the taxis. He told me he wants to move to New Jersey. Caleb liked M&M World and the Hershey store (I'm seeing a trend here), going to his relative's house and making a rollercoaster there, riding the train and the subway, and going to the ESPN Zone. "Thanks for taking us Grandma & Grandpa."

Vacation!

We went on a mini-vacation this week - 2 days at a waterpark and 2 days at the beach. I didn't have my decent camera at either so the pictures aren't the best but I am comforted by knowing my camera is clear of salt and sand. Here are the beach pictures; the ones from the water park are on a disposable camera so those will come later. I also gave each child a camera so we will see how those pictures come out - maybe there will be one or two that show something other than than armpits and noses.

The beach was fun. It was hot but no rain. Caleb and Price enjoyed the water. Brynn did too though she again thinks she can swim in salt water even though she can't in a pool. Evan prefered to work on the beach. They all spent a lot of time digging a hole while I wondered why they never work that hard on anything at home. They did get along well during that though so I may have them dig some holes in our yard to keep my sanity this summer. I challenged them to dig to China and bring home their sister but they didn't get that far. They seemed to prefer finding crabs in the sand.

I learned that when you are in a hotel with four kids for four days and need a quiet break, a movie may seem to be a great idea however, screen the content carefully. Kung Fu based movies are not the best if the kids are not going to sleep immediately afterwards because the 2 hours of peaceful, dark, cool bliss will be followed by hours of begging them not to try out their new moves out of respect to those in surrounding rooms.

I also learned that with four children, spray-on sun lotion is well worth any additional cost.

I'm exhausted.

If you click on the collages, you can see them easier... I caught Price losing his pants! :)

2 Years!

Today is the 2 year anniversary of Brynn joining our family. We have been truly blessed to have her as our daughter and sister. The pictures above are from the months before she was in our arms and from the first six months when she was finally home. Clockwise from top left: her referral picture we first saw in early September 2005 (she is 9 months old), a picture taken from a traveling family (she is 17 months old), 2 pictures of her with her foster family (from a camera I sent in a carepackage... she is about 21 months old), "Gotcha Day" with her foster mom (she is 2 years, 1 week old), 2 picture from the first few days with us (she was not liking us in the first one AT ALL!), the car picture is from the second day home in Virginia, and the last picture was for our 2006 X'mas card when she was 2 1/2, at six months home.

And here is Brynn today! She is a firecracker... spunky, chatty, active, and very entertaining! We love you Brynn Kellie Manlu!

Wordless Wednesday

Finally Four!

Today Brynn turns 4! She has been waiting, sometimes quite impatiently, for this day. She had her party last weekend, one that started at the pool, moved to our house due to thunder and rain, and then went back to the pool when the storm passed. She wanted a pony/horse theme this year though I suspect she would have been thrilled with anything as long as it meant extra attention, cake, balloons, and PRESENTS! She had a grand time and it was fun to see her having so much fun and squealing with delight at each gift. Today we have a mellow day planned, with daddy and her two older brothers out of town but don't doubt for a second that she won't be proudly wearing her "Birthday Girl" ribbon and soaking up all the attention she can get! Happy birthday Brynn!

Okay, the picture on the bottom right of the last collage cracks me up! That angelic look on her face... it was just as everybody was starting to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. Seconds later she almost burned her hair off standing up to blow out the candles full force! She was definitely a princess rock star that day... then again, how is that different than every day?!

Happy birthday to cousin Robbie who also turns 4 today!

Conquering Fears

Tuesday was a big day in Evan’s life. After what I am sure has seemed like decades to Evan, he is finally old enough to play a sport! T-ball time!

There was only one thing that could put a damper on the big event… rain. And it did. It rained a little around 5ish and then stopped but it was cloudy. Evan is a pretty tough kid, except when it comes to rain. His fear of storms has turned into a fear of all rain since, in his mind, if there is a dark cloud anywhere then lightning and thunder are not far behind. A cloud in the sky that is not pure white can lead to a day full of constant weather questions, frantic pleas to not have to leave the house, and the need for constant reassurance that rain is a good thing. Just to get him to smile for these pictures, taken right before we left, I had to resort to desperate measures and say words that would make a four year old boy laugh (and three year old sisters tattle)... think bodily functions but not ones you would get your mouth washed with soap for.

It started raining on the way to the field but the coach wanted to practice anyway. Evan didn’t want to get out of the car but finally did. I told him if there was any thunder or lightning we would leave. The coach started to have the kids run the bases and he wasn’t even to first base yet when, “Boom!” I expected a hysterical child to come running to me but all I got was a quick glance… I think since the rest of the team was still playing he felt he needed to too. They finished running the bases and then she put them in positions on the field. Evan was sent out to play outfield (you can tell he has played with big kids a lot because I highly doubt any ball would make it half the distance he was at). Before anyone could even tell him to move in a bit, the rain came down harder and the coach called it quits. Evan was the first one off the field to go home by a mile but I was proud of him for sticking it out as long as he did. He was still not calm about the rain though and was totally willing to skip the promised McDonald’s dinner because he just wanted to go home. Hopefully the sun will shine bright next time.

He looked so cute handsome and athletic in his jersey and baseball hat and pants, with his bat bag on his back. I told him this at the end of the evening and he said, "You know the boy in the red? He looked good too." That boy was also dressed in baseball attire head to toe (they were the only two not in shorts), including cleats. Considering how distracted Evan was, I can't believe he noticed anyone else.

As a side note, there are 9 kids on the team and out of the parents there, I coached 3 of them, including Evan’s coach, when they were in 8th grade. I used an extra dose of anti-wrinkle cream last night!

Wordless Wednesday