All-Stars 2013

The uniform is put away.  The cleats are placed in the closet.  Another era of baseball has come to an end.

To see a little boy find his confidence through T-ball in the Spring of 2012 and continue to become an All Star player, has been truly amazing.  Preston is sad it's over.  We're sad it's over.

We had an amazing team!  All the boys got along and played so well together.  All the parents truly enjoyed each other's company.  We will miss seeing them Mondays and Wednesdays for practice and then all weekend for games.

Here's a video from Preston's All Star tryouts.  He's actually become an even better player since this was taken in May.

We definitely became the typical baseball family.  At any given time, the back of my car contained Preston's baseball bag, folding chairs, a tee, and rubber plates.  You never knew when any of those things may be needed.  My t-ball bag was always ready to go with snacks, band-aids, ointment, benadryl spray, bug spray, sunscreen, baby wipes, tissues, grocery bags, misting fan, and camera.  Since we were the business managers for the team, I always carried a team binder also.

But now, all of that is put away too.  I never thought triple digit heat and humidity wouldn't bother me that much, as long as I found shade.  All four of us have tan lines from all the time spent in the sun.  As we reflect on how much was accomplished over the past several weeks, words cannot express how proud and grateful we are.

Practice

Games

The Team

Awards

Our Coach

We cannot thank our head coach enough.  He was the coach for Preston's very first season of t-ball and for his last.  He also coached the All Stars. He is the one that encouraged and inspired Preston at every game and every practice.  ALL of the coaches had a huge impact on Preston and though he didn't talk a whole lot to them, Preston absorbed every word they said to him.  

These boys of summer had the time of their lives.  I pray that a lot of them get to stay together on future teams.  If not, we will miss them and their families.  But for now, these memories are ones that we will cherish forever.

Click here to read my editorial piece, Boys of Summer.

My Contributions

In case you haven't noticed, I love to blog.  I could blog or read blogs all day long.  But I don't think my family would appreciate that.

I haven't always been a writer.  I dreaded having to write ANYTHING in high school or college.  Perhaps it was because I could never fully express myself.  I would always write knowing what the teachers wanted just so I could receive an A.

Well, my years of blogging and sharing my adventures are starting to pay off.  I actually prayed not too long ago for God to bring me to a path where my blogging could be shared with a larger audience.  God hears even the smallest prayers.

I am now a Main Contributor for a wonderful blog called Thirty-one:10.  The name comes from Proverbs 31, The Wife of a Noble Character.  While I have a lot of growing to do to fully live up to that passage, I am so proud to be a part of this blogging family.  It's nice to see a group of women supporting, encouraging, and guiding one another through life's challenges.  You'll find inspiration through recipes, DIY tutorials, motherhood and family posts, and so much more!

I will still be sharing my family's journey on here, but you will find more inspirational and humorous posts from me at Thirty-one:10.  Please go to the blog and follow along or look for us on Facebook.  See you in blogland!!!

Kaitlyn's Surprise Room Makeover

We've lived and breathed baseball this past month (as I've mentioned many times) and we're either headed to practice or a game.  Kaitlyn has been a great big sister, going to everything, and cheering on her little brother.  She'll even go up to him in the dugout and tell him good job after scoring a run.  

We decided to do something just for her that would make her feel loved and special.  When she left for church camp on Sunday, we knew it would be the perfect time to do a room makeover like she has been wanting.  Kaitlyn would be returning around noon on Wednesday, so we knew we didn't have much time.  

Kaitlyn's room was pink and purple with lots of princess and little girl decor.  She's definitely ready for something different and more age appropriate.  She has been saying for awhile that she wanted her room in bright pink, blue, and green.   Here's the transformation:

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

How we did it:

I had gone to Goodwill last week and purchased several, very cheap frames and spray painted them in those colors.

I even spray painted some purple frames that she already had in her room to a bright blue.

I bought coordinating fabric at Hobby Lobby and framed them in some of the frames.  I also made some 'Keep Calm' signs to go in other frames.

 This memo board was found in a matching bright blue at Goodwill for $1.95!!!!  I couldn't believe it.  The only thing wrong with it was the missing center button.

Once again, Hobby Lobby helped out and I found coordinating buttons.

Added a little hot glue and all done!

This frame from Goodwill was spray painted Berry Pink.

The hideous 3-dimensional fake flower and mat were removed and replaced with fabric.

I bought this natural looking framed mirror along with 3 smaller matching mirrors at a garage sale a long time ago.  I never used them for what I had planned and glad I didn't.  Spray paint does wonders!!!  I used the same pink, Maui Blue, and Key Lime Green.

The baskets were white with baby blue, pink, and purple fabric liners.  I took them out and spray painted the baskets.  One small mirror from the mirror set was hung above her desk.  The 2 blue frames on the wall were originally purple and held pictures.  After spray painting, I added green fabric to one frame and used dry erase markers to leave Kaitlyn messages.

This blue wall used to be purple.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but it's actually the same Maui Blue as the spray paint.  We showed the paint guy at Home Depot the color we were using and he was able to mix us a gallon of paint in the exact same color!!!  We hung the memo board next to her night stand and hung the rest of the frames on the wall.  We purchased the bedding on sale at Target, found the throw pillow on clearance at Hobby Lobby, and also found the coat rack marked down from $99 to $34 at Hobby Lobby!  It's perfect for all her bags.

This frame used to be brown.  I simply made this sign myself and printed it on card stock.

This frame was also brown and  spray painted pink. Blue ribbon was hot glued to the frame.

It makes the perfect bow holder!  Most of the bows are homemade as well.

Of course, we have to have a monogrammed door to greet everyone (purchased at Hobby Lobby).

We stayed up late, got little rest, and used every free moment we had cleaning (3 bags of garbage!) and redecorating the room for our favorite girl.  There are a couple things we still need to purchase, but we tried our best with the time that we had.

This reaction was worth it all!!!  

Kaitlyn, you are loved!!!!

Preston's Bday Celebrations

So, our baby boy turned 7.  He had many celebrations for this special bday.  Before school was over, he celebrated with cupcakes in his class.  Since he has a summer bday, I always ask his teachers if he can do something in class before the end of the school year.  Who doesn't love celebrating a classmates bday?

Since we spent so much for his All-Star team and have a crazy baseball schedule right now, we decided to do something very low key for his party.  Preston invited his two best friends from school to jump with him at Altitude Trampoline Park.  He also chose a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme.  

The day before his actual birthday, Preston got dressed in his new TMNT shirt and headed to the park to meet his friends.

We only stayed an hour but the kids had so much fun...and were so sweaty!

Afterwards, we headed back to the house for cupcakes, presents, and a little bit more play time.  I have a friend I use for our cupcakes and cakes.  She always does a fantastic job.  These cupcakes were oreo cupcakes with orange tinted vanilla buttercream and fondant turtle heads.  They were delicious!!!

The kids drank Hugs juice barrels.

Blowing out his candle!

I try to be creative with the goody bags and try to match the party theme.  The kids probably don't even care, but it's still fun to do.  If you've ever seen any TMNT cartoon or movie, you'll know they LOVE pizza.  Pizza Hut generously gave me small pizza boxes for the favors.

Then, I filled the box with TMNT stickers, tattoos, erasers, balloons, and a glow stick.  I also got each boy a $5 Pizza Hut gift card.  I made green Jell-o and called it ooze.  Pizza Hut also gave me the containers for it.  Since it was only a couple kids, I just wrote out the label.  Finally, I made eye masks out of t-shirts.

I cut a 3 inch strip off the shirt (on sale at Michael's), folded it in half, and cut two slits for the eyes.  Not the fanciest thing, but I've eaten dinner with a little boy in an eye mask several times already!

 That night, Preston had practice so he brought Pop-Ice for all his teammates.  He loves to share his bday!

The next day was finally his real bday.  We had summer camp all day and Preston got special treatment from his teachers.  That night we went to his favorite restaurant, Olive Garden, and then had more cupcakes.

Preston had such a fun time with all of his mini celebrations that it more than made up for not having a big party.  Happy bday Presto Change-O!!!

Enjoying the Silence

As I am typing this, it's 7:30 on a sunny Saturday morning.  Craig has been gone for an hour to start working another busy weekend.  But he has lovingly left us each a note and brought a wonderful cup of coffee to my bedside.  The kids are still sleeping, finally able to find rest that has escaped us so far this summer.  Even our 10 yr old Sheltie is catching up on her doggy sleep, when she's usually wide awake at this time.

All is silent.  All is peaceful.

And me...I'm awake early, as usual.  I always find it hard to sleep in when I know I have a days' worth of To Do's that need to be accomplished.  I am mentally going down my list and trying to arrange them in order of importance.  But yet, I am not in any hurry to get started.

We have a busy weekend ahead of us.  An All-Star baseball game for Preston this afternoon and then a possible chance to play for the District Championship.  My stomach is full of butterflies for our amazing team.  Then, Kaitlyn leaves for church camp tomorrow.  I will miss her but we have something very special planned for her when she returns.  We also have our regular job duties and chores that need to be accomplished.

But for now, I'm enjoying the peace. I'm enjoying the silence.

Preston's Birthday Letter

Dear Preston,

Our handsome boy is growing up!  Seven years ago today, you entered this world on your own time, not being rushed by mommy, doctors, or even medicine.  When you were ready, we were ready to hold you in our arms.

You love things in a specific order.  Everything must have a rhyme or reason or it simply does not belong.  You thrive on organization and can't stand chaos.

Your world currently revolves around baseball.  You eat, sleep, and breathe it and never, ever complain.  You take well to instruction and yearn to constantly learn more.

You make friends easily and adapt to any environment you are put in.  School is not a challenge for you and you've proven your quick comprehension.

Most of all, Presto Change-O, you are still the sweet, affectionate boy that you've always been.  You love to make us laugh, you love for the whole family to be together, and you've even coined our family hugs as a "huggle".  

There are times you get upset or frustrated.  There are times you don't like what we say.  But we've learned to let you sort out your own emotions and you always come around.  When you are ready, we are ready to hold you in our arms.

We love you, Monkey.

Hugs, noses, kisses,
Daddy, Mommy, and Kaitlyn