Baseball 2010

Jax has been anxiously awaiting baseball season this year. Last week, the first game was rained out, so he couldn't wait for Saturday to get here. Ryan is the coach this year and so far they are both really enjoying it. They have had two practices and Ryan has been working with the kids a lot on fielding drills. He doesn't want them to get hit in the face with balls so they need to learn how to block them ( I think I might be rubbing off on Ryan just a little. I tell him before every game or practice to make sure J doesn't get hit in the face or chest:)

So, this was J before the game. Showing off his batting skills.

That's him over by Ryan. He was warming up with his new friend Jackson.

Making a catch. It is amazing how much he has improved since last year.

More warming up.

Jax's team was up to bat first. He was the second batter. And...he got an awesome hit on his first pitch. Unfortunately a lady walked right in front of me and blocked my shot (even though I had the camera ready -- how rude). So, by the time I snapped the picture he was halfway down the first base line. Go Jax!

This league is machine pitch, but the machine was broken this week so Ryan had to pitch. He did great, but there was an annoying Dad on the sidelines who kept yelling at him to do it differently, blah, blah, blah. Ryan was getting super annoyed, but managed to ignore him.

Warming up with his friends from the team.

That is Ryan in the black shirt. Best Coach ever!

Griffin, Lila, and Sunny had a pretty good time too. Doesn't G look cute with his Bear?

Jax is #9 with the helmet on and holding his bat.

Kids Are Amazing

Lila has been having a really hard time going to bed lately. She is "scared" of every noise, every shadow, every everything, and freaks out big time. I was really getting fed up with it and so two nights ago I decided to try some music. I've tried it before with some classical music, but it didn't help. This time I got one of my favorite CDs to try. It is Marvin Goldstein's "Favorite Hymns of the Prophets." Here is the story behind it (as best as I can remember since this was probably 15 years ago or so.)

Back years and years ago, my Dad was driving around Fort Walton Beach and met some man at a light while they were both stopped in their cars. The man asked for directions to the Mormon church. You guys all know what my Dad is like, and he immediately told the man to follow his truck and he would lead him there. Once they got there the man introduced himself as Marvin Goldstein. He had come to Fort Walton to play at a stake fireside ( I think), and had gotten lost and couldn't find his way to the church. He thanked my Dad for his kindness and gave him the CD. I fell in love with it and my Dad gave it to me.

So, back to Lila. I started 2 nights ago playing it in her room. I turn it on and sing two songs and then I am able to leave the room and she can go to sleep. It seems to be working pretty good, and I'm hoping it lasts. Today for nap time I did the same thing. This is the cool part. I started singing, "How Great Thou Art", and she started singing along. She knew the words, mostly to the chorus, but still! Then I tried "Lead Kindly Light" and she knew parts of it too. It is so amazing what wonderful things kids can learn if we give them the opportunity. It was so beautiful to hear a little two year old singing those beautiful lyrics.

In between singing the little bits she knew she would say, "Hear the piano? Hear the piano? It's pretty." She absolutely melts my heart.

p.s. You should also hear Sunny sing "Amazing Grace." It is beautiful too.

p.s.s. Jackson cannot sing. Don't tell him that though. He is absolutely tone deaf. But, it is still sweet to hear him try to sing his best. His favorite song is "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," and is has been since he was a Sunbeam. He still talks about learning it with Sister Eddington.

9 Months

In honor of Griffin's 9 month birthday, here are some rather unflattering pictures of him. Notice the dirty pajamas. They are covered in a mix of formula and sweet potato. Yum Yum! No pants in the first picture (I don't mind, I think cloth diapers are super cute). Oh yeah, and then there's the bow on his head. Courtesy of his two big sisters.

But ... He is all boy!
Just to prove the point, he is sporting the bow while playing with Daddy's drill!

Apparently he thought they were pretty cute. He obviously has no problems wearing bows!

He doesn't go to the doctor until next week, but I'm guessing he's about 20 pounds or so. Pretty tall, and pretty healthy! His two bottom teeth are all the way in and he loves to bite. He is a great eater and is learning to use a sippy cup.

He is a crawling machine and his newest trick is standing, pulling up, and walking along furniture. He is a such a fun little boy. He is happy all the time and loves playing with his siblings. We love him so much!

Bloody Nose

Lila woke up in the middle of the night last night with a disgusting bloody nose. She gets them every now and then, but this one was bad. Lots of blood everywhere. I got her cleaned up and back to bed and hoped we were done with that. Turns out, we weren't. This is her after she woke up from her nap. Blood was dripping out of her nose and mouth faster than I could catch it.

It bled for a good 15 minutes after she came down, before I could get it to ease up a bit. Poor girl. She doesn't seem to care though, just wants to make sure I wash her sheets from last night and the sleeping bag she was napping in. I haven't checked the sleeping bag yet, but she says it is "Gross, blood, Eww."

She's still happy though. (She looks like a little vampire)

Edited to Add: Just checked her room...it looks like a crime scene. Blood everywhere, bloody hand print on the dresser, blood spots on the bed rail and door handle. Gross, gross, gross. I do not want to clean this up ( I will, of course, but yuck).

We Are Missing Uncle B.J.

Thought I'd throw up a few more pictures from when B.J. came to visit. The kids are really missing him and they talk all the time about what they would be doing with him if he were here, or what things they are going to do next time he comes. It is very sweet to hear.

Family Home Evening -- Weeks 17 & 18

Last week we talked about the Scriptures...again! We made a goal to read at least one chapter a day as a family and in the last week we actually read 10 chapters. The kids are loving it. We are really taking our time to explain what is going on and they are loving the "story" of Lehi and Nephi. I really feel like they are getting it!

This week we started off family night with a lovely dinner on the back patio. I made Lentil Tacos with a recipe from my Sister-in-law Julie. They were excellent!

We are taking a break right now to put the little kids to bed and then we are going to act out Nephi and his brothers getting the brass plates from Laban. I think the kids will enjoy it.

And...the recipe for Lentil Tacos.

1 cup finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove ( I used 2)
1 tsp canola oil (I used olive)
1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
1 Tbs chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
2 1/2 cups chicken broth ( I used vegetable broth)
1 cup salsa
12 taco shells
1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce ( I used spinach)
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
6 Tbs sour cream

1. In a large non-stick skillet saute the garlic and onion in oil until tender. Add the lentil, chili powder, cumin, and oregano; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 25 -30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Uncover; cook for 6-8 minutes, or until mixture is thickened. Mash lentils slightly.

2. Stir in salsa. Spoon about 1/4 cup of lentil mixture into each taco. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sour cream.

Brother and Sister

First of all...who taught my baby boy how to stand up? If I could freeze him in time, I would. In a heartbeat! This however, is his new found joy. He loves to pull up and stand. He does it on anything and everything. He loves digging through the toy box for things to chew on the most.

His other new passion is the dollhouse. He is obsessed with it. He has knocked it over and pulled it over on himself too many times to count, but he doesn't care. He plays with it all day long. Lila is thrilled to have a buddy to play with her...even if he does eat her babies.