Baseball and Dimples

I can't decide which I like better, the cute little uniform or just watching him learn. He's soooo cute! He comes over before and after batting, playing in the field, etc. and says "I'll be great mom!" I love it!

This was his very first game. I think he was a little bored in the field, as these Kung Fu Panda moves kept showing up!

GRADUATION DAY

On Tuesday, May 12 Jayden graduated from Head Start. It was a bittersweet night for me. He's had a really hard time waking up and getting ready for school. Each morning was stressful making the bus on time. When he got there, however, he had an amazing time! They taught him to love all sorts of food, patience, responsibility and friendship.

It's also been a crazy year as far as teachers go. His first two teachers were Ms. Lori and Ms. Daisy. He loved both of them! Then some things happened and Ms. Lori had to leave. His new teacher was Ms. Laurie. Confusing? Very much so for the kids, but the new teacher was so loving that it helped in the transition. Unfortunately this teacher couldn't stay longer either. Now they had Ms. Becky. She was a riot! The kids loved her! She came in to the class and got things going quickly, not much of a change for the kids. Jayden loved all his teachers and will miss them very much!

So here we have it! A Kindergarten in waiting! How do you explain 90 days of summer to a five year old?

7th Grade Campout
In order to tell the story straight we need to go back seven months. Picture yourself in a room full of happy students, eager teachers, cookies are being served, it’s a wonderful evening. A teacher hands you papers and says – we’d love to have you help in any way that you can. Help? That’s a word I can’t say no to, we all know that, so I sign up for everything they give me.

Now fast forward back to the present. Aaron brings home a letter with all the information for the 7th grade campout. It will be a two-mile hike in to the site, you will have to pack everything with you, it will be a group of 35 boys (no women) oh and you signed up to come mom! AHHHH!

This is where the lesson of saying “no” would have come in really handy! A campout? What was I thinking? I try to get it out of it, I'm a little out of shape to say the least right now, but they need the chaperone, so I go.

It was AWESOME! I had such a blast with Aaron. Sure I’m tired in places I didn’t know you could be sore, but I feel great! We were able to spend three days and two nights together. I tried to give him as much freedom as I could. I never interrupted their “hanging” out time. I did my own thing and was there if he wanted anything.
It’s a good thing I went too! On Thursday night we hiked back down to the car and drove in to town. He played his game and then we hiked back up to camp. I was tired, but he was exhausted. He headed over to his tent and immediately fell asleep. Around two in the morning he found himself in the stream. His tent had slid down the small hill and into the river. He was soaked, scared and disoriented. He didn’t have a flashlight and he couldn’t even find shoes. One of the leaders heard him yelling and got to him. They helped him to my tent. I stripped him down and gave him all the warm clothes I could find, then I put him in my sleeping bag and wrapped him all up. He coughed and stirred all night. He was so cold and sick. In the morning I got up with the boys and took down his things, packed his bags and then took down my stuff too. We hiked out around 11:00. As soon as we got home he showered and slept.

Our camp site was at Connell Lake. To get there you drive past the turn off to Ward Lake and straight up the road. You come to a turn off which you take. It leads to a small parking lot near a dam. From the lot you hike two miles to our campsite. We camped near a river and a stream. There was a bridge and plenty of trees to play on. It was so beautiful up in there. We were completely covered from the rain, if it had rained, which it didn't!

Although I had a good time, someone tell me how to duck tape my mouth shut when they ask for help!

Baseball for Beginners

Mit, check, Hat, check, cleats, check, pants, check; super cute smile with dimples that go on forever - check, check, check! On Saturday the 2nd Jayden began baseball for the first time. He was sooo excited. He got dressed at 8:00 am and was ready to play. Sadly his practice didn't start until 1:00pm (you can picture how the morning went!) 

When the time finally came around we drove to the school. He ran unto the field yelling "Coach, Coach, I'm here!" He wouldn't stop yelling until he had the coaches full attention. His Coach is a friend of ours and boy is he patient. Most of these kids are playing for the first time, this is quite the feat for one person. They are constantly wanting his attention. He's so cute with them though, he listens to them and has fun with them. I'm so glad that this will be Jayden's first experience with bball. So we are off to the races, or ball games, at least 5 a week!

MY TEEN!!!
Born: May 9, 1996 in the morning at Utah Valley Regional Center in Provo, Utah. He was 8 pounds, 8 ounces with huge feet! He was also 22 inches long. A giant from the beginning. Labor was relatively easy and no complications during the delivery. He wasn't breathing quite right at first so they gave him some oxygen. Travis held him for the first bit and was shaking he was so excited and proud.
He was mostly bald with a teeny bit of hair on the back of his head. His eyes were dark blue. He didn't ever cry. Now with five kids I can honestly say Aaron was by far my easiest baby. He didn't get sick, he wasn't naughty, he was amazing! 

WHAT HAPPENED? 

Aaron is still an amazing young! He is strong minded, strong built and strong winded. I love him and I am so proud to call him my son!

My Little Creamsicle
As I dressed Aspen for the day, I got hungrier and hungrier. She looked like an orange creamsicle. I told her she was a popsicle and she said - "no, I'm Aspen!" I laughed and told her I was glad she was Aspen, but she was cute enough to eat. She laughed too and said, "no mom don't eat me!"

I couldn't help but make her pose outside for a few pictures. She is so cute! I am having a blast dressing her up, finding the right sweater, shoes, bows, etc. It's okay to live through our children right? I promise to pay for their therapy later!!

Permission to Grow
Somewhere along the line I must have blinked. Aspen is turning into a beautiful toddler. A crazy one at that. She is always on the go. Always in to one thing or another. It's the size that kills me. Just the other day I placed an order for clothes. I had to order 4T pants and shirts for her. She's so tall and skinny like her sister.

Then there is sweet Jayden. The dimples give it away. At first sight you know this kid is a charmer. He is always hugging and loving everyone. He adores his big brothers. Whatever they are doing, he is right behind them. I can't believe we just registered him for Kindergarten. I swear that yesterday we were sitting on the front lawn in Richfield, watching him curl his toes in the grass.

Then there is Morgan. Not much else to say but WOW! She looks more like her Aunt everyday. Even in her baseball uniform she looks gorgeous. I hope that she knows how beautiful she really is. She has been blessed with many things and I am so grateful to be her mother. My only complaint is that it is going to fast. I don't believe I gave them the permission to grow this fast!

BEAR ATTACK
Okay, not really, but I got your attention didn't I? It's official, Travis is a Bear Slayer. He got home from his hunt on Wednesday afternoon. Jayden was the first to see the monstrosity (oops - trophy catch). He got on his gloves and his goggles and said, "I'm ready to help, daddy." It was so cute they way he wanted to get all dirty and bloody. I'm so proud! ACCK

The bear was 6'6" and had dark fur. I couldn't believe that Aspen was willing to touch it. So gross! I couldn't stand the smell when I went outside. It made me nauseous to even think about it. Cody and Reed (the official bear experts) said it was a great bear! Travis was so happy, how can you not be proud with a smile like this?

Baseball Opening Day

It seemed like a dream. Waking up to sunshine. If tradition holds it should be pouring, cold and windy. We should be packing fleece jackets, rain boots and umbrellas. Not today!! It was so beautiful. Already at 8:00 am it was 63 degrees. Aaron, Dylan, Morgan and Jayden put on their uniforms and we headed to Walker Field.

Each team walked out on to the field. Jayden was so little and so cute as he walked with his team. Morgan is one of only two girls in Minor Leagues. She is so proud of this fact. Dylan seemed nervous and Aaron looked ginormous! He was taller than all the coaches out there. They stood and waited during the prayer, thoughts and first pitch. As they yelled PLAY BALL!! the kids ran off the field.

Dylan and Aaron are playing together this year. It will probably be the only year they play together other than High School. Their team is black and white; FSA is their name. Aaron started off as catcher, his favorite position. He is also batting first. He looked so good in the box. I couldn't believe how confident he looked. Dylan sat during the first two innings, but then he played the rest of the game in right and left field. The sun was high in the sky and at one point it was 76 degrees. They won 4-2. It couldn't have been more perfect.

Jayden's team only had practice. This is his first year ever, but he caught on really quick. First time up he hit a line drive for a single. He was so in his element. His team will practice for two more weeks before they start playing.

Morgan's team played last. It started at 5:00 and the sun was still shinning. There wasn't any wind and the sun was low enough she didn't have it in her eyes as she played right field. Her team is the Mahonring Valley Scrappers. No, their mascot is not a crazy lady with scissors and a glue stick. It's actually a wild dog. Her three best friends are all on her team - she is so excited. It is going to be a wonderful season for all of them. It does mean however the next three months will be baseball, baseball, baseball!

Mental Health Day

That is what the teacher's called when I did it. What did I do? Well let me tell you:  it's been raining for six straight months. There has been a few days with sun, but usually cold winds come with the sun. We have something scheduled every night for every day. Four kids are in baseball, one in dance, two in scouts, one in achievement days. Three have an hour or two of homework every night. One baby goes to bed at 9:00pm and wakes at 7:00. The toddler goes to bed at midnight and wakes at 9:00am. Mom is going on about four hours of sleep a night. Mom feels like her whole world is crashing around her. What would you do if the sun came out and it's 75 degrees.  Me? I went and checked all four kids out of school, swung by the store for snacks and headed to the beach. 

We went south to Bugge Beach. The tide was lower than I've ever seen it before. There weren't any dogs (this was unusual)! The sun was high and the wind was low. It was PERFECT! We snacked, relaxed, played and talked. No injuries, no fights. Just what we needed. 

I don't know about the kids, but my mental health was wonderful after this. We went home to find life crazy just like it had been before. Now, however, we had a little sunshine to keep us going!