Eight Things I Learned in March

Oh, March, where did you go? You went by so fast. Before you’re completely gone, I do want to document what you taught me.

1. “The West Wing” characters have Twitter accounts. And they’re funny and relevant.

I happened upon President Bartlet’s Twitter account when someone else I follow retweeted one of this tweets about March Madness. When I clicked on it, I discovered Josh Lyman, Sam Seaborn, and Donna Moss. And I’m really glad about that for several reasons – most importantly because I already miss them even though Greg and I just finished binge watching the show earlier this week.

You’re welcome.

2. Picking out paint colors makes me indecisive, and I’m usually decisive. 

But I managed to pick out colors for the kitchen, living spaces and hallways, and three bedrooms in the house we bought last week. We aren’t moving right away because we are doing some cosmetic improvements and having a fourth bedroom added on.

(Also, could Joanna Gaines please come to Kentucky? Speaking of her, my daughter and I are in love with “Fixer Upper.” Yes, I’m a little late to the bandwagon, I know.)

3. We’re moving to the country. Well, you know, 10 minutes from town, where we live now.

So we bought a new house that sits on 33 acres. Living on some land has been a long-time dream for Greg and I’ve slowly gotten on board. This house and land fit us and we’re excited for our next adventure there.

(Read more about that – and how I learned dreams can change.)

4. When changes are on the horizon, I hesitate and then embrace change in multiple areas of my life at once.

Moving is the change theme right now. In addition to moving our family to a different house, I’m also working with a professional to move my blog to WordPress and redesign my online space too. Plus I got a haircut this month.

5. I can cheer for Austin Peay State University.

The background on this one is we’re hardcore Murray State fans and APSU is our rival. It’s also the school where my sister went on a soccer scholarship and ended up meeting her husband, who played basketball there. We always rooted for them, and it’s easier to do in soccer than basketball. But we still always preferred Murray State to do better.

Well, Murray State had a rough year, at least by its usual standards, and was eliminated earlier than we liked in the conference tournament. Meanwhile, Austin Peay barely made the tournament and then ended up winning four games in four days to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Yes, we cheered for the Governors. (They ended up losing to overall No. 1 Kansas.)

6. Murray State’s two previous coaches made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen – and that’s why I love March Madness.

If you’re a college basketball fan, you probably saw Steve Prohm dance – literally – after his Iowa State team advanced and then heard about Billy Kennedy’s Aggies erase a double-digit lead in less than a minute. With Murray State and Kentucky out, these have been my teams.

These two coaches are perfect examples of why I love sports. They’re the good guys. Kennedy gave the glory to God after Texas A&M stunned Northern Iowa. He’s living with Parkinson’s disease, but believes in building a team and leading men.

(And here’s another article about Coach Billy Kennedy from a local writer.)

And, yes, I wish these two teams were still playing because I feel like I don’t have any rooting interest.

7. Sometimes the kids who have been arguing just need to put on their bathing suits and do a science experiment in the bathtub. 

A friend let us borrow “Bathtub Science” and I earned some cool points by letting them put on their bathing suits and make colors with food coloring and water in the bathtub. And all the mamas said, “Whatever works!”

8. I was excited to caucus at the beginning of the month and now get stressed out thinking about the presidential election.  

Kentucky Republicans had a caucus (Thanks, Rand Paul!) for the first time ever. I went in with high hopes for Marco Rubio, but that all quickly went down hill. Now I’m keeping up with the presidential primaries from a distance and hoping what seems to be happening isn’t actually happening.

How was your March?
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I'm linking up with Emily Freeman, like I do at the end of every month. 

My April newsletter is going out tomorrow! In it will be a fun giveaway opportunity just for subscribers, so subscribe now. Plus I'll send you a FREE #choosingJOY printable. 

10 Things I Learned While Camping {April 2015}

We went camping with our best friends the second weekend of Spring Break. It's funny, really, because I used to say I didn't like to camp and now I'm finding myself thinking about when we're going again. {See Facebook conversation for more thoughts on my preparations and opinions of camping.} But before next time happens, I want to document this time ... with a list, of course!

1. I don't like mice, but tent camping is okay. Yes, they're related.

The plan was for Jaclyn and I to sleep in the RV bed while our three girls slept on the sofa bed in the RV and our husbands and boys slept in tents. And then Friday evening I saw a mouse run beside the bed.

We’d seen evidence of a mouse – mice? – but I was choosing to be in denial it – they? – were still in the RV with us. But then I couldn’t un-see the mouse.

So I shared an air mattress bed with my husband. Yes, being outside trumped being inside with a mouse – even when the air mattress deflated. I spent the second night in the tent again – and this time the air mattress stayed inflated.

2. Having a massage appointment scheduled the day after arriving home from tent camping two nights is a good idea. Okay, so I didn’t plan it. But it worked out well, especially for my lower back.

Each month, I go to these massage appointments and Hannah the masseuse asks me if anything new is bothering me. I usually say, “No. Same tight neck and shoulders.”

But on this particular Monday my response was different: “Yeah, my lower back is killing me. I tent camped two nights.” She’d seen the tent camping part of the story on Facebook, so I’m guessing she wasn’t surprised. Apparently that air mattress – whether deflated or not – messed up my back and requires a follow-up appointment.

And here I was excited my sometimes nagging shoulder wasn’t bothering me after sleeping on the ground.

3. A Kindle makes for good nighttime reading – and doubles as a flashlight.

Well, yes, there was daytime reading too. 

I finished reading “Nobody's Cuter than You: A Memoir About the Beauty of Friendship” by Melanie Shankle, read “Footsteps” by Diann Mills and “Target” by Lisa Phillips, and started “Bait” also by Phillips. The two Lisa Phillips’ books are part of a fictional suspense series that had a little romance too.

4. Parenting one almost 8-year-old girl who is a people-pleasing rule-follower is a like a vacation. But I missed my 5-year-old second-born who likes to push every boundary and requires a constant, watchful eye, especially near the lake.

{Yes, this is part of how I did so much reading. See #9 for another reason.}

Ben was with Gran-Gran – aka The Best Mother-in-Law Ever – the first night of camping because he had been diagnosed with strep throat {yes, again … fifth time since Dec. 26} earlier that same day. The diagnosis came the day after we had been at the ENT scheduling his tonsillectomy for April 28. So he needed to be on an antibiotic until he hung out with other kids.

Gran-Gran and Ben had a splendid time that apparently involved flying a kite, eating ice cream, and watching a movie. Then she brought him out to our campsite by lunch time Saturday so he didn’t miss out on the camping fun.

5. I can text really long messages. And 25 years of friendship can happen across the miles.

Camping came on the heels of a Spring Break that gave me time to overanalyze and internalize too much. That led me wanting to chat and laugh and cry with Katie, whom I’d thankfully gotten to spend some time with the previous weekend when we were in Louisville. We had played phone tag and exchanged some texts, but we both apparently finally had time to converse Friday night. I didn’t have a strong or consistent-enough cell signal to talk to her, but texts were going through.

So that’s what we did. Sometimes that’s how life happens.

6. Bacon, sausage, pancakes, kabobs, burgers, and red potatoes are especially good cooked on the fire. And the husbands like to cook. Perhaps I should set up a campfire in the back yard. Enough said.

7. You can get sunburned in April. And, obviously, we didn’t think to pack sunscreen.

8. Camping requires so much preparation, but it's like a retreat once I'm out there. I used to think I didn’t like to camp. And until Friday I thought I didn’t tent camp. I’m glad I’ve accepted that I like to camp and I’m becoming better with the preparations.

9. Kids belong outdoors. Well, okay, maybe not forever and always, but when they're out there, they play and then sleep so well. This past weekend, they played tag and washers, fished, read, talked with their friends and other campers, and explored.

10. Having family friends really is the best. Yes, I got to spend the weekend with Jaclyn and most of Saturday with Sarah, but my kids and husbands got to hang out with some of their best friends too. Turns out camping is a fabulous way to make memories together.

Your turn! Tell me about your camping experiences.
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I'm linking up with Emily Freeman's Chatting at the Sky. 

Here are previous Things I Learned posts :: {From 2013} June. July. August. September. October. November. {From 2014} January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December. {From 2015} January. February. March. 

Want more insights? "Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family" is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin', or subscribe to receive "Insights in Your Inbox."

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Six Things I Learned in April

I sat with a friend celebrating my birthday a few days early at the same restaurant we met for lunch in late January for her birthday. I couldn't believe it had been three months. Where are you going, 2014? Slow down. Pretty please? Although, yes, I'm glad May is coming. It's my favorite.

1. Sometimes it's OK to let a book sit. 

I've had "Restless" by Jennie Allen sitting here for awhile. And then she said something on an (in)courage video last week that prompted me to pick up her book. Oh, I'm so glad I did. And I'm glad I'm reading it now and not two months ago when it first arrived in the mail.

There are many good books out there, but we can't read them all right when we discover them. And that's OK. On the heels of "Love Idol" by Jennifer Dukes Lee and "Chasing God" by Angie Smith, my heart is ready for "Restless." I don't know why I continue to be surprised God is in the details.

2. Mothers react to their children in ways nobody does.

My son had a hacking cough that turned out to be bronchitis. The day before the diagnosis, we were eating out at a restaurant with my mom when Ben threw up everything he'd eaten. First he puked in his basket with leftover corn dog and corn on the cob. Not wanting to disgust the people around us, I started walking him toward the bathroom. Of course, we didn't make it. He puked again.

And I caught it.

Seriously. 

Nobody told me about this part of motherhood. I'm almost seven years in, and I decided it would be a good idea to catch my son's puke. So I carried him and the puke to the bathroom, where he puked more in the toilet and I washed my hands. Twice.

Yes, this needs to be noted as his first puking episode ever. At least there is a story to go along with it.

3. Strep has the strangest symptoms.

In another strange diagnosis stories about two weeks after the bronchitis episode, I took Ben back to the pediatrician because he had spent the week peeing excessively. I realize that borders on too much information being shared, but, hey, that's sometimes what you get a momma's blog. Anyway, I was convinced he had an urinary tract infection. Or perhaps I was just hoping for an explanation for why he peed 16 times in 12 hours on a Tuesday.

Well, by Thursday, I learned excessive peeing is a symptom of strep. Really. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. Turns out, Ben didn't have a urinary tract infection, but he did have strep throat with no other symptoms beyond lots of pee.

And, thing is, I've had plenty of prior experiences with strep, even with strange symptoms. Impetigo. Two cases with just one fever. A sore throat and an unobservant mom. Lessons from a high fever. Impetigo, again. Still, this is a new one. Add excessive peeing to the list.

Of course, I was watching my friend's kid that day and toted her to the doctor's office with us. Hopefully Ben didn't share his strep germs. Always an adventure, I tell you.

4. The pollen count is high around here. 

I have no scientific measurement. Just the aforementioned bronchitis and strep stories as well as Cate's sinus infection and pneumonia. All this month. Come on May ...

5. Jesus is still risen even if we don't do everything we plan.

We read {almost} nightly from "The Jesus Storybook Bible" the week leading up to Easter. We had multiple conversations about why Easter mattered. Cate her a guest speaker portraying a disciple at school and Ben made resurrection rolls with his class.

We still haven't talked through the Easter story using resurrection eggs or their meaningful Easter basket of candy that tells the story in chocolate money, rock candy, jelly beans and a chocolate cross. It's all still sitting on the counter. Easter still matters.

6. Needtobreathe's new album is really good. 

I especially love "The Heart" and "Multiplied." Here's a video of their performance on David Letterman. No, I didn't stay up late enough to watch it. Isn't that the beauty of the Internet?

How's your April been? What did you learn?
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I love these month-end posts prompted by Emily at Chatting at the Sky. Here are previous month's recaps from 2013: June. July. August. September. October. November. And from 2014: January. February. March. Affiliate links included.

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May is coming!

I love May. And it's coming this week!

I'm turning 35 on Saturday. And then my girl turns 7 next week. Yes, that's among the reasons I love May. I also love the transition from spring the summer. We also get to celebrate mommas this month! And a new sense of freedom comes with the break in routine as the school year is ending.

So, May, I'm glad you're coming. These April showers are going to bring the flowers ...

With May, comes a just-the-four-of-us trip I'm really excited about. I'll tell you more about that later this week.

I'm also excited to share more of my motherhood story with you in May. I'm sharing at three different blogs I love. Jennifer Dukes Lee is hosting my words on Cate's birthday next week. Kayse Pratt is having me later in May.

And Jennifer Jackson Linck is hosting The Messy and Majestic of Motherhood series, starting today! Each Monday in May will feature a guest post. {I'm down for May 19!} At the end of the month, there's going to a be a fabulous Mother's Day prize pack.

Jennifer and I met online when we started chatting about adoption not long after her book was released. We've since talked about writing our stories, brainstormed specifics about the ebooks we're writing, and swapped editing services {or, well, we will when I get her a copy of my book ...}.

Jennifer is releasing an ebook called "Trucks, Tantrums & Trusting Him" just in time for Mother's Day. Yes, she's a boy mom, but her book is an authentic message of finding God in the ordinary moments any momma has experienced. "But in the middle of the mess, there’s hope. In the moments I feel myself unraveling, there’s a Savior who holds me together." Oh, aren't Jennifer's words true?!

See, May is going to be a good month. I'm so glad it's coming! Stay tuned for more ...

Are you looking forward to anything?
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Oh, the places we go ... {Murray edition}

This weekend was gorgeous! Sure, there are storms predicted the next few days, but they'll pass. And you'll want to get out again.

My daughter is counting down until the end of school. I'm hearing people talk about what they want to do this summer and where they want to go. So, western Kentucky folks, I decided to share some places around here we've loved lately in case you're looking for something to do or somewhere to eat.

 
Discovery Park of America
Union City, Tennessee

It seems awfully random this children's museum is in the middle of west Tennessee, but I'm glad it is. Only an hour from Murray, we enjoyed this place the first weekend of April. The outdoor exhibits are fantastic and my recommendation that the indoors ones are too is based on my 4-year-old boy's assessment. Greg, Cate and I arrived later than the rest of our group because of her soccer game, but we enjoyed the time we were there. And even after five hours, Ben wasn't ready to go either!

Discovery Park of America is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $13.95 for people 13 and older and $10.95 for kids 4 to 12 years old. Children younger than 4 are free. You can also become a member, which includes an annual pass that pays for itself after four visits as well as other perks.
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The Gathering Place
Kentucky Lake in Murray, Kentucky

Yes, this is our own lake house, but I really do love it out there. Even though the clean sheets and household maintenance are my responsibility, being out there is still a getaway. Our family likes to swim, fish, skip rocks, eat on the back porch, play games, hang out with friends, and catch frogs out there.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom house is available for vacation rentals of at least two nights throughout the year. The summer calendar is filling up, but there are still some vacancies.

The Gathering Place rents for $350/night or $1,800/week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Off-season rates are $250/night or $1,200/week. The house is stocked with linens, eating and cooking utensils, and WiFi. 
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Wild Mountain Bakery & Cafe
412 Main St., Murray, Kentucky

This new bakery has freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Need I say more? I hear the bagels and bread are good too.

Wild Mountain Bakery & Cafe is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 
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Land Between the Lakes
A National Recreation Area between Murray and Cadiz, Kentucky

Honestly, we don't use Land Between the Lakes as much as we should. It's lovely out there. Just earlier this week, Cate's class took a field trip to the Nature Station, where they learned about trees and animals. Then we did a small hike on a trail near the Golden Pond Visitor's Center. Last spring, the school took a field trip to Hematite Lake that the kids and I really enjoyed.

Land Between the Lakes offers hiking, biking, picnicking, camping, boating, fishing, hunting, site-seeing, and wildlife viewing. Check its website for locations and schedules. 
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Duncan's Market & Deli
6159 State Route 94 E, Murray, Kentucky

This recently reopened and now serves Belew's burgers, for those of you locals who like the burgers and milkshakes in Aurora. Yes, obviously, there are corn dogs Ben enjoys. We like that Duncan's is close to The Gathering Place and accepts credit cards, unlike Belew's.

The grill is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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The Berry Farm
Fulton, Kentucky

Picking strawberries here has become a seasonal favorite for us. We've been the past three years, sometimes multiple times. {See visits from May 2011, April 2012, May 2012, and May 2013.} We haven't been yet this year because it just opened this weekend. I'm eagerly waiting to get this outing on my calendar!

The Berry Farm offers already-picked berries as well as you-pick patches. You pay per pound, but it looks like the 2013 rates haven't been posted. Either way, our experiences have been these berries are worth picking and eating! Follow The Berry Farm on Facebook or call 270-468-0110.

Local friends, have you gone anywhere worth recommending lately?
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{#TellHisStory} Hello, spring ...

My boy has been wearing shorts. He's got scrapes and bruises all over his legs. The poison ivy in his ear, on his chin, along his hair line of the neck, and on his boy part -- really -- is drying up.

My girl is congested but happy it's spring has sprung. She's worn shorts and skirts without leggings. And t-ball starts tonight. She has 5 1/2 weeks of school left.

I've been in flip flops the past few days. We've played at the park and outside in our backyard. We've sat on the porch. The days are longer and my kids require baths more often. And, you know, it's easier to get out of the door without coats and layers of clothes.

My husband likes having baseball on the TV and is looking forward to his outdoor birthday party in 1 1/2 weeks. He's turning 35. The in the two weeks that follow his birthday, I'll turn 34 and Cate will turn 6. I'm ready for him to grill beef, squash and onion kabobs for our dinner.

This is spring. 

Spring is always good for my soul, even if the pollen over takes my senses. Being outside and seeing the sunshine breaths life into my life. There is freedom in running outside, taking walks with my family, and seeing my kids play with each other and their friends.

The newness of springs reminds me that no season lasts forever. I live in a place where winters are mild, but there are four distinct seasons. I like that. I tend to say summer is my favorite, but when I really do like spring and fall too. I say I don't like change, but, really, I'm usually ready for the new season.

And not just the weather ones. There is a season for everything. God created time and continues to work in our lives in his time.

Last week my kids and I took an impromptu trip to the city about 45 minutes away. We had lunch at Chick-fil-A and then went to a local, fun indoor play place. I sat there as they played wishing I'd brought my Kindle. My purse wasn't overflowing because it didn't contain a diaper for the first time in almost 6 years {minus the month Cate was potty trained before Ben was born ...} and nobody needed a sippy cup.

In those moments sitting on that picnic table bench while my kids ran and jumped and played, I realized we were in a new season. My boy, who just weeks ago liked me changing his diaper better than thinking about going in the potty, ushered it in when he decided big-boy underwear really did make life better. I was dreading potty training him. But once he was ready, it clicked. And it wasn't a big, dramatic deal.

And here were are. It's spring, literally, and in my house, where life seems new and fresh. It's not a perfect season. The pollen is wild here and clogs our noses. But this is a welcomed season that propels us forward, inching us closer to the Creator.
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I'm linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee and other storytellers. #TellHisStory is a chance to tell a story that connects your story to God's story. 

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embracing the {sweet} mess

I took these three to an egg hunt today at a local church that hosts a weekly storytime. Only one of the kids belongs to me, but the other two are near and dear to our family. They went along with my suggested photo shoot for awhile, actually. And then they included props and other dear friends ...

... and this was the best I could do. Welcome to our lives.

Pretty sure Ben is telling 9-month-old Atticus about his Skittles.

One miniature Kit-Kat and one small package of Skittles, and my boy makes a mess. A drooly, boy mess in a rainbow of colors. And that was before he mooched a half-eaten tiny box of Nerds from a friend.

But I cuddled with him anyway.

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signs of spring

I'm not sure 85 degrees can be classified as spring, but it is only April 1, so, here we go with some of the signs of spring that I love ...

Planning birthday parties. First up is Greg's. And then mine, although I don't plan my own party. And then Cate's, which she has been helping me plan for months. No, it's not that big of a deal; she's just all about talking about her party.

Sonic drinks. While they are available all year long, something about a diet strawberry limeade tastes like spring. Ben had his first Sonic drink today with lunch. It's a cherry slush.

Fresh fruit and vegetables. Need I say more?

Meeting friends at the park for lunch. The park is in walking distance from our house. Plus, we live in a small town so sometimes we run into other friends in addition to the ones we planned to meet.

Riding bikes to Dairy Queen. We did that this week. But first we had to wipe all the pollen off our bikes seats. And then I got bitten three times by mosquitoes. Ah, Kentucky spring ...

Gerber daisies. In my yard. From Lowe's. And my husband and kids planted four of them for me yesterday. We had five different colored gerber daisies as wedding flowers almost 10 years ago.

Yard sales. That's what I was doing while my family was planting flowers.

Kentucky is still playing basketball. In fact, it's UK v. KU {I love palindromes. Seriously.} on Monday night. Once that wraps up, I can devote my sports mind to baseball, specifically the St. Louis Cardinals. Hang on, Redbirds, I have one more basketball game to watch. Courtney and I wore these same shirts in Houston last year. Too bad my Louisville fan connection with Final Four tickets didn't have any he wanted to part with this year. So, from Murray, Ky., GO CATS!

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We're a good team.

Greg and I reached some parenting milestone last night. We organized our first t-ball practice. Greg is the coach. I'm his administrative assistant. I was expecting chaos, but, really, it wasn't chaotic. While Greg has coached older kids on a baseball team before, he's never coached little ones who are just beginning. Thankfully, I can organize most anything, especially make a spreadsheet of everyone's information and practice times. Our assistant coach has a daughter who has played before, so that experience is helpful too.

We make a good team.

And these kids seem to make a good team.

Not good like they're going to hit homeruns. But good like they listened and played and acted like they wanted to come back next week. And, actually, they won't be hitting homeruns off the tee because there are some special t-ball rules.

No outs, for one. And they'll run one base at a time as their teammates take turns hitting.

I'm guessing they'll all get trophies at the end of the season, which is another blog for another time. But, I have to say quickly, that's so not life. Not everyone wins all of the time. You're not always the best. There's usually someone better. And there's almost always someone worse. And in the real world we all have to get along. With and without trophies.

Yeah, so, t-ball.

Seeing those kids {like a herd} go after the ball was adorable and hilarious. And I'm guessing those adjectives will apply to many other moments this season. But it's going to be fun.

For the kids.

And for us.

Something about coaching and participating in t-ball makes me realize we entered a new phase of parenting. And, truthfully, I'm excited to be here. If Ben wants to play as badly as he did when I delivered the news it was Cate's t-ball practice and he'd have to wait to play, then we'll be in this season for awhile. Pulling up the bleacher seat and staying awhile is fine by me. Trust me, my husband believes he can coach anyone in anything. And he'll try to legitimately win a trophy in the process.


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My boy today

It's not always easy keeping my boy clean or still.

Really, that's oversimplifying why mothering a boy  -- well, my boy -- has challenged me in so, so many ways. But, you know, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, not even a quiet, slow-moving, always-obedient boy.

Because that boy wouldn't be Ben.

And Ben is fun. (And, yes, sometimes fun is exhausting. But, still, we rest, and we do it all over again the next day.)

Today included a really fun party at the park to celebrate spring. My dear friend Courtney planned it. There were 39 (I think ...) kids there ranging in ages. I heard multiple moms of 2-year-old kids say, "Where is she?" "Where did he go?" "Anybody seen ... ?"

Perhaps I was one of those moms once. Or twice. Or maybe even more times. The great thing was more than once when I momentarily lost track of him he was either in the tunnel on the playground or swinging with my best friend or brother-in-law pushing him. See, that's a small-town perk right there.

He keeps me on my toes, I'm telling you. Please remember my first-born child is a girl. And she's so, so much like me.

But back to Ben. Today.

Pretty sure this is the first time Ben has painted. I don't even let him color with washable markers yet.

Painting was serious business for him. Yes, he tried to eat the paint, evident by the pink paint near his mouth. He later planted a sunflower seed in the pot.

Eating came later. Of course, he made a mess then too.

I found myself wondering why I dressed my always-on-the-move boy in a shirt that helped him blend in with the trees. Note to self: Dress boy in bright orange when we go to the park.

Ben liked dumping the rice and beans on his head. Of course, it's not every day there is a bucket of rice and beans available to play with, even if that means spilling them intentionally on yourself.

And he tried to impress Caroline. She eventually laughed. Word is her mom found rice in her diaper later.

Ben has been excited about t-ball, which has been happening in our backyard a few evenings recently. Conveniently, he got a baseball glove of his own for his birthday four months ago {Thanks, Kim!} so we did have that going for us. But I knew he would be heart broken when he realized he'd have to watch Cate play t-ball and not actually play t-ball.

I was right.

This was Ben tonight at Cate's first t-ball practice. Greg is the coach, so he and Cate were out on the field with the team. Ben was so sad not to be with them. Yes, he's holding his glove, like it's toddler speak for "Put me in, Coach!" Really, he was saying, "Daddy! T-ball! Daddy! T-ball!" through his sobs.

Sad, I know.

He eventually regrouped, drank from his sister's water bottle, ate some Teddy Grams, and kept his glove close. What else is a boy to do when it's not his turn to play? My boy isn't cut out for the sidelines. He likes to be {at least part of } the action.

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On the dock

My kids have a new hobby, thanks to their daddy.

Greg likes to fish. I like to take pictures of the fishing or sit nearby and read a book. But, admittedly, I love that my kids are picking up the poles, waiting patiently for a bite, and even touching worms. One of the perks of buying a house on Kentucky Lake is the dock that came with it. I've been working on getting the inside of the house ready so we can {hopefully!} rent it this summer. Meanwhile, my family has been hanging out on the dock.

Dark clouds, sparkly shoes, and a well-spinning skirt don't even stop my girl from fishing. Yes, she does have a pink princess rod. But it seems to be lucky. Last week it caught five fish while the more adult rods didn't catch any. Or as Cate said, "I caught five fish and everybody else {Gran-Gran, Daddy, Ben} caught zero."

Yes, so, she's a little competitive too. Like her daddy in any sport.

{This isn't her first time fishing. I liked looking back on some posts, so I thought you might too. Summer 2009. Summer 2010. Spring 2011.}

 

And then there's Ben. He's fearless and eager in most any situation. And, of course, he wants to do whatever his big sister is doing. So he's been fishing some with the pink princess rod. {A Lightning McQueen rod has been ordered. I do realize he's a boy!} He's been surprisingly cautious on the dock, but he wears a life jacket, just to make sure his eagerness and fearlessness don't take him in the water.

Yes, lake, we like being near you. We'll be back soon.

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Hello, March!

May your March be wacky and full of madness. 

In the good way. And with friends, of course!

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This Season

Seems like spring is coming. Apparently today's high of 75 degrees ties the record high in our Kentucky home. The "normal" is 52. We've soaked in some sun these last two days. Yesterday's high was a little less and included more wind, but we played outside then too anyway ...

{Please ignore my daughter's snotty nose. That's Kentucky for you. Weather changes and congestion seem to go hand-in-hand ... }

My boy loves to run, especially outside. I realized yesterday this summer is going to be a whole new adventure with him. We walked to the park yesterday without a stroller. Granted, I wouldn't go any farther than that without the stroller for my all-boy 2-year-old child. But it was a nice change of pace to let him explore on a day that was worth being out in and didn't include many commitments.

He did manage to fall out of a swing. But he got up, I dusted him off and he went right back to it. His sister isn't quite as fearless and needed to take a break from the swing accident that included her also falling. 'Tis the season for falling and playing and running and going at it again and exploring.

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Fore!

I played my first-ever golf game today that involved swinging a club that wasn't a putter and attempting to get the ball on the green from a far-away distance. I'm certainly not a natural golfer. Actually, it was an ugly display.

But it was a fun afternoon.

Just ask my kids.

There were sticks to carry,

numbers to be written,

rides along the cart path,

flowers to be picked, even at distracting times,

and putts off yellow tees*.

And I'm pretty sure my husband thought he was living in some dream world when I agreed without hesitation to go to the local par-3 course with him today. Don't tell Greg just yet, but I'm planning on a return trip.
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* I may have never actually played golf before, but I do realize tees don't belong on the green.

outside

Ben often goes to the door and says, "Outside." There is certainty, desire and pleading all wrapped up into one that one compound word. In fact, it's her first compound* word.

And, yes, he says it frequently.

He really likes pushing the "go" button, but instead of holding it down, he taps it, resulting in a jerking motion. I suppose that doesn't bother him. Probably because he's outside.

Sweet boy, smelling the flowers ...

... and then he decides to yank one off. All boy, I tell you.

"Swing" has joined his growing vocabulary and has become a favorite outside activity.
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* I realize noting my son's first compound word is nerdy. Thing is, I did it when I was keeping a list of Cate's words too.