Play Ball!

So we are just wrapping up the season of softball. This was Lily's first year of t-ball and when no one else volunteered to coach they called up Jamie who they know won't say no. It was a rough start...Lily liked climbing the fence more than she did practicing, and I couldn't even go to the first couple of games because if I was there she would rather come sit with me and watch! That of course is a little embarrassing for the coach...as he announced to the team parents at the second game..."go figure the coach's daughter would be the houlligan of the team!" At one point he told Lily that if she didn't participate then she couldn't play and that would make him very sad to coach a t-ball team that she wasn't even on! It got better throughout the season, but she never did warm up to playing in the field...she only liked batting - we told her that there are no DH's at this level!
Ellie on the other hand really got into the softball thing this year. She met some new friends that she will be going to Stafford with next year, and they had a great time! It was a big year as they went from the coaches pitching to the girls attempting to pitch. Last weekend the girls college world series was on and after Ellie watched these girls she ran around the house pretend pitching and then asked if she could pitch at the game. The coach gave her a shot and she did very well for her first time! She was also the cheerleader of the team...teaching everyone the cute little chants (where she learned them I'm not sure?!).
Just as the relief of the season was over (I have been a permanent chauffer for the past 2 months!) they asked if I would sign them both up for soccer next year! What ever happened to the indoor sports where you stay warm and dry?!

Jalen turns one!

People always say how time goes too fast...me included...but it's these occasions that you really mean it...this year went so fast! I can't believe that Jalen was born a year ago, he has grown up in so many ways, but lucky for me, he is still my baby in many ways as well. Here's a few fun facts and stats...
Weighing in at 8 pounds 9 ounces at birth he is now a solid 23 pounds
He came out with the loudest cry I had ever heard from a baby...now it's the loudest scream (no joke for those of you who haven't heard it...it's ear piercing!)
For the first week he had his days and nights mixed up so wasn't sleeping well...we fixed the day/night problem but he still doesn't sleep well (I'm up at LEAST once a night...and that's on a good night!)
He was not much of a cuddler as a baby, he preferred to be in his swing all by himself...now he gives the best hugs and slobbery kisses and LOVES to be rocked to sleep (I do the first round, Daddy gets the second round)...I know, I know...bad routine but he won't be a baby forever!
Of course all he ate as a baby was milk...while he eats a little better now, it's not much! He won't take a bottle, and it depends on the day whether he likes baby food. Needless to say he is still very attached to Mommy.
He had no teeth...still no teeth...not even one!
All he did was lay around bundled in a blanket...he is now crawling, pulling himself up on everything from the couch to my leg and walking around anything...his latest favorite is walking behind the rolling fire engine he got for his birthday.
All he could do was cry (again, really loud)...now he says "ball" and "papa" and when he is really sad he cries "maaaaaa", but I've yet to get a true "mama" - did you really expect that his first word would be anything other than "ball" with who his Daddy is?
A few of his favorite things:
mommy...a given
daddy...especially when I won't give him what he wants
ellie...he reaches his arms for her because she will take him to play
lily...she makes silly voices and makes him laugh
ball...any kind
being outside...rain or shine
the swing...he'll sit in it for hours as long as he has the girls to watch
ice cream...who doesn't?
toilet...i know gross, but i think it's only cause it's so off limits
remote control...he's a boy
stairs...so far he can only go up...scary!

So we had his first birthday party at Papa and Grandma's house and it was a beautiful day for it...we set up the jumping castle (which he loved!) and played in the kiddie pool and had cupcakes with blue frosting. The whole family was there to celebrate and we had a blast! This is such a fun stage with Jalen (exhausting...but fun!) It's happy and sad all at once...there is so much to look forward to, but sad that my sweet baby days are over. Now the true colors of a boy are coming out...
ready, set, go!

Disneyland!

We surprised the girls with a trip to Disneyland for Lily's 5th birthday! We have gone for Caleb's, we went to Disneyworld for Ellie's, and now it was Lily's turn. We woke them up at 4:30 in the morning and asked them if they wanted to go to Disneyland and when they said yes we said let's go! They couldn't believe we were going "right now"! We went with Papa and Grandma and Lacey, Caleb and Addie. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and spent four days between the Magic Kingdom and California Adventure. The "big" rides were where we spent most of our time this year since all the kids were tall enough. Lily's favorite was Space Mountain, and Ellie and Caleb's favorite was the upside down roller coaster California Screamin'. We met all the characters and had them sign our autograph book and we had Lily's birthday dinner at Ariel's Grotto with all the princesses. We drove to Huntington Beach for a morning and played in the ocean. I told Jamie to wear his swim shorts which he did, but he didn't notice until we got there he was the only adult in swim wear. I told him I was the official photographer so he needed to play lifeguard. He always says he doesn't like the beach but he was still in the ocean jumping waves even after the kids had gotten out! Jalen loved the water and would squeal whenever a wave would come up over his feet. Lily preferred to hang back and cover Daddy with wet sand and Ellie and Daddy liked to be out going under the waves when they came crashing in. There was a High School Musical 2 parade which the girls of course loved and even got to dance in with the cast members. Papa was Jalen's official "babysitter" and Grandma had Addie whenever we all went on a ride. Grandma had a broken foot so she rented a motorized scooter which all the kids loved riding on with her. It was a busy four days but as always so much fun...there is a reason it's called "The Happiest Place On Earth"!

Father-Daughter Dance

It's like prom for the little ones! Every year Oregon Golf Club puts on the Father-Daughter Dance...it's as close as the girls will come to a black tie event at their age! They get so excited getting ready...we get out the curling iron, put glitter in their hair, special earrings, and even some of mommy's make-up. Daddy gets dressed up in a suit and they head out for a circus theme evening with lots of little girls and their daddy's. Of course I was not there to see all the fun they had but when they got home at 10:15 I heard all about it! They had chicken, steak and pasta for dinner, clown cones from Baskin and Robbin's for dessert, and of course all the circus snacks! They learned how to juggle (kind of!), they hula hooped and of course danced to the DJ who was taking requests so Jamie said they pretty much listened to Hannah Montana, High School Musical and the Jonas Brothers all night! This is such a special night that the girls (and Daddy!) look forward to every year and from the sounds of it I can understand why!

A getaway to the desert....

We left cold, rainy, and even snowy Oregon for a much needed break in the Arizona sun. We went down with Grandma and Papa, and then Lacey, Caleb and Addie joined us a few days later. Daddy and Papa of course golfed everyday and then joined us at the pool for the rest of the afternoon. Ellie is a little fish who stayed in the water ALL day long, while Lily liked to take a break and lay in the sun (she takes after her mom!) Jalen LOVED the water and by the end of the trip he would stand on the shallow stairs and purposely fall down dunking his head and all, come up with big smiles and do it all over again! The rest of the time he spent in the play pen in the shade watching the girls. The girls had a couple of other highlights to their trip...climbing a rock wall and riding the mechanical shark. We found a rock wall at one of the shopping centers and they had so much fun we had to go back a couple of days later to do it again! Then we found a restaurant called "Hammerhead Jack's" and they had a mechanical shark that the kids could ride which was funny to watch. They also tried to hit this spot for a second time but after eating the food there it became very apparent that the shark was the only good thing about this restaurant! Jalen's highlight of the trip was getting his first haircut! At 10 months his hair was over his ears and he was growing little sideburns. I really didn't mind but everyone kept calling him a little girl so we decided it was time for a trim. He looks so cute, but so much more like a big boy now...kind of sad how fast he is growing up! As for me, my highlight was laying in the sun (although frequently interrupted to tend to kiddies!), getting a facial, and are you ready for this...Lacey and I highlighting each other's hair! We decided to try a temporary do it yourself hair color, but just our luck it didn't end up being so temporary! It doesn't look too bad, but let's just say there is a reason people go to school to do this! So after a fun filled week we actually brought the sun back to Portland with us...but not for long, it's supposed to rain again tomorrow! Thanks Grandma and Papa for a fun trip!

Easter

This was a special Easter...Jamie got confirmed in the church. We attended church on Thursday, Friday and the LONG Easter Vigil on Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 and it is official! Jalen found a new buddy in my sister who watched him 2 of those nights...he actually slept better for her than he does for me! We figured she must be enough like me that he felt comfortable (he is a big time Mama's boy and normally does not like being left!) We did our usual bouncing around on Easter...starting our day over at the Snooks and then having dinner at the Foelker's. The kids all had fun playing with their cousins, looking for eggs, and playing with their new Webkinz (between Nana and Grandma they got a kitty, racoon, chick and bunny!). Jalen really started moving in the last few days...both on his knees and pulling himself up on everything so that was fun to watch. He crawled from our family room down the hall to the front door and sat in front of the window staring outside...he is going to be our little outdoors man! We are now looking forward to a fun Spring Break in Arizona!

A visit with the WHITE Easter Bunny

Who ever heard of a brown Easter Bunny anyway? Why they would have one of those sitting on a chair at the mall for all the kids to see is beyond me...but we finally found a white one that the kids were happy to say hi to. Jalen especially liked the ears and the eyes (I'm sure the person inside really appreciated his little finger poking through the netting...but hey part of the job!)