Best Time of the Year

One of the best sounds is the sound of a ball hitting a bat...metal or wooden...it means spring is here! I grew up watching and playing baseball. My grandfather played, my grandmother is an avid Braves fan and still records (on VHS) every Braves game that comes on TV, and my mother, her sister, and her mother go on a baseball trip every year to watch the Braves play on another field. We spent our summer nights playing baseball in my grandparents backyard until we couldn't see the ball anymore!

Emory requested to play tball this year so we jumped at the chance. While it is dominating our Saturdays, I honestly don't mind because it gets us out of the house and Emory seems to be loving it! Her first game was March 22. My parents were able to come up for the game, which was great because Gavin was one on one that day!

Emory played great and looked pretty darn cute too!

First practice

They switch up positions every inning...Right field first.

Gettin' ready!

Batter Up!

Squirrel!

Go Emory!

It's exhausting playing tball!

After game pep talk.

So proud of this sweet girl!!

Her league is called Tball/Softball. Each girl gets 3 pitches and if they don't get a hit then they get to hit off the tee. Emory hit off the tee the first 2 times up to bat. Her second time to bat, on her second game, she hit the FIRST pitch and got the game ball!! Looking forward to many years of baseball and softball!!

Spring Break 2014

As an adult spring break is just a cruel way to say that everyone gets a vacation except you...until you have kids in school...then you get to experience spring break all over again. No more waking up at the crack of dawn!!! The way our school works (for the time being--things are changing next year) we have a 2 week Fall break and a 2 week Spring break. This year we spent the first week in Nashville and the second week in Jacksonville and Birmingham with family. I can only entertain for so long!!

We celebrated all the upcoming birthdays. Blue, March 15, Elyn and Finley, March 27, Emory April 13. I would have gotten a picture of them all but that takes an act of God these days...toddlers don't like to sit still!

Gavin really wanted to celebrate too!

Gabriel...he turned 3 February 21.

Dude playing with his grandkids.

Cool kids!

Bennett...the oldest. He will be 8 in July!! When did that happen?!

Went by to eat lunch with my grandparents. I love the way it works with them..."So Erin, I hear you are coming to Birmingham? We will have lunch at our house on Tuesday. Lunch will be served at 12 (always a meat and 5 sides plus dessert) but come over anytime before." I love that my kids get to spend time with these wonderful, loving people!

Gavin loves him some Pop!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture!!! Definitely going in a frame! (and Emory was the one that took it...on my phone!)

Overton park...one of the many memories of my childhood. It's had a facelift since my days!

Ready to play with the big kids!

Gavin commandeered a lawn mower...think he might be getting one for his birthday. I'm sure he would love to "help" daddy this summer!

Blurry because it was on my phone but he LOVED the swings!

Emory and I both got new hair cuts.

Aunt Jo meeting Riley

Lunch with the cousins...4 of the 7! We've grown slightly over the years!

Oh Sammy!

Kate and Garrett made the trip to Birmingham too...we met them at the zoo the Friday before we left.

While the 2 weeks off was a nice break, I think we were all ready for school to start back. One week back now and I'm ready for summer!

"I do it"

Gavin has reached the stage of wanting to help and do everything by himself. He wants to eat things whole and not cut up anymore (he's even taken to taking my fork at dinner and giving me his toddler fork). He wants to help "clean" with me--vacuum or sweep. And recently he decided that he needed to do the laundry...

He brought the basket down the hall from our room...

loaded each piece into the washer...calling out who each piece belonged to...

"daddy"

big reach...

All done. He then proceeded to take the laundry basket back down the hall to put it back in our room.

This kids cracks me up! They are so willing to help you at this age. Emory has already reached the "why do I have to" phase, when asked to make her bed or clean her room. Where Gavin is willing, all you have to do is ask! The "I do it" phase is so frustrating and yet so cute at the same time. I can't help but be a little proud! Is it too early to make him do his laundry all the time?!

Riley is 2 months...AND 3 months

I'm trying vary hard not to do the stereotypical 3rd kid things with Riley. Pretty sure I've already failed miserably! 

On February 11 Riley turned 2 months old. She also had her 2 month check up...11 lbs 7.5oz and 22.5in. That puts her in the 50th percentile for both. Emory was 11 lbs and 5oz and 24in at 2 months and Gavin was 14 lbs 6.5oz and 23.5in at 2 months. 

March 11 she turned 3 months. She is getting very strong. She loves to try to sit up and stand (with assistance of course). She has the sweetest smile and she has FINALLY decided that sleep is a good thing. We are still trying to figure out a nap "schedule" but I will take consistent sleep at night ANY day!!

Fun Family Fitness

We are trying to make it a point to get back in shape and have fun doing it. So for 4 weekends in a row (haven't been in a few due to weather) we went hiking. We went to a different place every time and look forward to trying more trails in the future.

Look at my handsome boys! Chase has the hardest job by far...and Gavin has the easiest! He loves using daddy as a pack mule!

I guess Riley has it pretty easy too!!

Our fearless trail guide!

2 weekends in a row we got to spend time with the Lees. 6 kids and 4 adults...we are forever out numbered!

I love nature and the beautiful weather!

The whole crew!

This was our last weekend to hike. We went to the Fontanel Mansion property. Emory is taking this picture.

I'm ready for the weather to get warmer again and get back on the trails!

Back Again...with a Recap!

Now that I'm finally getting some sleep and have my mornings to myself again, I'm hoping I can keep up with the blog on a more regular basis...best laid plans...

So lets recap...

Valentines Day! I was "that" mom that made heart shaped, red velvet pancakes...and she LOVED them!

This baby was NOT a fan of her baths! We didn't even get a picture of her first real bath! She was screaming so much I was just trying to get through it and get her out with as little damage to her psyche as possible!  She has gotten much better!

Still not a fan of the drying off part. But then again, neither is Gavin and he's 21 months old!

I LOVE this little boy! His personality is coming out more and more everyday!

My girls!!

Middle January our dryer died (and by some miracle didn't catch our house on fire--it was 9 years old after all) so we bought a new one---thus resulting in a fort in our living room for a week. Chase would have kept it longer but 1 week with a giant box in my living room was enough!

He cracks me up with his pacifiers!

He's also a goofball. See pictures below to see what he had hidden...

See...goofball!

What?!?! Not everyone has a picnic, on a wicker tray, in their diaper?!?

Emory started tball. This was her first practice.

He was trying to prevent me from washing his bed stuff!

Not sure who this kid is! She looks like Emory and talks like Emory, but my Emory wouldn't go near this thing! We were SO proud! It was her idea and she LOVED every second of it!

So that is a quick recap. We have done so much but they warrant their own post!