Visit with Tony, Zaye and Maddox

My younger brother Tony and my two nephews Zaye and Maddox came to visit for the weekend, and we had a great time. They arrived on Friday evening, and we just hung around, played at the "park" (that is what Maddox calls the swing set in our back yard), and goofed off. Maddox loves playing with Erin's doll cars and houses (he's 3).

On Saturday morning we had two games for Bren. He had one on Friday evening before they arrived, and then two on Saturday for a tournament.

This ball went FLYING into the outfield!!
So while he was playing ball the rest of the gang was playing on the playground, hanging out by the lake at the ball field, or watching him play.

Erin and her friend, Alana

Love this one of Maddox peeking at me through the hole

My brother-the kid

My brother and his boys

After the game we headed down to Honeymoon Island Beach for a few hours. Zaye and Bren were non-stop with swimming, and Maddox was non-stop with throwing the rocks and shells in the water. As usual Erin walked around collecting shells and treasures. It was a beautiful day.

A fresh sponge that the boys found-this area is known for them

On Sunday we all slept in a bit. Maddox never got very far away from the "park". Even Anah Belle got in on the fun!

More baseball...can't get enough

If there is one thing that I love to do on the weekends more than just about anything else, it is watch Brendan play his baseball games.  When someone is as good at something as he is at baseball, and enjoys it as much as he does you can't help but have fun watching them.  The kid just thrives there.  I often think about the amount of time that he has been playing, and realizing that he has been doing this for longer than he has done just about anything else. He's been playing ball since he was three, and he doesn't give up.  He gets tired and frustrated (mostly at the other kids who don't give it 110%) at times, but more often than that he is smiling and enjoying himself out there on the field.  It's where he loves to be.  Cleats on his feet, and a glove on his right hand (he's a lefty).  

I love that he has a passion.  A real, deep-hearted passion for this sport.  I wanted for my children to have a passion for something in their lives, and the boys do (time will tell with Erin).  Not just passing interest, but something that sticks with them over time, and that they truly love.  

I'm looking forward to many more years of baseball fields, bleachers, concession stands, practices, and smiles from Brendan's face every time he looks over at me when he hits that ball or strikes a player out.

Brendan pitches side-arm.  Without using proper technique he would have a lot of problems with his arm, but he has always thrown this way, and knows what to do/how to throw properly this way.  And he's GOOD at it (obviously since he pitches for every team).  It's interesting to watch the ball though because it goes so far out and then comes right back in over the base. It just doesn't seem possible for the ball to come all the way back in.  The other parents love watching him pitch, too.  

Nice hit!  Who said baseball isn't a contact sport?  He got nailed by the ball on this pitch.  

Erin and her cousins in Milwaukee

Aunt Angie and Uncle Steve emailed me this great picture of Erin with her three "girl cousins" at the zoo in Milwaukee this past weekend.  She had a great time with them, and can't wait to see them again.  They are planning a trip down to see us in the near future!

(l-r) Alexis, Briana, Laura, and Erin

Sweet somethings

Grandma/mom loves us.

We use a LOT of jam/jelly in this house.  All three of the kiddos take their lunches to school every day, and their sandwich of choice is a PB&J...ONLY IF we have jam from grandma.  I say this because for the first time in over a year we ran out a few weeks ago, and we actually had to buy some from the store.  The kids didn't want any more PB&J.  Brian enjoys his fair share of PB&J's, too, and he was equally bummed that we ran out.  

The last batch we received from grandma, just over a year ago, was a variety of peach, strawberry, and marionberry, and the favorite of everyone around here is the marionberry.  It is fabulous!  So when we ran out a few weeks ago I called grandma, and in no time at all we had a box waiting on the front porch with 18 more jars of jam.  As fast as the box could be opened there were PB&J's being made with the homemade jam (as if they had been starving all that time!) We are now replenished for the next year with the delicious peach, strawberry and marionberry jam that we have come to love.  

Thank you grandma/mom!!!!

From worst to first...

The Tampa Bay Rays have officially gone from the worst team in the major leagues (for the past ten years) to the best team in the American League.  And as of last night (after beating the Boston Red Sox!!!) they are headed to the World Series.  The World Series starts here in Tampa/St. Pete this Wednesday, and the celebrating is in full swing.  The town is going crazy. The Rays are only in their 11th year of existence (the newest in the major leagues), and they are already heading to the World Series.  And they beat the defending world champions to get there!  It's been a blast. Regardless of whether they win or lose in the World Series, the fact that they made it this far has been impressive.  If they do win the World Series it will be the first time in history that a team advanced from worst place to first place (winning the World Series) in one year.  

I guess we'll know in about a week.

Erin at a Rays vs. Red Sox game about three weeks ago.  Her Rays shirt says LONGORIA on the back-our favorite Rays player.

Erin's car seat

I had a couple people email me and ask why Brian was taking a car seat with him to Milwaukee (see the picture below in the post about he and Erin going to Wisconsin).  Without getting too high up on my soapbox I will just say that a five point harness is the SAFEST CHOICE for any child, and until my child does not have the option of being in a five point harness she will continue to be in one.  The seat that she has now (and has had for the past four years) is the Britax Marathon.  It keeps her in a five point harness until she reaches 65 pounds.  She's 51 pounds.  Yes, legally she can sit in a booster, but that is NOT THE SAFEST CHOICE, and I want only the safest choice for my child. So there is my reason for using a five point harness, and that alone is reason enough in my opinion.  Erin knows that most of her friends use booster seats (some even sit with the regular seat belt-OMG!), but she tells them over and over that her mommy wants her to be safe, and that her five point harness is the safest seat.  She has been educated, and she knows.  And she loves her seat.  Always has.  

If you feel the need to educate yourself further on the subject, please follow the links that I have provided below. Unlike crawling, walking, talking, etc., moving up in types of car seat (infant seat>five point harness>booster) is not a milestone that I want my child to quickly progress through.  Each step up in type of seat is a step down in safety.  Remember that!

http://forums.delphiforums.com/Carseats
http://www.cpsafety.com/default.aspx

And if you haven't heard of Kyle before now, maybe it would be best if you heard his story.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

Erin in her Britax Marathon with Cowmooflage cover.  This was taken in Oregon this past March.  She sits in her car seat any time she is on a plane, or in a vehicle.  

On the road again

Erin and Brian left for Milwaukee this evening.  They'll be back on Monday.  The kids are out of school tomorrow and Monday for teacher inservice days so it'll just be me and the boys for the next four days.  My little brother, Tony, and nephew Maddox are coming to visit for the weekend, too.  Should be fun.

Erin was pretty upset about leaving mommy, and she had been crying when I took this picture with my phone, but she was *trying* to smile for me.  She's so sweet.  She's already having a blast there.  Oh, and she left me with her monkey (I call her my monkey) so that I can sleep with it while she's gone.  

Baseball game and friends

Game #4 on Saturday.  Erin arrived with her suitcase full of arts and craft supplies, as usual. Her friends immediately came over, and they were busy the entire time.  

When they weren't coloring Erin was sharing her iPod Nano.  I think she has 88 songs on there now.

Bren had another great game.  The hole on the pitchers mound was a PITA for him.  You can see it right where his foot lands each time he throws a pitch.  As a result his ankle is pretty sore today, but the league has assured us that it will be taken care of before the next game.  He still did a great job.  The first picture is his coach whispering instructions to him for his hit.

And I leave you with the princess herself with her favorite pair of sunglasses (she has three).

Piano lessons

I snuck a couple of pictures of Erin while she was taking her piano lessons today.  She's able to play two complete songs now, and use both hands to play at the same time.  She's doing so well (so is Sean).

Brian's first flight

Brian's birthday was Friday, and for his birthday gift my dad got him a flight at Cam's in a Cessna 172 with a flight instructor (so that he can determine if he wants to take lessons along with Sean and Jeanne).  He had NO CLUE.  I told him that we were stopping by Cam's to pick up some flight books for Sean on the way to my dad's for dinner today, and he didn't suspect a thing.  We pass the flight school every time we go to my dad's house.  So we walked in, and my dad took Brian's McDonald's bag and coffee from him and tells him that HE is going up for a flight.  

He didn't even have time to think twice before the instructor walked over and introduced himself, and asked, "You ready to go?"  They were off.

Erin watching her daddy get ready to leave.

Brian had control of the plane during the entire flight with the exception of the take-off, and the actual touch-down.  Like Sean he appears to have a natural tendency for handling the plane (so the instructors say).  

Afterwards we all went over to my dad's house to cook ribs on the grill, watch the Rays, and play cards.  I know that this picture is blurry, but I still think that it's such a cute picture of my dad, Jeanne, Erin, Sean and Bren all playing cards together.  My dad was teaching them how to play POKER!

Erin

Erin and I went to Clearwater Beach tonight to watch sunset with Papa and Jeanne.  While we waited for them to arrive the two of us sat in the sand and listened to the band play, and then Erin played on the playground (it's on the beach as well).  I was able to get a few good pictures of her with her TWO missing teeth while we were sitting there waiting.  She's so proud of them (or lack of them I guess).

Yes, the sand is almost pure white, and as soft as powder at our beaches.  Not brown and dirt-like as it is at the beaches on the east coast of the U.S.  (I know, because I grew up on the east coast of the U.S.).  

First lost tooth

Erin lost her first tooth last night.  It was a big night around here.  We discovered that it was loose about four days ago, and she couldn't wait for it to come out.  She wanted me to pull it yesterday, and for about an hour last night she went back and forth between wanting me to pull it, and being afraid of getting it pulled.  Finally, she made the decision (on her own), and asked me to "just get it out".  One big yank and it was out.  She was definitely excited, and very anxious to get to bed so that the tooth fairy could come and visit her.  And he did.  She got five dollars for her first tooth!

The tooth right next to it is also very loose, and will likely be out in the next day or two.  

Here's my little girl minus her first lost tooth!

***Update***

Just after I posted this Erin came over to me saying that the other tooth was "very loose".  I checked it, and it was barely hanging on.  Both of her bottom middle teeth are now gone.  Looks like she gets a visit from the tooth fairy two nights in a row!!!!!