RUN HOME

Joshua and I were in the backyard today playing baseball. Andrew wanted to join in on the fun, so when Joshua would go up to bat he would grab Joshua's hat and glove as if he were going to field the ball. Joshua would hit the ball and Andrew would throw the hat and glove down and run home...he would literally run to the back door of the house until we said, "batter-up". LOL! Joshua and I got a kick out of this.

FIRST ROUGH RIDERS GAME - 2009

We enjoyed our first Rough Riders game of the 2009 season on Saturday, April 11th. Jeff and I love going to sporting events and the boys, espeically Joshua, is prime age for such outings. We joined the Braaten's and the Locke's, sat on the frist base side just three rows from the field, and almost got hit by a few balls. Here are a few pictures from the day.

MASTERS

Jeff went to the Masters this year. I wish I had pictures of the course, but they do not allow cameras. From what I understand, what you see on TV does not do the course justice. Of course he had fun...maybe I can go one day. However, Jeff did bring us gifts...the boys and I got shirts. Here are some pictures of the boys wearing their shirts, with turtle necks because I thought is was cold outside.

KENNEDY BOY INTERPRETATION

I am going to attempt to tell you how the boys interpret behavior, communication, or items in our home.

Me: Lying on the floor...stretching, doing crunches, or resting.
Boys: Mom wants to play tackle/wrestle.
Couch/my just made Bed/any Table/Chair: Just sitting there.
Boys: Trampoline or Diving Board
Playroom Cabinets: Just sitting there with toys nice and neat
Boys: Throw all the toys off the shelves and pretend they are the toy...then jump off like their diving into the water.
Me: "Pick up your toys."
Boys: Throw the toys into the playroom and pretend they were playing with them all along.
Clothes in Andrews Closet: Just hanging there nice and neat.
Boys: Dressup, then throw the clothes onto the floor.
Me: "Joshua, share with your brother."
Joshua: "Alright" in a whiney voice...then he pushes him into the dresser, or anything that is close to him.

Well, that was it for today.

NAKEDNESS

Does anyone else have a problem with their child being naked? Joshua has had moments in the past where he tries to put his naked bottom on his dad. Joshua knows that Jeff does not like it. After he would get out of the bath he would chase Jeff around the house to touch his bottom to Jeff. Jeff explained to him that it was not funny and not a nice things to do at all. Another time I caught Joshua chasing his cousins around the house with his bottom showing. Again, he was trying to rub his bottom on his cousin (he was 2 and he has never done this again). Then tonight after he got out of the bath he put underwear on. As we were sitting on the couch he is constantly playing with his underwear. I was ignoring it because I did not think it was hurting anyone. Then he pulled his underwear down over his bottom and was just sitting there naked bottom on my couch. I asked him to not do that because it was rude to just sit there with his bottom hanging out. After I put Andrew down for bed I walked back into the family room and there is Joshua sitting on the couch underwear at his knees. WHAT? I said, "Joshua, we don't sit on the couch with our bare bottom. Please pull your underwear up and not do that again."
What do you say to this? Honestly I find it rather funny for a second and then get irritated with it. Jeff and I don't sit in the family room naked. Heck, we don't chase each other around the house naked. I know that kids find their body parts interesting, but he is 4 and he is so comfortable with his nakedness it might get him into trouble soon. I hope this does not mean he will be a nudist one day...!

EASTER CONT...

The church service was excellent. I have not been to a Baptist service in a long while and Jeff was especially not familiar with what to expect. I assured him it would be fine...no one would make him raise his hands, shout "Amen", or come to the front to profess his faith. So, the service started with about 40 minutes of music. Great music for those that listen to 94.9 KLTY. I really enjoyed some of the solos as well. Yes, there was hand raising, shouts of "Amen", and people were called on to pray, but Jeff hung in there. I really felt at home during the service, it is the type of service I grew up with. Thanks Jeff for stepping out of your comfort zone.
Anyway, after the service we went to my parent's house for lunch and an egg hunt for the kids. Lunch consisted of ham, pinto beans, squash, home made fried potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and corn bread. Again, another delicious meal. Once we finished eating we had three egg hunts. Due to the rain we had to have the hunt inside. The smallest two, both 19 months old, went first. Then the 4 year old and 3 year old went. Finally, the oldest kids hunted...this was fun since my mom and sister hid the eggs really well. Again, there were chocolate eggs, plastic eggs with goodies of candy and toys, and bigger toys. Andrew really got into it this time. However, he still wanted to open each egg as he grabbed them.
My brother-in-laws oldest son, Chad, was there with his wife, Franci, and her mother, Petra (sp?). His wife and mother-in-law are from Germany. Her mom does not speak english, but hung in there with all of us. It was great to have them there. I also learned that their traditional Easter dinner consists of carrots and rabbit. Although they enjoyed our lunch I am sure they missed some of their traditions.
Thanks mom for a great day.


Oliver and Andrew

Joshua and Leelan

Andrew and Oliver playing the piano

Kalab, Robin, and Samantha

EASTER MORNING

Our morning started out wonderfully! We all got ready in time to head to Emory for the big Easter service at my parents church, Lake Fork Baptist Church. Mom got the boys their outfits. These are the pictures from Easter morning.

EASTER AT GRAMPIE'S AND MIMI'S

Our Easter weekend celebration started Saturday at Grampie's and Mimi's. After we picked Jeff up from the airport...his flight got in about 20-30 minutes early...the boys enjoyed an egg hunt. There were chocolate eggs, plastic eggs with money, and toys...Grampie and Mimi must be in good with the Easter Bunny! Andrew was not as interested in the hunt as Joshua. He really wanted to shake the eggs and play with the toys (the piano was the biggest toy he really enjoyed). Once the hunt was over we enjoyed some appetizers. After the yummy appetizers we had brunch. Mimi made ham, egg enchiladas, and fruit. Yummo! After Andrew was beyond exhausted and he and I napped for a little while. Once awake we had some play time and then the boys got another treat of Easter gifts...shirt, shorts, books, games, puzzles.
Thanks Grampie and Mimi for the fun filled Easter celebration.

FIRST T-BALL PRACTICE

Joshua's first t-ball practice was Tuesday. We got there a little too early...the coach said there would be a parents meeting, so I wanted to get there early enough. Joshua could not stand waiting around at home either.
We met the coach, had a small parents meeting (the kids were playing catch), and then practice began. Coach Ryan helped everyone know where 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, and home plate are located. Then they practiced running the bases. In t-ball you only get one base per hit, 5 runs per inning. After running the bases the kids took a water break. Then the kids were moved to various positions on the field. Then they took turns hitting, stoping the ball, and throwing the ball home. It was greatness! Afterwards the coach sent the kids running around a fence and back...this makes for good sleep!!!
Our practice...wait, Joshua's practices are on Tuesday and his first game is April 18th...Jeff was able to change his schedule and will be at the game. Hooray!!!!


running bases

everyone running bases

water break

Team Indians

SLEEP

Two things about sleep.
First, Joshua no longer naps. Not a problem when he is ready for bed by 7:30 and gets up at 7:30. However, this past week he has been going down between 7:30 and 8:00 and getting up by 6:00. What is up with that? Before if he got up that early he would just join us in bed and go back to sleep. Not lately. Today he got up at 7:00, but did not go to bed until after 9:00 (no nap either). He walked right into our room and opened the blinds. He said, "The sun is up it's time to get out of bed." NO! NO! NO! He should have slept until 8:00 at the earliest. Well, tonight we were on our way home from dinner when he said, "Mom, I think I will skip dessert. I am tired and want to go to bed." This was at 7:00. Great news there. Both boys were in bed and asleep by 7:30.
Second, I have been enjoying going to bed by 10:00 this past week. I feel awake in the morning and enjoy not being woken up by the kids. However, I cannot seem to get my blogging, face book time, or e-mail time (MTM stuff too) in unless I am up until midnight. So, last night I was up until midnight and did you see how many blogs I completed? I have yet to finish my MTM e-mails...I can finish those tonight. BUT, I was so very tired this morning. Why do I have to choose between sleep and fun internet time?

DO I REALLY WANT HIM TO GROW UP?

I was watching baseball with Joshua tonight when we had the following conversation...
Joshua: Mom, will you come watch me play in the big field when I am a big baseball player?
Mom: Of course I will.
Joshua: You will! Then you will bring me to the game and take me home from the game?
Mom: Well, if you are a big boy baseball player you should have your own home by then. Mommy will be happy to come see you play.
Joshua (tears in his eyes and quivering bottom lip dragging the ground): But Momma I want to stay with you. Why don't you want me to stay with you? How will I see you and talk to you? They don't have phones at the baseball fields.
Mommy (tears in my eyes now because I don't want him to grow up): Oh Joshua! I am sure you will have your own phone and you can always use a payphone. When we get older and have our own jobs we have to move out of our parents homes, but you can always come visit and we will visit you.
Joshua (stubborn now): Oh no! I won't have a phone and I just want to stay with you.
Conclusion...he wants to grow up and be a big baseball player that lives with his parents...Jeff says, "As long as he buys our house!"

CHALLENGE

Andrew and I picked up Joshua on Tuesday. Yes, he got to miss school so that he could go to SC. Although school is important at his age spending time with the relatives is even more important (he only goes two days a week anyway). He was very excited to see us, as we were to see him. He had so much to share, but wanted to play first.
Aunt Kristen's is always fun. Not only does she have a fun house, yard, and four kiddos to play with (Katy and Zachary are not always there), she plans fun stuff outside the home too. They went to Funzone (bounce house type facility), went to a duck show (Uncle Les is an avid duck hunter..."Thank you Uncle Les for the loud obnoxious duck call!"), enjoyed a bounce house at the birthday party, went to the zoo, and got to play Wii. Oh so much fun!
Well, I guess he felt the fun was over when we started the drive home. He did not want to leave Grampie and Mimi and became a bit of a challenge after that. Tuesday night and Wednesday really were not too bad. However, Thursday came around and WOW! I was not prepared for what he had to throw at me. Andrew and I could not say or do anything right. Joshua just exploded at everything. It was on the way to school that he asked me, "What are you and Andrew doing today?" That is when it dawned on me (Ah Ha moment) that he wanted some time with me since he had been gone for 5 days...shall we say, "Quality Time" as his primary Love Language? This is really imposible since I have Andrew and Jeff is at work. So, thankfully he had school on Thursday and Jeff and Joshua got some good one-on-one time on Friday...I did a lot of praying for the short time I was with him on those two days.
Saturday and Sunday was much better. Now I have Jeff traveling to look forward to with Joshua...Joshua has a hard time with Daddy traveling, but I don't think he knows how to express that with words (he has become very angry or has had an upset stomach that he vomits and does not eat). I hope to help him use his words this time. Jeff set him up an e-mail account last time, but not sure that is enough. Maybe Jeff needs to get a webcam. Oh the joys of being a parent and learning as you go!!!

DALLAS ARBORETUM

Andrew and I joined some other ladies at the Dallas Arboretum. I dressed for warmer weather, but with the clouds covering the sun it was CHILLY.

The Arboretum was beautiful in all its tulip planted splendor. It was Mom and Tot day too. This means that you could get your picture taken with a bunny, get your faced painted, pet some animals, and do some fun crafts. The neatest part were the Story Book playhouses. I wish Joshua could have seen them, but he was enjoying SC at the time. Maybe we can go this month and the playhouses will still be there...pretty creative people in this world.