T-ball ... and Mr. Mom

I have soooo many events to "back-blog!"  I will get there ... someday.  I just couldn't let tonight pass without jotting down our incredibly unusual evening.

Today was Joshua's very first T-ball practice ever.  I can't believe I forgot to bring the camera! It was the funniest hour I have spent in a very long time.  Joshua has never ever ever ever played any sport and he was so excited!  We were given two gloves and a batting helmet from a friend who children have outgrown them - they are practically new!  Ben and Josh had a great time with them when they first arrived - not a whole lot of catching happening though and they were soon put away.  At any rate, I was glad to see that Josh wasn't the only kid who had never seen a baseball before.

The coach (a very brave man) started them out by pairing them up to play catch with eachother.  That was hilarious!  The few who were able to throw to their partner generally threw with a bit too much force.  Joshua was generally a foot or two to the left or right and he would hold his glove up to his shoulder and reach out his ungloved hand to catch the ball (I should mention that he has a tendency to put his glove on his right hand too).  Next, the coach lined them all in a line and threw to each of them in turn - having the child throw the ball back when he (or she) got it.  First the coach had to get the kids to spread out because they all stood shoulder-to-shoulder.  When he got them strung out a bit, he threw to the first kid in line and, like magic, the entire line closed up again.  When it was Joshua's turn, he again kept trying to catch the ball with his hand rather than the glove.  The coach was throwing them grounders and he kept telling the kids to "get their gloves down" to trap the ball.  Excited to follow a direction he finally understood, Joshua immediately stripped off his glove and dropped it at his feet.  He finally got the idea and caught two of the balls.  The next exercise was for the kids to catch a ball at second base and immediately throw it to first where another kid stood "ready" to catch it.  There are a couple of kids with some very good arms and I made a mental note to park farther away from the field next time ... just in case.  When it was Joshua's turn, he forgot about his glove again.  Also, the coach wanted him to stand ready and told him to crouch down - which Joshua did with his feet close together and his arms folded.  The coach told Joshua to spread his feet apart - which he did finally and then put his hands on his knees.  I just shook my head, it was sooooo funny!  Joshua finally got the stance and then the coach threw the ball and it was not on target.  Joshua just looked at it for a moment before deciding to chase it down.  Then he ran almost all the way to the first base player before he threw it over her head.  I had trouble staying on the bench - I was laughing so hard.  The coach told him it was a good try and Joshua went to the back of the line with biggest smile!  When he was next up he seemed to retain a little bit of the instruction and by the third and fourth rotation he was getting the ball to first ... still not really using the glove though.  The last exercise involved the bat.  The coach spread the kids out all over the field and selected them, one at a time, to hit the ball from the tee to the team who were to then catch it and throw it to first.  There were many kids who couldn't hit the ball, but Joshua was not one of them.  He hit it every time - catching mostly the top of it so as to make it a driving grounder.  Still, not bad for his first time.  I guess all that hitting his brother and sister has paid off - who knew?!?  When he was in the field, he got the idea to run to the ball almost immediately - they all did.  As soon as the ball left the tee, the whole field would zero in on the ball - generally resulting in a kind of pile up.  Josh thought this was great fun and, since he is pretty quick, he would often get to the ball second and just tackle the poor kid who got there first.  One dad called out that we weren't there to play football - which just confused the kids.I asked how long the practices generally go for, and was told that they were supposed to practice for 90 minutes, but generally based the time upon the kids' ability to actively listen to the coach.  I was amazed - I was tired after 15 mintues.  Remind me never to coach little league!

That brings me to Mr. Mom.  Poor Byron!  He had a very tiring day that, thankfully got done early and he offered to stay at home with the other kids while I took Josh to practice.  I told him he would probably have a more restful time at the practice than getting climbed on at home, but he wasn't feeling very well (fighting off a cold) and decided that he would rather not be outside or having to socialize.  What a horrible decision!  I had only been at the practice for about 30 minutes when he called to say that Ben had thrown up.  Byron does NOT do puke - at least not willingly, but then who does?  He was irritated because I had picked up some little Peeps for the kids this afternoon (they are dirt cheap) and that was certainly what they were bringing up if not what was making them sick.  I felt bad for him (and rather glad that I wasn't home) and figured that Ben had a bit of a hair-trigger gag reflex and must have coughed or something - it happens.  10 minutes later, another phone call saying that Ginny had also thrown up and how did the carpet cleaner work?  10 minutes later they had both thrown up again and when was I getting home?  By the third phone call, my friend wondered what he expected me to do?  I felt so bad!  Honestly I did.  I mean, sure I was glad I wasn't home, but I knew what a horrible time it must have been for both kids and Daddy.  When I got home, the carpet was clean and everyone was sitting down watching TV.  Ben and Ginny were holding bowls as if their life depended on it.  I imagine that when they started puking, Byron must have scared them silly with his shout of surprise.  However, I must say it was effective because they threw up many more times and each time - they were right into the bowl.  Poor things!  There weren't running a fever and they weren't overly listless, certainly they were talkative.  So, hopefully, they will make it through the night without puking - although Ben has filled his bowl already - and then I can spend tomorrow rehydrating them.  Fun!  Byron tells me HE is taking Josh to practice next time!

Family Home Evening - Week #2

We have stayed on schedule for the second week of the year! This week's lesson was on Jesus and his many names. We had a rocky start as I found I cannot play the piano/sing/AND proactively encourage everyone to sing. So, after a little "Mommy Time Out" where I did some brainstorming, I found that lds.org has the entire children's songbook in mp3 format. Problem solved! We had a great song to open our lesson and moved on the the short lesson. We talked about nicknames - Robert said his nickname was "Bob" (who calls him Bob???) and Joshua learned that his nickname was Josh, Benjamin's nickname is Ben, Genevieve's nickname is Ginny and Dad says his nickname is "stud." Definitely a must-blog moment.

The kids wanted to color again for the activity, but this week was a puzzle which we glued to another sheet of paper and added to our FHE wall.

Before FHE, the kids decided to go for a spin ... literally. I think Josh started it by spinning like a top, but Ben and Ginny soon followed (although Ginny's idea of spinning is to run around in a circle with her arms out rather than spinning in place). Ben was the first to fall - and he fell HARD. He jumped right back up and staggered around saying, "I'm alright!" Ginny ran around her circle crying "I'm bizzy!"

Note: It is really hard to get pictures of three spinning kids!

I'm Too Young to have a Teenager!!!!!

Today it is official - Robert has turned 13 years old. "Old" ... ewww the word just sounds ancient. Robert decided this year that he wanted a slumber part - again. I would have vetoed the idea, but Robert bypassed me and went straight for Dad who said "sure, sounds great!" So, we celebrated Robert's birthday last Friday (because this coming Friday Mommy and Daddy have a get-away trip planned for Daddy's birthday).

Friday started with a long overdue trip to Costco. I took the boys out of school as well because there was no way I was going to get back in time to pick them up (after I volunteered in Josh's class ... we painted - enough said) and also because the boys were in deperate need of hair cuts. For the hair cuts, I sent the boys in one at a time and left the rest with Robert, which didn't turn out as well as I had expected because (1) I decided to get my hair cut too, and (2) the ladies were way to efficient. So, at one point Ben, Josh, and myself were all in seperate chairs while Robert was outside with Ginny (I was really wishing he already had his cell phone). Anyway, Josh and Ben both got balloons which they promptly teased Ginny with so I was not at all upset when we got to Costco and Josh, opening the door too soon so as to make sure he was the first one out, let his balloon go. Josh was very very upset. Ben, thought this was hilarious and started teasing Josh, until Mommy quietly went to the other door and let Ben's balloon go too. Then no-one was happy (see the picture?) It was probably littering since they had to come back down sometime, but a great object lesson in the consequences of teasing (I hope).

We got home just in time to unload the car and set out to pick up pizza before the party. Everyone snarffed their way through 4 pizzas and two cases of soda - pretty good for 4 teenage boys and three toddlers. Then the teens wanted to start their video-game bonanza (the entertainment for the evening). I made them pick up the living room first. I loved this picture because it looks like they are actually playing with the toys, possibly photographic evidence of actual work? Nah ... they're definitely playing.

The teens were very good - as usual, and very loud - as usual. They only needed one warning from Byron, however, to put a lid on things. They put themselves to bed sometime between 2 and 3 am. And, as usual, the babies had everybody up by 7am. For his birthday, Robert got a couple of Wii games, a "wrist rocket" sling shot (oh joy), cash, and a cell phone. Yikes! I set up the parent controls, however, and he has enjoyed having this new "responsibility" (aka "toy"). In fact, he has called me every afternoon when the bus drops him off - a whole 1/4 mile up the hill - just to tell me he has arrived safely in the neighborhood. I'm sure that is just the thoughtful kind of kid he is and has nothing whatsoever to do with playing with the phone. ;-)

The sling shot made its first (and probably its last) debut as well today. Robert found out that it was way too powerful for the back yard. Thankfully, no windows, small animals, or children got in his way. We're gonna save this toy for the range instead ... he had fun with it though!

Today, being the actual day of his birth, we let him plan dinner (hamburgers) and have an hour of video game time (normally a weekend kind of thing). Overall, Robert said his birthday has been "good." Expressive.

In other news, Byron and I have been making a greater effort to pray individually with the younger children. This has led to many inadvertent funny moments. Tonight, for example, Byron was helping Ben to say his prayers and Ben was so excited (did I mention we had a very small bit of ice cream tonight too?) he was literally bouncing up and down on the bed. In the same voice used in directing the prayer, Byron interjects "stop it Ben" and Ben, while still bouncing repeats "and stop it Ben" and continues with the prayer. We are going to have to work on content I think. Ginny, on the other hand, repeats everything I say until I get to the part "please bless me" and she says, "please bless you." Utterly adorable - now if they would just go to sleep!