I Don't Care if I Never Get Back

(back row, 2nd kid from the left)

Last night was Max's last tournament game, due to a 14-2 loss--ouch. He plays center field and had a beauty of a catch--a pop fly that looked sure to sail past him on the right. He reached across to catch it with a backhand catch (i'm positive that's not the correct terminology), then threw a rocket in to homeplate. It was so exciting! I could hear some crazed fan screaming and jumping, only to realize it was me. Ahem. He was out there, beaming in the field for the duration of the inning. That happy, proud smile made the entire season worth it. But I really am sad to see the end of baseball, I love it so. Best sport there is.

Isabelle has tournament games next week--stay tuned. I really must post a photo of her in her uniform and pink socks. Between watching a wiggly, busy baby and my love (fervor?) of the game, I don't stop for photos like I should.

Here is a glimpse of what my van looked like this spring, every day after school. Oftentimes one or both of them was changing into uniforms in the car right after I picked them up from school. I must say, I was very organized with the car packed on most days.
With the games being right after school and going through dinnertime, I tried to have picnic dinners but honestly many nights it was cold cereal, grilled hot dogs or pb&j's. Ugh.

Look at me, even remembering to feed the baby. Yes, I set the bar high. Try to keep up.

This is an everyday view of my drinkholder: survival food for both me and Jack.

So with baseball wrapping up, I feel like our nights can have some normalcy again. I have seriously felt on the run since April. Is it just me? Am I a lightweight?

I have loved the first week of summer: sleeping in, relaxed pace, setting my own schedule. I find it is taking some adjusting, though, to work the big kids back into our morning routine; When they were in school this year, Mimi & I had a great morning routine going: we'd get them out the door and immediately do her school...

(About a month ago we began this great book, which I also used with Max & Isabelle with great success. Mimi is resisting, so I am breaking the lessons up into smaller bits. We'll see. And we've been working on sight words.)

...and while we did school, Jack had Scruffle Time. He is so energetic in the morning and just swims (not crawls) all over the house.

Each day, after finishing Mimi's schooltime and we'd then go upstairs to do the whisk-through-the-house tidy up from the morning chaos. Mimi helped me whisk while Jack had Upstairs Scruffle Time. He love, love, LOVES the girls' room and all the exciting, non-babyish toys.


Our Summertime Morning Routine is off to a slow start, mostly because I have been sleeping in like Rip Van Crystal. We did make our job charts, though! Finally! I've been planning for an entire YEAR to do these. I got the idea here from Stie, one of my favorite bloggers. I'd meant to do them before Jack was born, ahem, last year, but nope. Just couldn't summon the energy. And I'm finding myself approaching somewhat back to normal energy levels now that Jack is almost at his 1st year birthday.


In other news, I have been exercising again. Sporadically. I need a personal trainer. Actually, make that a personal drill sergeant; someone who'll boot my butt out the door and onto the trail, whether I feel like it or NOT. The chub factor around here needs to change. This view on my fav flat trail (i am back to beginning-level running. sigh.) was so idyllic the other day!

Also, we have been visiting the new library. Every time I am in there I want to do the Maria Von Trapp Sound of Music Meadow Twirl. Every single book is brand new. Brand! New! They smell good, they feel clean, they're all new and up-to-date, and I am usually the first to check out any book I lay hands on. Such a treat.

On the last day of school, Mike & Max went on the Father/Son campout. I think they had fun. Hard to tell. They came back the next day, both answered in mono-syllabic undertones when I asked if they had fun and then both power-napped. No comment. (although, beforehand, Max asked me privately if I would pack his stuff because he didn't want "to be Man-Packed." Looks like he's learned the hard way.)

He hiked up the mountain today and brought me back a bouquet.
I love this kid.

(and please, no comments on the chub factor.)