Exhaustion via fun

Dearest Boys,

On numerous occasions I've felt tired before the sun was done...like after camping on youth group mission trips in high school, or studying all night for a big exam in college, or bringing a newborn home from the hospital, or driving from Indiana to Texas.  But yesterday we all reached exhaustion simply from having so much fun!

Our day started early enough that I'm thinking about emailing a certain soccer organization and begging them to reconsider their scheduling habits.  We were at the soccer fields for the first game of the day and the chill in the air woke us up quickly!  Jax, you played your heart out so much so that your coach talked to us about putting you in a competitive league next season!

Colt, you and Daddy had your own game going on when Jackson wasn't on the field.

 

R.I.P.  Plane toy that never made it home from the soccer park.

We went home to change clothes and then straight to Grandpa and Grandma's.  Their neighborhood was having a Spring festival and we gladly partook.  There were bounce houses with slides...

small carnival games...

balloon animals...

 and then there was this!  This trampoline bungee station took a tiny bit of persuasion but it wasn't much before you were gung-ho, Colton.  Jax, you were slower to warm up to the idea of launching yourself into the air.

Before long, it was time to go to baseball - an idea that did not appeal to you, Colton.  Your dear, patient, Grandmother offered to stay at the festival with you while the rest of us headed to the ball field.  

Before I could snap the first pic, your white pants were already stained in grass and dirt, Jax!  

Oh well, time to stretch it out...

 We went to lunch before going back to Grandpa and Grandma's house.  After we were all reunited, we returned home for another wardrobe change (appropriate considering the 40 degree temps from the morning were now at 75 degrees!).  

Last, but not least, we made the short trek to my school for our Spring carnival.  You boys headed straight for the inflatable slide yet again and your dad and I leaned on each other and whined about how tired we were.  

When we finally arrived home at 5:00, we all plopped down and the only noise that could be heard was a movie playing on television.  After I finally worked up the energy to walk to the kitchen and whip up dinner, I chuckled as this was my view of the family room:

 

The left arm club was over there proving to me that fun times can be exhausting times.  

Spring Break

Dearest Boys,

S avings Time (as in Daylight...springing clocks forward...trying to adjust...)
P icnics (a lunch picnic at a park on Monday and a dinner picnic at another park on Tuesday)
R elaxing
I nches (tons of them chopped off during your haircuts)
N ights (as in the two that you slept over at Grandpa and Grandma's house)
G olf (Jax, you had camp each morning)

B owling (We met up with The Baileys for a few games on Thursday)
R elaxing (We seriously did a lot of it!)
E leven (weeks left before summer break)
A quarium (Grandma treated us to this outing on Wednesday)
K arate (what y'all appeared to be doing each time we played in the yard)

Before and after haircuts

Watching this manatee eat was my favorite part of the aquarium!

Colt, you went to great lengths to avoid being photographed!

 

It was an awesome week & going back to our normal schedules was sucktastic (to say the least).

Athletics

Dearest Jackson,

You are consumed by Spring sports right now and it feels like we take you to some sort of practice, game, or camp almost every day.  I don't mind though because it's your element and it's fun to watch you. 

Basketball recently wrapped up and your last game was a huge win!

 

Afterwards, your coaches distributed the medals.

Soccer is right in the middle of the season and you practice every Thursday and have a game each Saturday.  You get excited if your ball is chosen as the ball to use for the game!

 

Before each game, the players have to check-in with the referee.  Here, you are showing him your cleats.

 

 

Watching you play sports shows me a totally different side of you.  For instance, you are aggressive on the soccer field and you're never afraid to be in the action or go after the ball.  This trait alone could be why I think soccer is your best sport.

  

Next Saturday is Opening Day for the Spring baseball season and a busy season it is!  For the last month or so, we've had 3 practices per week.  Once the season is underway, we'll cut back to only 2 practices each week but have 1 or 2 games thrown in there as well!

And recently entering your sports schema, we have golf.  Grandpa signed you up for golf camp at their country club and you loved hitting the links each morning.  While you aren't a natural (I mean that in a loving way, darling.), you claim to love the sport and you're anxious to play on our [neighborhood's] golf course now!

While neither Daddy or I can take credit for your sports skills, we're trying to nurture them the best we can.  We'll always be your #1 fans!

three-and-a-half

Dearest Colton,

You have us already talking about your 4^th birthday.  While it seems silly to plan it already, I know it will be here before I’m ready.  You’re ready though and you’re sure to mention your special day every few hours.  Your half birthday was just last month and, while we didn’t do anything celebratory, I had various milestones outlined in my head that coincided with being 3 ½.  For instance, I thought you’d for sure be potty-trained by now.  Turns out, you still have little-to-no interest in moving to big boy undies.  I also thought we still had some time (especially since you aren’t starting Kindergarten until 2016) to teach you letters and numbers.  So imagine our surprise when you started naming them as you see them while we’re out and about!  Just when we think we have this parenting thing figured out, you’re there to humble us.  

 

At three-and-a-half, you still make me melt.  I’d be willing to pay money for your awesome cuddles, kisses, and hugs.  You’re figuring out the world faster than I’m prepared for and you make me laugh out loud every single day. 

Our conversations from Steph’s house often go like this:

You:  I have good news and bad news.

Me:  Ok, tell me what’s going on.

You:  The bad news is I’m not happy.

Me:  Bummer.  What’s the good news?

**Now, I promise I’m not down playing your emotions – but it loses its impact when I hear it every day followed by…..

You:  The good news is I know how to put my window down.  (Or something equally commonplace)

Then you, in all your preciousness, always ask me about my day.  It’s charming and we talk and I’m always reassured that you aren’t actually an unhappy human being.

If I was to fill out one of those “favorite” surveys for you, I think it’d read:

Favorite indoor activity:  playing in the toy room (You play independently like a champ!) – you play with cars, puzzles, and Legos the most

Favorite outdoor activity:  YES!  ; )  You ask to go outside every day after school.  You like riding the scooter, playing ball with Jax, and just exploring.

Favorite book:  The Underpants Zoo – and you’ve memorized it and now “read” it yourself – and hearing you read it is on my Top 10 list for Cutest Thing Ever!

Favorite friend:  While you love everyone (“Drewby”, “Coley”, Dex, Ella, and Evan) at Steph’s, Ella has a special place in your heart.  I’m not sure what you’ll do without her there in the fall.?.?.

 

On the other hand, you have some least favorite things as well…  You DO NOT enjoy watching your brother’s sports!  You do everything BUT watch the game!  You also don’t like me laughing at you.  If you say something that I find funny and I laugh, you are quick to tell me “It is not laugh time!”  Lastly, you don’t like naps anymore.  You still nap at Steph’s every day but, as of last weekend, we no longer have you nap when you’re home with us.  We knew it was time to cut them out because a) you said yourself that you didn’t need them and b) you started waking up at 5:45 every morning, which told us your body was getting plenty of sleep.

Even at three-and-a-half, you are still my baby.  I love your sensitive, sweet, stubborn personality and I look forward to watching it evolve as you become a 4-year-old.