BRADY ROCKS!!!

Tonight Brady had a t-ball game and he played awesome! This is definitely not the same nervous boy that cried before his first game. He hit the ball to the outfield every time and caught a pop fly!!!

Perfect form. I think. Right leg extended, left knee bent, left arm extended. I can't remember what else makes up the perfect swing...I lost interest after Scott explained that much. My point is, this is what the perfect swing looks like!! (at least in my eyes!)

Running to first base

Heading for third base. Brady is a very fast runner. He definitely holds his own during the races always being held in our backyard. He can for sure beat Bennett in a foot race (which is why Ben has perfected his batting skills. He kills the ball and then doesn't have to sprint to base. That Bennett is a smart boy!) Brady often passes his own players around the base.

I may have promised I wouldn't post this picture, but how could I not? I mean, who doesn't want to kick Bennett's butt (literally)?? Sophie loves to harass Ben whenever she gets the chance, and Ben loves to pretend he doesn't like it!!

Snuck a treat from Grammy. Ewwww sticky!

Caught a pop-fly. Game over! YAY BRAY!!!

Celebrating at Paddlers after the game. The kids think we take them so they can play with their friends....Scott thinks it's so they can release energy before bed...the real reason...BATH TIME! I get out of dealing with two showers and two baths with a simple dip in the pool! Saves time and my water bill. Granted, their skin is getting rather dry, and their hair a little crisp...but it's summer, what the heck!!!

Nothing like a bowl of popcorn to finish off a great night. Note: This is not another bad parenting moment...regardless of what it looks like. She is laying down because she just lost the tug-o-war over the bowl. Brady won. She is pouting a bit til she realizes that a) everyone is watching and she can finish the dramatics or b) she would rather eat the popcorn and join Brady upright on the couch to finish the bowl off. In reality..she gave him a swift kick to his stomach (notice her left leg already very close to its target), sat up, yelled a few words that thankfully we can't understand yet, and then shared the rest of the bowl with him.

Note from the editor (me)...I'm obviously still working on Photoshop editing. My "instruction book" is over 600 pages, so I've got a long way to go before I figure anything out. I have signed up for a class to get a hands-on learning experience. Until then, I continue to play with pictures and backgrounds....none as good as I'd like...but there's potential!!

Carter's Night in the Pool

Another night of double posts...I must be obsessed (actually just waiting for my sleeping pills to kick in)

Tonight Carter had his first swim meet of the season. It was an away meet at SSH in E'ville. Their pool is really small with no where for Ben and Brady to hang out, so Scott graciously (rolling my eyes) offered to stay home with Cate and the boys while I took Carter to the meet. Turns out, while I was frying on the pool deck, Scott and the kids were splashing around at Paddlers. Figures. Even through the 1oo degree weather, sweat soaked clothes, and smelly teenage kids surrounding me, I still think I got the best end of the deal. Carter swam great , the meet was well run and we arrived home much earlier than I had expected.

Waiting for his first race...it was so hot.

His first race was the 11-12 medley relay. As you can see in this picture, his teammate C.H. is standing behind Carter...they are almost the same height...because Carter is standing on the tall starting block! Apparently, some boys hit their growth spurts around the age of 11...obviously, this isn't the issue with Carter. C.H already has a two feet lead when they jump in the pool!! It's great when they're swimming relays together, however, doesn't work out so well for Carter when they swim against each other!!!!

Swimming the I.M. (Individual medley-four laps-butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle) I recorded the first leg of his race on video-butterfly

Next is backstroke

Breaststroke - I assume that is a reflection of Carter on the bottom of the pool next to the lane line, but it kinda looks like an alligators head or some sort of creature. Of course, I did take my sleeping pills 20 minutes ago, so I could be way off here..but I think I see eye balls!!

Freestyle and he's done with the race. Great job Carter!

This last video is his 50yd butterfly race. Butterfly has always been his strongest stroke. And tonight he won the race. GREAT JOB!!

Carter is leaving for Orlando on Saturday to enjoy a vacation with his dad, step-mom, and sister. He won't be back until next Sunday, July 5. He is really looking forward to it, especially the water parks. I expect him to be exhausted and very tan next Sunday when he arrives home. Just in time for his swim meet on Monday!

A Night of Games

Baseball games that is. Carter and Bennett both had baseball games on Wednesday night. Scott coaches both teams. Not possible to be at two places at once (I've tried), so Scott coached Ben's game and Cate and I went to Carter's. They won...barely. But a win is a win :)

I often look at these three and can't believe they're mine!!!!!

Carter pitching

He pitched really well. They won in the bottom of the 7th.

Ok, this is probably bad parenting on my part. Cate climbs everything and has no fear. She was cheering for Carter on base. And when I say cheering, I really mean yelling at him! She's very coordinated and climbed up there by herself and got herself down too.

A Splashin' Good Time

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays I babysit Gracie and Gabby...I would insert their blog website here, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. I'll work on it. Anyway, today we filled Cate's teeny tiny pool up and took the girls out to "swim". They loved it. The three girls splashed around and laughed for at least 45 minutes. And took great naps afterwards!!

Beatin' the heat

Gracie got those little legs going...she was creating a whirlpool!

WooHoo!!! Sporting her first bikini. Scott will only let her wear it in our yard :)

Gracie loved the water!

Gabby scooted all around the pool...

Clap-Clap-Clap! So much fun!

Cate's Newest "Thing"

Two posts in one day....amaz-zazing.

Cate has finally passed the "wear everything around my neck" phase......

and has moved onto the......

"wear daddy's shoes" phase.

I wonder what's next.

Summer Fun

Ok, so I lied. I am not going to have a Father's Day post finished by today. My scanner pooped out on me, so it'll have to wait. In the meantime, enjoy some summer pics of the kids.

Note: Most of the pictures are of Cate, however, this does not mean she is my favorite. It just means that I'm tired of taking pictures of the boys playing baseball, which is all they ever do. Oh, and she's cuter :)She loves playing in the hose. We have to change her at least three times a day due to her water obsession!

Carter at last nights game. It was so stinkin' hot. He was obviously not having a great time

Making sure she stays hydrated

Who needs a swimsuit?! She loves her pool. Ok, it's not really a pool. More like an over-sized dog bowl...but she still loves it :)

Weeeeeeeeee!!!

Perfect sitting position...I wonder if he meant to do this

Hanging out with her friends in the baby pool

Cate snuck onto Brady's field yesterday during his tee ball game. She loves the dirt!

Happy Father's Day!!

This post is going to be very short. I'm exhausted and the things I have to say about my super terrific amazing husband, wonderful father, extraordinary grandpa's, and awesome uncles....well, that blog post is going to take me awhile to create. Lots of fun pictures to scan (and locate). But, I promise...no later than Tuesday...I will have a post dedicated to the magnificent men in my kids lives. For now, I will leave you with a typical, yet not-so-great, Father's Day picture.

Stay tuned..........

Boogie For Babies

Tonight we attended the annual Nurses for Newborns - Boogie for Babies charity fundraiser at Grant's Farm. Aunt Fran is a board member with NFN and invites us every year to"Boogie" with her. It is always so much fun and the kids really look forward to it. The night starts with a tram ride through deer park to see the animals, then dinner and dancing under the stars in the Bauernhof Courtyard (I think that's what it is called). The weather was perfect, the kids were very well behaved, and we all had a fabulous time!

"I have arrived...let the fun begin"

Isn't this the cutest dress ever?!?!

Bennett, Carter, Brady, Scott, and Cate in front of the Clydesdale Stables

Me, Cate, Brady, and Bau Bau on the tram.

Yelling at the poor pony, Dolly.

It wouldn't be a successful night without Carter getting his picture taken with the Rams Cheerleaders.

Now them are some green eyes!!

Petting a Clydesdale

Carter, Bennett, Brady, and cousin Reese

Mmm Mmm Good!

SmashBand played. The kids enjoyed watching everyone dance. They joined in on "Jump" by VanHalen. Cate loved it when Carter threw her in the air. She wanted him to do it over and over again. His arms finally gave out.

Now this is a great big brother. Carter took Cate onto the dance floor and she loved dancing with him. However, she's got some funky moves. This one here is a lot like an 80's Jane Fonda workout video move. Everyone was laughing so hard at her. She really got into it though!

The boys won an autographed hockey stick in the silent auction (thanks Fran!!). Just so happens, the pro himself, Jamal Mayers...formerly of the Blues, currently of the Toronto Maple Leafs...was in attendance and I snapped a picture with him and their signed stick. The boys were awestruck!

Riding the tram back to our car. What a great night!!

It Ain't Braggin' If You Done It

I am posting this for my father. He was disappointed that I didn't write anything about Bennett's baseball game Wednesday night. Bennett played really great. He made an amazing catch at first base and knew to immediately tag the base because the base runner took off for second, thinking the ball wouldn't be caught. (Apparently, he wasn't familiar with Bennett Smallie. He is now). At tonight's game (he has three this week), he caught two pop flies, threw a few batters out, and went 3 for 4 at the plate. That's right, he made an out. The pitcher caught one of his hits. This is only the second out Bennett has ever made. EVER. In four years of baseball, two outs. As they say in Texas, "it ain't braggin' if you done it" and Bennett "done it". He has a really great team and they're a lot of fun to watch.

Luke, Hunter, Bennett, and Aaron

Cate loves stealing the boys hats off the bench when they're batting. She always wears at least two!

Throwing the batter out at 1st

He loves playing catcher. Makes me very nervous because I'm afraid he'll get hit by a bat.

Brady gets dirtier than anyone on the team. He loves running the bases after the game.

SAFE!