boys & baseball

These two LOVE baseball. They eat, sleep and breathe it. Literally. So much so that when I went downstairs to check on a crying Sam at 3am I noticed the light was on in their bedroom...when I walked in, they were both in a deep sleep on their beds, covered in baseball cards and wearing their baseball gear still. Apparently they'd ignored my request to put on their jammies!

Bryan is a wonderful coach/dad that spends hours with them batting and fielding in the backyard. They are constantly bringing his mitt to him, requesting to play catch. I love watching and listening to them play together and the memories they're making are so special.

From April to the end of June, we attended 2-3 games a week for the boy's baseball teams. It's such a fun sport for our entire family! Maddie enjoyed playing with other teammates siblings, Sam enjoyed running wild.

 Jace is a huge Kyle Seager fan & Cade loves Justin Smoak. Jace has acquired the nickname "Seager" from his coaches...he's a BIG fan and talks about Kyle like their best buds :)

 

Cade's quite the ball-player...scrappy, aggressive and quick!

 Catching the ball before it hits the "green monster"...aka the apple orchard. Jace played a lot of left & center field as well as short-stop and third base this season. He had some really great hits this season! He's working on batting left-handed as he'd love to be a switch hitter when he grows up

 On Mother's Day, these cutie pies treated me to a fun Mariner's Game...there's nothing like a huge plate of garlic fries and sunshine at Safeco field!

 Jace's spring baseball team...super fun! The Royale's in the Parade...

 Booster Baseball in Royal for Jace

 Caden's baseball team, Bryan helped coach :)

a winter update

I am already failing at one of my New Year's Goals of updating the blog more... I want to document these kids and what our days are like. I'm horrible about working on scrapbooks or journaling, so this blog is about the only bit of information we have and I'm realizing that my memory isn't what it used to be! So much blurs together! I can't let "I'm always busy" keep getting in the way! So here goes an update...

Jace played basketball this late fall-winter. His team did really well, playing other area 3rd graders. As you can see, these guys never lack in the personality department and they are a fun group to watch play!

Miss Maddie loves to perform...always climbing up on things, singing and talking like a talk-show host! She entertains me daily!

She had her winter preschool program at the end of January. She remembered her line from "Snowmen at Night" and sang her cute "Snowflakes" song with her class (phew, always makes this mom-teacher happy when her own child is prepared and ready!) Her favorite thing to do in the winter is "to go sledding" she shared. Too bad we haven't been able to do that this year, hardly any snow!

Maddie loves playdates! She and cousin Jilly had a fun afternoon together, playing dress-up is their favorite.

Sam is a Ham! His cousin Grady actually called him "Ham" for awhile when he couldn't say his "sss" and I'm afraid it might have stuck with us...it's cute. Sam loves to be silly, but he's quite shy with others. His hair is wild, he's started signing "more" "food" and "milk". He also says "Dorda" (Dora) quite clear as well as Mama, Dada, "ooice" (juice) and "nanana" (No,No,No). He blows everyone a kiss, he runs around fast with an agressive right-arm swing, he loves to empty-out cupboards and drawers and he is loved and spoiled by everyone!

Duck Hunter Jace = eating duck two weekends in a row...yuck!

Caden! He is such a great little skiier...he is fast and has no fear. I love watching him, heart palpitations and all! Cade loves us to call him "squirrelly" and he is just that! Always lots of energy but such a tender big brother to Maddie and Sam. I've loved watching Cade & Maddie's frienship blossom over this winter. Cade just finished "Little Dribblers" basketball but I didn't get a pic...

 We've gotten in quite a bit of skiing this winter. The boys are doing awesome and really enjoy it. They have to "wait" for mom often at the bottom of the slopes. We recently hit a very sunny, 45 degree day at Mission Ridge. Thanks to the inversion...home was in the 20's and sunshine never felt so good! Bryan and I have loved the time we've gotten on the hills with Cade & Jace. Fun memories have been made!

the boy's birthdays

Jace turned 9 in August!

 So our family of 6 went bowling & to the archade which was super fun and for his first time bowling, Jace was pretty darn good!

 Sam enjoying his "ride" at the bowling ally

 His birthday theme was a movie party, watching "The Three Stooges"...which is funny to some, particularly 9 year olds

 He also had a family party this year and added a few buddies to the mix, fun times!

 While the big kids watched the movie, these three little girlie cousins gave each other make-overs!

 Happy 9th Birthday to an awesome, fun-loving boy! Happiness just leaks out of this guy. His smile is surely contagious...We love you Jacers and are very proud of you!

Then we celebrated Daddy's birthday at Grandma & Grandpa Allred's. A few days later, Bryan and I were able to get away for the afternoon and attend the Monday night Seahawks v. Packers game with Mike & Lesa. Bryan's been a Seahawk fan for 35 years. Yes, he's very loyal.

 At the end of September, Cade turned 7. Jace just wants world-peace in every picture!

 Cade posing so sweetly for his birthday photos. He requested a "Power Miner Lego party" which was a challenge but I think I pulled it off and it met his high standards :) Caden is a super smart kiddo who adds a lot of creativity and affection to our family. This little man can build any lego set you put in front of him and creates some pretty cool creations on his own. We love you Caders!

 This was the first year Cade's had friends over for a birthday party and a fun group it was!

 We celebrated that night with a family party...yes, this family knows how to party!

Then Sam turned one in October! He started crashing walking right before he turned 11 months and has had a bruise or two on his forehead since. This boy falls more than any of our other kids, he's surely the quickest little bugger and his bumps prove it! He's independent & keeps busy cruising around and opening cupboards and drawers all. day. long.

I can't believe he's already a year old! Sam is such a sweet, loving baby...he's quiet, mostly layed back and petite, weighing 19 lbs. 11 oz and 29 inches at his 1 year appt. We sure love our little Sammy and feel so blessed to have him as our caboose! Love, love our Sam-Sam!

 We had a fun little monster themed party for him... see, there is our peace sign again!

 He wasn't that into his monster cake...just took little bites, no cake smash for this guy.

 

Flarp from the goodie bags was our entertainment for the night... these little monsters kept us giggling with their sneezes, gross noises and antics!

 

Our busy May, June & July

You've been warned...this is a LONG post and so overdue! I'm backing up to May and going to catch back up to our current status. Cade and Jace finished their soccer seasons then began baseball. Watching Jace compete in his second season of soccer with this team was so fun!

Our preschool graduation program was on May 22nd. I had 20 preschoolers this year, filling two classes. I'm already looking forward to preschool this fall as I have cut back to only teaching one class...much more do-able for me & our busy life!

Maddie receiving her preschool promotion certificate! She'll have one more year with mom then Kindergarten. Sigh... She is already excited for when she can begin Kindergarten, reminding me all of the time that she doesn't need to come to mom's preschool but needs to attend Red Rock with her brothers :)

I've enjoyed having this first-school experience with my own children. It makes it so worth while and allows me to see them interact with other kids and how they learn best. I love this side-job!

We ended the year with a fun pool party for each class! I get all of these kiddos again next year plus a few more :)

In May, we also ventured over to Children's to visit three heart friends and their families-Teagan and Natalie were having heart caths while our friend Gracie was having her Fontan surgery, our friend Jesse (Luke's mom) also met up with us. It was wonderful to visit my heart mom friends!

 Maddie and Teagie

 Jen (Gracie's mom) & Jesse and Laney (Luke's mom)So fun to see you all! We were also able to see our favorite nurse, Stacey while there as she was Teagan's nurse! Also awesome that Natalie and Teagan shared a room for the night.

In June, Cade ended his Kindergarten year with a fun spring program and class graduation party. What a fun year having cousin Randi Kay in class!

 And Mrs. Stewart (Aunt Jessica) as his teacher was top-notch!!! He had an awesome year, earning the most "gold dot" awards for doing good deeds and being a great student and helper.

Celebrating with an icecream sundae with dad

Miss Maddie being silly with cousins Jill & Randi

In June, Sam joined the Stewart Aunts/Cousins for a fun night in Spokane

 Kaylee was a trooper, keeping Sam entertained while we shopped till we dropped!

 Our crew minus Elaine & Amy

Great Grandma Shirley and Sammer Jammers

We've spent most all of our Sunday afternoon's out at Pa & Grandma Allred's, many memories have been made & we're cherishing our time together.

Boosters Baseball ended the end of June. Our boys proved to be great players on their teams! Bryan helped coach Jace's team while Cade had Aunt Danyel as his coach :) 

We spent a week driving back and forth to our church in Moses Lake for Sky VBS. Maddie loved it and is still singing the songs she learned during that week of fun. Cousin Kylie joined us as well as Nany serving as Jace & Cade's leader!

Our family has enjoyed a couple of Mariner's games this season...the boys absolutely LOVE the Mariners!

Braydon & Jace at Scout Day Camp

Sam started pulling himself up on everything! Time to lower that crib mattress

The boys & I went fishing one afternoon down on the ranch

my beautiful boys!

Then came a HOT July...

4th of July at Jerry & Chriss' Pond

Swimming Lessons! The boys learned to dive...Cade even does a pretty good back dive and Maddie now jumps off of the diving board and swims without waterwings in the shallow end. Oh yes, goggles are a must for these kids :) 

Jace working in cherry harvest, keeping those cherries cool. We had some scorching hot days during harvest which also brought some rain and hail storms...damaging some of our apples was not a highlight of this summer. Lots of farmers are in the same boat though.

Jace enjoyed a free Seahawks Football Day Camp with his friend Dayne...the highlight was getting two player's autographs!

Sammer Jammers is crawling everywhere! He's a mad-man around here!!! His crawl has been so funny, it's a combo of a bear crawl/sitting down quickly every few strides/normal crawl.

Cheeto had 4 baby kittens! Maddie broke them in with plenty of loves, cuddles, and snuggles. We kept two of them, Ellie & Kyle are their names

 Our family toured the cherry plant in July, watching our cherries run and being packed. Sam rocked his hair net, don't you think?

Maddie rode "Sparky Boy" in our community days Summerfest parade. Nany did a lot of work, sparkling his hooves pink & tying bows and ribbons. Cousin Kylie rode too, on her pony Sarah Girl. Even Ba rode along...It was so much fun and Maddie loved waving to friends!

Enjoying snowcones at our 50th celebration of Royal City!

 Too cute to not share his sweet smile and widows peek- just like his daddy's

The end of July, we enjoyed the Allred Family Reunion up in Suncadia. The kids loved the hot tub, riding their bikes and playing with so many cousins.

And there you have it! Phew!