Best Friends

Naomi has had a little buddy to play with since she was one years old, her name is Mia. I have been working one day a week at McKay's Parent involvement preschool for the last 2 years. It was really an answer to prayers that I could find a wonderful, yet affordable preschool for McKay.  It worked out perfect for both myself and Mia's mom, as she had a child attending the preschool as well.  They have had scheduled play dates twice a week for the past 2 years, one day at our house, and the other day at Mia's house.  This allowed us the opportunity to be at the preschool with our older child.

So began the adventures of Naomi and Mia.......When we first started swapping days Naomi was 13 months old and Mia was 11 months old.  Naomi is a highly sensitive and strong willed child, having that combo of a personality she had a difficult time going to Mia's house at first.  We would start driving towards her house and she would start crying because she knew what was coming.  She was going to Mia's house and mom was leaving.  Mia's mom Amy was very patient with Naomi while she adjusted to the new environment.  Over time she only cried once we got to their house, and stopped within 5 minutes of me leaving.  Mia has a very outgoing and social personality and she never had any separation anxiety problems, so she always had a huge smile on her face when she came to our house.  They played together, pooped together, ate together, and napped at the same time.  It was amazing to watch one year olds develop a friendship.   I wish I had taken pictures of them together then, but I have this cute video clip when they were 1 1/2 years old.

Now, they are 2 1/2 years old and every day Naomi asks "Mia come our house?" or "I go Mia's house today." and she is asking because she wants to go and play.  I have loved watching their language skills develop, and seeing them communicate through gibberish.....and now they are engaging in some pretty funny conversations.  Here is one I can recall from the other day. Mia "My mommy go bye bye."  Naomi "Your mommy amybarton."  Mia "My daddy is Joe."  Naomi "My daddy at work."  Mia "My daddy at work."  Naomi "No, My daddy at work." and so on...

They have also been known to sneak away taking off all their clothes including poopy diapers.  At times they like to take whatever toys they are playing with and throw them over the ledge to the downstairs area.  However, they are not always getting into mischief. They love to care for their baby dolls, have tea parties, and they enjoy dressing up while dancing and singing.  They are both complete daredevils; jumping off couches, jumping off bean bags, acting silly, and encouraging one another to do something they are not suppose to do.  Through it all they make me smile and I have loved all the memories (well most of them).  I love watching them grow up together and watching their friendship grow.   Next year they are both enrolled in the same parent involvement preschool I did with McKay.  I can hardly believe they will be 3 and starting preschool.  The adventures continue....

Cool Tricks. Cool Tricks. YEAH!

So, about 10 months ago I was at Toys R Us shopping for something,  McKay was with me, and he saw Hula Hoops in the center divide.  He got so excited about seeing them and asked me over and over  if we could get one.  He was pretty adamant about it, and I could feel the sincerity in his badgering (if that is possible), so I bought it.  Driving home I was thinking I am such a sucker......besides he is only 4 he can't hula hoop.  When we got home I then realized the hula hoop was filled with water, and my next thought was great I am sure he will destroy it somehow, and I will be cleaning up a big mess of water.  

Well, as time goes by the hula hoop doesn't break and McKay plays with the hula hoop quite a lot, not in the traditional way of course but in very creative ways, using it as part of his fort, jumping through, over, around, chasing it around the house, etc....  I was thinking oh I am glad I bought it he really enjoys playing with it.  

Then a couple weeks ago he said he learned to hula hoop at preschool and he picks up the hula hoop and starts hooping it up, seriously well.    I was in shock and awe of his hooping skills.  He then tried to hoop 50 times straight, then 100, then 200, then we stopped counting.  He's a natural.  His older brother was a little upset because he couldn't do it, but then he had never tried before, even though we had the hula hoop for almost a year, just not interested......that is until his little brother could do it.... so after dealing with some serious emotions.... Ethan is hooping it up too.

Once the fire was lit and McKay could hoop, counting was baby stuff..... he was ready to try something new each time he hooped. 

I took this video a couple weeks ago when he first learned. I need to update his new skills because today he was jumping, and kneeling down and getting back up all while hooping.........so yes there will be more video to come!  And now I am really glad I bought him that hula hoop because he loves it.

What the......HAIL?

This weekend we had some seriously crazy weather.  It was scheduled to rain all weekend so baseball was canceled and we had our morning open.  Mike had been wanting to take me on this little hike where he has taken the boys before.  He wanted to take them while it was raining because on part of the hike the water rushes down a section of the trail creating miniature waterfalls.  So, he talked me in to getting my rain gear on and heading outdoors in the downpour.  A little outdoor adventure the kids were happy about. Well while we were getting ready to leave it started hailing.  When it hails, which isn't very often, it usually melts right when it hits the ground, but we were having unseasonably cold weather mixed with the rain and hail, so when we got to our hiking destination the hail was all over the ground, still in their perfectly round pellets.  

 

As you can see from the above photo I was having fun playing with the hail pellets.  I don't know if I had really ever hiked in the rain before and I must say having on the appropriate gear made the hiking pretty enjoyable tromping through the big puddles and kicking the hail pellets around.                          

The kids got to see some miniature waterfalls and run around on a very wet, windy, and cold day.  Not to mention we got to witness the silent beauty of nature amongst the very interesting weather.

Baseball Season Has Arrived......Go Sea Dogs! & Timber Rattlers!

I am finally attempting my first blog post ever so here we go!!!

Ethan and McKay are playing t-ball and baseball this spring, our first year playing baseball. We kind of thought doing baseball was going to be a big commitment, but didn't quite realize how intense baseball could be. There were lots of practices, uniform orders, buying gloves, bats, t's, balls, team sweatshirts,  and opening day starting with a pancake breakfast, followed by a hit-a-thon, pictures, and finishing off with a closing ceremony (which we skipped out on).  But.....once opening day was over with and all the uniforms and sweatshirts arrived and we got use the newness of it all we were ready to play ball!!

McKay and some teammates getting a little pep talk from Coach Phil before their first ups at bat!

I must say t-ball there is no pressure just fun to watch. These cute little guys are figuring things out for the first time and it can be quite entertaining, hitting the ball then refusing to run, or going after the ball in the outfield and then throwing it further outfield.  

McKay ended up on a team with 2 friends from preschool and 1 friend from church.  His coach is so nice, patient, and fun.  I can tell his coach really enjoys working with these little guys.  McKay is loving t-ball and can't wait for his next game.

 

 Ethan is playing A-ball.  His first time playing ball ever.  With everything so new for him at an older age Mike and I have been really trying to practice catching, throwing, and hitting with him to get him ready for his first game.  I must say he made quite a lot of improvement in just 3 weeks.......

 I was kind of nervous for his first game.  During our practices it was a real struggle for him to hit the ball with us pitching up close and real slow.  At his games he only gets 5 pitches from the coach and 3 swings, otherwise they strike out.  I prayed that he would at least get one hit during the game.  I just wanted it to be a positive and fun experience.  I think it was the 3rd time at bat he got a great hit, it almost hit the pitching coach!  After that hit I knew we were going to be able to enjoy the season!     

I must admit at first I wasn't looking forward to the baseball season.  I don't like being on such a busy schedule with lots of running and driving around, but after watching them play their first games it has all been worth it.  I now understand how baseball can be very very enjoyable!  GO TEAMS!