Wet weekend

We were happy to have accomplished plenty of firsts this past weekend.

Our first plane ride as a family (for Michael and Joshua, it was their first trip on board an aircraft--ever). Yes, Joshua could have behaved better. But we're glass half full kind of people. He could have been much worse.

While we were in Georgia, the boys bonded over football, chicken nuggets, and the lousy weather.





We really enjoyed ourselves at our first tailgate. The boys played a game called "Tailgate golf." Big fun that revolved around throwing things at a target. We knew the weather was going to be bad, so we prepared as much as we could. Our whole goal was to make it to our first University of Georgia football game. We bought bright yellow and blue (for the adults) ponchos to try to stay dry. And yes, we needed them.



By the way, the ponchos really didn't work. It was raining that hard.

I still cannot believe how many people joined us for one of the wettest evenings I have seen in some time.

You might not be able to see the raindrops, but you can certainly see how happy we are to be in such soggy conditions. Truth be told, though, I wouldn't have had it any other way. We went through plenty to get to those bleachers.

The game started off fine. Jason was really into the action on the gridiron. By the middle of the first quarter, though, Jason was getting a little tired of squishy shoes. Still no complaints, though. All three held up remarkably well considering the circumstances.



Doug was on cloud nine, soggy shoes and all. Even better, the Bulldogs pulled off a victory.



We had other adventures during our brief visit to the Peach State. We saw Aunt Jeanne, Uncle Dave, Aunt Stacie, and cousins Ezekiel and Elijah. And you know what? The boys still say the best part of our trip was being with their cousins. We had a great time.







Now that we know we can handle a plane ride, we'll have to do it again!
Until next time!!!
We love you!

Fall sports

I am a proud parent. When you have three great kids, you have to be.

As you know, Jason is a big fan of playing baseball.

After playing several seasons of T-ball, it was time for him to move up.

He's in the big leagues now, playing coach-pitch baseball.

Where does the time go?

He had his first two games this past week.

It is a different ball game, literally. In T-ball, they don't really keep score. Outs really weren't outs. Players got as many swings at the tee as they needed to get that ball into the field.

The easy days of T-ball are now over.

Jason struck out a couple of times in his first game (which I missed. I'll explain below). But he also got some good hits. For example, he got his first RBI while at bat.

On Monday, I got to see him play with my own eyes.
He struck out the first time at bat. I was very nervous.

But then, on his fourth time up, he hit a home run. I was so excited. Mind you, I was trying to keep Baby Joshua from eating dirt, but I was so proud of my biggest boy. It wasn't the prettiest home run. He got back to home plate because the kids in the field kept dropping the ball. BUT, it was a home run, nonetheless, there were two other kids he brought home with him, and I got Jason in the dug out after the big play.

He looks a little stunned, doesn't he?



Meanwhile, Michael is also showing his sporty side.
I missed Jason's first game because I was holding down the fort at Michael's first soccer game.

He was totally into the action. He likes running. He does not like fighting for the ball.



Baby steps.
Until next weekend's games!!!!

Laugh box

Something funny has happened since Jason started first grade.

While Boy #1 is busy with reading, writing, and 'rithmetic, #2 and #3 are bonding.

I was surprised, too.

Doug is charged with the task of taming the morning madness. He wakes the boys up, gets their teeth brushed, he gets them clothed, he gets them fed. Whew!

Jason is dropped off at the bus stop first.

But, then, there's extra time before Doug needs to leave for work, so Michael and Joshua have time alone.

And, they have really started to take advantage of it, giving them the chance to play with each other. If you'll remember, Michael used to pretend the baby didn't exist.



Here's the baby trying to give his big brother a hug.
Aww.

So, the other day, I was tickling Joshua, and the baby was giggling away.

And Michael said, to me, "Mommy, stop doing that. If you keep tickling him, his laugh box won't work."

So then, I tickled both of them.

Here's one who is smiling these days, showing us the big gap from the loss of his other front tooth.



Enjoy your day!

Back to the drawing board

Another day, another picture.

This time the brothers tried to draw patterns.

Poor baby.

There's a moratorium on pens in our house now...

Baby love

It's tough to be the baby in our house.

Actually, Joshua has gotten it easy--so far.

In the beginning, Michael ignored him and Jason just wanted to hug him.

Now that Joshua is moving--and moving fast--the brothers (mostly Jason) are doing their best to knock him down.

Here's an example.

I left them in the living room for just a minute.



I came back and it looked like Jason was attempting to sketch a full-length portrait of some sort.



Thank goodness for soap, water, and a baby who didn't really mind getting scrubbed!

We're getting in the swing of things at school. Jason really is the one we were most concerned with because he is entering a new environment.

Michael has the same teacher, same school.
Michael asked me a question the other day, then answered it himself in a most interesting way.

He said, "Mommy, why do we go to school five days a week, then stay home two days?"

I didn't say anything, and then he said, "I guess it's because we need more learning."

First day of school

He will always be my baby.

But it looks like my baby may be growing up.

Cue the sappy music.

Jason entered the first grade today.



He stood at the bus stop with pal, Ethan, for the very first time. Ethan's mom, Kathy, huddled with them. He caught the big yellow school bus for the very first time. And despite the heavy rain, his brothers, Michael and Joshua, were there to watch him go. Daddy was there, too.



I missed the action, but I called Jason right before he was to leave the house. He sounded so mature.

"Hello?" he said.
He didn't sound nervous or scared. He seemed so oddly confident about heading to a new school.
And talk about big milestones. Jason lost his other front tooth the other day. That generous Tooth Fairy coughed up another $3 for that one. So, now he looks like a hockey player who had a really tough game.

He smiles just the same, only with a huge gap between his lips.



The boys didn't mind the rain, didn't mind the wait. Doug said when the bus came, both boys climbed onto the bus without looking back.

Thankfully, Jason waved from the window. And then they were gone.



I was able to pick him up from the bus stop.
The rain was still with us.

Jason ran down the stairs of the bus and gave me a hug.

He had an okay day, he said. Teacher was nice, bus driver not so much. The boys and girls in class were nice, let's go home and have a snack.

The first day of school is behind us, and the kids are just about in bed, ready to go back tomorrow.

And we're ready as well.

Labor Day weekend crush

We know what people did for the first part of the Labor Day weekend.
They were with us, at Busch Gardens.

We braved the crushing crowds and the crazy traffic to see the amusement park on Sunday. I don't think we'll try that again on a holiday weekend.

But, it was a wonderful time for the kids.
Truly.

We went once again with Claire, Mike, Tommy, and Elizabeth.
Joshua enjoyed his first ride. You can see he made the most of it.

But it was Michael who surprised us.

Or should I say "tough guy" Michael.

There were lines everywhere, but for some reason the line for Escape From Pompeii didn't seem too intimidating.
Doug suggested the boys get on that one.

The older ones, Jason and Tommy, immediately said no.

But Michael, he pondered for just a moment, and said, "Yes!!!"

While it is a ride that he has told us in no uncertain terms that he will NOT ride again, he did it once and he did it quite bravely. Doug said his face stayed expressionless through the entire ride. Same look as it went down that last big drop through water. But he did not cry and he only said, eyes enormous, in the beginning, "Daddy, I'm scared."

It was not his favorite ride of the day. That honor goes to the Wiggly Worm in the children's section of the park. But, he will always be able to say he rode it when his brother wouldn't.



And what was Jason doing?
Getting splashed by the ride car as it came down from atop that big hill.



The day didn't end with Busch Gardens. On no.
Sunday night, we took the kids to a cultural event.

The Virginia Symphony was playing outside and the weather was perfect. The kids honestly didn't pay too much attention, though. So much for culture.

Michael did listen for a minute and said, "I hear a guitar with a stick."

A guitar with a stick. That's it. He listened for the violin for about three seconds, then wanted a snack and something to drink.



Tomorrow's the first day of school. We're excited, nervous, but I think we're ready! Updates to come.