Home Run
24 AugThis weekend, we got to take the kids to their first Major League Baseball game thanks to my thoughtful boss, Sue, who offered us tickets. It was great!
Nia Lovin' the Game
The kids had a blast – eating way too much tasty stadium food, waving their foam finger and foam tomahawk, watching the fireworks explode after a home run and dancing to the funky beats that would thump the seats during non-play time.
Go Braves!
They are now official baseball lovers. Nate was trying to pitch just like the pros during the game – lifting his one leg in the air and jerking his body forward to throw his strike. (We had to keep telling to be careful not to hurt himself in the limited space he had near his seat.) Nia enjoyed reading the program with her daddy. He would point out each player as they came to bat and tell her how they did the last time they took the plate and what position they played.
Cutie in a Baseball Hat
Since we got home from the game, all Nate wants to do is play ball. When we’re in the house we pretend that we are pitching to him and he swings a foam bat – he will only take off running if we make firework noises and the tomahawk chop because that meant he had a home run.
Tonight, we put pretend aside and had the kids batter up outside. We all took turns pitching, hitting and playing catcher, even as a few sprinkles fell on us. Nate and Nia hit a few “home runs” but it was Daddy who hit it out of the park.
Taking in the Game with Chips
A baseball family has been born!
Happy Game Watchers
Swing Sets are So Worth It
28 AprEver since we moved from Savannah, we’ve been wanting to get an outdoor play set for the kids. It was a decision that didn’t come lightly. Andrew really wanted to make sure he was getting one that would last. He did online searches, he ordered the catalogs, he researched the wood used to make different ones – this was not a spontaneous purchase.
Yay!
Some of the sets we saw cost thousands of dollars (quite a few cost more than both of our cars!). Of course, we weren’t going to get one of those, but we wanted what those offered – installation and a good warranty. In the end, we found one we all liked –
It’s the baby of all the Rainbow play systems and it’s perfect for us! It has all the features the kids love and the peace of mind and quality that Andrew loves (it’s also made in the USA and plants 5 trees for every one they use). I’m just happy the kids finally have a fun outdoor place to escape to and enjoy. I love that Nia and Nate can just walk outside whenever they want now and swing their little hearts out! Mom and Dad can even get in on the fun – it’s built to hold the “big kids” too!
Bouncy Birthday
28 AprI’m just so glad Nia enjoyed herself. I’m finding it’s getting harder to keep coming up with different, fun ways to celebrate the kids’ birthdays. After this party, it seems like we can’t go wrong with jumpy places!
Love you Sweets!
Birthday Bliss
Because Barbie Rocks
12 MarI totally was all like, “Mooommmmy, I have to have them! Puhleeze!” And this may be T.M.I. but I also wished I could “Weird Science” that Derek doll and make him come to life. He was my dream man. (Not the Michael Bolton looking one – the tall, dark and handsome drink of water.) Step off Barbs. Step. Off.
Another Barbie thing that cracked me up – this week’s “Infomania
.” This had me laughing so hard I was crying, squealing and gasping for air. I love it!
Brunch with “Barbie”
8 MarGlitter, jewelry, pink and purple decor, cupcakes, little girls dressed in their Barbie best and a teenager in a prom dress posing as the plastic doll come-to-life. Brunch with Barbie was a blast!Our town’s little library was so nice to offer Barbie fans this free event and I think the ladies running the show were quite surprised by the turnout. Several times, I heard them breathlessly say, “I hope we have enough for everyone. We didn’t even have half this many people last year.”
It was so packed that they quickly ran out of foam crowns to decorate and the jewels to dress up those crowns were being rationed (three to a child although Nia had a few more because I struck gold when I glanced at the floor – it was covered in sparkles of dropped jewels), the chip bowls didn’t even have crumbs left and people crowded around to take a picture with “Barbie.” Nia got her turn and was a little shy – after all, she was sitting next to Barbie!
Nia and "Barbie"
I also had her pose with another girl who I thought could have been Barbie. She was someone just attending the event but when I saw her (mini-dress, high-heels, make up and all), I felt compelled (and entertained) to ask her for a picture. (I was cracking myself up.)
Nia and a Girl I Thought Could be Barbie
Nia and I had great time and I’m so thankful that our library hosted such a nice event. Sure, there were a few (ungrateful) moms I heard complaining (“My little girl didn’t get to decorate a crown!” “They really didn’t plan well for this.”) but, for the most part, people were positive and patient. Nia and I wore smiles on our faces the whole time and I would make it a point to let the frantic ladies wearing “Friends of the Library” buttons know that we thought it was all wonderful. It seems we were actually kind of rewarded for our praise too – at the end of the event, Nia’s name was pulled from a big bowl of raffle tickets. She won the Barbie Grand Prize!
Nia Won the Big Barbie Prize!
The basket was filled with all sorts of goodies, including a Barbie. Tonight, that Barbie is being cuddled by Nia. As I was tucking them both into bed Nia told me, “This Barbie had to spend a long time in that basket huh Momma? But now, she gets to be with me.” I told her that meant that Barbie was really lucky because being with her was the best place she could be. In typical Barbie form, she closed her eyes, smiled, made a dramatic “that is so sweet” noise and said, “I love you Momma.”
Are You Zhazha? 
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