Park Day

We've had a fun week around here.  I want to blog more than once a week but truth be told there just isn't enough going around for more posts.

For Easter, Patrick's mom gave us these popsicle molds.   Barrett was so excited to try them out. (and then I didn't even get his picture enjoying one.)  Sister thoroughly enjoyed hers.

I can't handle the cuteness here.  Those glasses own me, too bad she won't keep them on for more than two seconds.

This big boy loves his glasses and needs them every time he's outside.

Donut Friday!! She nearly jumped out of my arms to point to that sprinkle one in the case. 

Saturday was "Park Day" at the ball park and our game was at 9:00.  Sister was not thrilled with the game time.  I had to wake her up at 8:15 and she mean mugged the whole time we were there.

This boy did so good.  He asked everyday last week if it was time for his game.  He has really enjoyed playing and he's already talking about next year. 

Something that I never expected is how much I enjoy watching Patrick with the boys.  We have a parent "coach" each base at this age and he's usually out there on second base and it is so sweet watching him high five each player as they come around. 

After the game we went over and let Barrett play games and bounce in the bounce houses.  We grabbed some lunch from the concession stand before we headed home. These BBQ nachos were so good.  They weren't as good as Big Bad Wolf in Tuscaloosa but they were good.  We came home and put AveryAnn down for a nap.  I had to head back to the park around 1:00 to work our team booth.  It was a hot, fun day.  We've only got 2 more games left this season. 

Sunday we got up and went to church.  The weather was supposed to get bad so we came home and watched movies.  Barrett asked to put on pajamas when he took off his church clothes.  I'm not sure if I should be proud or not.  We've watched The Secret Life of Pets 3 times in 24 hours.  It's Barrett's new favorite movie.  Tonight AveryAnn said "Mama", "Dada" and "Bubba" when asked.  She was so proud but I think Barrett might have been the most proud.  He really wants her to say Barrett but we told him that was a little hard for her to learn right now so we started with "bubba".  It's been a great weekend.  We're ready to tackle another week!

All American Weekend

We've had a long, busy weekend and it's been so much fun!

Friday night, Barrett had a game and he had quite the fan club.  That's one perk to a big family.  My older brother and his 4 kids have been coming to all the games along with my parents and Patrick's parents.  This week my sister and her husband got to come too.  So counting Patrick and me there were 13 people there to watch him.  Ragball is so much fun.  We were in the field first and the first four balls came right to Barrett.  He was so proud.  I love seeing how much they've improved in just a few short weeks.

  The Magnolia Festival carnival was going on and Barrett saw them setting it up on Monday and has asked everyday if we could go.  SO we promised we'd go after the game.  It was so crowded by the time we got there.  But they got to ride several rides and had the best time.  AveryAnn was a trooper the whole night.  It was already her bed time while we were at the ball park but she rallied and made it through the carnival.  She loved looking at all the lights and people watching.

Barrett asked at least once a day this week when he could ride the dizzy dinosaurs.  He was so happy to finally be riding them.

She slept until 10:30 Saturday morning to make up for the late bedtime.  Saturday we went to Patrick's nephew, Nathan's birthday party.  We had a nice time visiting with everyone.  We left AveryAnn with Patrick's parents because we had tickets to go to the Barons game with Jeremy, Jessica and Jackson.

The game was supposed to start at 6:30.  When we got near the stadium it was raining and lightening so we decided we'd go get something to eat first.  The radar didn't look promising and we really thought the game would be called.  We called and they said they were going to try to start at 7:20.  Well we somehow ended up at Chuck E Cheese.  I'm still not sure how this happened or why we let this happen.   

We let the boys play, ate our pizza and then decided to head back to the game.  It was already the 7th inning and the game was tied.  We'd already bought our tickets so we thought we might as well use them even if it was only two innings.  

Barrett insisted I carry him on my back.

They were so cute watching and playing. 

This was my first time at the new Regions Park and it's so nice.  We just did general admission and the boys loved being able to run and play on the grass.

Their personalities are so different but they are the best of friends.

The Barons hit a grandslam to go ahead in the 8th inning and brought home the "W". 

We sat and rocked waiting for them to shoot the human canon ball after the game.   Barrett was terrified it was going to be loud and Jackson ended up down right at the fence to watch it.  After the man was shot out and went flying both boys turned around and ran towards each other yelling, "DID YOU SEE THAT!!!"  like it was the coolest thing either of them had ever seen.  It was so funny.  After the game I asked Barrett what his favorite part was and he said "The shooting."

The top picture was done 10 years ago at my niece's birthday party.  We were so young.  The bottom two were Saturday night.  Time flies when you're having fun.

After another late night everyone slept late this morning and then the kids and I went to Mass.  We came home now we're relaxing and watching Trolls.  We had so much fun this weekend, I don't want it to end.  Although my kids definitely need to be in bed on time tonight. 

Easter Weekend

We kicked off Easter weekend Thursday with Barrett's Easter party at school.  They made these adorable bunny shirts and he was working that tail.  It was so cute!

He was so excited we were there. 

Sister got a cookie and she was very happy.  (She was pretty cranky other than this moment.)

My friend Cristi took this one.  He's already learned that chicks dig babies.

Bunny on a bicycle.  He insisted he wear his bunny shirt again on Friday.

Saturday was the annual Egg hunt at church.  This used to be the highlight of the weekend for the Maxwell kids.  It's so much fun getting to take my own kids now.

AveryAnn isn't walking yet but she didn't let that stop her.  She got two eggs, one for each hand, and she was so happy.  Hope and Madelyn came to hunt eggs.  I'm sad we didn't get a picture of them together.  They were so cute!

Patrick took Barrett to his age group area and they found them all in record time.  By the time I got over there they were all done. 

Barrett was a little upset that he didn't get the Golden egg. 

We left there and headed to my Grandmother's house for lunch.  AveryAnn took a little nap in the car but she was a little whiney.  Madelyn will give hugs now and it's the sweetest thing ever.

I don't even know who took this picture but it was on my camera and its so sweet. 

The Easter bunny made a stop by the Horton house.  We don't do big baskets.  Our kids are rotten and get baskets at each of our parents houses too so we keep it simple. 

I love these of them together with their baskets.  They have both grown so much since last Easter.  It makes me happy and sad.

She adores her big brother and I hope they always love each other.

Best one I got of them both in their dress clothes.  Barrett has gotten so much better about taking pictures.  He just hams it up for the camera these days.  After Mass we went to my parents house for lunch.  It was nice to visit with everyone. 

This is the best it got for the family picture.

I look 45 and Barrett looks 10.  AveryAnn's smile is adorable.  She was trying to get Barrett and he was not having it.  I'm so thankful for my little family. 

We left my parents house and headed home for AveryAnn to take a nap.  Barrett wanted his picture made in front of the blooming azaleas we planted a couple of months ago.  They are still small but had so many blooms this year.  I was kind of shocked.  After naps we went to the Horton's for dinner.  AveryAnn was over all of it and wouldn't eat anything.  Then she wouldn't even sit in the highchair so Patrick and I could eat.  She finally calmed down and was pleasant enough for us to stay and visit for a while. We were on our way home and Barrett saw the big cross at GFBC or his old school as he called it, and said "That big cross looks just like the cross Jesus died on."  I guess he is listening sometimes. 

Weekend Review

I've listened to podcasts on and off for a while now.  I've been working by myself a lot over the last four months so I've been listening to them all the time.  I've found several that I listen to weekly and can't wait for the next one to be available.  One of my newest favorites is Arc Stories.  My sister told me about it and I was hooked after the first episode.  I listened to all 50 episodes in about a week.  It's based here in Birmingham and it's basically just people telling stories.  All the stories are told in front of a live audience and it's just super entertaining.  I've laughed and cried while listening.  They have a live event every month and this month's was Friday night at the Botanical Gardens.  I'd tentatively marked in on my calendar but wasn't sure I'd find anyone to go with me.  My sister texted me and told me they were going if I wanted to tag along.  I talked to Patrick and he said he'd go too.  He didn't really get it what it was all  about but said he'd give it a try.  It was a beautiful night to hang out in the park. 

Y'all, we were so surprised at how much fun it was. There were six storytellers.  They were all so good.  We laughed so much and just had the best time.  It was something different and fun for a little date night.  We're already planning to definitely go to the one around Christmas.  (I hope we get to one before then though.)

Saturday I picked up the kids from my parents and we hung out at home all day.  It was nice to not have to be anywhere. 

Sunday we went to church and then lunch at my parents.  Barrett begged for them to hide Easter eggs for him to hunt.  Which they of course did and he had a ball.  That afternoon we had ragball pictures.

They were running behind schedule so it took longer than we expected but Barrett did great. 

Barrett complained about his ear hurting all weekend but it didn't seem to serious.  It usually hurt the worst when it was time for him to do something he didn't want to do.  Well Monday he woke up with a fever so I decided to go ahead and take him in.  Ear infection, both ears.  Since he was running a fever I couldn't take him to the office with me and I have a lot of work to do this week.  (The next two weeks are two of the busiest weeks of the year for me.)  Thankfully my dad was working from home and said he could keep them.

If you have to go to the doctor you might as well look cute.  By that afternoon he was feeling better and Dr. Farr said he could resume normal activity as soon as he felt like it so we went to practice.  We had the best time at practice.  All the parents are really involved and it was so much fun.  I was helping get the kids to first base after they hit the ball. After practice I told Barrett how proud I was and how much fun I had with him and he said, "I'm proud of you for helping coach Mama."  I laughed so hard. 

We planted some azaleas a few months back and they bloomed this week and they were so pretty.  They're not very big but they had so many flowers.  We are loving this time in life.  Its hard and most some days I want to run away but it's also really, really sweet.  Barrett and AveryAnn really adore each other and we're just trying to soak it all up. 

Barrett's First Ragball Game

I never thought I'd be wearing blue and cheering for Morris but here I am.  Barrett's first game was supposed to be Monday night but due to the rain was rescheduled for tonight.  It was a beautiful night to be at the park.  Our little team only had one official practice so we knew it was going to be a sight for sure.

Patrick and Barrett watched the team play before us so get a better feel for the game. 

Sister is usually in bed by 7:00 so the 6:45 game time was cramping her style a bit.

This was just half of his cheering section.  He was so funny watching everyone in the stands.  He could barely bat for looking in the crowd.

He is so proud of that uniform (Or costume as he first called it)

His first ever at bat.

Getting a pep talk from Daddy.  It was a fun first game.  He had fun and that's all that matters!  We're looking forward to the rest of the season!