Finally

Hayden's baseball team finally won a game on Thursday night. My goodness it was fun to watch. These little fellas had really been struggling but on Thursday they all played well together and for the most part kept their heads in the game and not in the grass and dirt below them.
Hayden is not one of the kids to play in the dirt but he has from time to time gotten caught up in the silliness. AND there are times his parents forget that he is 7 and is going to have those lapses in behavior. (I know you are shocked at that right?)
He is finally getting his swing back. Bless his heart, he had been struggling with that this Spring. He was not standing like he usually does. It was really disheartening for him. Not this game though. In this game, he really hit the ball well and boy was he proud.

I'm still working on the settings for night time pics and not doing so well, obviously. But I needed to have a photo of Hayden playing shortstop. He was not really happy about it at first but then decided that it was pretty cool.
Here he is finally getting that stance back.....He has definitely lost some weight since the Spring Ball season started. Once he gets to playing baseball, sitting inside the house is completely out. We do not watch television, play videos, we are outside.

This is after he hit a triple (and I have to admit it was a real triple not a single with two errors - man, he dislikes it when I tell him that after his games even if it is the truth) Luke put the ball in play and this kiddo was on his way home.....

This is in the dugout after the ballgame. He was a bit miffed because he did not get the game ball. The coaches give it to the kid who did the best or had a hit after not getting one so.....you know our little guy was thinking it is me, me, me....but his friend Matthew got his first hit of the season so he got the ball (Of course Hay's comment was "but he used my bat" - he did not say it to anyone but his Momma and Daddy though and then I share it here. (Terrible, terrible Momma)

I will say that I think I was more excited than the boys were that they won. In fact, I made that comment to one of the other mommas who was so excited too and a dad from the opposing team (who by the way had not lost a game this season) said "Yea, I heard you". Well, duh... of course he heard me....what kind of Momma would I be if I was not out there cheering for these guys to let them know how proud we all are of them. (Of course, I also come from a long line of "loud supporters". Right Mom?)

These boys may not win another game but Thursday night will definitely be a memory for all of them!!

Our Kid

Last week, I told Hayden if he had a really good day at school, we would do something special. So when he called me after school and told me he had a great day, I asked him what he wanted to do and he said "Go to the park". How cool is that? Free and fun.......Anything outside makes this kiddo of ours happy. I just love the concentration on Hay's face in this photo. Everything he does requires such intense thought (well everything except the talking at school. ha) Such a terrible Momma I am....I took this picture not realizing that Hayden had hurt himself falling on those ropes. He had a pretty good spot under his chin from this. Oh well, memories right?
Obviously the greatest gift God ever gave any of us was His son who died on the cross for us but I have to say that the next best gift Harold and I ever got together was this special little boy. I cannot even remember what life was like before he got here. Did I happen to mention how much we love this kiddo?
If you get a chance today, go outside and enjoy God's world. There is nothing like it!

Birthday Party

Hayden and I went to Conway on Saturday for my niece's birthday party. She turned 7. Hayden is not really thrilled with that because they will be the same age until he turns 8 in (gulp) less than four months!!
Saturday was actually my nephew's birthday. I canNOT believe he is 12. Time has just flown. Here he is with Mommaw and Poppaw! Isn't he just so handsome?Poppaw and Mommaw with all the grands.
His favorite soccer team is the Arsenal. So you know I had to search far and wide to find gifts having to do with the Arsenal for him. (That's what any good Nannie would do, right?) I cannot even express how much this guy means to us. Hayden just adores him. I will always have a special place in my heart for him. He was our first little boy! Gosh, he is not little any more.
He is so psyched to be getting as tall as his Momma.
Now on to the birthday party girl....her party was at a gymnastics facility. The kids all had a grand time playing and being silly.
Waiting is sooooo hard.......
Even for cousins......
The rope swing into the pit was one of Hay's favorite activities....
Wouldn't it have been nice if I had not cut his head off in the picture? HAThere was a lot of running and we loved that.....
Two of my very favorite people.....aren't they beautiful?
My niece LOVES turtles so Hayden and I got a precious gift bag with turtles on it for her....I think she likes it as much as the gifts.....
A little surprised, maybe?
I think she liked this gift too!
Another photo of my pretty lil' sis
Silly little birthday girl.....(her momma will be so proud I got this picture)
There is just no telling what was going on here.....
More waiting.......
Aren't those attempts at smiles pitiful? These were two worn out puppies by this time in the party.

Best Buds

We spent Friday evening with our friends, the Cash family, at their home. It was a great time for all of us. Hayden and Ethan had a fantastic time. (even when the Dads were working them out pretty hard). I cannot imagine there is anything the two of them would rather be doing than playing some sports activity.
They worked on infield quite a bit which was really nice since neither of their coaches appear to think this is important. (Yep, had to get that little dig in there)




A big plus for our family is to get to see this precious little girl. Scarlett just makes my day any time I can be around here. She is so pretty and just full of imagination.

After the Dads worked the boys out pretty hard, it was time to hit up the water. These guys were worn out!!!

I think the best part for me in all of this is that these two have become fast friends. It is so nice to have a family to hang out with and everyone get along. We thank God that he brought this family into our lives to share many more times with along this path of life.

Bad?.... No Awful...... No Terrible

Okay I know I should not be this way. The boys are all 7 (although I do question whether that was true for the BIG kids they played last night. But they played terrible. It was just miserable. Hayden got so upset. The hat came flying off the head several times as he made his way off the field. The competetiveness, coupled with that short fuse, was so apparent last night.
After the game was over, Hayden noticed a couple of his teammates were crying. Of course, first he had to tell them NEVER cry on the baseball field. (Hmmm, wonder where he got that?) Then he told one of them we played with a good team in the fall, this year we play with "crump". Now I don't know what crump is and I think I probably don't want to know. When I asked my little friend why he said that...he very matter of factly told me, he was trying to not say a bad word. HA
I guess the good part is that they at least looked good in their uniforms. Shame on me. Hopefully they will be encouraged to at least try harder for the rest of the season.....I can dream right?



(P.S. I know these photos are blurry, etc. I have got to figure out what settings to use outside in the evening with the ball lights on.... Maybe I can figure that out during the remaining 13 games)

Easter Weekend

What a great Easter weekend we had. We began the weekend by going to Louisville to see Pitt play baseball. (Yea right) We went to see Ryan and Katy. If Hayden had his way, we'd go see Ryan every weekend. These two are just too fun to watch together. Hayden listens to Ryan more than he does any of us. He LOVES the attention. But mostly he just loves Ryan.
Here they are on the field on Friday evening. I was freaking out that Hayden was going to get red mud and dirt all over him. Silly me, the field is not real dirt....
After the game got rained out, we went bowling. It was just too much fun. Hayden has definitely not mastered the art of bowling but the boys beat the girls and that made him happy. HA
Katy and Hayden picked back up from this summer and just had a blast. We were so fortunate to get to share our weekend with her too!!!

One of my favorite Saturday afternoon photos.....

My other favorite Saturday afternoon photo
Saying goodbye is always so hard. Hayden went back two or three times to get "just one more hug"
Hayden slept a large part of the drive home. Harold and I had planned to sleep in and get up in time to go to church. But no.....we were awakened bright and early so our fella could see if the Easter Bunny had come.....
He loved finding those Easter eggs all over the house. It rained here all day on Sunday so the eggs were left by that bunny all over our house.
My very special fella in his Easter suit. He was so proud to have a tie on. (We are going to have to teach him to hold those chins up so the doubles don't show though....his Momma has been doing it most of her life....he should catch on quick)
How much do I love this precious boy?
By the way Poppaw he did get a haircut on Tuesday so his hair is much better now.
Hope everyone had a happy and blessed Easter and remembered the real reason for the celebration.