Another Incredible Day

My precious fella and I just had a great day all the way around today!! He and I just enjoyed the outdoors and doing "stuff". Most of this "stuff" centered around baseball but that's okay too. Whatcha gonna do when your kiddo thinks that baseball is the best activity in the world? As a kid, I don't think being outside in the heat was my idea of the greatest time ever....things have sure changed as an adult for me. I think Hayden was God's way of getting me up and moving. :-)
As soon as I got back from getting my toes painted - (tan because Hayden thought that would look great - his first choice was blue ---yikes -- maybe I will get him interested in red or pink sometime), my biggie boy got a shower -- did not really want to do so BUT he did have baseball practice the night before and he was somewhat filthy!!! Then we headed to the park. There were not a lot of people there - so that made it even more enjoyable!!
While we were at the park, Hayden wanted to practice batting. I, of course, cannot pitch to him overhand so we just had to improvise. As we were practicing, a "walker" came by and told Hayden how good he was doing and how lucky he was that Mom was out there practicing with him. He thanked her and then wanted to know if it was not like that for everybody that their Mommas played with them and practiced with them. (Good thing the kiddo did not ask for a gift card at Toys R Us at the time, I probably would have immediately gone and gotten one since he thought this was the norm ... it just melted my heart). I wish it was that way for all kids but I'm just so thankful that God has blessed us in ways that make it possible for my kiddo!!
After we played at the park, Hay and I went to the baseball complex and watched his best bud Ethan play baseball. Hayden got to keep the scoreboard and he liked that immensely except when he noticed other kids playing on the playground and he needed to go do that for a while too. :-) When Ethan's game was over, he and Hayden played out at the complex pretending to have another game. Those two are just too much!!
Finally it was time to return home and check on Daddy. He has a terrible cold. We gave him lots of peace and quiet yesterday which was great for him. Hayden had pizza for supper, watched another baseball game on television and then retired to sleep! Whew, makes me tired thinking about it!

Party at the Frosty Palace

On Saturday, we all went to Miss Scarlett's birthday party. Her momma outdid herself yet again. The party was Grease themed and the kids hung out at the Frosty Palace. :-) How cute is my little greaser?Here is the birthday girl heading down to check things out at the party.....
Hayden and Ethan did LOTS of dancing which was so fun to watch but this cracked me up. They did the "fight" scenes too. It was hysterical - all the acting going on.This photo is not good. I tried to enlarge it. I was taking it behind the Momma of the sweet little girl in this photo. Hayden could not stand too close because....this is Ethan's girl! (But aren't they too cute?)Here is the birthday girl. Isn't she just precious? She and Hayden would make a great Sandy and Danny.

Blessed!

I am so very blessed this Mother's Day as I have been the previous 7 Mother's Days! God blessed me in ways unimaginable when He allowed me to be this kid's mommy, momma, mom! I love being a momma. It is the greatest thing in the world.

I am also blessed to have the world's best Momma! She is amazing. Through all I put her through (and man was there a lot), she loved me and stayed right there for when I fell (which she knew I would). On top of being an amazing Momma, she is an INCREDIBLE Mommaw. I know three kids who could not have asked for a better one given any choice in the matter.

Happy Mother's Day! Hope everyone's was as blessed as mine.

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.