New changes...

In other news, I finally have a logo for my business! Banana Hannah Designs is moving right along!

Gracie's Meet

I took Grace to Corinth this morning for her meet. She did really well and I was able to video her events. For those that are interested, here you go! This was her first vault.

This was the second vault.


The bars...


Floor...

Whirlwind...

We have had a busy Saturday! I woke up this morning at 6:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. On any other day, I can't seem to wake up! The injustice of that... Of course, the kids were up early too. I went for a run and when I came back, I let in the dog and found this.

This was Gibson's target box for his bow and arrows. It is no longer...
Because that dog is not mine, (why is it that we as parents think that we need to provide our children with a dog?) I immediately went and found his two oldest owners, armed them with trash bags, and sent them to take care of their charge.

Grace kept asking why they were being punished. By the time that they were finished, she wouldn't even look at Jones and she locked him in the garage for awhile.

Gibson felt bad for Jones and kept telling him that it was ok and asking if he could give him a treat. I'm just glad that the kids are getting big enough to clean up after the dog and that I don't have to do it all the time!

After they got all of that cleaned up, Gib got in his uniform and we were off for the ball field. I have kissed my dreams of having a little MLB player goodbye. Gibson is only on the team for the snack. After the game was over (they got killed by the way. The other team was like a major league team. They knew what to do with the ball, they were organized. Meanwhile, our team was rolling around on the ground, taking off their gloves and slapping the ground and picking their noses.), Gibson informed me that he didn't really want the snack. He really wanted a snowcone. He had seen another kid get one from the ice cream cart. The kid with the snowcone was standing behind home plate while Gib was catching and Gib got so caught up in watching the kid chomp his snowcone, that the umpire had to tell him to turn back around and focus on the game. We went in search of the ice cream cart that had magically disappeared. We had to settle for a slurpee.

After the ball game, Shane and I met some friends for lunch at the Yucatan Taco Stand. Talk about some yummy food! Shane has eaten there before, and I had wanted to try it for awhile. It was wonderful.

My iPhone had died, so we headed to the Apple store to see what they could do for it. Come to find out, there was water damage to the phone and it was completely ruined. I am convinced that one of my many children did something to it. We have bought an indestructible case for the new one.

On a happier note, Hayden did number 2 in the potty for the first time tonight!!!! Do you hear the crowds roaring?!!!! Dad took him to get a prize and he told everyone in the store that he was a big boy and he poo-pooed in the potty. Here's to many more gifts in the potty!

Tomorrow, we have a gymnastics meet and we are about to do fruit-basket turnover with the kid's rooms. I'm tired just thinking about it!

Favorite part...

From the last post it is obvious that Gibson is playing t-ball. Last year was a little rough. My son was the number one flower-picker on his team. While everyone else was running in a herd after the ball, my son was sneaking toys in his pocket and playing with them on the field. My favorite moment from last season was Gibson fielding on second and talking to EVERY person that got to his base.

"How are you? My name is Gibson. I have a new glove. Did you get a new glove?"

At one point during that game, a little girl from the opposing team stopped at second with Gibson and was examining his glove and carrying on a complete conversation during the game. Meanwhile, her mother was sitting next to me in the stands, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Stop talking to that kid! Run to the next base!" Yep, one of my prouder moments.

We were pretty surprised when Gibson asked to play ball again this year. After last year, our general perception was that he really couldn't care less. Anyway, we signed him up and we are into our season. Tonight, Gibson had a really hard time listening to his coaches. He really didn't want to participate and was really only interested in playing on the playground. I caught him once as he sneaked off and I had to send him back to his team. He got in trouble a couple of other times for not listening. After practice, Shane was talking to him and was asking him if he really even wanted to play ball and telling him he had to listen, etc. Gibson was listening about as intently as a 5 year old listens. After a minute of talking to Gib, he asked, "What do you like most about playing baseball?"

Gibson answered quickly, "I like the end, when it's over."

Nothing like a good, honest answer. He later said that he likes the end the best because of the snack. That's even better. I'm giving up an evening and a morning every week for a snack.

Watch out Sports Illustrated, here we come.

Monkey Bears

Well, it is that time of year again. Baseball. T-ball, actually.

Shane came in a few weeks back and was telling me that it was almost time to sign up for t-ball. The next day, Gibson was telling me how he was "missing the guys on the field." So, he is on the Monkey Bears (keep in mind that a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds picked the team name.) team and we have had a couple of games.

This last weekend I was on my own since Shane was working. I told Grace that I was going to need her to babysit and she came through in the clutch. She brought bubbles and other little activities and did a fantastic job. The coaches daughter was out there too, so Grace watched all of them.

She had them all lined up several times. It was very cute.

Here are my two cheese balls...

This was Gib at his at bat. His swing was not that enthusiastic and he missed it a couple of times before finally making contact.

He took a turn at catcher.

I got the mom of the year award with his shirt. We were running a little late (what's new?) getting ready for his game and I was afraid that we would be late. I ran in his room and grabbed the yellow shirt hanging in his closet and didn't realize until we got there with the rest of his team, that I grabbed his soccer shirt, not his t-ball shirt. The team colors are gold, not the bright yellow that he is wearing. My image conscious son was a little peeved with me. Oh well, maybe next time...

Turtles, Snakes and Alligators

Shane's job places him in contact with lots of people with various connections. He had a big outdoor family event at the center this weekend and these visitors were part of the show. At the end of the day, their home wasn't open (since it was around 11:30 p.m.), so they got to spend the night on my dining room table. Of course the kids were thrilled to hear that we were having visitors, and Gib and Grace made sure to stay awake until Dad got home. Hayden couldn't make it and had to check them out in the morning.

Of course, here is the red eared slider, just like our two pet turtles. This one was a baby, and even I had to admit he was pretty cute.



Grace was willing to hold this one. After that...nada.

There were several different kinds of turtles. All of the animals were in plastic containers.



This never came out or the lid opened. It's hard to see in the picture, but this is a baby alligator...on my dining room table.

Gibson was all about this corn snake. No fear. He is my future park ranger.

Hayden...not so much. Shane asked him if he wanted to hold it and he quickly answered, "no." No hesitation, didn't have to think about it. He did agree to a tiny touch.

Hold your horses!

I know from living and growing up in, and cooking for a large family, that kids eat a lot. So far, our kids have had pretty small appetites. Our grocery bill has been average. No big deal. Well...

Over the last month, appetites have started growing. Food has been disappearing faster. We are on the verge of ridiculous. Since Friday, our family has consumed a dozen and a half eggs, three and a half gallons of milk, a loaf and a half of bread, a full box of cereal, half of a Sam's size box of gogurts and two full bunches of bananas. That's not even counting the regular food I have made for dinners! What is happening?! I thought this didn't happen until junior high or something!

I'll be back, I've got to run to the store.

Only the beginning...

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday and while at church, the kids all got palm leaves and we had communion. During the service, Gibson was asking lots of questions about the palm leaves and why we were choosing this Sunday to have cool things to shake at our sister instead of listening quietly like we are supposed to do. During this whispered exchange of what the leaves were for, be quiet, leave your sister alone, etc., I had a God-inspired idea. The idea was to take the week before Easter and read through the book of Matthew before Easter Sunday, so that the kids would have the whole story before Easter morning and would be prepared to understand all of the things that were being discussed during the service and in Sunday school.

I know that there are more detailed books than Matthew, but I figured, if we are starting at the beginning, we might as well start with the first gospel. Sunday night we started with the birth of Jesus and the coming of John the Baptist. Each night after, we read about the miracles of Jesus and how much the people loved Him and how much other people hated Him.

Some nights were really difficult to fit it in. It was late and I was tired. I wanted to quit a couple of times and blow it off, but the kids' enthusiasm to listen was contagious. It was great to watch child-like innocence with stories that I have heard so many times, that I forget the awe and worshipful admiration that should accompany the recounting. Last night, we finished with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Grace and Gibson both found it hard to believe that someone who was so compassionate to others, could be killed and have others be so cruel to Him.

We finished with the verse: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19

Out of habit, I said my customary line that comes at the end of a story, "The End." The kids said thank you and good night and I tucked them in. I felt like my heart was pricked for the rest of the evening. After this fabulous story, that is not it. It is not "The End." The story that was read, is not a story at all. This is the life blood of my life. These words and this man that came to earth, died, and rose again for you and for me, are the reason that we have purpose in our existence.

It is not "the end" at all, it is only the beginning...

Happy Easter.