Darrin left on Thursday for two away games in Alabama, so I had some company in my bed. Miles slept there all night and Carson joined us sometime early in the morning. It won't be long until he figures out that Miles gets to sleep in my bed when Darrin is gone.
Trying to get both kids ready and to school when Darrin is out of town is no fun. We managed...barely. Miles loves to work mazes and word finds in the car.
Carson was saying "giddy up horsey" with his shoe laces that he untied. I guess I should be happy that he wasn't screaming and crying in the car.
Carson had Trike-a-thon for St. Jude on Friday which meant that I also had to get his tricycle and helmet to school. He told me all about the track when I picked him up. One of his classmates is currently fighting Leukemia so Trike-a-thon was extra important this year. They all have shirts for her too, which he has one. She's doing really well, but it's still a hard road.
I couldn't wait to get home on Friday and watch Darrin's game online. Miles and I yelled and cheered them onto a victory!
Carson watched Paw Patrol and ate ice cream, but we were very thankful that he entertained himself during the game. I told him to come in the living room so I could take his picture and this is what he did.
On Saturday morning, we ran a few errands before we had to leave for Miles' baseball tournament in Mississippi. We had to go to Lowe's to get some more sand for Carson's sandbox which proved to be a great decision b/c he played with it so much during the baseball games. We also went to Dollar Tree and got a few new things for his sandbox and some snacks.
I decided to get to Mississippi early so we could check in the hotel and watch part of Darrin's game in the room before we had to leave for the field. Unfortunately, they couldn't pull off a win, but it was still good to be able to watch. We had to take our Apple TV to the hotel so we could watch it on the TV. Things never seem to go as planned, but we actually got there on time and got the game going just as it started.
Miles was the starting pitcher in the first game on Saturday and he did a really good job. He had a pretty good weekend overall. I was happy for him.
Saturday was Darrin's birthday! He and I are getting away this coming weekend to celebrate our birthdays and our anniversary, but his team hooked him up on his special day.
Miles played two games on Saturday and won both! His team has been in bit of slump, so it was fun to watch them play well and win. Carson loves to go to the games. He has so much fun being outside and playing with the other siblings. Miles is batting in this pic.
After Darrin's game, he hitched a ride with a player's dad to where we were. It was 3 hours, but it was on his way home. He stayed with us in the hotel and went to Miles' game today.
Miles' first game was at 9:30am which is good for our family of early risers. It's no fun being stuck in a hotel room waiting on a game. Carson enjoyed some play time with the other baseball siblings. They ended up losing their first game and we headed home.
Getting home early gave us time to do some laundry and a little work outside.
Carson was a pretty good traveler this weekend. We had a rough patch on the way home b/c he was so tired, but honestly everyone was grumpy. It's early bedtimes for everyone tonight. Our week isn't quite as busy and for that I am very grateful. Everyone but Carson has been fighting allergies for a couple weeks now. I'm hoping this week will give us a change to get rid of our summer colds and get caught up on our sleep. Good night!
Darrin had his first conference game last night and they won! It was an away game, but just 1.5 hours away. I'm so glad I was there. It was a great game and fun atmosphere, especially to walk away with a win.
Darrin checked Miles out of school early so he could ride the bus to and from the game. It was a surprise and he loved it. He thought he was riding with me after school.
Marmee came up to stay with Carson, so she was here this morning while we hurried through our crazy morning routine.
It was a quick trip for her, but we were so thankful that she came to stay with Carson since he is 100% opposed to anyone but grandparents watching him right now.
My mom brought our birthday presents a little early so we opened them this morning. I told Miles not to get my face since I hadn't fixed my hair.
Darrin said that was weird, but I'd say he nailed it.
I typically don't do stuff like drive 1.5 hours to watch a 7pm match on a work night. I've learned to say no for my sanity. But, I'm glad I made the effort to be there last night. The kids get most of my energy these days, so I was glad to do something for Darrin and for me since I love to go :)
I couldn't get my pictures to upload last week, so I thought I would photo dump everything from my phone tonight. Darrin had his first home game last Tuesday. We are so excited and hopeful for this season.
They had a battle on their hands, but won in five sets. I paid a babysitter and even though she ended up having to stay an hour longer than I expected, I'm so glad I was there to see the win. Carson, on the other hand, was not happy at all about the babysitter. He freaked out on her for the first 30 minutes, but then he was fine. She said that he told her "I'm glad you stayed" somewhere during the night.
Miles and I came home after the game and Darrin had to stay for a little while. Miles wrote Darrin a note. Miles was so proud of him. He has fallen in love with volleyball and he's as excited as we are about the season. The note mentions the team's four core values for the year, faith, family, grit, and gratitude. I told Miles that he was going to make Dad cry, and it most definitely choked him up.
Carson had a helicopter at school last week. To date, this is his favorite thing they've ever done. He keeps telling us about the BIG helicopter and wants to see pictures of it over and over.
Darrin hosted a home tournament this weekend, so Aunt Crystal and Uncle Steve drove down to watch a game. I actually stayed home with the boys and Granny during the Friday night game b/c Carson wasn't cooperating, so Crystal drove by quickly to see us.
She loves her nephews and they love her. Carson says "Kisstal".
Carson went right to both of them and gave them a hug. That doesn't always happen, so it's obvious he's comfortable with them. They have animals at their house, so there's that. He loves going there.
We had one game on Saturday. Miles loves to sit on the bench. I think that is what has made him become so interested. He says that it feels like you are in it when you sit on the bench.
Darrin is so gracious towards him. This was between sets. I asked Miles what he was telling Darrin and he said that he was just telling him good job. Darrin and I have both mellowed over the years. We often point it out when we see it in each other. This is an example of how he's changed. Early on, he never would have allowed Miles to be down there and especially not talk to him.
Pa and Granny stayed with us on Friday night. Once again I managed to not take any pictures. Pa took Miles fishing before anyone woke up. Pa and Granny got him a new fishing pole for his birthday and he's been wanting to try it. He was so excited. He was also excited that you could see his arm muscles :) He's been doing 20 sit ups and 10 push ups several days a week to try to develop some muscle tone. He's trying to build up to more, but that's all he could do at first. I told him that I used to do hundreds of sit ups and push ups a week when I was his age b/c I did competitive gymnastics. I think developing muscle tone that early in life has made working out a little easier for me other the years, so he's bought into my theory and is giving it a try. He has a calendar and is marking off the days.
We got to have some lazy Saturday time before the game. Carson ended up falling asleep and Granny stayed home with him while Miles and I went to the game. It was so nice to be able to go and watch without having to take him.
I always tell Darrin that he has a resting frown face. It's easy to think he's unhappy or in a bad mood. I saved a screen shot of his post game interview to prove my point. This was after a good win and he was happy. I rest my case.
Today was church and a million things around the house. I would have loved to rest, but I can't go into a week unprepared and therefore unorganized.
This week we have parent/teacher conferences for both kids, volleyball games, baseball, and work to name a few things. It's Darrin's birthday week too! Time to chill before an early bed time!
This picture is actually from last Thursday after his ENT appointment. We got a pass for six months. He said his ears look healthy and the tubes shouldn't be causing the ear infections. After talking with him, I think it's from the swimming this summer. Hopefully he will be fine now that they are healthy. Once again, he loved the doctor's visit.
Carson was very excited about Marmee coming. He was looking out every window while we were waiting for her to arrive.
The boys received birthday presents in the mail from Uncle Jeff, Aunt Jeree, and his cousins, Ben & Anna. Carson got a PlayMobil helicopter that Miles helped him put together and some sticker books that came in handy at the above mentioned ENT appointment.
Miles got a holder for his arrows and a book. The gifts were perfect and both boys were very happy.
On Friday night, Miles went to a friend's birthday party at a video game place called E-Gamers Café.
The place was pretty cool. Miles had "THE BEST TIME EVER." The birthday boy's mom is a friend. I asked her if she needed me to set up a Go Fund Me account since 22 kids showed up and you pay per kid. I guess when you have the coolest party ever everyone shows up.
Miles had games on Saturday and Sunday. The weather was beautiful on Saturday morning, but then it got hot.
The tournament was a fundraiser so they had several extras. Carson had a great time on the jumpies.
He was really good until the very end on Sunday, which was somewhat understandable. I ended up carrying him out surfboard style and almost fell over when I finally made it to the car. He fought me so hard.
Marmee came to watch the first game and then had to leave. Sadly this is the only Marmee pic from our weekend. I need to take more pics with people other than just Miles and Carson.
Carson was sad they didn't have popsicles. Italian Ice for the win.
They tasted like dish soap, but the boys seemed okay with it for some reason.
He used his spoon at first and then said, "I lick it." And so he did. The rest of his body was covered in dirt, so this was no big deal.
Miles' team is in a bit of a slump. They lost all three games this weekend. The last game was a tough loss that came in the bottom of the last inning.
Miles was excited at the chance to pitch on Saturday.
Carson had a few rough moments over the weekend.
I still have no idea what was wrong during this episode. I don't always take pics of him when he's losing his mind, but I wanted Darrin to see what was going down while he was away. I started to think he was feeling bad b/c nothing I offered helped. I finally gave him a Motrin and that helped calm him.
Darrin had a preseason tournament in Oklahoma. They went 2-2, but had some really good games. He has one more week of preseason and then conference starts. We are so excited to see how this season goes.
More baseball on Sunday. Darrin and I were going to take turns staying home with Carson, but we decided to take him to the afternoon game. I am so glad that we did. He had the best time playing in the dirt. If we would have been home, I'm sure we would have been inside b/c it was so hot. We were forced to be outside at the game and he loved it.
Miles is catching in the picture. He doesn't say much about how he feels about any positions other than pitching. I think he tolerates catching. He does a pretty good job at it. I think he's smart for his pitcher and hopefully makes him better.
Sometimes baseball feels like too much...too much travel, money, time, pressure, stress, etc....but then I see pics like these two and I love the fun he's having, the teamwork, and the lessons.
It was a fun weekend, but busy as always. We also had meal prep, laundry, and other things. I felt terrible at work all day. I had a headache and was drained. Sometimes I think the busyness and stress of life just catches up with you. My plan is to go to bed as soon as I hit publish so I can get at least 7 hours of sleep. Here's hoping I feel better tomorrow. I have a busy day at work and then I get to watch Darrin's team play at home! Go UU!
