Double Digits

Today our Little Ronnie Lee turns 10!  It doesn't seem possible!  He can't be 10, can he?  It seems like only yesterday we welcomed him into this world in Ridgeland, Mississippi!  He still claims to be a southern boy!  

He joined our family and expanded our love in a way we never even dreamed possible.  Ronnie has taught us how to be parents and shown us how to love more sacrificially.  

I remember how he use to swing golf clubs at 2 years old.  I remember how he would follow after his Daddy no matter what he was doing!  He has always been a Daddy's boy.  He looks up to and models his Dad!

Now he's 10!  He's growing and changing and developing and maturing and learning and trying and contemplating!  Life is a big change right now for this little man.

He's nervous about a change of schools and yet excited to have be around new friends!  

He's a rule follower and a lover of knowledge!

He's a quiet thinker who is happy to sit and just be in thought!

And now our little man is 10!  Time flies!

  

He wanted a Party with Friends for his 10th 

(Kind of surprising for this quiet man, but another post to come on that)!

Today we celebrate our 10 year old!

Happy Birthday Ronnie Lee, we love you so much and are excited to see all the things your 10th year holds!

Aunt Barb and Cousin Dave

Sunday evening Aunt Barb and Cousin Dave came for a visit.  They hadn't been to visit in way to long and the kids were excited they were coming.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't corporate and it was rainy so they watched "The Perfect Game" and "A Mile in His Shoes" on Sunday evening and Monday morning.  (On a side note, these are both baseball movies, but excellent movies and great family fun for movie night)

Aunt Barb and Dave were both wanting to see the boys play ball and thankfully their game in Bryan went on as scheduled.  It was a great game to watch.  Ronnie pitched the first 2 innings and allowed 1 run!  In our first inning of batting we run ruled them by scoring 5 runs.  We scored 4 the next inning and we were on a role!

Nathaniel finally got the batting figured out and went 3 for 4 with 3 runs!

Nathaniel pitched our last 2 innings as the "closer" and WOW!

He had 4 strike outs and the other two outs he fielded and threw out at 1st!  It was a great 2 innings for him!

So it was a great game for Dave and Aunt Barb to watch too!

The kids were also excited to get in a game of kickball before they had to leave on Tuesday morning!

It was a quick trip, but a fun one!

Thanks for coming Aunt Barb and Dave - come back soon!

A Creative Loss

Eli is one of those kids who loves to loose his teeth.  From the moment he realizes they are a tiny bit loose he is "working" them and trying to get them out!  Before June he had lost 3 teeth.  

I pulled the first one out while he was talking and trying to show me how loose it was.  The 2nd, he tied to a doorknob and shut the door and the 3rd came out in a wrestling match with Daddy!  But these were not creative enough.

He had been bugging for several days when Dad finally said, "OK Eli how do you want to get it out?"  

His response, "well, we could either tie it to a baseball or tie it to the back of your truck."  

Since we're pretty sure the neighbors would not understand tying our 6 year old to a truck bumper (even with floss), we opted for the baseball :)

Eli was so excited!  

First we attached some floss to a baseball (tape)...

then we got a catcher ready.

Next the other end of the floss had to be tied to the loose tooth!

Then it was go time!

 {actually it wasn't}

  Not sure if he was backing out or what, but he barely tossed the ball and the string was so long that it just fell to the ground not even pulling at the tooth!

But he quickly regained his composure and tried again!

Success!

baseball and tooth

Proud Eli

With a BIG hole in his mouth!

I'm pretty sure this was not a dentist approved method, 

but it worked and he is already scheming for his next loose tooth!

I gotta keep my eye on this little guy!

Called Up and T-ball

Last week Eli got the call!

He was so excited.  A Pee-Wee (coach pitch) team had called to see if he would be willing to play a game with them.  They had some players who were going to be gone and needed another player.  He was thrilled!  

He did pretty good too.  He batted 3 times with a ground out, strike out and a single!  Not bad for his first time!

He played right field until the last inning when he was moved in to play 2nd!  He for sure preferred 2nd as it was a lot more action.  He stopped everything that came to him and didn't let the ball by!  

Then on Saturday it was his first day of T-ball!  He was tired after a Friday night game, but he gave it his all and got a few more good hits!

He's a pretty good base runner too!

He was also able to play the pitcher position - which in t-ball is where all the action is!  He loved that!

I'm still convinced that t-ball is a lot of socialization for Eli, but he loves it!  Loves to be around kids his age.  The bonus -he gets to play ball! :)

So now this week he is "called up" for another Pee-Wee team  and then t-ball again on Saturday!

13 Years

13 Years ago today I said "I do" to the Man of My Dreams!  13 years ago I stood before my family, friends and the people I hold dear and pledged to love in the best of times and the worst of times.  I promised to honor and cherish in sickness and health!

13 years ago, I didn't really know what life would hold.  I only dreamed of babies, not imagining there would be 3 handsome boys and a beautiful little girl who all 4 mirrored their handsome Daddy in so many ways.

13 years ago I had no idea there would be 5 moves in 3 states.  It was a distant thought that we would be loving on and serving God's people as their shepherd and guide.  

13 years ago I had no idea there would be surgeries, shingles, chicken pox, sickness, loss and pain.

13 years ago I had dreams and thoughts and plans on that bright June morning, but I had no idea really!

13 years ago I said "I do" and made a commitment to Love, Honor and Cherish!

This morning, I renew that Commitment!  I have no idea where the next 13 years will lead.  Graduations and parties and milestones and excitement (perhaps more babies - wow is that possible?  Our oldest would be 23).   I have no doubt that there will be tears and pain and sorrow intermingled in.

As we look back over the last 13 years and think of all the things our Amazing God has done.  I stand in Awe!  I am amazed that He would Bless me so abundantly!  I wouldn't even dream of spending those years with out the Man of My Dreams! 

Ronnie is what I called you back then.  You were the only Ronnie!  Now as we lead and direct and guide the next generation I am so Blessed to have you by my side.  So Honored to be in this Journey of Life with you!  So excited about where the Lord will lead us in the next 13 years - together!

Happy Anniversary Babe!  

I love you today more than I even dreamed I could 13 years ago!  Thank you for your love, your guidance, your care and for being YOU!

A "NicPic"

On Wednesday we went to Payne to my Grandparents.  Mom and Dad met us there and we walked to the Park for a picnic!

Maddie loves Picnic's and thinks they are even more fun now that Daddy "renamed" them...NicPic!  She couldn't stop saying it!

The boys loved the Caboose, but wished they could get inside.  They were climbing all over it.  I remember playing in it when I was little.  I guess they have had vandalism problems and had to lock it up since I was little.

Maddie can scope out a swing anywhere.  She has learned to keep it going herself which makes it all the more fun for everyone involved :)

Then the boys found this!  A huge tube like thing that they really got  a work out with!

They did push her in it - just stopped long enough to pose!

They were all over the park with this "tube" and I honestly took a lot more pictures, but I won't bore you with my rapid fire camera skills!

From the park we walked across the street to the drive in for our first Cones of the Season!  Yum!

We had a fun day with Granny and Gramps and Pap and Grandma!  We'll have to do it again!

Summer Fun

As I typically do, the last day of school I asked all 4 kids what was 1 thing they wanted to do this summer!

R - "Have Fun!"  

(I think we can handle that one)

N - "The things we have planned."  

(He's pretty excited about some ballgames that are planned as well as some vacation time and a trip with his Grandparents in late summer)

E - "Make a tree house and go play in it."  

(Not sure about the making - but we surely we find one to play in)

M - "Chew Bubble Gum" 

(well that wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but we'll see what we can do)

We have a busy fun filled summer ahead of us!  We're planning to make the most of it and make lots of memories!  Hope you are looking forward to summer too!

Update on Baseball

Even though I haven't been updating on the Baseball, it's still happening!  The boys have played 7 games and are 4-3!  They were so excited on Monday night to finally win against a Bryan team!  YEAH!  Bryan is a bigger town north of us and we are playing against 5 of their teams this season - finally we won against them. Of course it was a game when Daddy had to be gone.  He's in Michigan this week for his Annual Conference, so I took pictures for him!

We started the game batting and right away in the first inning we scored 5 runs before they could get their 3 outs.  (5 runs is Bryan's run limit)

 Ronnie started off the first 2 innings on the mound.  He had 4 strike outs in those 2 innings but also allowed 2 runs!

The most exciting play though was the pitcher (Ronnie) to SS (Nathaniel) for an out at 2nd.  

There was a 2nd base runner and he kept leading off and was in no hurry to get back to the base.  Ronnie made eye contact with Nathaniel who snuck in behind the runner and was able to tag him out!  Only brothers who practice in the backyard together could have made it so smooth, it was fun to watch!

The boys have neither one had real hot bats this season, but Ronnie did get a single on Monday night and stole his way around to score!

The 5th and 6th inning Nathaniel took the mound.

Nathaniel was on fire.  He also let in 2 runs, but in 2 innings had 6 strike outs.

Nathaniel gets so frustrated when he bats - especially when the above happens.  He is still realizing that when you walk it is still getting you on base.  He really just wants to nail the ball!

Both boys are doing great and having fun.  They were so excited to beat Bryan and their play continues tomorrow night at home against a Tinora team - with Daddy back!

Kasen

Last weekend was Graduation around here.  We had only 1 Senior in our churches and it was Kasen.  Kasen is a neat guy that our 4 absolutely love to be around.  He is a 16 year old who has shared his talents with our Farmer congregation for the last year.  He is multi-talented.  He sings, plays piano, guitar and many other instruments!  He is incredibly smart (did you catch that he graduated at 16?).  He is also very down to earth.  The best part about him - He loves Jesus!

He is the kind of kid you want your children to have as a role model!  

There were tears around our house when I explained that Kasen would be going off to college in the fall.  The really bad thing is that Ney doesn't have a Bio-Med degree - so he is going out west.

All 4 kids were thrilled to go to his Graduation Party and that he would take time to get a picture with them!

Last Day

Friday was the kids last day of school (Eli has been done since his graduation).  I think it was a little emotional for them.  It wasn't just the typical last day, it was their last day at Fountain City Christian.  Ron and I have decided to send them to Fairview (local public school) next school year.  It is a decision that was difficult to make in some ways and easier in others. I am praying it is the best decision we are making for all 3 boys!

This group of teachers are an amazing group!  As I hugged each one of them and thanked them for all they have done for our boys I was a bit caught off guard by their emotion and genuine love for our boys.  They are and have been such a blessing to all 3 boys.  Behind Eli is his Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Andrews.  She has been a blessing for both Nathaniel and Eli and has already helped so much with Maddie too!  Between Ronnie and Nathaniel is Mrs. Hittle.  It was Miss Miller at the beginning of the school year.  I'm confident that both Ronnie and Nathaniel thrived having her as their main teachers.  She loves the boys and they love her too.  Both have said Math is their favorite class!  Behind is Miss Volkman, who is new this school year.  She has given the boys a desire to read that they have not had before!  So thankful for her fun teaching and excitement for books.  In orange is Miss Ridgeway, who all three boys had for Music and Art.  A very talented lady whom they all enjoyed.  Then Miss Hanson who is the Science and History teacher and Mr. Johnson who was the boys P.E. teacher.

A great group of teachers!