Summer Adventure #1 ~ Carolina Beach

Whew!  It has been a crazy month for us.  We were away from home for over two weeks of June and that really threw off our schedules.  I am just chock full of excuses for why I am so far behind...traveling, coming home with a terrible head cold, buried under mounds of laundry, too hot to want to do anything, computer and camera issues, etc., etc.  Is summer always this way or is it just because ours is much shorter now?  The start of our traveling adventures in June began with a little weekend excursion to Carolina Beach.  Ever since the boys and I visited this Spring when we were in Wilmington, I thought it would be a unique beach experience to stay here.  It just has that old local beach town feel without the commercialization that other beach resort towns have now.  Most of North Carolina beaches are actually like this because most of the oceanfront has always been taken up by personal residences and left little room for large hotels and resorts to move in.  There are some bigger hotels being built in Carolina Beach now so we will see if it maintains its old school charm in the years ahead.  I do hope the town will continue to do more to preserve its older heritage.  We hoped to enjoy a lot of time on the beach this trip since we didn't get a lot of beach time in Florida, but sadly, the weather was crazy the whole weekend with really high winds making the surf really rough and bringing in storms at night.  We did our best to enjoy our time together before Daddy started his first teacher academy of the summer in New Bern.

The boys had to go to the beach our first day when we arrived, and of course, they couldn't resist getting in the water even in their clothes.  The waves were a little rough but not too bad this night.  

The gulls were flying right over our heads. 

They get so silly in the water running from the waves.

Mattox was just watching his crazy big brothers. 

Brody had to change his shorts before dinner.  He was soaked.

Mattox liked the feel of the water and wet sand on his feet. 

Mattox was very excited about getting out of the car after a long drive and getting to the motel room.  He was giving Brody's teddy bear big hugs.  I love those perfect smiles.  We went to the Sea Witch Cafe for dinner. 

Mattox showing off his cute lemon smile. 

We had to take pictures with these little photo props on the boardwalk again. 

Oh no, is that surfer going to get eaten by that cute shark?

Eddie and I posed for a "romantic" picture with the moon since it was almost our anniversary, and Brody wanted in the picture too.  

This kid really wants to be a surfer. 

I loved the sunset on the Boardwalk, but it was a prelude to some nasty storms rolling in. 

Resting on the swings before the storms arrived. 

We stopped for a cool treat, and the rain hit just as we were leaving the ice cream shop so everyone had to seek shelter and wait.  The boys watched the rain while they finished their ice cream. 

I think Mattox has great summer hair.  The rain and humidity just bring out his cute curls. 

Cute little beach bum.  It was too windy for an umbrella so I tried to make Mattox keep a hat on.  Backwards worked best as he kept pulling it off the other way. 

Daddy stayed close to the boys in the water because the waves were really big.  We don't often get "surfable" waves, but I said this would have been awesome surfing conditions. 

This cutie loved the water this time and really wanted to get in so I hated that the surf was so rough. 

Big brother helped him walk in the water.  Pay no attention to my crazy beach hair.  Remember, it was extremely windy. 

Mattox kept stealing my chair while Evan tried to catch a few waves. 

He didn't have to go very far to catch a decent wave to ride in. 

We really tried to do baby walking boot camp and did get Mattox to stand on his own a lot more, but he still refuses to take a step without holding on. 

Of course, the boys insisted they must play some putt-putt.  There aren't many options in this area, and this little course had not been kept up in recent years although I think they may be trying to renovate it.  They had put all new green surfaces on the holes.  It used to be a jungle theme with some pretty water features throughout the course, but they had all the pumps turned off and no water flowing.  I know it could look really pretty with the water turned on.  Brody did get his very first real hole-in-one so we had a good experience anyway.  He was really playing like a big boy and doing very well.  I made him do his Daddy's hole-in-one pose after the shot. 

Then, Evan couldn't be outdone and got a hole-in-one a few holes later. 

I loved watching these boys playing together.  

We saw elephants and rhinos. 

The boys also wanted to ride the rides at the boardwalk pavilion area, but I was so frustrated in the prices.  Don't these people realize they would make a lot more money if they made the rides affordable?  I mean it cost over $10 for Brody and Mattox to ride the carousel and for me to hold Mattox on.  That's ridiculous.  Most of the rides sit with barely anyone riding them all summer. 

These two cuties enjoyed their ride though. 

The only other ride the boys got to do was the fun slide since these two rides cost $20.  Sigh.  There were other rides the boys wanted to ride, but I just didn't see spending $40 for this mess. 

We decided ice cream was a better treat, and Mattox and I enjoyed a yummy italian ice and gelato. 

Then, the boys did get to dance a little at this little puppet show that a local church sets up as a ministry on the boardwalk.  They played current hit songs remade with a Christian message, and the boys were so cute dancing.  Brody had wanted to dance on the boardwalk, but the weather never cooperated to allow the musicians to get set up to play. 

We enjoyed a yummy dinner at the Lazy Pirate, and I ate all of that food by myself.  It was a yummy shrimp gumbo with corn bread and some bacon wrapped grilled shrimp.  Yum!

Evan's Baseball Season {2016}

When I think about all of the years we have been doing the youth sports thing, it blows my mind.  It seems like just yesterday Evan was playing his first season of t-ball...six years ago!  I love seeing how much he has changed and grown through the years and how much his love of all sports has grown.  I tell him he is every dad's dream of what they want their little boy to be like.  Pretty much coming out of the womb with a ball in their hand.  Ha!  Evan's 6th season of baseball was a mostly fun experience playing in our new town's league.  He played in his first season of kid pitch baseball which is like finally making it to the major league.  The beginning of the season usually starts out with a lot of walks because the kids are just learning how to pitch, but after getting a few games under their belt, it really starts getting challenging and competitive.  Our little team showed great promise in the beginning winning their first few games.  Then, we had a few rough games.  Some days the boys were playing their best and other days were really tough to watch.  Evan really continued to be a consistently good hitter and got many base hits and RBI's.   The boys won their first tournament game and were so close to clinching the second round game to make it to the championship game.  That was a little disappointing, but it was still a great season.

Evan played for the Indians this year.  Kid pitch teams get major league team names. 

He thinks he is so cool wearing his shades in the field.  He loved playing second base again, but later in the season when other players were hitting more into outfield, he learned that he is really an asset in outfield because he could get the ball in quickly. 

I love watching how determined he is when at bat.  He really gives it all he's got. 

He got on first here, but I think he may have gotten walked because this was one of the early games in the season when the pitchers were still throwing a lot of balls. 

A lot of the games could be won by being good at stealing bases.  Evan was waiting at third base for a chance to steal home. 

Go #2! 

We won that first game by a crazy 14 to 2 lead. 

Evan was ready to get this player out at 2nd if his teammate could have gotten him the ball faster.  Evan did a great job at 2nd base because he was always ready to back up the pitcher if they missed a ball.

On first again. 

This little guy had a great spot to watch the game. 

I think this was his first hit of the season or just the first one I actually took pictures of.  I didn't take pictures of every game because it was just easier to watch. 

"Go big brother go!"

I think this was one of his runs home. 

Their last game was so close at 10 to 11.  Evan was disappointed because he made it to first on a great hit and then was sent to steal second when the next player was at bat.  The catcher had missed a pitch and had to go after the ball.  He made the luckiest play of any game when he managed to throw the ball all the way to second and the second baseman caught it for a very close out.  It wasn't Evan's fault at all because he ran very fast.  It was just a lucky break for the other team.  No one had made a play like that all season which was why the coach had sent Evan to steal.  

One last team photo to end the season.  Go Indians!

I just love seeing the progress Evan's has made in his six year baseball playing career.  He has grown so much since he started playing at barely four years old. 

Happy 3rd Birthday, Mattie Claire!

Dearest Mattie,

How can you already be turning 3 years old?  How can it have been 3 years since I woke up on that Sunday morning with so much hope of soon meeting you with contractions growing stronger through the day?  How can it have been 3 years since I held you in my arms and finally looked upon your beautiful face?  Memories of you and that special day will forever live in my heart, and that is where you will live until the day we finally meet again.  So much has happened in these past three years.  Life didn't stop.  It didn't even slow down.  I am thankful for that because every day brings me closer to you.  But life did change.  Our hearts and our home changed because of you.  We all know someone is always missing from our memories.  I am sure even your little brother will feel it as he grows up.  He will know you by your picture on the wall.  I catch him looking at it sometimes so maybe he already knows.  We just want you to know we will never forget you, and you will always live in our hearts and be a part of our family.

So today we will celebrate you, and the day you were born to live in your heavenly home and forever in our hearts!  Happy Birthday to our beautiful baby girl!

With all my love,

Mommy

Brody's 2nd T-Ball Season {2016}

Brody enjoyed another year of t-ball this Spring, and I could really see him grow and mature in the sport as he hit the ball harder, ran faster, and was way more attentive in the field.  He was on the Holly Springs Rubberducks this year, and I didn't discover until late in the season that his team was named for the Triple A minor league Akron Rubberducks.  Coincidentally, they are the minor league affiliate for the major league Cleveland Indians, and Evan played on the Indians team this year.  We had another successful season of team sports in our family, and I suspect we have many more years of this busy sports life.  Evan is already signed up for his first season of tackle football this fall, and we are trying to decide whether Brody will play soccer or t-ball in the fall.  We usually do soccer, but he is just not a contact sport kind of boy.  He seems to get a lot more out of playing t-ball so we will see.  And of course one of my favorite parts of being a boy mom is watching my boys learn to play sports and taking lots of pictures.

I can not believe how big he looks now on the ball field.  He was all ready to play his first game.  It was still a little chilly in April so he wanted to wear a long sleeve shirt under his jersey. 

At first, he wanted to swing slow and carefully to make sure he contacted the ball so he wasn't hitting very hard, but after the first couple of games, he was swinging like a pro and making perfect contact with the first swing. 

Very proud of himself on first base. 

I love watching him run.  He has definitely gotten more confident since last year and is running much faster. 

End of the game high fives and snacks are always a favorite. 

He also did well in the field and was usually very attentive and ready for action.  He stopped some good ground balls.  

Blowing Mom kisses and melting her heart!

But yes, there was a little playing in the dirt action too.  And I love that high five action I caught between him and a teammate. 

Of course, he had the cutest little cheering squad.  I love Mattox's cute faces.  "What was that call, ump?  Open your eyes!"

Daddy giving him a hitting demonstration.  A close call at first, but he was safe. 

Waving to Mom in the dugout. 

Caught that perfect swing and hit!

High fives for Dad!

Yay for more snacks!

Mattox's new ride really helped make games a lot easier.  He loves a car!

Team trophy presentation after the last game.  They also got special rubberducks with their number on them. 

And a final picture with the coaches.  Perfect ending to a great season!

Evan's Last Day of 3rd Grade

Evan's last day of school was on Friday, June 3rd so I am a good bit behind.  While we continue to be disappointed in many aspects of Evan's school education, we continue to be proud of his accomplishments and love of learning.  He continues to excel in all subject areas although he still really enjoys math and science.  He does still love to read, and his other interests tend to reflect the books he enjoys most.  He also found a fairly new appreciation for art and really enjoyed making some unique art projects this year.  We have been enjoying a pretty busy month break from school before both Evan and Brody go back to school July 11th.  I can't believe I will be dropping two kids off at school soon.  It will be both a sad and happy day as I know they will both enjoy being in school together.  We finally got Brody's official school assignment and track assignment confirmation that he will be at the same school and on the same track as Evan so that was a big relief.  Now, we have a little more traveling to do before we make the final school preparations.

We didn't get pictures until after school this year because we had a busy morning getting out the door.  I needed to actually get us all dressed and ready because we were going to Evan's class for his final class project presentation.  He chose to do his presentation on the state of Washington.  I wish I had pictures from that experience, but I only got a video.  

His teachers made them name art using their classmates' descriptions of them.   

His school and school system does no awards or honor roll presentations so his teachers awarded them class superlative awards.  Evan got the Future Scientist award.  Of course, I would have given him the Future Engineer award, but I can't expect teachers to know him as well as I do.  

He wanted to pose pretending to write on a chalkboard.  Learning his multiplication facts was a big accomplishment, and he breezed through them all very quickly.  They were allowed to learn at their own pace and were working towards an end of the year ice cream treat as a reward.  He had finished learning all of his multiplication facts many months ago.   

Daddy wasn't able to make it to his end of year class presentation so he brought Evan lunch one day the week before and ate with him.  Evan got to pick two friends to eat with them outside. Sadly, his best friend Nael in the Captain America shirt will be going to a different school next year.  

I definitely see some growth through the year.  I think he has a much more mature smile since his front teeth have grown a lot.