Spring

Spring brings SO many activities...we STILL have soccer going on - (aka the sport that never ends) and now we have also added baseball.

 Jack's team is undefeated and he's LOVING playing machine pitch this year!

This picture is call "My Parents Won't Buy My Picture for $33 - So Mom Snapped This By a Tree...For FREE." Seriously. I need a time machine to go back, open a sports photography company in a HSE community and I'll be all set. Sorry, photogs - this mama ain't playing your game.

Spring also means approx. 3465 end of the year activities. Above was Jack's Author's Cafe. He wrote a book about Snakes. Not my favorite subject - but definitely my favorite author.

Nolan ended his 2's class on a FUN note...nothing like picking your nose in the class picture. This is SO Nolan. If you don't know him - this is just how he is... "Oh, you're going to take our picture? You want us to look cute? Hmmm - I'm not down with that. But I will stick my finger in my nostril for you."  Believe it or not - he's heading to PRESCHOOL next year! If I'm a bit obsessed with getting this kid potty trained - it's because I already have 26 of my 3 "free mornings"a week -  planned and he needs to get to school....

And then we have sweet Josephine. She ended her gymnastics career (perhaps permanently?!?) and is in the midst of her own soccer season. She is our free spirit - happy on the soccer field or picking flowers or painting a picture. In the above picture she was NOT happy that it started pouring rain as her game was starting. Dancing in the rain? YES. Playing soccer in the rain. No.

And today Josie celebrated the END OF PRESCHOOL with a picnic in the park. She had a super awesome, small class...and she LOVED everything about her school year. We are so lucky to send her off to such a fun and loving school.

I know I say I'll be a better blogger. But every time I sit down at my computer - I'm working and hoping to be done as fast as possible...because I'm probably late to a soccer practice.

Pre-School 3's in the books...

Josie's days in 3's Preschool have come to an end. She had a great year...loved going to school and spending time with her new friends. We have been blessed with the best teachers at that school. Very thankful for their love and guidance. Josie is in full "summer mode" now. You can find her at the pool.

Jack has been playing two baseball games a week. It keeps us busy.  A couple weeks ago he played against his buddy, Ainslie. They've been friends since they were 3.

Ohhhh Lions.

See this. It's called - being hardcore fans. Even in the face of perpetual LOSING...we still watch. We still cheer. We still believe that one day...SOMEDAY...the Lions will win again.

If you don't believe me - ask a Cubs fan.

Congrats to the diehards on your team's advancement to the NLCS. Jerry Clevenger is one happy man tonight. Go Cubs, go.

Warsaw visits Northville

 Last weekend my parents came to visit from Warsaw. Grandpa Jerry brought Jack's golf clubs up and that meant they HAD to take a trip to the driving range.

Josie got a left handed iron and she was ready to practice, too. She takes after her Grandpa Jerry & Uncle Jon. We're 85% sure she's a lefty.

I won't lie - I was pretty impressed with Jack's hits. For rarely playing - he can smack the ball.

Friday night we went to Jack's last baseball game. The mosquitos ate us for dinner - but we had fun watching.

 And Jack got a trophy at the end - so he was pretty pumped.

Nolan spent some time with his buddy Roomba. Roomba was my mother's day gift and Tyson's father's day gift to each other. Can I just say - I FREAKING LOVE Roomba. More on her later...

Josie and Grandma made some art together, as Tyson and I got things around for our camping trip up North.

Always good to spend time with the grandparents. Hope they find their way back before they head south. ;)

Baseball Season has begun

Jack's baseball season is underway. He had his first game on Tuesday night and despite the fact it started AFTER our normal bedtime (7:15!!) - we all went. Safe to say everyone was a HOT MESS once it was over...but I wasn't missing his first game ever.

He's probably the youngest on his team and looks like a shrimp out there. But it's SO cute. His first position on the field was catcher. Hilarious.

Here is his first hit EVER...because, you know, ESPN might need this someday. ;)

Front Yard Shenanigans

We've been spending a lot of time outside! Finally.

It might be baseball season...because this kid is geared up and ready! Baseball season starts on Sunday. FACT: Tyson is MOST excited.

My kids fight. It's exhausting. So I gave them both pool noodles and said HAVE AT IT. And they did. Don't be fooled by Josie's sweet little voice. That chick can pack a punch. She's feisty. And I love it {most of the time}.

Nolan is happy just watching...for now. He's taking notes and will surely be part of ALL the action soon enough.

Baseball is Back

Baseball season is back and that makes everyone in this house happy. Jack will be playing this year...the first of many baseball seasons ahead for us. Go TIGERS!

Outside

Until we got - yet MORE snow - we'd been spending lots of time enjoying Spring. We took our first wagon ride through the neighborhood.

We spent a morning doing a RAOK for Christian at a local park. We picked up trash. Can you tell I'm not a germaphobe?

The kids have been spending lots of time on the play set and attracting other neighborhood kids - which in Jack's eyes, is awesome! Here they are eating some carrots for an afternoon snack... I may, or may not, have been sneaking Easter Candy from the kitchen.

And finally, Tyson & Jack held open tryouts in the front yard on Sunday. We're building a Little League Dynasty in Northville. You heard it here first.

Opening Day in the D!

Yesterday was Opening Day for Detroit Baseball and we were ready! It was also the first really nice day here - so we vowed to play outside as much as we could.

We spent time at the park downtown Northville...and it was about 50% snow free. Luckily we wore our boots.

We strolled around the park and the kids made friends with some dogs - who were taking their owners for a walk.

And then - I decided I didn't want to go home and make lunch, so I braved a local diner by myself with these two (at nap time). Note to self - don't ask Jack to say "CHEESE" with a mouth full of hamburger. Gross.

Of course - before we left Josie knocked a $200 painting off the wall. Awesome. I'm glad it didn't break - I'd rather not spend $200 on an oil painting of pears in a bowl.

Tigers in Florida

Last Tuesday afternoon we loaded the family up (along with Grandpa Jerry) and headed to Lakeland, Florida for a Detroit Tigers Spring Training game. It was HOT. But we weren't complaining. Snow was heading to the Detroit area that day...so we were happy to be in sunshine and warmth.

The game was SOLD OUT. I was shocked at how many Tigers fans were there! I guess we weren't the only ones hoping to escape the Michigan winter! We sat in the outfield - and despite some bugs - had a fun time. Tyson thinks he was able to watch about a half inning of actual baseball...guess that's what we get for dragging the kids along.

We enjoyed some hotdogs, beer (not for me), and popcorn. And everyone around us was talking about the Tigers or our awful winter. Felt like home.

She's still chewing on her hotdog...

Overall, we enjoyed the day! Grandpa Jerry was disappointed the Cubbies weren't playing and his efforts to get Jack to become a Cubs fan were foiled.

Looking forward to Opening Day in Detroit! 

Instagram Pics

If you follow me on Instagram - sorry for the repeats...

On Thursday my kids were literally bouncing off the walls. I was trying to convince them to eat lunch - but they were wired. So Friday, we bundled up and went to a park near our house. It was 26 degrees outside...but that didn't stop Jack. He saw a "baseball field" (actually a softball field) and convinced me that we should play "pretend baseball." So I threw some pretend pitches {think the female version of Justin Verlander} and Jack hit some bombs {think a pint-sized version of Miguel Cabrera}. After 4 innings, I was frozen and declared him the winner. He did a victory lap...and we headed for the car.

Where was Josie? She was tromping around the bases at her own pace {think David Ortiz}.

The other day, while Jack was at school - Josie and I visited Panera for a cinnamon roll the size of our heads. In this picture - she believes she will get to eat the whole thing by herself. But a few minutes later I broke the news we were sharing. If you know or have known a 2 year old, you can imagine how that news was taken. She scowled at me from across the booth as I took bites.

It's Game 5, people!

We are sporting our Detroit Tigers gear today and hoping it isn't the last time we wear it for a while. Our Tigers are in Game 5 of the ALDS vs the Oakland A's. Come on, Cubs/Reds/Indians/White Sox fans - show us some love! Cubs fans are especially welcome on the Bandwagon...you need a reason to cheer.

Also - one more thing - BEST.TEACHER.GIFT. EVER!

That's a Wine "sippy cup." And it's brilliant. It rarely gets used. Okay, that's a lie. Add one to your Christmas/Hanukkah list...you won't regret it.

GO TIGERS!

Comerica Park

One of the things we have been telling Jack is that you have to use the potty to go to a Tiger's game. It's a white lie. Nevermind that he has been to 3-4 Tigers games as an infant...or that we were willing to bring his baby sister (still in diapers) along... Big boys go potty AND watch baseball. It worked.

So last Thursday Tyson took the day off work and we spent the afternoon at Comerica Park for a Tiger's game. As one would expect - Jack was in heaven.

 We had lunch there and - possibly for the first time EVER - NO BEER. What's that about?

Oh wait...this explains the NO BEER. That foam Tiger Paw cost $15. Did I miss something? When did  ballpark souvenirs get so expensive?? Whatever. Jack loved the game, loved the hotdog, loved the foam paw, and loved using the Men's Restroom while he was there.

It was a fun afternoon and it was great being back in Detroit!