We LOVE Baseball!

Our baseball season is coming to an end. :(

Before that officially happens I thought I better blog about it…because dang it…I am going to be a better blogger!

Our family loves baseball.  We enjoy going to any baseball game whenever we get the chance.  I especially love being a baseball mom to my two boys.  It is magic for me. Something about it calms me and I completely forget about my mile long to do list and any other thoughts  floating around in my head.  I am just happy to be in the moment with my boys; being their best cheerleader.  

I love watching them on the field.

 

You can always find Casey behind the fence as one of the coaches.

  

Did you notice Kaylee’s striped hair?  It was opening day and man was it a partaaay!

There was plenty of entertainment for the kids in between games this day.

Usually Ady spends the whole game digging in the dirt…

but she makes sure to check in on the game every once in awhile.

Kaylee reads or does homework…

or something.

Did I mention that I am the best cheerleader???

Yeah, I need to rub off on Kaylee a little.

However, she is very good at taking care of this little chick for me so I can watch the game and not miss a great play. 

Because we all know that is the worst! How do you tell your super excited son that you missed his awesome play???

I don’t know how you other sport mom’s do it, but I bring my camera to ONE game.  I usually choose a day that both of the boys are playing but at different times (so I don’t miss a great play. :) Double duty is HARD!) I focus on snapping pictures that day.  I get what I can and then that is it.  No more camera at the fields anymore. Even if I didn’t get the pictures I wanted or had in mind.  For me, watching the game through my camera lens isn’t the same and I end up getting distracted.

         

I tell them to be baseball ready so I need to be cheerleader ready! 

But for one game the distraction is worth it.

I love me some baseball playin’ boys!

 

P.S. I remembered an old post from Jake’s very first T-ball season at the Y. This is how it all started.  It was fun reading it and seeing how much we have all grown since then, especially my little man!

Looking Back on 2012 {Part Three} THE END!

Let’s be honest… It is ridiculous how long it has taken me to get this blog post done. The motivation just hasn’t been there.  It is no fun feeling behind on blogging all the time. That is a huge motivation zapper for me!  I have all of these great current photos sitting on my computer that I would much rather be spending time sorting through and sharing but I can’t bear to leave gaps in my blog.  It is my family history.  Our timeline of events and bits and pieces of my journal.  So bear with me for one more post while I fill in the gaps on my blog.  It’s time to catch up!

Ady enjoyed having the TV all to herself every morning after the kids left for school.  This is how she starts every single day – Jammie’s, blankets, and show of her choice.  Football season started.  Everyone (except for me) was glued to the TV every Sunday.  I made Casey a football cake for a contest at work.  Kaylee had the opportunity to swim with the Olympians. We made a trip to the beach.  Ady insisted on dressing up and having a tea party lunch.  She makes my days fun!

The boys met Brooks Reed - a linebacker for the Texans.  It is a tradition every Fall to make caramel apples. Ady turned 3.  We had a lazy morning with breakfast at Shipley’s Donuts in our pajamas.  We celebrated Halloween. Drew – Skeleton, Kaylee – Egyptian, Ady – Kitty Cat Pirate (her own made up costume) Jake – scary guy from Scream. We were home for maybe 5 min. from trick or treating when we lost power.  It made for an interesting Halloween night. 

I went on a trip to Pennsylvania to visit Andrea.  It was much needed time together.  I enjoyed every second of it!  My family surprised me with roses, just because. We took the kids to the movies.  Family movies are the best! I joined the boys at school where they hosted a breakfast for mothers. Over Thanksgiving weekend Santa was welcomed to town with fireworks and the Christmas lights went on in Town Green.  We went to Sea World for Thanksgiving with the Dickamore’s.  We loved spending time with them!

We decorated for Christmas.  My parents came to town to celebrate with us.  Drew painted an awesome reindeer at school which I framed and displayed for the holiday.  It is my favorite piece of child artwork yet. We celebrated Casey’s birthday.  Ady enjoyed being creative with her Christmas gifts.  We took a family picture and sent out Christmas cards. I loved the reflection of Christmas lights in the mirrors and windows all over my house.  We made our traditional gingerbread houses.    We had a beautiful Christmas morning breakfast (one of my favorite things). We made sugar cookies for Santa. 

Well, that’s a rap! 

THE END!

Just incase - Here is Part One and Part Two

Feel free to follow me on Instagram (krystamoes)  if you want to see the more current happenings! 

Looking back on 2012 {Part Two}

We have had two weeks worth of company and fun!  March is a birthday month around here so there is a lot to celebrate.  My Mother in law came first.  We celebrated her 75th birthday!  She also brought our niece with her.  A cousin to play with is always a good thing.  The day after they left, my sister and her two cute little boys came.  We celebrated my 35th birthday while they were here.  Casey and my sister actually pulled off a mini surprise party for me.  It was the best birthday I have had in a long time!

Back to 2012  - If you missed my previous post, here is Part One.

The kids and I cheered Casey on while he did the CB&I Triathlon. Drew was able to try on a firefighters uniform.  He even got to put his hand into a fire. We made a trip to the beach with friends. I spent many days at school with my kids for field days and award ceremonies, lunches and many other things. Kaylee and Jake received many awards at school.  Kaylee was awarded a trophy for Top Student in the entire 5th grade for Science.  Then she won a rip stick in the school raffle.  It was a perfect day for her! We enjoyed an outing to the Children's Museum. The last day of school and first day of Summer was a jump for joy.

We completely enjoyed our new relaxed summer bedtime routine. Kaylee would stay up late and read while the boys would play cards. We started our summer off with the library and bowling. We had a great Cuda season and finished our swim season off strong. Ady loves my makeup.

We were in Utah for most of July. We enjoyed spending our time with family, especially seeing the cousins play together. We visited Bingham Copper Mine, Thanksgiving Point and The Planetarium to name a few. We celebrated the 4th of July where the boys rode in Grandpa’s little red car in the Murray Parade. We enjoyed many movie nights in the Bancroft's home theater. We took a boat out to Utah Lake.  I had my first motorcycle ride ever which was not just around the neighborhood – it involved going on freeways and through canyons riding to Park City at night during Sundance. We celebrated the life of Casey’s brother, Calvin Rupe, who passed away unexpectedly while we were there. It was a sad time but we were grateful and felt blessed to have been there with family and be a part of it. After getting back home and settled in again, we visited the Butterfly Museum in Houston.

We went to an Astros game with friends. Kaylee  painted her siblings faces one morning. She did a great job and this was hours of entertainment. Ady went on a field trip to the fire station. Back to school for everyone – first day of school pictures.

Check back for Part 3 – THE END!

Just Because… Looking back on 2012 {Part One}

This post is just because…

Just because…I have worked my tail off for the sake of getting ALL of my pictures organized and edited for 2012.  I have no more RAW images floating around.  Only JPegs. Getting a post done is my own personal reward for so much work!

Just because…I talk myself out of so many posts because I am later than I wanted to be in posting the event or idea.  Too late to post Christmas, too late to post Ady’s birthday, too late to post my end of the year wrap up…the list goes on.

Just because…I want to share with you.

Just because… it’s never too late to count your blessings from the previous year. 

Just because…I need to get into the habit of posting again.  I miss it!

Just because…I want to feel productive and creative and record a few memories.

Just because…I started these collages at the beginning of last year and never finished.  I want to finish something!

Just because…2012 was not my favorite year and I need closure! Enough said.

For those reasons I am dedicating this week on “These Are The Days” to 2012.

Enjoy January – April of 2012

(Photo collage templates from Simple As That. Thank you Rebecca!)

 

Pinewood Derby. Ady and Drew baking treats. Kaylee finding time to relax. Ady got her very first haircut. Kaylee swimming year round which means outside in the middle of Winter. Potty training Ady. Jake turned 9. The boys love to have boxing matches. Ady loves her bed. Jake loves to read all hours of the night.

Ady learned how to be self sufficient in the kitchen – peeling oranges by herself. We enjoyed spending time with friends celebrating the Super Bowl. We attended our annual ward campout. We celebrated Valentine's.

Casey and I enjoyed our very first cruise with some amazing and dear friends. We spent our Spring Break at home slowing down and enjoying each others company. Ady is a true Texan and chews on grass while at the boys’ baseball games. Drew lost his two top teeth. Ady plays in the rain on a lazy afternoon. Time for me to cheer my boys on in our favorite sport – Baseball. Ady loves the mud.

Easter, Easter and more Easter.  Easter egg hunts. Easter baskets. Spring photos. My favorite Easter candy – Cadberry Eggs.  I enjoyed lunch at school with Kaylee and her BFF.  Drew loves helping in the kitchen. 

Come back this week to see the rest of 2012!

First Guest Post on These are the Days {Valentine’s}

Hello all!  I am going to try something new this year and see how it goes.  OBVIOUSLY,  I could use a little help on the blogging front these days.  My lack of blogging is no secret to anyone who knows me or has been a blog reader of mine for awhile.  I just can’t seem to get my act together!  I have thought about letting it go all together but that doesn’t feel right.  I really love to blog and enjoy the outlet when I can make it sync with the rest of my life.  I would like to share all of the many things we are doing as a family and my feelings and thoughts on life but I find myself getting thrown into the next event before I can fully collect my thoughts (or pictures for that matter) from the previous event.  Because of this, one thing I have finally learned as a mother is to totally live in the moment!!  I believe that living in the moment is just as important as journaling!  It is all about balance.  Why does balance have to be such a hard thing???  I intend to work on balancing the two this year. 

I have had many e-mails in my inbox regarding guest posting or giveaways and other related things, but I have continually turned them away.  It was never the right time for me or felt right.  Recently, when Jen contacted me with the idea to guest post I felt inspired and excited!  Like this was the push I needed to keep going.  I think it will be fun to periodically share others ideas and knowledge on These are the Days.  After all, we learn and get inspired from each other. 

Jen Lopez enjoys writing about all of the topics I love – photography, parenting, crafting etc.  She is trying to get back into the habit of writing regularly and building up her portfolio.  Jen is also working on starting her own blog!  She had the idea to post about Valentine’s, which was perfect!  It was already on my mind and she had some great thoughts and ideas to share…

 

Chocolate, Flowers and Dinner – Oh No! A Guide to Valentine’s Day Gift Giving

The holidays are over, the stress of shopping has waned and you are back to a regular routine schedule. You look at the calendar and there it is. Valentine’s Day has snuck up on you and is now tapping you on the shoulder. As a veteran of the marriage game you know that a heart shaped box of chocolates is not going to get the same reception it might have gotten a few years ago. Dinner out on that night is placing yourselves in a room with a stressed out wait staff and eye gazing younger couples. The savvy pair like you has survived the V Day invasion and learned that the best presents are not wrapped in red cellophane or come with a little envelope of Flora Life. Honesty and openness now prevail and the day can be planned and celebrated more creatively, in a fashion from which the two of you will benefit and enjoy.

Giving a gift to each other that says I know how you feel and what would do you well, is the best gift and is enjoyed by both of you.

• Great Indulgences – A spa day for couples will make you feel healthy, relaxed and restored as individuals and as a couple. A small box of four truffles from a world class chocolatier offers decadence for a perfect finish to a perfect day. You can purchase gift cards on Spa Finder, which also provides information and reviews on over 20,000 spas nationwide. Just remember, not all spas accept Spa Finder gift certificates, so do your research and find the perfect spa for you and your spouse.

• Get Out of Town – There is always a romantic Bed and Breakfast a short drive from anywhere unless you live in the desert. Two nights away from the kids, the phone, the boss and anything else that kills your mood, will do you both a world of wonder.

• Show and No Tell – A couple tickets to a play or concert that you have been wanting to see and a room at a fine hotel is a pleasant detour off mundane street. No need to drive home that night.

• Twilight Cruise – Treat yourselves to a cruise on a nearby lake, river, bay or on the ocean. If there is a decent size body of water nearby, there is bound to be a twilight cruise that offers dinner and dancing. Cloud9Living offers many dinner cruises across the country. They offer great discounts for exciting experiences. This is a great site to help get new ideas for other important holidays and events.

No Valentines Day is complete without a card. They are so much a part of the holiday that they are simply called Valentines. There is no longer a need to stand at the card rack and read the words of strangers to decide who wrote what you felt. Treat is an online personal greeting card company where you can personally portray what you feel in a beautiful, well designed Valentine’s Day card. They will even mail it for you. This service is available for less than what you would spend at the card store for a mass produced version. Give a personalized card and plan a romantic time by thinking out of the box. The heart shaped box that is. You can also never rule out the little blue box with white ribbon however. Sorry guys, but Tiffany’s never becomes passé.

 

Thank you Jen!!  I love your ideas and how the focus was on you and your hubby.  Sometimes Valentine’s can get lost in finding the perfect gift for our children.  It is a holiday for you and the love of your life and doesn’t need to be another holiday to stress over.  It is a  good excuse to spend some quality time with your man and enjoy each other's company.  It doesn’t even need to be on that exact day, since we all know how crowded restaurants are that night.  Maybe a nice candle light dinner and movie at home (take out dinner from your favorite restaurant if you don’t feel like cooking) and then wait for your hot date the following weekend or even the weekend before Valentine’s.  Either way it can be something to be excited about and look forward to! 

As for the kids…I am keeping it very simple this year.  I will make them an easy dinner of their choice, even if it’s pizza, hot dogs or mac & cheese, but make it special by letting them have their own candle light dinner.   A basket similar to this will be on their table for dessert (they LOVE rootbeer floats).

Link: Thirty Handmade Days

Lastly, I will have a balloon tied to each one of their chairs with with slips of paper inside.  They will have to pop their balloons to find out what their dad and I love about them. Then it is off to bed so mom and dad can have our “in house” date night until the weekend rolls around!  Easy peasy!

Happy early Valentine’s everyone!

If you are interested in guest posting please e-mail me.  krysta_casey@yahoo.com