Payden's softball

Payden's team is the Sunbirds. They do this fun thing where each girl picked a song, and when they are up to bat, they play a bit of that song while they walk up to the plate. Payden picked Boom Boom Pow.



The girls pitch in this age group, which results in a lot of balls and the players end up walking most of the time. Payden has hit the ball, though!

Here she is on third, ready to come home. They have to slide also, unless the bases are loaded and the hitter walks, which again, happens a lot. So Payden hasn't had to slide yet. For some reason, I lost the pic of her running home!

They have won all but one of their games; they make a run around the bases after the game.

Ready to play!

I have no idea what my camera was focusing on here. Oh, well! Her coaches bring these sticker things, and they write things on them; this time Payden's said..






Payden is enjoying playing, and likes her coach and team.

Michaela's softball

Michaela loves to play softball; she says she wishes the season never ended! Michaela is a very fast runner; when her team runs at practices she is out front. So she gets to her bases quickly! She is a consistent hitter as well.

She is number one. She wanted 18, but oh well!






They have to slide home or it doesn't count. She did a trip slide here, but it counted!

She has enjoyed getting to know the girls on her team and her coach.

The end of the game cheer, she is behind number 12.

Watching these games is significantly different than Ava's or even Paydens. These girls mean business. It is kind of scary to watch! Her team has 7th, 8th and 9th graders and they are tough. you definetly have to keep and eye on the game or you will miss something. And the balls move much faster too. Such fun!

Ninnyisms

I was telling Corrine that she couldn't grow up; she is just so cute she has to stay that way. So I said:
Corrine, please don't grow up!

She said: Well, I don't want to grow down!

Today we were at Lagoon, and Michaela and I were saying that our dogs were barking after 9 hours of walking. Ninny turns around in her stroller and says:

I can't hear your doggies woofing!

Ninnyisms

Corrine had on a pair of pants that had buttons on the pockets; they were buttoned closed. She came up to me and said:

"Mommy, my pockets are locked!"

Antelope Island

On Memorial Day, we drove the whole 15 minutes to Antelope Island. We hadn't been before and wanted to see what it was like. The day was rainy, gray and windy, so we didn't get to eat our picnic outside; we had to eat it in the car. But The rain actually held off while we were there and we were able to get out and explore for a bit.

The kids spotted a beach and wanted to get out. These pics look like a nice, warm beach, but it was cold and the wind made it colder. I don't know how Michaela and Payden took off their shoes and walked around.

You can see the skinny little causeway you drive on to get to the island.



We stopped at the visitor center to learn about the history and wildlife of the island.

Ooooh, cold!





While we were there, there was a cowboy festival at the historic ranch. We had a giggle at the idea of cowboy poetry.







They had these passports that you had stamped at every activity, then you got a prize at the end. One of the activities was a chance to try tooling leather. That was fun!



We walked into this old bunkhouse and Corrine noticed right away that there was 4 beds, just right for our girls! I told them this could be their new room.



Trying their hand at lassoing.

Ninny just had fun tugging on the end of the other girls ropes!

Ava got Daddy!

Who is going to win?

It was a nice day. We will have to go back when the weather is nicer and we can do some of the hikes!

Finally, some sun and some games!

Ava had her first game ever on Tuesday. I had to work, so I missed it, but I got to go to her game last night. Michaela also had a game at the same time, so Jason went to hers. The next time that happens, we will switch. I will post pics of Payden and Michaela on another day. Here is Ava's team, ready and waiting to hit.

She has a great stance! The first time she was up to bat, she had to use a tee. The second time, she hit it on the second pitch!

She got to play catcher this game. It was adorable. Her coach was trying to explain to her what she was supposed to do, but she wasn't getting it. When there was someone on 3rd, I'd say, get up, Ava, get ready! I finally must have explained it in a way she got it. I was saying, "When your coach tells your team to throw it home, thats you! You get to tag people out before they touch the base". She goes, "OH! I get it!" It was cute.

Fierce. And slightly undersized.

Here she is tagging someone out! Don't mind all the extra players milling around. Really, watching them play is just hilarious. Coaches yelling directions, kids staring at bugs, pulling grass, talking to the opposing team, and running in the opposite direction they should are just the beginning. I laughed the whole time! Ava's coach tells them that sitting down is like being babies, so when he sees them sitting down he yells "Goo-goo gaa-gaa!" It is cute and the kids think its funny.



On third!

Running home! Holding her helmet the whole way!

Here they are doing a cheer for the other team at the end. They don't keep score, but Ava was convinced that they won.

Have I said that I love watching my kids play softball? I do. This is one of my favorite parts of the year. Time seems to stop when I watch them play; I don't worry about dinner, chores that need to be done, how long the game may be taking, what we still have to do. For some reason, I am completely in the present moment at their games. It is wonderful! Play ball!

I love white!

So do you remember when I posted this picture:

and said I loved my bedroom and that I was done? Well, after I looked at that picture online, I realized a couple of things. One, that the lamps on the tables were way to small and didn't match the room. Two, that the tables themselves needed a makeover. So, that is what I did.

I knew I needed new lamps, but really didn't want to pay lots of money for them. So I kept my eye out for some lamps that were the right size and shape, knowing I could paint them if need be. I found these at a yard sale, $1 a piece. They were an ugly rubbed brass, but painted white with new lampshades they look great!

Here is the picture of my curtains I promised in better light. I love how they turned out.

I made a runner for my bed, to cover where the comforter doesn't cover the sheets! I made it out of vintage table clothes. I LOVE vintage linens. Love. When I see them in a store, I make a bee-line for them.

I made runners for my tables with some quilt squares I had laying around. A few years ago, I set out to make a weekend quilt kit. (Ha.) I had about a 1/4 of the squares done, and figured I would never finish the quilt, so I put them to good use in my bedroom!

The tables themselves received a coat of white and some distressing. Of course. Also new hardware. We need to either buy another set for the bottom or just fill the holes in from the old ones, I don't know what I am going to do about that yet.

I also found another couple of frames at a yard sale, they are ready to hang but just not up yet. One of them is oval, I was so excited! I also painted my mirror white, over there in the corner. So, NOW I am done, and I love it even more. I realize its a lot of white and that is not for everyone, but we love it. Looking at this pic online, the lamps and tables look so much better!