My Big Boy, Glad He's Not Too Tough

Pierce was so excited about the Pinewood Derby this year!  It was his first year to get to actually participate, last year he excitedly made his car and then was bummed that we were gone to Park City the day of the event, (glad it wasn't during summer this year!) and he had his friend, Joey, race his car for him.  Luck was with him and he took 2nd Place over all!  He was THRILLED to say the least!
   

Baseball season was bit tough this year, it was Pierce's first year of "kid pitch".  The games could be long and boring, with half the boys walking bases as they struggled to pitch the ball.  He had fun and had a good attitude even so!  This game was the highlight of the season for him and luckily the one I took my camera to.  He had been so anxious for a chance to pitch and he finally got a turn this game!  He walked the first couple of kids but then he got the hang of it and did great striking several boys out.

He also hit a home run! Considering that this season just getting a hit was a great thing, hitting a home run was super duper awesome!  He was so funny, he got to second base just fine and the other team overthrew the ball, he didn't waste any time and kept going, he was so determined he just kept going and made it home in the nick of time!  I was one proud Mom!  Here is his big hit....I didn't get a shot of him coming home, I was too anxious watching him run!  He had a great season.  Way to go Bud!

And last but not least, my new favorite picture of my big little boy.  I went in to wake him up for school one day and found him still sound asleep just like this....

Talk about melting my heart.  Cashew is his little Teddy Bear that he has had since he was born, it was given to me at my baby shower for him.  He has loved this little thing for years and even though he's a big tough boy now he still lets Cashew sleep with him.  I thought this was just about the sweetest thing I'd ever seen and I was so happy I was able to capture it with my camera.  I will treasure this shot always, and it's sure to make an appearance or two when he's older I'm sure.  Love my sweet tender hearted boy.  So glad he's not too big and tough yet. 

Swinging Into The Season!

Baseball Season is here again! Pierce was excited to play baseball again this year, and I was happy to try a new league, which brought a new experience for him, machine pitch. He had his first game last week and I was a little nervous for him, he'd only had one practice with the machine and I was worried he wouldn't be able to hit the ball. My worries were not needed, he did great! He got up to bat twice and had a great hit both times....
A Proud Mom moment for me!


Not to mention how stinking cute he looks in his uniform!

We are really happy to be on the same team with his buddies, Joey and Boyce, and to have their great Dads coaching. Walter was Pierce's soccer coach his first two years, and Bishop Brooks coached him last year. We love these guys.

Good buddies - Pierce, Joey & Boyce
We are excited for a fun season, Go Rangers!!!

Basketball

Pierce has been loving "shooting hoops" with his buddy Joey the last few months and he decided he wanted to play basketball this year. We gave it a shot and he loved it. The season was short, but we saw him improve a lot over a few weeks. He had a great time.

Here he is with buddies Joey and Boyce

The last week of the season they had "playoffs". His team won their first game by 10 points and they were so excited to get to play again. Then they won their second game and were so, SO excited to get to play for the "championship"! They did a great job playing three games in a row, they didn't win the championship game, but it was pretty awesome for them to win 2nd place! Way to go Bulls!
Here are the happy 2nd place winners with their great coach!

A very excited little boy! Way to go Pierce, you did a great job!

Roadrunners!

Pierce played his 3rd year of "Kicks" soccer this year, and loved it! It was a great season, and especially fun for him this year with Bishop Brooks as his coach. He thought this was SO cool, and I loved how he referred to him as "Coach Bishop". He loved being on Joey's team this year...

...almost as much as Madi loved playing with Tommy at all the practices and games. What, can I say, she adores her little buddy!

Excited for their trophies after the last game of the season!
Dawson, Joey, Travis, Dallin, Rushton & Pierce

The Roadrunners with Coach

I also had a lot of fun this season- cheering for the boys, trying to keep Madi and Tommy supplied with treats and chatting with Julianne(who was a much needed listening ear for me, with all that took place over the season!) Ryan helped out with coaching at the games and managed not to pull a "Kenny Rollins", on a few coaches who were less than sportsman like. I had to be proud of him for that. Pierson also really improved in skills this year and it was rewarding to see the progress he'd made by the end of the season. It was a great season, thanks to Bishop and Julianne for all they did! Go Roadrunners!

A Happy Halloween!

Well the last few months of our lives have not been easy to say the least! It's been rough around here and a lot of things have fallen apart and fallen behind, especially my blog! So here I go, trying to get back in to the swing of things...rather than try to catch up on everything, I'll just start with the latest, Halloween!

Halloween was a fun day for the kids! I was happy that it fell on a Saturday, and that also meant we started off the day with Pierson's soccer game.
I had to include this picture, it just makes me laugh. He may not make the most goals, but as you can tell here, he sure tries hard! (And although it looks like it, no, he did not actually push this kid.)

After the game we headed home to do our pumpkin carving. The kids always love this, definitely a favorite part of our Halloween traditions.

The finished product. I was also thankful to Jeff this year, for his straw bails and corn to make our porch look so festive!

As we have been obsessed with Star Wars this year, my Jedi Knights were ready for Halloween...
Pierce as Obi Wan Kanobi

Prepared for battle and using for Force!

Madi went back and forth deciding on being a "girl Jedi" with a light saber, or "Princess Leia" with her gun.

Princess Leia it was, prepared for battle with her blaster gun!

I had to include this picture - Madi adores our little buddy, Tommy!

And with eyes like these, he is pretty irresistible!

Madi with all her goods, rootbeer on her costume and ketchup on her face. All proof of a great night!

A Trick-or Treat visit to our Hall cousins was also a highlight of the night! Here is Pierce with his best buddy cousin, Matthew, as Mario.

Sweet girls, Madi and Brooke, looking cute in her 50's attire!

What a great night, it was a very Happy Halloween!

Kicking Off The Season - Part 2

Pierson had his 1st game of the season on Saturday. His game was great! He is doing much better this year and was SO thrilled that he scored his very 1st goal! He has a great little team, the 6 boys from the team last year, plus 2 more. They are great little friends and play well together.

Here he is - 1st Goal!

He had a HUGE smile on his face after his big moment! (And any time he actually kicked the ball!)


Go Rocket Bolts! (A compromise between the Rockets and the Bolts!)

Preston, Grant, Pierson - Soccer Buddies

Thankfully, Madi had a huge improvement from the 1st game! No crying! And a lot of running and kicking! YAY! She did great and was happy to play each time it was her turn to be on the field. She also had her 1st goal and was super excited! It was such a fun day for both of them, both so happy to have scored a goal! I told Pierce I would give him a dollar if he made a goal, so Madi knew she could get one too!


Here she is making her goal, you can't see her very well at the right moment, but you can see her little foot getting the ball in. (So loving my new camera by the way!) And she was so cute giving her coach a hug, just so excited about her goal! It was a fun game day, we are looking forward to a FUN soccer season! Go Blue Fairies!

AND I had to snap a few pictures of Baby Jack during all the game fun, and I just could not resist posting my favorite! Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?! I love these blue eyes and sweet expression. What a doll. We all love Baby Jack! (And no this does not make me baby-hungry, I am always thrilled to adore Jack and hand him back over. And if you don't know Baby Jack and are wondering who this darling thing belongs to, you can see my "Baby Jack" post from April.)

Kicking Off The Season!

Soccer season is here! Madi kicked off the season with her 1st game on Saturday. Well actually there was only a tiny bit of kicking, a little bit of running, a little more whining, a little crying and lots of sitting on Daddy's lap.



Madi was all excited about playing soccer this year, until about 10 minutes into her first practice when she was ready to be done. Then we got her all excited again about her first game and she LOVED wearing her uniform. She was loving it for the first few minutes and actually running and kicking the ball, but the excitement ended when she tried to pick the ball up and I had to tell her "No!" Then she burst into tears and was sad the rest of the game. I coached her first game and - oh boy! Four 3 year old girls, 3 of them crying and not wanting to play because they fell down or some such dramatic thing, and me running around like a fool trying to get them to run in the right direction and actually kick the ball! But, hey, it was fun! Hopefully they'll get the hang of it soon. Our little friend, Annie, did great once she cheered up and scored a great goal! Thank goodness for Peyton, the only girl on the team who didn't cry half the game and played the whole time! It's sure to be a fun season!



But hey, she sure looks cute in her uniform! Love it!
Pierson didn't have a game this first week, next game day should bring a lot more fun!

SUMMER TIME!

I was seriously dreading summer time and so worried about how in the world I was going to keep Pierson busy with school out! But summer is in full swing and we have been having so much fun that the kids haven't even had time to get bored, exactly the opposite - I haven't had time to clean the house! We have been busy with Pierson's swimming lessons (he is doing awesome!, haven't taken any pics yet), baseball games, playing at the water park, swimming, playing with friends and loving our 5 baby kittens! I am so relieved that I am actually loving summer!

Sweet little Madi girl having a ball at the water park!

Pierson having fun with his best cousin Anya, He is actually not mad, just in character, he is being Mufasa

Fun with cousins at the water park

Pierson & Mittens, cute little tiny thing!


Pierson is doing great in baseball! He is having a lot of fun and really improving. The last few games he has gotten almost all of his hits on the 1st or 2nd pitch. Pretty good for first try at coach pitch! Go Reds!

Rah! Rah! Rah! Firemen!

Pierce had a great first soccer season, he loved it and we loved it! He had fun playing and the boys all became great little buddies. We had fun getting to know the other families too. We had a soccer team party the night before their last game, thanks to Kathryn for hosting! The familes all came for a night of pizza, and of course Costco Cake and ice cream. What a great night!
All the Boys
Pierce, Rushton, Preston, Dawson, Grant, Boyce
Yay Firemen!
Pierson's first trophy, he was SO excited!