Summer fun

We've now finished the deck, swingset and have new patio furniture. The backyard is my FAVORITE place to be! The kids love playing out there. Virtually every day when we get home from school they're begging to go out and swing before I even have a chance to set my things down.

We had Dad, Kit & Casie over on Father's Day weekend for a little grilling and playing. The kids loved having new pushers!

It took Ellie Kate a couple days to try the baby swing, but once she did, she loved it! We've had multiple occasions of tears because it was time to go to bed or go inside for dinner, but "No! I want swing!" Will loves the glider. He thinks it's his pirate ship. He'll often sing while he's on it. His usual tunes are the Gaston song from Beauty & the Beast and some Enya. Eclectic tastes, don't you think?

The kids love the pool, but our hands are always full there so I haven't gotten any pictures yet. We did set up the sprinkler ball in the backyard, though, and they had a blast! It was perfect for us, too. Casie & I could get cooled off without getting soaked, but they kids got totally drenched just like they wanted.

Racing with Aunt Casie

Will loved doing this - I have no idea why. But, of course, EK had to try it too!

"This is the best day EVER!"

Our new swingset was installed yesterday. Will proclaimed this "the best day EVER!"

Both kids loved it - and loved different things. Will was all about the swings and Elle couldn't get enough of the slide. I have to keep an eye on her - she's such a fearless daredevil!

This is the backside of the set.

Will at the very top

EK pushing her brother out of the way so she could go down the slide.

Will's favorite part

Wedding

We were lucky to all be a part of Justin's sister's wedding last weekend! Of course, I was a horrible photographer and took very few photos. That's what professionals are for, right?


Will was a ring bearer, Ellie Kate was a flower girl, Justin was a groomsman, and I was a bridesmaid. In hindsight, it would have been good for me to have someone take a picture of the 4 of us together. In reality, I'm not sure the 4 of us were ever all happy and in the same place at the same time!

Both kids made it down the aisle just fine. Well, Elle was crying when Justin went down without her, regained her composure, then lost it again when I went down without her. Thankfully my niece dragged her out when it was time to go. Once E saw me, she was happy to walk down the aisle toward me. Will did great coming down the aisle, and looked so handsome in his tux. The grand plan was for the kids to sit with my mom during the ceremony. That lasted all of about 2 seconds. EK was quickly up with me, where I held her for much of the ceremony. (Warm weather, outside wedding, holding a little girl in a poufy dress = awesome wrinkles and sweat marks on a bridesmaid's dress.) EK babbled (though not terribly loud all the time) throughout the ceremony -- even saying "CHEESE" for the photographer trying to capture the bride & groom. At one point, she got down and threw the flower petals from her basket (since she didn't do it on the way down the aisle). When she realized her basket was empty, she just threw it too. It's a wonder anyone was able to pay attention to the ceremony! She was such a distraction!!

Will has grown quite fond of his sister and has a great sense of comfort when he's with her. So, when she came up with me, his anxiety level rose dramatically. Combine this with no nap, being overwhelmed by walking down the aisle in front of all these strangers, and you get a very emotional little boy who ended up standing next to his dad through the ceremony. Periodically, I would hear him trying to stifle sobs. I was waiting for Jenny to ask us to leave. I felt like we were such distractions! Thankfully, she did not ask us to leave, and actually still thinks our kids are great. I guess that's what aunts are for, right?!

Once the wedding was over, both kids were happy campers - running all over and entertaining plenty. They couldn't stay as late as the dance, so they just had their own - on the dance floor, with no music, while others ate dinner. What a proud mother I was. Blessedly, my mom took them home about 8 and J&I were able to enjoy a lovely evening without much more embarrassment.

Will claims he had a great time at Aunt Jenny's wedding, which I guess is all that matters. He even told my mom that he was going to wear his tuxedo the next weekend, too....to Jason & Kathy's wedding. Welcome back, imaginary friends!

First t-ball game

The first T-ball game was a success! Everyone did great. Will had a blast. He had quite the cheering section with 2 sets of grandparents, an aunt & cousin in addition to Elle & I. We're in a 4 & 5 yr old league and the team we played was a year old than us. It was amazing to see the difference in size and coordination! Of course, I took tons of pictures, but here are just a few. Oh - and one quick pre-game story. First, Will's game was at noon and he was dressed in his uniform by 9:30. Think he was excited? As he was getting dressed, he chose his Incredibles undies to wear. "They say POWER on them, mom, so they will give me power for my game today." Love it.

Justin is helping "coach". Here they are warming up before the game.

I love that the ball is right at his feet in this picture. I thought he had totally missed it, but J says that was just where he told him to stand. They were playing catch with another ball.

 

 

His first at bat:

Safe at first.

Every player bats every inning and they each only get to run one base. The last batter of each inning gets to run all the bases. They all play defense every inning and getting them to stay in any sort of position is hilarious. Half the team runs after a hit ball and they usually end up tackling each other trying to get it. The first inning, Will was catcher.

Ellie Kate kept trying to run out onto the muddy, muddy field. Thankfully, she became easily distracted once her cousin, grandparents and aunt arrived!

Some moments with Coach Daddy.

More defense...if you can call it that. :)

in the "ready" position

And the obligatory drawing in the dirt picture.

Aren't they cute?

And hooray for the playground equipment! This is where EK spent most of the game. Happy summer!

Ellie Kate updates

My dear Ellie Kate is becoming such a big girl! She's doing so well recognizing and naming letters. She can do a very lovely rendition of singing the ABC's, but she can now correctly (and consistently) identify about half the letters, which is exciting. She loves singing and dancing. She counts lots of things -- not always correctly, but she tries. She insists on doing anything her older brother does. She is a little daredevil - will try anything! She still loves babies and sings to her dolls, pushes them in the stroller, feeds them, rocks them, and puts them to sleep. Occasionally they even get to wear a real diaper. She likes to pretend to go potty on the "big girl potty", but no real success so far. We haven't tried to hard, but maybe soon. In a feat of pure strength she broke the lid off the toilet in their bathroom the other night. She walked in ready to "go potty" and came back out with that and said "here you go. broke." Add that to Daddy's to-do list.

The day before Mother's Day I was home with the kids and had taken a load of laundry up to our room. Apparently they decided to follow and I soon heard a crash as Elle fell down half a flight of stairs to the landing. Will reports the she did a somersault down the stairs. She ended up with a bit of a mark around her eye - just in time for Mother's Day. Needless to say I wasn't winning any awards this year.

 

The other night after dinner, the kids each got a sucker. Of course, EK's was blue. Isn't she just kissable?

T-Ball and more

Will is starting T-ball for the first time. Here he is before the first practice.

And after the first practice with his official T-shirt and hat. He's #7 and they decided on a team name of the Wildhawks (combination of wildcats and jayhawks). This was after the brilliant suggestions of the Muffin Men, the Dinosaurs, and Will's rather vocal attempt to be called the Pirates.

Justin is helping "coach". I'm looking forward to the first game after hearing all about practice. This ought to be a riot! Will is slowly coming to terms with reality in that he is not in fact playing for the Royals. Nor will his games be televised. He informed me earlier this week that I could just watch him on my phone if I couldn't be there. 1. Mommy's phone is not that cool. 2. How did you know people watch things on their phone? 3. You will not be televised. However, I'm guessing he'll have quite a cheering section given that he's trying to invite everyone he knows to come watch him.

Will has had a couple really funny comments and questions lately. First, I cut my hair pretty dramatically earlier this week. As we're driving home from school that day (the first time he has seen the haircut) he says, "Mama, I think something is different."
Me: "Really, Will? What do you think it is?"
W: thinking for a few seconds "Have I seen that shirt before?"
Ugh. Such a boy.

Last week (when J was out of town, of course) Will asked me how babies got into mommy's tummies. One of his friend's moms is pregnant and apparently they'd seen ultrasound pictures at school. Now, I'm all for telling the truth, not making up stories or silly words for body parts, but come on! He's 4! So, I told him it was a special miracle that God helped there be a baby in a mommy's tummy. Then he asked how the baby came out of the mommy. "Do you just open your mouth?" (I guess food goes in that way, so why can't a baby come out that way?) I told him that doctors helped us get the babies out. Thankfully those answers satisfied him for now. Any tips on better answers for next time would be greatly appreciated!

Wishing the weather would return to warmer, drier days so we can have more fun outside!

"Mom"

Will's teacher did a little interview with each kid about their mom for Mother's Day. Will's responses are in blue. So cute!!

My mom's name is Kelli
But I call her Mom.
My mom is 21 years old.
Her favorite food is soup. (as I was reading this aloud, he inserted "Just like me, mom!")
She likes to eat out at McDonald's.
I like it when my mom & I play together nice and read together in my bed.  
I like to help my mom with brushing my hair and playing games with her.
I know my mom loves me because she does so good for me!