Mitch's Baseball Season

Mitch played T-ball last year, but this was his first year of Baseball. It was great, but I'm not sure who enjoyed it more...me or him. It was a 5-year old league and Mitch was THE YOUNGEST on his team, since he didn't even turn 5 until 8 days before the cut off...he was also one of the smallest, if not THE smallest, but he didn't let it stop him! Mitch had FANTASTIC coaches! I couldn't have been happier!

So...here was the way the game was played. Every kid on the team played in the field every time, and every kid got to bat every inning. There wasn't really any specific positions they played regularly, but Mitch mostly played Short Stop, First Base, and Left Field occassionally. We usually only played 2 innings in an hour. Each got 5 coaches pitch balls, an dif they didn't hit it, they would hit off of the tee. At the start of the season, maybe one or two kids could hit the coach's pitches. By the end of the season, there were games that EVERY kid on the team hit the pitches! It was so much fun to watch the kids grow and improve. I plan on Mitch playing again in the fall (I think we'll skip soccer this year).

Here are a few pics...

Mitch fielding a ball at first base. He really liked playing first base, but he got a little confused sometimes. He always wanted to go after the ball, which is fantastic, but he would be all the way out in right field and first base would be completely uncovered! :)

Baseball ready...with the hat backwards, of course!
Batting...he would be much better if he would open his eyes! :) I showed him this picture and several others where his eyes were closed. His response..."They aren't closed! I was blinking!" Gotta love that kid...he has an answer for everything!

This picture is just so Mitch!

Welcoming Baby Becca!

On March 6th, after my sister-in-law, Leah, had spent a couple of days in the hospital with high blood pressure, my new baby niece, Rebecca, was born via C-Section! She was 3 weeks early and teeny tiny! Only 5 lbs 10 ounces...and absolutely beautiful! Mom and I made it to Memphis in time for the delivery, and were there for Baby Becca's first photo shoot! Mamma and baby both did great!

Baby Becca's first photo! Look how tiny she is compared to Josh's hand!

Isn't she beautiful?
Proud Daddy (my little brother) and his new baby girl!
Mimi and Papa with their "baby" and new "grandbaby"

Mommy and Becca
Look at that tongue! At about 3 months, she still likes to stick her tongue out!

Mimi, Daddy, and Baby Becca

Did I mention that she's beautiful? When can I start spoiling her?

Snowy Winter

It may not look like much to some, but for us, this is a TON of snow! The last time we had enough snow to sled was 2006! This was only one of many snows that we had this year, but it was by far the best! The boys had a blast sledding with Daddy. The neighbors all came out in force to sled down the big hill in front of our house. I think the adults had as much fun as the kids! Mitch wanted to make a snow man, but this snow wasn't good for snowballs. You could literally walk on top of 4-6 inches of snow without even sinking. Anyway...here are some of my favorite pictures from the day...

Mitch pulling Jake in the sled...so sweet!

Mitch and his friend, Thomas

Daddy "catching" Mitch and Jake after they came sledding down the small hill to the side of our house

Daddy pulling them back up to sled again

Random January Fun

I guess when you are 4 months behind, you can lump an entire month into one post, right?

Remember Mitch's friend, Tyner, who moved to Mississippi? Well, we tried for several weeks to get Tyner up to Nashville for the day (his dad comes for work sometimes and Tyner has come up with him and spent the day with us before). After plans fell through so many times, and Mitch was disappointed, I decided it just be much better to surprise him. So, one morning, Tyner just rang our doorbell, and Mitch had no idea he was coming.

Being the girl that I am, I was all hyped up and ready for this great reaction...NOPE! Mitch saw him, and just simply said, "It's Tyner", just like he had seem him just the day before. Zero reaction from either of them. I am really going to have to get used to this whole "guys reaction" thing! But...even though I was disappointed in their reactions, they had a great day together, and I'm so glad they got to visit. Here is one of the only pictures I got though. They were looking at pictures on Mitch's new camera. They are so cute!

This one was NOT one of my favorite days in January...or any other month for that matter! I was working from home, and had been on the phone for quite a while. Jake was playing, and I knew he was too quite. When I came out of the office, I found this...Jake had dumped an ENTIRE box of pancake mix all over the downstairs...even in the toy closet!

My friend, Lindsay's, youngest son, Luke, turned 2 in January, and we went to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate. Here's one of the birthday boy. I know this picture is blurry, but look at those eyes. They make me think of Precious Moments dolls! Jake, going UP the slide, instead of DOWN...go figure!

Oh...and here's one of Jake with a shiner...and I honestly don't even remember how he got it!
Mitch and Gabe playing Air Hockey

We also had a great snow and I got some good pics of the Gary and the kids playing in it, but it will have to be another post....there are too many good pics!

Christmas in Gatlinburg

For the last two years, we have gone to Gatlinburg with Gary's family for Christmas. Unfortunatley, it's May, and I'm just now getting around to posting about it, so I don't have alot of commentation on it! So, I guess I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

One day we went into Pigeon Forge, and one of our stops was at a western store. This may very well be my all-time favorite picture!

Okay...so we aren't all born to wear hats!

We also went roller skating that day...or well most of us did. It was Mitch's first time, and he LOVED it! It was really sweet to watch Jack and Alex helping him, too.

Jake, well...he didn't love it so much! He stood on his skates for about 5 minutes, and cried all of those 5 minutes. After that, he just hung out with Papa Jack.

And...back at the cabin...

Gary playing with Molly and baby doll nursery we got her for Christmas. We may get a little crazed when we actually get to buy girly things! :) Is there a better thing to give a teenager than a game named "Smart Ass"? Jack thought it was hilarious...and it happened to be a fun game too!

Yep, Gary brainwashed Molly, too! Her daddy is a big Georgia fan, and isn't too crazy about this!
Storytime with Aunt Tara and two of Mitch's favorite cousins
Ron, Alex, Matt, Jack and Gary in the hot tub
Out of the entire family of 16, these are the only girls! Gotta love a family that makes me look tall! :) The refrigerator loaded for 3 days with 16 people Mitch, Wyatt, Molly and Jake in their personal swimming pool...otherwise known as a jacuzzi tub, with water color tablets for a little extra fun! I'm pretty sure there was more water around the tub than in it when they got through! Jake, Mitch and Wyatt getting ready to "go swimming". This was Jake's first time in underwear (instead of a diaper), and he didn't like it. He ended up going naked! In a house with this many people, I guess you have to sit wherever you can find a seat! Playing "Smart Ass"
Mitch and Wyatt playing Leapsters. This is pretty much what they did for 3 days.

Whew....through Christmas posts! I may even get one or two more done tonight...we'll see!

Christmas Day!

We left my Mom's early afternoon on Christmas Day. We picked Jack and Alex back up on our way back home. We met my brother, Josh, and his wife, Leah at our house, where we exchanged Christmas gifts with them. Then we all bundled up good and heading to the Christmas night Titans game. No tailgating this time...too cold!!!! Again, I drove separately from Gary because I didn't think Jake would stand the cold for the whole game. Again, I was wrong! We all made it the whole game!

There were two women sitting at the end of our row, who I think had a couple of drinks before the game started. :) They LOVED Mitch! I think Mitch talked to them the entire game! The one that Mitch is blocking wanted us to take her picture with Mitch, but Mitch didn't cooperate. This was the best we got.

I love this picture of Josh, Jake, and Leah! A kid sitting beside them kept referring to Leah as Jake's mom...can't imagine why anyone would think Jake belonged to them! :)

Nope...not done with Christmas yet! Next up is the Roberts' Family Christmas!

Christmas at Mimi's

Christmas Eve afternoon, we took Jack and Alex back to their Mom's and headed over to my Mom's for the night. We had Christmas dinner, opened presents, spent the night...and when we woke up, Santa had made another little trip for all of us! We ate breakfast and opened more presents on Christmas morning.

I obviously was way too interested in my new video camera, because I sure didn't get very many pictures, but here are some of them...

One of my FAVORITE pictures of the boys!

Mimi got the boys a Wii

Jake got a remote control truck...

...but was afraid of it when it started moving. Solution...he chilled out in the chair with the remote (the steering wheel is the remote)

Jake was a big helper opening presents

Daddy might have enjoyed the Wii as much as Mitch!

Christmas Eve Morning!

Santa has been kind enough to accommodate our Christmas schedule with Jack and Alex. Since they are with their mom on Christmas morning, Santa makes a special trip and comes to our house on Christmas Eve morning!

The night before, we let the kids open one present each...and I think these were pretty much the favorites...

Jake didn't really have a favorite, but this may have been one of my favorites!

Mitch was super excited to get a guitar, and Jack was helping him play it!
Alex got the new phone he had been wanting.

And Jack...well, Jack got a picture of a shoe! He wanted a pair of shoes that had to be special ordered from Nike, and he didn't pick them out in time for them to get here, so he got a picture of them!

Then Santa came...

And this is what Jack woke up to...Jake climbed in bed with him,

and Mitch played him a little "tune"!

Jake loved his new motorcycle (even though it was March before he actually got to ride it because it's been so cold)

Mitch went straight for the Radiator Spring GeoTrax. I think Jake took over shortly after this picture, though!

Alex and his new Bama hoodie

Jake opening his Hungry Hungry Hippos game. I think we kept up with the marbles for a couple of months, but they have mostly disappeared now.

Jack got some clothes and some Father Ryan "gear".

Oh...and they all four got Nerf guns. In hind sight, I think Santa should have brought Gary one, too!

Jake's favorite part was the chocolate, though...go figure! Ummm...do you see how close he is to my chair with those grimy hands?!

So...I moved him to the table!

Mitch and Alex both got skates

...and I got a new camcorder, so hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to post videos along with the pictures sometime soon!

Next up...Christmas at Mimi's!