How We T-ball

For a couple more weeks, Sam has T-ball.  Not surprisingly, Sam's big muscles have led to quite a swing and a good throwing arm.  He loves to play, and has quite a few friends on his team.

Love these pics I snapped of him after a big hit.

Chad was asked to help coach, which leaves me looking after the other 3 kids and this is how they entertain themselves...

Like every other year, for the 0lder kids, it usually involves climbing a tree or two.

Jack would rather chat with the cute baby girls, 

take lots of walks,

(which usually leads to him taking his shoes on and off),

rummage through my purse and put on my chap-stick,

take off for the hills with tree branches for wings,

(which usually leads to my older 2 having to go and bring him back) 

strut around with my sunglasses on,

and then laugh at me when I ask for them back. 

Gym Rats

For the summer, I have enrolled Emmi in gymnastics, and I am thinking that she is going to love it and will want to continue it in the fall.  My parents put me in gymnastics at a couple of different places growing up, and I always loved it.  In gymnastics, having little legs and strong arms is actually a bonus, and I can remember being surprised at how natural it came to me.  I would not be surprised if it was the same for Emmi.

One of the best parts is that Emmi is taking it with 2 of her buddies, which happen to be 2 of my best buddies' daughters.  All 3 of us work, and so carpooling has been wonderful for all of us. 

So far, Emmi has loved it.  I got a kick out of watching her bounce around, being such a little thing.  Her favorite part so far has been the "trampoline," and I am excited to see how she progresses.

It is not only Emmi that has interest in gymnastics.  Sam has been begging me to put him in too, but Emmi's gym does not have a boys class.  Luckily, there is a studio here locally that has a co-ed tumbling class.  It turns out that Sam is the only boy in it right now, (a couple other boys stopped for the summer), but Sam does not care too much.  

I got to go with him and watch his first class.  I have to say that I was not surprised at all how well he did.  If ever a kid was built for tumbling, it is Sam.  He is all muscle.  When Sam was just a toddler, he always had so much energy and would not stand still.  He was constantly climbing, running, jumping, you name it.  More than once my siblings commented, "Put that boy in gymnastics!"  It was funny and we would laugh.  But it is so true, he is made for it.

He was so good that first week that after class, me and his teacher were talking about having to move him up to the older class, probably before he was actually old enough to do so.  It makes me so happy to see him find something he loves to do, and is good at it to boot.  If all of my children could find that, I would be so happy.   

Eddie

My sweet nephew Eddie was born almost a month ago.  Out of respect for Erin and Rob, I held off in posting about him.  Edward Henry (named after his big brother) was born on May 24th, and at only 28 weeks, was a healthy little guy from the start, even for only weighing in at 2 lbs 8 oz.  Erin went into labor earlier that day and by time she arrived at the hospital, was dilated to a 10.  Eddie was anxious to join us, probably as much as we were anxious to meet him.  We all ache to hold him and love him, but that will come with time. 

For now, I take comfort in the fact that Erin and Rob get to hold Eddie and change his diapers, something that they never got to do with Henry.  Eddie is doing well and continues to climb upward.  

I got my first peek at Eddie in the hospital just a few hours after he was born, and already I could tell that he was indeed a fighter.

It is interesting to me how much your perspective and experience changes things.  As scary as it is to watch my sister have a baby at only 28 weeks and see him in an incubator, I cannot describe how full my heart was that day on my drive home.  Yes, he is still little and in an incubator, but is eating, making messy diapers, and having more of an upward growth and trend than I believe Henry ever did, and for that, I am grateful.  I could not bear to watch my sister go through anything less right now.   

 

On my way up to see Erin and Rob after the news of Eddie's birth, and after praying and praying for good health for all of them, I did notice that immediately, I had peace.  In the car ride, even before seeing them in person, I knew that everything would be okay, and Eddie would make it.  I had the pleasure of walking out to my car later on that night with Rob's sweet parents, Paul and Ann Koelliker, and they had said the same thing.  They had a peace that day as well, and knew that this time it would be different. 

Almost 4 weeks later, Eddie is blissfully still with us.  Every few days or so I get an update from Erin and picture or two.  This coming week I get the opportunity to go and see Eddie and Erin again, and I am very much looking forward to it.  Please keep Eddie and his sweet parents in your prayers.  As always, Erin has an amazing post about Eddie's arrival, and it is worth a read. Click here to see it.

Last Dance...

For a several different reasons, we have decided that Emmi will not be taking dance again in the fall.  It is crazy to think that Emmi has now taken dance for 2 1/2 years and been in 3 recitals already at the age of 5, and all under the great and loving care of her Grandma.  She really is a lucky little girl.

Her dress rehearsal went really well and Emmi was very excited to show me her cute dances and do it for real later that night.

She made some great friends too.  Too bad they all live in Santaquin...

Like all little girls, her favorite part must have been the costumes and makeup. I knew that she knew she looked beautiful by the way she was posing for the camera.  Can't wait to see the professional pics in a few days.  Of course I am a bit biased, but my little girl is real beauty.

After the recital, Emmi got roses from 2 of her biggest admires, her Daddy and Grandpa.

Grandma B even made the long trip down through horrendous traffic and was even there with a few flowers of her own to give her.  Emmi was very happy to see her.

Even though her brothers were not as willing to come, they did and cheered loud.

It wasn't just Emmi that the family was watching.  Two of my nieces, Mccall and her sister Brinley were also dancing.  I was so proud of all 3 of them.

Before leaving for home, I had to get a picture of Emmi and her Grandma, knowing that next year she will not be in the recital, just watching in the audience.  It is kinda sad, really. 

This one is my favorite.  Kim found out that Emmi wasn't really smiling for the picture, and so began tickling her and they ended up hugging and laughing.  I know this has been such a great experience for Emmi and one that she won't soon forget.  Thank you Kim, for teaching Emmi to dance.

Dear Ida Mae

It has almost been a month since my sweet friend Ida Mae passed away.  Her and Carolyn were good friends to us from the beginning of our life in Payson, and it is truly hard to think that I won't be able to laugh with her anytime soon.  It does, however, bring me good comfort to know that she is on the other side, meaning that I am not as afraid of death knowing that she would be one of the people I could see there.  She is definitely one that I do look forward to see again.  If my own family was not available for the picking, I would have liked to have picked hers.  I have been blessed to have meet some of her children, and they are some of the finest people that I have ever met.  I would have been proud to be a granddaughter of hers, but in truth... I felt like one anyway.  I knew that she loved me and my kids.  This is the first photo that I have with Ida Mae.  It was at a ward pool party.  She got a kick out of Emmi's little bikini.

That fall, her and Carolyn hosted a Halloween party.  Ida Mae dressed up for the very first time in her life.

Ida Mae was crazy about babies.  I would always sit beside her in Relief Society so she could hold mine.  Just a week after we brought Jack home, we took him up to meet her.

Through the years, we have been blessed to have been able to go up to the house and visit with Ida Mae and Carolyn.  Carolyn would get out toys out for the kids to play with while we talked.  We always had a hard time leaving.

Instead of a Halloween party, last year Carolyn and Ida Mae hosted a "May Day" party for the kids, and they had food and games for the kids outside.

At the beginning of this year, I got word that she was not doing well. I visited her a couple of times after that, afraid that each would be the last. But Ida Mae is a fighter, and she held on.

Our very last visit was coincidentally on her birthday, when Ida Mae turned 96 years old.  We stopped by after church to say hi.  She was was actually feeling really well that day, and surprised me by knowing all of our names just like old times.  I am so grateful that I took my camera with me that day to capture this sweet moment.  I am grateful to have known this beautiful lady. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, etc., and saint.  I hope to make her proud when we undoubtedly meet again.

Preschool Graduation!

Dear Emmi,

Once again you were the cutest little preschool graduate.  I was so proud to during the program.  Through preschool you have shown that you are not only cute but very smart, and anxious to learn to read and count like your big brothers.  

I was not the only one that was proud.  Lots of family also came to see you graduate, including grandparents, great grandparents, and even a few cousins. (Even though I did not get photos of everyone).

This year made such great friends, like sweet little Lola, who we will be hoping to see again next year in Kindergarten.

You know that you had the BEST teacher ever too, just like your brothers had.  Boy, do we love Miss Amy.  It is crazy to think that she had all three of you... wow, time flies!

The Thomson's also came down for the day, and while all the boys went to see The Avengers, us ladies went for cupcakes!  It was a great day.  I am so glad to have you as my little girl.