play ball

This weekend was little league baseball opening day!  It was scheduled for last weekend but with 100% chance of rain all Saturday...it was quickly postponed to this weekend.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.

We started out the day with a good old parade...



...into the ball field park.

I grabbed a quick shot of our player with his dad and granddad...



...before Opening Ceremonies started.

All the teams & coaches were introduced...



...a raffle ticket was drawn to win a tv and the first pitch was thrown.  It was finally time to play ball!

The Giants had the second game of the day...so we had some time to kill.  The kids ran and played.  I worked the silent auction tent.  Jody discussed game strategy.

Right before the team was set to warm up, Banks decided he might need a couple of pizza sticks for lunch.  A few bites in he handed me something laughing.  Can you tell what it was?



He lost his 5th tooth [and has 3 more ready to come out].  I had no clue it was even that loose!

Banks is playing 1st base this year.  Here he is in action on the first play of the game...







I kind of miss my little catcher but I will get use to seeing him on first.

The little sisters were there to cheer on their brothers...



...and the pig pen was there doing was he does best...



...being a PIG PEN!

We didn't have our best game.  We couldn't quite find a groove.  Hopefully the rain will hold off this afternoon and we can get our first season game played.

Owen ended up falling asleep in the stroller towards the end of the game.  So we ended up staying and watching the last of the games.

I love our little league.  It is like a family.  Everyone supports every child.  All the parents cheer for each child...no matter which team they are on.

I can't believe this was 4 short years ago...



Before I know it...Owen will be out there running those bases.

crawfish

Banks and Jody went to Huntsville Friday night to hook up with Tony Chachere.  Their purpose...



...to cook and eat crawfish.

coffee talk

Owen has recently discovered coffee...



He think he is big stuff when I fix him his own mug of coffee [mostly milk with a splash of coffee].  He usually drinks it while I am fixing breakfast and packing lunches.  It is our little bonding time because he is usually up way before the rest of the crew.

This morning he thought he needed a chocolate kiss to go with is coffee.  Oh the perks of being the third child!

Spring is Here!

Mary Reese and some fellow Kindergarteners have been going to the Reading Coach at their school all year for some special reading time.  Last Tuesday night, her school had a literacy night to show how much fun reading can be.  Each grade level had their own part of the program.  The Kindergarten reading crew performed a skit about spring.

Here is most of the crew getting ready for the big show...



The costumes were precious...most of them hand-made by Mrs. Joseph [the Reading Coach].  She did such a fabulous job!

There were bunnies, bees, butterflies, frogs, chicks, red birds, cats, sheep, ducks & more...



They were the cutest things ever!

They took their places on stage and didn't miss a beat.  The cafeteria was packed but no one seemed nervous.  They all spoke their lines perfectly.

Hala's part was first...



...she was a chick.

Then came Amelia the Bee...



Finally it was Mary Reese's turn to shine...



Her big line..."Daffodils in the wind."

She said it perfectly!  [Guess all their practice & my bribe trip to Target for such a great performance paid off!]

The three amigas...



Hala, Mary Reese & Amelia

Here is a video of the complete Kindergarten part...




They were all so proud of themselves when they were finished!  They have even been asked to do an encore performance next month!

The prize for her award winning performance...



Some new shoes just like Amelia had gotten the week before.  She told Mary Reese they were on aisle 2 of Target.  So off we went...in search of sparkly, silver shoes on aisle 2 of our local Target.  Thankfully they were there and in her size!

I can't believe that her Kindergarten year is coming to an end.

st. patty's day

We started our St. Patty's Day celebration first thing with these...



Green Pancakes!



They were delicious & delightful!  We threw on our green clothes so we wouldn't get pinched and ran out the door like crazy people [that is why I have no more pictures of our celebration]!

two year stats

Owen had his 2 year old check up on Tuesday.  We did not win the most cooperative patient award.  He refused to stand on the scale so they did the best they could on the baby scale [don't think it is 100% accurate because he was climbing the wall].  He weighs 28 lbs 13 ozs and is 34¼ inches tall.

[For comparison sake:  Banks weighed 32 lbs and was 35½ inches tall.  Mary Reese weighed 26 lbs 9 ozs and was 35 inches tall.]

His ear infection from about a month ago was all clear and his tubes were still intact.  I had to pin him down so Dr. Khouri could check him out.  He did have to get one shot and a finger prick...neither of which he was a huge fan of!  Good News...we have now graduated to yearly check-ups!

family favorite: stromboli

We ♥ Stromboli Night! 

I ♥ it even more these days because it is quick and easy.  Lately we have been on the GO...between baseball practice, Mary Reese's reading group play, gymnastics and homework.  Stromboli as become one of my go-to dinners on these busy weeknights.

First, buy a package of this in your freezer section...



It is around the frozen biscuits in my local grocery store.  I use 2 of the 3 loaves for my family of 5...it is enough for dinner and for everyone to have in their lunch boxes the next day.

In the morning, I put the 2 frozen loaves on the counter in bread pans.  I cover them with a cloth and leave them to rise all day.  When we get home from school, this is what they looked like...



I roll the dough out on a floured surface until I get it as wide and long as I want it...



The chopping block in my kitchen is a 24" square...if that gives you any ideas.  I definitely roll it out longer than wider.

After I get it rolled out, I start layering.

For my kids, they like a plain old pepperoni and cheese stromboli.  I layer shredded mozzarella and deli-sliced, sandwich-sized pepperoni...



I start with cheese, layer of pepperoni, layer of cheese, pepperoni and then another layer of cheese on top [these are thin layers].

Jody and I like ours a little more jazzed up...



I start with some shredded mozzarella, then a layer of deli-sliced, sandwich-sized pepperoni, layer of cheese, layer of thinly-sliced black forest ham, layer of cheese, layer of hard salami, layer of cheese, layer of ham, layer of cheese, layer of pepperoni, layer of cheese [again thin layers].  If it wasn't raining last night...I would have thrown in some freshly chopped basil and oregano from the herb garden some where in those layers.  If I was the only one eating it, I would have probably sprinkled some crushed red pepper somewhere in those layers.

Once you get all you layers like you like them, you...



...fold over one side.  I dip my finger in a bowl of water and run it along the edge at the end.  Then I press them together to seal.



You do the same with the other side, pressing the seams together to seal.

Invert, seam side down, on a baking sheet...



Bake them in a 375° oven for about 25 minutes [until the bread is browned].



Remove to a cutting board, slice & serve.



I served mine with a simple salad...



Delicious & Delightful!

Stromboli

1 – 1 lb. loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
¼ – ½ lb. thinly slice black forest ham (I used Boar's Head)
¼ – ½ lb. sandwich-style sliced pepperoni (Boar's Head again)
¼ lb. sliced hard salami (Boar's Head again)
1 – 1½ c. shredded mozzarella
½ T. fresh basil, chopped (or ½ t. dried)
¼ T. fresh oregano, chopped (or ¼ t. dried)

Roll the dough into a 15 x 10" rectangle on a lightly floured surface.  Layer the meats, cheese and spices to your taste.  Moisten all edges of dough with water; bring each long edge of dough to center.  Press edges together securely to seal.  Seal ends.  Place seam side down on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake in a 375° oven for about 25 minutes, or until browned.  Remove to a cutting board and cut horizontally.  Serve with a simple salad for a quick and easy meal.

rabbit food

We did a little gardening today...



First we cleaned up the remaining of the dead stuff from the summer garden...



Then we planted some lettuce...



...butter crisp, romaine & green leaf plants.

We even sowed some seeds...



We did spinach, a lettuce variety pack, some zinnias & sunflowers.

My kids enjoy planting things and watching them grow.  I think that is why they are such good eaters!  We are ready for a delicious salad straight out of our little backyard garden.

turning two

Guess who turned...



Can you believe it?  I hardly can!  Owen turned 2 today.

We had the family over on Sunday...



...for a little celebration brunch...



We had Day-of-the-Wedding Sausage Casserole, Gouda Cheese Grits, Mini Tomato Pies, Biscuits with Homemade Jams, Cinnamon Rolls, Blueberry Muffins and Fresh Fruit.

Then no birthday at our house would be complete without a Judi Moore Birthday Cake.  Of course it had to revolve around one of our obsessions...



M I C K E Y    M O U S E

We sang, he blew out the candles...



...and then we dug in...



Today he came to the top of the stairs with 3 Mickey's in tow...



Then they all ate biscuits...



...before heading out to school.

Owen took some cupcakes to share with all his friends...



Funfetti Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing and Milk Chocolate Mickey heads.

We came home to find presents on the porch.  This card from Aunt Sue and Uncle David was a hit...



He opened it, blew out the candles and clapped to Happy Birthday over and over again.  It was precious.  I could eat him with a spoon.

Happy 2nd Birthday Owie-O!

spring fever

I have got Spring Fever, and I have it bad!

Baseball season is in full swing.  We are in our second week of practice and have already been rained out twice.

Owen screams with delight every time we turn into the parking lot of the ball fields.  He thinks he is apart of the team.

Mary Reese has already found some new "little sisters" to play with.  She has been trilled to reconnect with some old friends we only tend to see at the ball fields.

I have enjoyed having a fresh bouquet of these daffodils on my breakfast room table.  Bring on Spring!