Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Putt-Putt ... also known as What was Mom Thinking?


Each year as Father's Day is drawing near, I have the same dilemma.  Should we celebrate our super Dad by doing something fun as a family - you know with the two that made him a Dad - or should we send Dad off to do something relaxing.  'Cause, let's face it ... spending time with these two wild ones is lots of fun but would not be considered relaxing!


John rarely chooses to spend his free time away from the kiddos and me. In fact, I tried my best to encourage him to play golf with some friends, but unless I set up the tee time myself, I just don't think it's going to happen!  So, I had this great idea, that we could go golfing as a family - as in Putt Putt.  This would be Kate's first time ever on a course, but I was confident she would love it.  She loved it alright.  The rest of us did not so much love playing with her.  I think we quit keeping score after the 3rd hole.  We tried our best to keep up with all four putters and balls until about the 5th hole.  And by hole number 8, we were just trying to make it out alive.  Thankfully, everyone maintained their sense of humor and no one (not even passersby!) was hurt during the course of our journey.  I'm pretty sure Will and Dad decided that Kate will not be invited back to play Putt Putt for a very long (yet to be determined amount of) time.  The only redeeming factor may be that I got some really cute pictures ... I hope you enjoy them!

Will - ever the professional
Looking good so far  
I love this one

I think I'm getting the hang of this!
Looking good!

Mom even had some pretty good "putts"
Here is where things start to get interesting.  Kate decided that the best way to win this game is to start by placing your ball about 2 inches from the hole and then easily knock it in.  Clearly her favorite part of golfing was the "celebration" ...

Perfect placement for a hole in one every time!

Line yourself up just right and open your mouth just so ...

And celebrate!

REALLY proud of herself!

Ok, now you're just making your opponents feel bad! :o)

Kate advises Dad on his shot

And now a little instruction on the celebrating part

Pretty good, but I think we better keep working on it, Dad!

John has a very special term for his girls (yes, me too!) when we act this way ... if you ever hear him call us "precious" it's not because he really thinks we are ;o)
Will kept his cool throughout the afternoon!  

Kate trying to offer her advice, but Will was not having it!
WT was the only one among us who managed not one but TWO real holes in one!
Kate may or may not have gotten in trouble right before this pic, hence the very happy Father's Day smile on her face :o)

I am crazy for this fella and I could not imagine this wild parenting ride without him!!!




 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Even a Princess ...




... has to take a nap sometimes!


Sunday, June 17, 2012

In their own words




On Father's Day, we always like to wake daddy up by singing the Father's Day song ... you know the one that goes to the tune of Happy Birthday?  Then it's time for cards and gifts.  This year, instead of buying cards, I had the kids answer questions about John.  Here is what they had to say:


What does Dad always say to you? 
(W) Good job!  (K) Hmm ... I love you.

What makes Dad happy? 
(W) When I am very happy (K) When I'm happy

What makes Dad sad? 
(W) When I am hurt (K) When I'm very grumpy

How does Dad make you laugh?
(W) He tickles me (K) When he "laugheses"

What was Dad like as a child?
(W) A miniature Papa (K) Will

How old is Dad?
(W) 34 (K) 6

How tall is Dad?
(W) 10-20 feet (K) This tall - hands over her head

What is Dad's favorite thing to do?
(W) golf  (K) draw

What does Dad do when you're not around?
(W) Secretly plays Chaos - a game on the ipad  (K) He has to look for me.

What is Dad really good at?
(W) sports (K) painting

What is Dad really bad at?
(W) not really anything (K) catching snakes

What does Dad do for his job?
(W) Help build airplanes and figure out the directions for them (K)He works at his friend's works.

What is Dad's favorite food?
(W) pizza  (K) spaghetti

If Dad was a cartoon character, who would he be?
(W) Iron Man (K) a chipmunk

How are you and Dad the same?
(W) We both like sports (K) We like painting

How are you and Dad different?
(W) He wears glasses, I don't (K) umm...doing good at drawing

Where is Dad's favorite place to go?
(W) the lake or bowling with me (K) Chick-fil-a

How do you know your Dad loves you?
(W) He just does (K) Because when he paints he loves me

Friday, June 8, 2012

Baseball Season

Without even realizing it, we've slipped into that phase of life where we are no longer concerned with spring, summer, winter, or fall.  No, it's baseball season (or football...or basketball...).  Our long summer nights have turned into endless games of catch and batting practice.  Will has made big improvements in catching pop fly's and making solid throws to 1st base.  The boys seem to really be learning the game.  And Kate, well, Kate loves the ballpark too.  She's learning to eat sunflower seeds and loves climbing up and down (and up and down and up and down and, well you get the picture) the bleachers.  John loves helping out at practices and managing the dugout during the games ... and you already knew that I was the unofficial team photographer!

Taking the pre-game pledge



Oh, so close!  
Little League is especially tough on mamas (really, any activity that involves your kids is, I think).  Just after Will got this strike, the other team's coach yells out "Come on boys, this is going to be an easy out."  Wait. WHAT!?!?  Before I could think of something to yell back ("That's MY son!" was all that was coming to mind and that didn't seem quite witty enough), I heard the crack of the bat and saw this:
And that, ladies and gentlemen, would be a double.  I really had to keep myself from yelling "How's that for an easy out?", but I knew that if I did that, John might invite me to sit in the car for the rest of the game.  I'm just kidding, of course, but kids sports really do seem to be quite the lesson in self control!  The next time Will got up to bat, he hit it clear to the fence.  I think we were all a little shocked, as was evidenced by the look on Will's face which you could have seen if I had had enough composure to take a picture instead of screaming like he'd just won the World Series.  I may or may not have also failed in getting the proof of my brother catching an interception in a high school football game because I was too busy cheering.  What can I say?  I definitely need to train Kate to be my second shooter ... but she was a little busy:



LOVE her!  
Thankfully, the boys played hard in their first double header of the season ...


The coaches are the best ...

Coach Dad and Coach Billy are all business! 
and I got to watch my favorite fella cross home plate a few more times...




Monday, June 4, 2012

Road Trip!

Our kiddos have become quite accustomed to road trips since we've lived so far from our family for all of Will and Kate's lives.  When we decided to move to Kansas, we promised to return to Oklahoma often to visit friends (2 1/2 hours is nothing compared to the 16-20 that we normally drive each summer).  We're thankful for friends who treat us like family and let us visit as often as we want.  This was John's weekend to work out at the base, so the kids and I packed up and headed south.  We had lots of fun - and a little sleep - with our friends, the Droys.  Here's the proof:

Buds enjoying an OKC Redhawks game ... there were no tickets for the Thunder game, even Lil' Wayne got turned away ;o)


We love baseball too!

These kiddos played hard all day long!

Taking a little lunch break


And, back to playing

Kate's not chicken!
This was the best we could do with the sun in their eyes!  Love these kiddos!!