Mother's Day Celebration 2023

Mother's Day this year I asked if our family could take a little walk through NC State's JC Raulston Arboretum. It was gorgeous with everything in bloom!

One of the first things we spotted was this adorable little bunny! 

I didn't even recognize this huge tree as a crepe myrtle! We read about the significance of these trees - five were planted in the 1950's - the oldest ones planted in the USA (two were eventually moved away from Raleigh, but the original 5 are all still alive!). 

Then I just got in a happy place taking pictures of all the beautiful flowers and plant life! 

A bee hotel! Brock was not happy to put his back to the bees. 

My Pacific Northwest born kids - too much sun!!!

He's so good looking. 

This one is another Crepe Myrtle - a yellow bark/leaves type!

Waterfall picture - so handsome!

When we returned home, I took a picture of our own little oasis in our backyard! What a pretty purple flower! 

We had the privilege of having Blaine visit right before he started his new summer work intern program at UNC-Chapel Hill! He joined us for an amazing steak dinner on Mother's Day Sunday right before his first day of work on Monday!

Baseball 2023 Season - Part I

 

Brock's last year of 9-10 Player Pitch baseball was a bit different - this year, Brent decided to sign up for Head Coach! After years of considering, 2023 was the year! March 23rd was the Mets' first practice. 

There were quite a few boys returning from last year, so this was a really good group! Brent was getting a feel for each kids' level of play during that first practice. 

Brock was ready! New cleats for this year - growing so fast!

He had so much fun, they came home and pitched a bit more in the front yard!

We had to take a mini hiatus for Spring Break, but then we were all baseball afterwards - including GAMES! Brock started out as starting pitcher and had a few great hits! How does he not get anxious up there as pitcher in front of everyone - I have no idea.  

A new rule for the 9-10 age this year - after 4 balls pitched by the pitcher, they do not walk to first - instead they get a soft toss from a coach. That way they are still able to "hit" to get on base. Something else Brent had to practice!

Kade watching big brother on third base. 

Good feeling winning that first game 6-4 against the Brewers. 

This year Town of Cary moved up their Baseball extravaganza weekend at Thomas Brooks park to earlier in the season - loved it because it wasn't so ridiculously hot out there like in year's past!

Brock was on his pitching game! 

And it was so nice to have more fans come out to cheer him on! Nicholas (middle) was at a game for his little brother and came over to watch Brock's game too! (Love Kade feeling like cool kid hanging out with the big kids)

Papa joined us for several games this season too!!

Brock and Brent capturing their winning score on the scoreboard behind them - 6-5 against the Reds. 

And Kade did play baseball this season too - poor Kade had his first 3 games rained out!! 

Kade's Private Taekwondo Lesson

 

Kade's taekwondo studio offered a special weekend private lesson (for extra $$ of course) - but we felt it would be beneficial for Kade to get some solo time with an instructor. He loved the special attention. 

You got to select (on a first come first served basis) your instructor - Kade chose Master Favazza. 

Kade's thirty minute private lesson was divided up - half the time was spent refining his form and half was sparring maneuvers due to his shorter body size. 

Lots of kicks! 

At the end of the private lesson, Kade received a personalized homework card. After practicing every day that week, he received a special star for his bag tag!

Easter 2023

The Saturday before Easter, the boys tackled a little arts and crafts project - all on their own! 

I only helped cooking the eggs. ;)

Shark eggs!

After Church on Easter Sunday, they asked for all the kids to come out for a little egg hunt in the courtyard.... year's past, they divvied up the bigger kids into separate hunts - guess that is all over now. Brock was a little on the big side for this hunt...

They gave the littles a one minute head start to make it fair. Anyway, it didn't matter whether you got one egg or twenty - you turn in your empty eggs and receive a bag of goodies. 

It was a very wet rest of Easter Sunday - our backyard was too wet for an Easter egg hunt of our own. Instead, I created a treasure hunt for them inside the house - they had to work together to find all the clues. The very last clue led them to the golden egg filled with $5 for each of them!

Hard-boiled egg sharks!