Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Orioles, Garyn's 1st baseball team

I have talked a little of Garyn's baseball but nothing specific about Garyn's season.

Garyn didn't act interested in playing sports much up until this past year; probably because we didn't talk about it being an option. He did have friends playing, though, and he never complained about not being on a team until recently. We started with soccer in the fall and then signed him up for Red Bank Dixie baseball this spring.



Garyn's team obviously was the Orioles. His soccer coach actually saw us at the try-outs day and picked Garyn since we knew him. We had some other kids from church on there we knew, too, but there were a lot of new faces we got to know.

 

Ansley wanted to be a part of the team, too.

 

 The first couple games were a little stressful. Garyn's excitement wore off quickly when he didn't do well at bat. In fact, the first game he cried and I about did. I didn't know how to fix it for him! It was that realization that this was real life and he couldn't just keep trying at bat until he hit the ball like we do at home. He instead was out. At one point, it was my fault according to Garyn because his sunglasses were keeping him from seeing the ball. As you can see from this picture, we naturally posed him to hit right handed.

 
After that first game, Tyler got him out to practice with his helmet (which he had not done) and discovered that he did better left handed. Tyler hits left handed, as well as golfs left handed. They both write right handed, though. Sure enough, the next game he got a hit and was much happier! I never felt so excited about a hit in my life after! 

(Playing second, he is the one with his hand on hip)
 
            Out in the field, he was attentive but didn't know quite what to do. Besides messing with his hat some, he really paid attention to the batter. He (and most of his team) would try to get the ball no matter where it landed. This age was real entertaining to watch. Sometimes, they would actually fight over the ball in outfield! Tyler and the other coaches tried to instruct them but you know how much time it takes to teach young ones! Garyn would always get so upset, too, when he did something wrong especially if his daddy was the one correcting him. I fear he is going to be very competitive and has a Type A personality. There is nothing wrong with either of those, I just hope he doesn't always take things so hard. We are going to have to watch what we say and how we handle things, I guess. 

(running the bases)
 
His team won some. Garyn usually based the success of the game on if they won or if he got a hit and was able to score. He was happy as long as one of the two happened. We enjoyed watching him grow throughout the season. It was amazing to see what he and his team did learn in the short time frame. They made a lot of progress in how they stand at bat, throw, and hit. Next year, I'm sure he'll have ups and downs still but I know I will be more prepared for the failures! Tyler, I feel, has learned he isn't coaching high school and they are going to respond differently to his coaching!
 
 
Here is a quick video of him getting a hit.
 
So Garyn is officially in the sports world now. He can't wait to play fall soccer again. And I officially have a "ball field bag" now. Many more years of that to come and I can't wait!


Friday, June 21, 2013

Panama City Beach; Family Trip June '13


This year's beach trip was different than our normal family trip. The last 5 or 6 years we have been able to go with Pop, Josh and Karen and Lorna and Lakelin otherwise known as my dad, brother, sister n' law and niece and nephew. We always look forward to that time to spend with them since we don't get to see them too often. With Baby Layne coming and their hectic schedule caring for their goat farm, we couldn't go at the same time this summer. At first, we were bummed and then thought we might be able to still go on our own.


We made plans last minute to try and go knowing we were about to get into a busy season of life with building, new baby and Garyn beginning kindergarten. I am so glad we took the time and went despite the change from our annual family trip.


We decided to go to Panama City because of its closeness and the choices of rentals at such a late date. It was a great- short drive, nice condo and location. The kids were so excited. Garyn started counting down the days a couple weeks before we went. Ansley would hear the word "beach" and would want to go "right now!" So the anticipation was high when leaving and traveling.


We spent 4 nights there so for three days, we went out to the beach for a couple hours then the pool. The kids did great playing in the water and Ansley played in the sand well. Garyn still doesn't like the sand. I got one picture of him digging....

 
Garyn likes playing in the waves. He also enjoys the pool and found some boys to play with most days in the pool.
 
 
 

"surfing!"
 
 
Ansley did well not being scared but yet having a healthy fear of the water. Most of the time she stayed with me at the sand and then would ask to go to the water with Tyler or I. She liked the pool, too, and did well with her new floatie thing.
 
 
 
 
Smiley with her paci, I think she had just came and snuck it out of the bag.
 
 
 
We evidently wore them out in the morning because they both took naps everyday. Tyler and I got to just hang out and get ready for dinner. We went out to eat twice and ate in the room twice. Our place was right next to Schooner's which we had been to at least twice before on past trips. They have good food and just simple beachy atmosphere. They also have live music. Garyn has been all about playing guitar hero and singing his favorites on my I tunes music, so he enjoyed watching.
 

He made himself at home up next to the stage.
 
Tyler and I at Schooner's
 

These last two were after eating ice cream. Safe to say they liked it! We were stuffed that night.
 
 
But if you ask Garyn what his favorite activity was on the trip, he says playing minigolf! He wanted to go so bad that we went first thing the day we arrived before checking in (we had some time to spare before we could check in.) Ansley played some, too, she liked to grab every one's ball before you could get down there to hit it again. :)

Mario had to join us this night


 
Another detail I have to mention, is that it was also our anniversary during this trip! We have been married 8 years now and while it feels like its been forever; it's still crazy to hear the number. Reminds us of how old we are getting! We enjoyed just being at the beach with normal life on hold for a bit. Well as much as can be considering we still had our 5 and 2 year old. Garyn attempted to get a picture of us out on the beach. The lighting was wrong though....

 
And I honestly feel like I look like a cow! I was 32 weeks in these.
 
Anyway, I loved the trip and the time away. We are blessed for sure! Can't wait to see what our next baby boy looks like, cause these two melt us all the time!
 


 



Friday, June 7, 2013

Intentional: Completing May goals and starting June

May was pretty successful. Although not all of them, most goals got marked off my list!

- Continue daily bible study time and try not to get behind.  Honestly probably missed just a couple days but in the grand scheme, I pushed through some days that I wanted to skip

- Change over both kids closets for summer clothes Done and took winter to storage


- Go to storage to take things and find more baby items Did above and got a lot of what we need for now


- Be positive about Tyler's busy schedule this month We made it through!


- Keep coupons up to date (I got them all cut and organized in April!) Halfway done


- Focus on Garyn's book reading Failed miserably


- Try to limit Ansley's pacifier use.....and be patient about this! Probably just completed the patient part more! She wants it all the time, I think now she does cause I'm telling her she doesn't need it. 


- Work with Ansley in potty training (she asks to go all the time!) Not so much, its still a passing thought for her and us. We ask her when we think about it but we haven't tried much.


- Work on finding items needed for Layne  Got the items out of storage I needed and his car seat cover from eBay (to replace the pink cover Ansley had)


-Try to get Garyn to bed by 10:30 and not procrastinate  I won't say it was good every night, but it was better. Now that it is officially summer this is only going to get harder!


- Finish Circle Maker ! I am over half way, just need to keep it up! AHH...still not done, but in the last couple chapters


- Be more intentional about eating veggies and cooking them! I am so excited to say, I did this! The biggest change was that we have been having smoothies mid morning about 4 days a week and they have spinach in them! Plus, I have done better when ordering out to get the steamed or grilled veggies, then here at home we have had grilled veggies with a few meals. I want to get even better about it with the kids. They have only had the smoothie change. Garyn will eat some veggies but only when told to (or when they are available for us to say that)


Now for June.....

I have a bittersweet thought when I think of the next few weeks. They are my last weeks as a momma of 2; Garyn's last weeks home before Kindergarten, and specifically June is the last month before we will most likely be building our house. So a lot of changes are ahead and although most of them are welcomed ones, I feel like this is the calm before the storm. 

Not knowing how to prepare for the craziness, I am going to attempt to make a list of goals:

-Wash Layne's clothes and put them in drawers
- Clean out the above said drawers of some winter clothes
-Rearrange furniture in Ansley's and our room to accommodate Layne and the changing table
-Be intentional about time spent with Garyn and Ansley this summer. I want to plan fun activities for us to do, hopefully with Tyler, too. I know not every day can be an activity but some specifics are: 1) Go to the pool at least twice a week
       2) Go to Coolidge park for fountain play and carousel
       3)Take Garyn to one of the summer $1 movies
       4) Go to Warner Park spray ground
       5) Go to Chester Frost "beach" one day
-Keep Bible reading/study a part of my summer days
-Keep up the veggies eating and cooking....look for more ways to get kids to eat them, too
-Finish (for real) Circle Maker
- Continue to work with Ansley on pacifier use and potty training
-And a biggie......Try not to get stressed about all that is to come!

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