Fall Baseball

We finished up Collier's first ever 'fall ball'.  I can't remember if I shared before that we played this season in Hoover, rather than Homewood as we did in the Spring.  We live in the Hoover area of Birmingham and were hoping to get better exposed to friends that go to Collier's school...it didn't end up being the case but he loved anyway!  We did Homewood before because that is where Collier was in preschool and all of his friends from that school are in Homewood.  Fall Ball is way more laid back and casual - no score keeping and only one base at a time - I would say not competitive at all!  which is hard for me, to be honest and Collier asked after each game who won!  But his coach was awesome and very funny.  It was at the discretion of each coach to give trophies or not...and I was so very thrilled to know that our couch was not going to....I'm not a huge fan of participation trophies.  Instead he did an amazing job of giving each boy an award (aka: toy and bouncy baseball)to point out their strength on the field.  Collier got MONSTER HITTER!    They were a cute little team and Collier just loves playing baseball, so he was happy to be on the field each week.

COUCH BRANDON

It is done until Spring...next top court side!

Overwelmed

This song.  It stops me in my tracks. It is one of those ultimate and amazing praise songs.  It puts me in my place of worship!  It is truth!  Total praise of how Beautiful, Wonderful and Glorious that our God is.  It is good for my soul!

You are Beautiful, You are Beautiful
Oh God, there is no one more Beautiful
You are Beautiful, God you are the most Beautiful

You are Wonderful, You are Wonderful
Oh God, there is no one more Wonderful
You are Wonderful, God You are the most Wonderful

You are Glorious, You are Glorious
Oh God, there is no one more Glorious
You are Glorious, God you are the most Glorious

I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I'm overwhelmed, I'm overwhelmed by You

And God I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I'm overwhelmed, I'm overwhelmed by You
I'm overwhelmed, I'm overwhelmed by You
There is no one more Beautiful
You are the most Beautiful

--Big Daddy Weave - Overwhelmed

Trick or Treat

I loved that Halloween was on Friday night this year.  It made it a lot less rushed and more laid back all the way around!  We were once again graciously hosted by the Booker's for Dinner and Trick or Treating.  It is great fun to have adult and kiddo friendships in one family!  Kenley and Deidre have a special bond - they pretty much adore each other and it melts my heart!
 Collier went as Toothless the Dragon from How to Train Your Dragon 2.  Kenley went as Tinkerbell.

 Justin actually pushed the stroller around...just to carry the cooler!  Kenley asked to get in it once and he told her no!  Ha. I also told her no, but for very different reasons - you can't get candy if you are in a stroller and brother doesn't share his candy!

 We wrapped up our evening with a quick trip to Nammy and Pops and the kids were only partially in their costumes as this point.  It was a fun night and nice to know that we could just sleep in and relax on Saturday morning (most of us anyway - Justin got up early to go play golf in the freezing cold).  Another Halloween in the books.  I told Collier this morning that Halloween was behind us and we now have thanksgiving to focus on!

Wowza Weekend

Wowza what a crazy and fun and busy weekend we had.  It was fully packed and fully fun!  Adventures and activities oh my.  Fall weather makes for amazing outdoor time.

Friday, kicked off with Collier's first Kindergarten field trip - we went to Old Baker Farm .  He rode a  bus for the first time ever.  They learned a lot about cotton farming and raising all kinds of animals.  His favorite was the hay bail maze!  I was thrilled to get to join him - plus it was good for me to see his classmates and get to know them a little better.

Friday night we went to visit our sweet friends who just had a baby.  My kids love Chris and Melissa and Kenley was so smitten with Baby Frank that she just wanted to keep looking at him.  I felt the same...I only put him down long enough to eat!  Oh how I love new born babies!

Saturday was a big day.  Collier and Justin loaded up in the car with Eddie and Cooper and their cousins (all boys) and went to the Alabama game.  Collier had no idea what he was in for!  But to say he was thrilled is an understatement.  Sad for me, because this for sure pushed him over the Alabama fan edge...I think I could have swayed him before but this pretty much locked it in.  Kenley is my final hope!

This blank stare represents the fact that they could not believe all that was going on.  Justin said they were mesmerized with the excitement of the band, players, loud music, cheering fans.  He said it didn't take long for them to get into the game and start cheering and shaking their shakers!! They did awesome.  This was Collier's first ever football game of any kind.  He has never been to a pee-wee or highschool or any football game before.  Justin said they loved it and were starting to tire out after halftime.  They left and went to the SigmaNu house to let them throw the football and play around before heading home.  Collier would have slept with that shaker if we had let him.

And this left Kenley and I to a girls only day.  One of our friends from bible study invited us out to their farm to pick pumpkins.  It was amazing.  Beautiful land, amazing weather, sweet friends, a hay ride and pumpkin picking.  Plus they had makers and stickers to decorate the pumpkins. Great fun!!

Do we have enough pumpkins yet?

We all got home about the same time on Saturday evening.  Order Pizza and immediately crashed!

After Church on Sunday Collier had a baseball game.  He continues to love baseball so much!  He only has one more game for fall baseball and we're done until spring.  We went home for a quick rest and then got all suited up for Boo at the Zoo with friends from church!  Are you tired yet?  It was crazy, busy and fun!  As we got in the car to go to the zoo..Collier stated 'I am doing all my favorite things!'  whew!

Two side-notes:

*Kenley's boots are really Collier's when he was two.  Since she has discovered them she wants to wear them every day. I was going to buy her some for this fall, but don't think I need to.  She even wore them to church on Sunday.  It was not my intention to let Tinkerbell wear brown cowboy boots but she insisted and I didn't really mind since it was the zoo.  I am very hopeful that she will comply and wear her sweet ballerina slippers on Halloween night..stay tuned!

**Speaking of Tinkerbell.  Her costume is slightly incomplete but should be done by Halloween night.,.to make her look a little more Tinkerbell'ish rather than just a random fairy! No promises but maybe!

Nursery Rhyme Theater

The Kindergarten classes have a Nursery Rhyme Theater at Collier's school.  He chose a few weeks ago what character he wanted to be.  He told me over and over again 'It can't be a fancy costume' and so I tried to oblige and keep it simple.  Collier is such a rule follower - almost to a fault.  I am after-all thankful that it didn't need/want to be fancy because I pulled it together in about 2 hours the afternoon before.

Collier chose the Dog from Hey Diddle Diddle and his roll was to laugh 'to see such a sport'.  He didn't sing at all while it was his turn to be front and center but sang every other song while in the bleachers.  He explained later 'I was not supposed to sing while up front because I was supposed to laugh.  But on the stairs you are supposed to sing'.  well, that explained that!

He did great and I thought he was so stink'n cute!  The whole program was very well done.  I loved it.

And Kenley loved it too.  She stood still - mesmerized - for a long time watching each of them acting and singing.  And then decided she wanted to sit down.  I rarely see her sit so still and quiet.  It was really precious to see her so fascinated with the older kids!  Way too cute!

Our Weekend Recap

Whew, a busy and fun weekend just passed by.  Just like time, flew by in a blink of an eye!  I am trying to take it in and appreciate and value my time together as a family.  As another friend said - enjoy these moments because in a few more years they will not be waving and calling our names in the middle of a ball game!

The church around the corner from our house had a big consignment sale over the weekend.  Mom went and found a 'new to Collier' bicycle.  Since we took the training wheels off of this other bike, it has been obvious that he is needing and ready for the next size up.  So, when I picked him up from school we went straight to their house to see his new surprise.  He was ecstatic!  It has a kickstand and a water bottle with holder!

Friday evening was a fun dinner with our church small dinner group.  Kids included and lots of fun to fellowship with our church friends.  I don't have any pictures but love to get to know one another better!

Saturday began with begging and pleading for a bike ride.  Justin and I both had lists of things that needed to be done.  So, we did our best to knock them out and off we went for a long bike ride for Collier and stroller ride for Kenley.  Both were very happy and content!

SMILE.  

Look At The Camera.

Put your bottle down

Oh, well!

It's impossible to get them both looking

We of course squeezed in football watching and napping in our day too!

Sunday was a wonderful church service that ended with us racing out to get home, lunch crammed in, clothes changed and to Collier's first Fall Tball Game!

After T-Ball, Kenley napped and Collier and I went for another bike ride adventure.  My house is a total mess, but I enjoyed every moment as watching Collier just beam with happiness on his new bike.  I only thought about my piled up laundry once or twice before being wrapped up in his smiles and pure joy of doing what he loves!  He had 100% of my attention - no phone, no sister, no distractions.  Just me and the road on his new wheels!

And just for the record - I think he has grown 2 feet in the past month..e has gotten so tall and is EATING A TON!  10 minutes after a big and full dinner (and usually desert) he is hungry and asking for something more!  I can't seem to keep the kitchen stocked.
Kenley on the other hand plays more with her food than eats it!  Oh well.