It's Basball Time...

Well more like TBall time. Here's some pictures from Caden's very first TBall season. He's pretty excited about it and we have our very first game Saturday waaay too early in the morning.

Warming up before practice (notice the size difference between Caden and the other kids, he's the smallest one poor guy)



Here's coach Dad using Caden to teach the kids



Doing some fielding



Oh, and in more ball news...Bry has managed to re-injure himself. It all started last softball season when THIS happened. He practiced and was ok, but then after his first game last monday he was hurt again. He came home with a swollen ankle and went in for xrays the next day. Thank GOD it was only sprained. Now he's being extra carefull he remembers how much it sucked to have that cast on for so long. And he's probably sick of his wife telling him " I told you so"

Spring Must Be Close...

Well this past weekend we went to get Caden's Tball stuff. After a new bat, balls, a glove, new cleats, pants, and various other things he's set for the season. I'm so excited for him. He's not even done with basketball yet but we're already gearing up for the baseball season. I guess that's just the way it's going to be with boys. I get to do this every year for 2 boys??? Goodness.
Daddy will be his coach. He already started calling him Coach Arce. He's playing softball for the church league, and with another group of guys, AND coaching tball, but whatever, if he thinks he can do it all...go for it. I'm just PRAYING that he doesn't break his ankle again, or any other bone for that matter.
I can't wait to go watch Caden play. Hopefully the phrase "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" applies to Caden in the baseball sense. Then again maybe he'll be the kid that hits the ball and runs to third. We'll see.

Mr. Busy Body...

Caden's been a busy boy lately. Two weeks ago him and Bry went to see the monster truck show. He's never been cause, well those things kind of scare me. He loved it though. He loves this puppy looking truck. Then Saturday night Daddy's work kind of had a kids and dads night. They went to the motorcross show. Caden loved that even more cause they do all those fancy (scary) tricks. He even got to take a picture with one of the dudes. I have no idea who he is, but hey it's cool. He came home with all sorts of loot, and a tshirt that swallows him. He loved it all though. Then, my Caden is starting basketball soon. He's only 5 so he started out in a very basic league. I have no idea how it's going to be, but I guess we'll figure it out. He loves sport of any kind so we're just kind of lettting him try them all out. He loved soccer, so hopefully basketball will be as fun. We also have all his forms filled out for T-ball which starts in March. We're thinking that may be where he shines. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right? Goodness me, this kid has more of a life than I do. (sorry the pictures are far too small, I'll have to fix them tomorrow from the desktop)

Weekly Weekend Update...

Not a whole bunch to report. It was a lazy weekend. This weekend was soccer of course. It wasn't supposed to be hot but it was! Caden was really sluggish I'm sure it was because he wouldn't fall asleep after I put him to bed. His whole team looked really tired too, maybe cause it was hot. Caden did manage to score one goal.
After the game it was just a lazy day. We had lunch, then everyone scattered off to their rooms to watch tv and be lazy. We had a party to be at at 3 so we couldn't lay around all day.
The kids had fun at the party, it was for my little cousin who was turning 8.
After that we brought the kids home and I gave them a really good bath (after playing in the dirt) being careful not to wash off their newly painted "tattoos". Then it was bed, for them while mom and dad watched a movie and got things ready for church the next morning.
Sunday was church, and that was it. We came home and lounged around again. I didn't feel so great either, my stomach was having a bad day. When that happens I just want to sleep. I drank a cup of ginger tea and fell asleep. I could have folded the mountain of laundry in my room, but it felt so good not to do anything.

Caden at his game


Taking a break with Mom


Ry and Dad at the party




Yummy cake


Brityn and her new "tattoos"

This is Cute...

Yesterday after Brityn's bath, Caden decided he wanted to help. He was proud of himself for helping her get out of the tub. He wrapped her in a towel and walked her to her room. I thought it was cute and such a big-brotherly thing to do. So I asked him if Mommy was not there would he be able to care for her and Rylen. Just something to think about. You hear about something happening to moms and the kids have to fend for themselves. That's a HUGE fear of mine.
His first thought was " how can I cook, I can't use the stove". I told him he can make PB&J. He said OK. Then I asked if he would take care of Rylen and change his diaper. He said "sure". Then he said he would help Brityn get herself dressed. So he picked out her PJ's and told her to put them on. Then he got the brush and brushed her hair and even went to her bow holder to get a clippie and put the clippie on her head. I thought that was hilarious- he knows that she will always need a bow or clippie on her head.
I told him he did a good job. So then I hear him yell at her to "PICK UP YOUR TOYS...NOW!!"
It seems that he's taking his "big brother/parenting" role a little too seriously.

I mean where ever does he hear that??!! LOL

My Soccer Star...

Aside from catching a terrible illness, we had a fun weekend. Saturday was Caden's very first soccer game. He hadn't received his uniform yet so we arrived at the field a little early to get his NEON GREEN jersey on in number 2, per Caden's request. You can spot his team anywhere in that color. We set up our little fan stage on the sidelines, Mom, Dad, Brit, Ry, Grandma Nette, Grandma Rosa, Aunt Stephy, Unlce Bob, Austen, & Lil all went to see Caden in action!
So he started out the game sluggish. He'd try for a play, fall to the ground and stay there for a second. We had to keep yelling "Get up Caden!!" Then he'd smile and wave to his "fans" while he's running for the ball. But then it happened...my little guy scored his very first soccer goal!! I was so proud of him. His team ended up losing that game cause # 3 for the opposing team was wicked good. It was like goal after goal for that kid!
Second game, we switched fields and mixed up the players. Caden must have gotten a boost of confidence from the first goal cause he went on to score 3 more goals in the 2nd game...even against # 3! This time it was goal after goal for Caden! We cheered him on from the sidelines as they won the game. Well, there is no formal score count cause this is "fun" soccer, but you bet your butt the parents do. Anyway, I was so so proud of my soccer star.



Caden & his soccer bud, his buddy even helped him up and dusted him off after Caden wiped out on the field, too cute.


Brityn watching her bro kick butt!!!


Doing the Happy Dance after scoring a goal


Taking a photo break with his fans


How many goals again...


One proud Daddy


Victory breakfast at the Hop with the Hofs

SickER Children...

I probably shouldn't have complained about them being sick a few days ago...that was a walk in the park compared to last night!
Brit woke up...puke...Caden woke up...puke...RyRy woke up nursed then...puke. And that's pretty much how the night went from about 2 am till 7 am.
I've done A LOT of laundry all through the night and did more cleaning and disinfecting than I care to do in a long time.
I felt so sorry for them!! Those poor pitiful little babies. Caden was doubled over in pain saying "somebody save me" that broke my heart. Brityn was ok in between being sick, but asked for chocolate milk this morning...yeah I don't think so. My poor RyRy was a strong little guy. He actually looked better than the other two.
Our sleeping arrangements weren't too bad though. I didn't condemn them to a basement floor as Kate Gosselin does. Although if I had a basement that would not have seemed like a bad idea. I had both big kids in Brit's room on the floor, and Bryan slept with Rylen on the bed. I only got maybe 3 hours of sleep, the kids didn't sleep much either.
The culprit....well we went to a party this past Sat. and as it turns out at least 10 people that attended were all sick last night. Viral, food poisoning...who knows. I am just praying that Bryan and I will be spared. I'm exhausted from taking care of sick kids, and I soooo don't want to be sick myself.

Sick Children...

My 3 have a cold, I really hate summer colds. Last night Caden kept waking up whining cause he couldn't breathe, even after I slathered on the Vicks. Rylen kept waking up too. Well, he did sleep a 2 hour stretch from 2-4. Then he was awake from about 4:00 - 4:45 am. He wasn't too miserable, he wanted to play a little. He let me know by slapping me over and over again. Then he'd kiss me, then slap me again. He was just restless and was having a hard time nursing from being so stuffy. I layed him down and patted his back for about 30 minutes, and the kid would not fall asleep. Finally, I asked Daddy to intervene. He got up, fixed him a small bottle, and sure enough got him to sleep. Daddy says Ry only pulls that act on Mommy, not on him. Brit seems to be surprisingly ok, except for her out right defiance to pick up toys, but I'm not sure I can attribute that to being sick...she's just being Brit.
Now I've got a terrible headache from having a crappy night, and know it will probably repeat itself in just a few hours.

I'm Officially A Soccer Mom...

Today Caden had his very first soccer practice. We got the call last night at 9 pm. Thanks coach.
So on daddy's way home today, he stopped and got Caden all his soccer stuff. A new soccer ball, shin guards, a bag, socks, and new puma cleats...all that good stuff Caden was so excited, so were we. I know nothing about soccer, neither does Dad he was a football/baseball type guy, and me I am NOT a sports type person at all. I was super excited for him though. So we got to the field, all of us cause I was not going to miss this. We sat in our camp chairs and watched our big boy have a blast on the field. Grandma even showed up to see him for a little bit. It was flippin HOT! No sun just still, humid Texas heat. He did a great job out there, he looked so cute running around and kicking the ball. I was a proud Momma! Here's my big guy....

The Clean Up

Today I decided to do a much needed cleaning of the kids' rooms. We pick them up daily, usually twice a day but I needed to get down into the toy boxes and bins to take all the crap out. I have them pick up their rooms too...I don't do it all. They have to pitch in, I don't make them really clean it, but at least make an effort to help me pick up. How else would they learn???
So anyway, I started in Brit's room, not too bad. She doesn't have a gigantic toy box, mostly dolls, books, dollhouse stuff, and kitchen stuff. So I dug into her toy box and found some interesting things (see below). I just tossed the junky stuff, and organized her kitchen and book shelf. Only to have her take out more toys while I was cleaning Caden's room.
Then I went on to Caden's room. Oh my word...seriously I must have sorted between about a 100 action figures and hot wheels, he's got tons of those. And I noticed he's got all the toys, legos, Thomas tracks, Power Rangers, Star Wars, Hotwheels, light sabers...you name it, and I gave them all their own place in his room. So I hope he keeps it that way, and I hope Bryan keeps it that way. When he picks up, he just dumps everything where ever he wants. Pisses me off.
All this took like 2 hours, I had to stop cause Rylen was impatient, he needed a nap. Thank goodness cause I was tired too. Tomorrow it's my room...thinking about that mountain of laundry scares the hell out of me.

The following are just some of the surprising things I found in their rooms...

1-Army guys with their heads chewed off
2-A tiny opened bottle of bubbles..what a mess.
3-A petrified french fry
4-A pencil that looks like a chipmunk chewed it
5- $3. 67
6- 3 well hidden granola bar wrappers (although they are not supposed to have snacks in their rooms)
7- Bank deposit slips (???)
8- My tape measure that has been MIA for a couple of months
9-Caden's favorite headless Spider Man figurine (it's his favorite!! and he's been looking all over for it, I think it was a hand me down from cousin Austen)
10-A long lost lipstick that was rolled all the way up into the cap, wonder who got a hold of this??

My baby boy is 5

This weekend was Caden's 5th birthday! His party was on saturday, but his real bithday was on sunday. We had a pirate themed party this year and it was fun! The party was small, I had invited the same amount of people I always do but many didn't show. It was actually kind of nice having it small since Brityn's party was so big. We had lots of good food, a treasure hunt, sword fights, and enjoyed a little jam session by cousin Austen (who rocks the guitar btw and he's only 9) and uncle Nick. So we had a good time. On Sunday we went to church then we took my birthday boy to eat pizza and play games his favorite thing to do.
I just can't believe that my baby boy is 5 years old. These years just flew right by, and it makes me so sad. I have a photo montage coming, but here are pics from the party.



The treasure hunt


Little kiddies


Caden's 5 today !

You're Grounded

Maybe he's just a snide little smart ass. Caden my dear little almost 5 year old, well he's just been a little challenging behavior wise. He was my good obedient child, up until now. Oh he's still can be the sweetest little thing, like saying he'll take care of me when I don't feel well. Then he can be as defiant and stubborn as can be. I understand that kids don't like to do everything they're told, but omg he makes it into a big ol' whiny ordeal. The worst- his back talk. This kid doesn't know when to quit, he'll keep going and going.
So while I'm threatening grounding (I can't believe I have to ground a 4 year old) from xbox, tv, toys...he's saying things like "I'll still play my games, no you won't." Like hell I will kid! So he's grounded from tv and xbox this week, and I've also threatened to keep his birthday presents away from him since it's his party this weekend.
I have no idea what has gotten into him. I'm thinking he's just a spoiled brat or that he's picking up on the stress around here. Either way, I am hoping it's just a phase. He's not like that all the time, just isolated incidents during the day, so there's hope. Oh and the smart ass comments he makes, he's is just too smart for his own good. At the mall this weekend, I had stopped in the Pumpkin Patch to try to find him a new shirt for his birthday party. He had been misbehaving, and I was lecturing him while we were in the dressing room trying on a shirt.

Me-and you need to think about what you're doing. Before you do something ask yourself "is this going to get me into trouble?" (we're trying this shirt on and it's too big for my skinny little guy)
Him-Oh man......why is everything so big??? Is this going to get me into trouble?

He giggled. And I busted out laughing!! That's what I mean about smart ass, but sometimes it's just so funny!! He knew how to lighten the mood. He got a hug and a reminder that he's still grounded.