Batter Up!

Last night my Patrick had his first ever t-ball game. This was a huge moment for us--he's been waiting and waiting for this day. He was so excited and let me just tell you 4 & 5 year old t-ball has got to the be the cutest and funniest thing EVER! You'll have to put up with me over the next 2 1/2 months as I document this journey.

Patrick in the official St. Mary's Cubs uniform.

That for sure is a home run!

Playing first base (that's WM--the first base coach. The coaches are on the field with the team who is fielding, too).

Preschool Patrick

My little guy started big boy preschool yesterday. I was so worried about him going to a school where he'd never gone and knew no one. He's been talking about it and so excited for weeks now, but I still figured that when the day came it wouldn't go well (this is the kid that cried every time I've ever left him at the church nursery, with a babysitter, or at day care back when I worked).

But boy did he ever prove me wrong. He wore his dinosaur backpack for about an hour before it was time to leave. Sat by the door saying, "let's go." And the best part was when we pulled into the parking lot of the school he said, "you can just drop me off, I'll just run myself in."

I'm not sure I'm ready for him to be so anxious to get away from me. He's my mama's boy and is supposed to want to spend all his time with me. (He even said as much this summer). But I couldn't be more proud of him. And he talked about it all day after I picked him up. And asked if he could go back today ("no") or tomorrow ("no--on Tuesday, Patrick").

So, yay!! He did great--I don't know if it's because he feels comfortable there because his preschool is at the school Katie goes to, or if he just needed that year at home with me that he got this past year (I quit my job last summer to stay home with the kids). Whatever it is, it works for me.

Now...if I can just get wild Josie straightened out.

Cinco de Patrick

Today my sweet, wonderful, only son turns 5. FIVE! How is that possible? How can that fat (and I do mean FAT), little dark headed baby that I held so tenderly in my arms 5 years ago be growing so fast? I don't know, but I do know that that little boy has brought a joy to my heart in a way that I can't explain. Maybe it's the mother/son relationship, maybe it's because we're both "middle children," maybe it's because he's my only son. I don't know what it is, but I have such a soft spot for him. For his dinosaur-lovin', Lightning McQueen quotin', NASCAR watchin', basketball playin', golf ball hittin' self...

...I love you, Patrick!

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

And here's a little Patrick trivia for ya...he was born at 3:16 p.m., at this time of the day 5 years ago (I'm writing this at 11:30 a.m.), I was still at home...I didn't go to the hospital for another hour and a half (at 1:00 p.m.). You could say it was a quick delivery. And he weighed 10 pounds. No kidding.

ACHOO!

Apparently this week is "Blog About Patrick" week. He is supplying me with a lot of content this week. He's good that way.

The other day, about 15 minutes after we had arrived home from picking up Katie at school I looked at him (no, I didn't go 15 minutes without looking at him, he had been sitting at the kitchen table having a snack with his back to me) and wondered what in the world is on his face?? Yes, the kids had just had their after-school snack--but that wasn't it. Was that blood, was he hurt? No, it's not red. What the heck?

But then I knew. On the way into the house he had picked me one of our star gazer lilies that are in bloom right now (they are beautiful this year, I might add) and he'd been smelling it.

What was all over his face...pollen from the flower.

Not one sneeze out of the little guy and the stuff was practically in his nose.

We Lams are tough that way.

Battle On...Battle Off

As a mother there are many, many times I've said "pick your battles."

Today, I chose not to battle...

It's okay to wear a red shirt with pink short and blue soccer socks. Really...is that something to get worked up over? It's not like we were going anywhere.

Perfect Pairings--John 13:34

This picture is an oldie (from this past winter), but I love it...and the verse one of my absolute favorites.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.--John 13:34

To see more Perfect Pairings, go see Baloney.

What's He Doing??

Here's a fun game...

Can anyone guess what's going on in this picture?

Check back next week...oh, say Tuesday after noon. I'll give you the answer, and the person with the closest guess wins. Wins something...I just don't know yet. Don't get too excited, though, it'll probably be something like a $5 Starbucks gift card or, hey! maybe a box of Girl Scout cookies!! I've certainly got enough of those laying around. But it won't be some big monumental prize.

So, give it a shot. What do you think Crazy is doing in that photo? (WM, you can't guess...you know the answer).

Sugary Goodness

Remember the days when you were a kid and your mom would take you for a special treat at Merritt's Bakery? You'd stand there looking through the glass bakery case looking at all the sugary goodness trying to decide which delectable treat you'd indulge in? What choices...frosted cookies, colorful cupcakes, donuts sprinkled in the colors of the next coming holiday. What a treat those days were.

Well...I never had those days. I didn't grow up here in Oklahoma. I grew up in a small, SMALL town in Kansas. We didn't have Merritt's. We had a Peter Pan...and...Dairy Queen. If I did grow up in Oklahoma, I bet my mom would've taken us (all four of us) to Merritt's for "Special Treat Day." Because that's the kind of mom she is/was-the awesome kind! (I love my mom)!!

Anyway, today I took my two little ones to Merritt's as a reward (follow through on a bribe, really) for not fussing about going to the Y and being cooperative all morning. They gazed through the bakery case, jumping up and down, pointing at each yummy treat before each one finally picked a great big cookies decorated at cute as could be with lots of colorful icing.

Josie with her cookie--a flower with a cute little lady bug.

Patrick chose the Fish cookie

We got in the car, they each took a bite. About 3 minutes down the street Patrick declared that he really didn't like his cookie ("can we go to Starbucks and get me some pumpkin bread since I don't like my cookie?" Me: "no"). Josie took a couple bites then proceeded to take the 2" of colorful frosting and smear it all over her jeans, car seat, hair, hands, face, shoes, socks, shirt, jacket. It was a mess of epic proportion.

We're not going back.

Guess What?!?!

It's been awhile since we've had a contest around here. So today's your lucky day!! Here are the rules:

1. Contest end tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 6) at 6:00 p.m. CST (because I have so many global readers I have to clear that up-ha ha ho ho huh huh hee hee).

2. One entry per person

3. Enter by leaving a comment.

4. WM can't play--he knows the answer.

So here we go. Tell me what this is a drawing of (done by Patrick on the white board in WM's office). Like I said...whoever gets the closest to the answer will win--I know this is a tough one.

It's just the blue part I'm talking about--the black scribbling above it is not part of the picture.

Winner will receive a gift card to Target for $10 (sorry it's not of the caliber of Pioneer Woman's giveaways or anything...Christmas is coming and I need to be saving up for Barbie Dreamhouses and Transformers).

Good Luck!

A Boy and His Dog

At our house...we believe in dogs.

I believe that boys should grow up with a dog. A dog to teach them loyalty, respect, how to fetch a stick for hours. A dog who will sleep in bed with him. A dog who will be run around with excitement when his footsteps are heard coming through the door after a day at school. And a dog who will sit and watch out the window for hours for him to return home from college.

Here's my boy with his dog. The great thing about getting a dog as a puppy is that you can (somewhat) form this love story between a boy and his dog.

My boy and his dog.

He likes to use a bungee cord for a leash.

He patiently waits for her to finish eating her clump of ice.

And then they are off on their bungee cord walk.

Every once in awhile you have to stop and give your dog a hug.

Hark! Over yonder! A squirrel!

There's nothing sweeter than a boy and his dog.