Phillies

What a season!  These guys came a long way from the beginning when they had to try out for the team.

Luckily for our boys they were a sure thing because their dad is a professional baseball player.

So, they must be good, right?

It's in their blood.

AJ got to play his favorite position, catcher.

And DJ made us laugh with his "bum pad" (aka the cup).

They good to the third round in the playoffs.

Not bad for a team of 6 year olds playing against 8 year olds.

Done!

It's done!

School is out!

The end of the year is a busy, busy time with Spelling Bees. . .

(she did really good but got out on "physics" with only 6 kids left)

and school concerts . . . 

(Kindergarteners are so cute when they look at their mom and sing "I think you're wonderful", AJ totally knows how to make his mom's heart melt)

and of course saying bye to teachers.

  Alexandria and Mr. Moore, the only male teacher in the entire school!

 The boys and Mrs. Stradling, their Kindergarten teacher.

These kiddos grew up a lot this year.

Alexandria learned how to play football

and the boys learned how to read.

Can you believe Alexandria did not miss one day of school this year?

I feel like we're never here but I guess this year was different.

She made it to every single day of school.

While this is a big achievement for her I think it's an even bigger achievement for Mom.

She really is more motivated that I am.

AJ and DJ both learned how to make girls like them.

Yes, we may be in trouble in the future.

I'm so proud of their very successful 2010-2011 school year.

The best part of it all ending . . .

now I can unset that alarm clock.

The Advantage

They know there is one advantage to having Papi being gone . . . there's a lot more room in my bed.

Although sometimes I am just left with a corner, I love that they all come sleep with me.  Good thing I'm such a heavy sleeper.  I don't notice they're there until I wake up.

Movie Talk

AJ loves movies.  He loves acting out movies and he's always throwing movie quotes into our regular conversations.  It keeps me on my toes because I'm usually left thinking, "I know that line.  What movie is it from?"  He's got a talent.  If he doesn't make it as a baseball player acting may be in his future.

Here's one example of AJ's movie talk.

AJ: "Mom, when I get  a wife I'm going to make her massage me feet."

Me:  Astonished by this statement of machismo coming out in him.  "You don't just 'get a wife'. But do you mean you're going to ask her to give you a foot massage?  She might do it if you ask her."

AJ:  "Yeah, that's what I mean. . . .I'll make her massage my feet while the kids are playing on the floor with the dogs.  I'll have six or seven of them you know."

(Did you recognize the line? It's Gaston's from Beauty and the Beast.  Luckily I watched that movie a lot with Alexandria so I began to see where this was going.)

Me: "Dogs?"

AJ: Realizing that I had caught on he started laughing, "No, strappling sons, like me."

Gardening From the Other Side

My grandma Snell loved gardening.  

Her yard was always beautifully arranged with flowers and nicely pruned foliage.

I remember her teaching me how to get bulbs out of the ground and save them for the next season.

I'm still working on the beautiful flower and yard part.

But every morning when I'm out in the garden I think of her.

I know I have a part of her in me.

I always kill most plants.

The only thing I really grow well are weeds.

So I'm thinking that Grandma Snell must be helping out our little garden from the other side.

Maybe she's gardening right along beside me.

And remember that cute little avocado tree that poked it's little head out on Easter morning.

Turns out both seeds he planted came up that day.

And they're growing quickly.

The Notes

After the boys left to school I found this note on my bulletin board.

"Mome i luv you AJ"

I love him.

He is the sweetest boy, leaving his mommy notes, giving me big hugs by holding tight to my legs and always offering to help me with things like the dishes and taking out the trash.

Where did he come from?

I feel so lucky to be his mom.

Later that night, not to be out done by his brother I found this note from DJ.

Actually, DJ brought me his note to make sure I saw it.

"I love you mommy a lot

I am sereus"

I am so blessed to have two such awesome cuties for my boys!