1st Baseball Game of the Season!

I am totally a sports nut! Not the kind that watches all sports on TV (although I love watching some), but the kind that loves to watch her kids play. I am the mom that yells and cheers her kids on and their teams. There is nothing better than watching your kid play a sport and try their best - even if they lose.

But on the down side, I am always nervous - nervous that they will strike out, nervous that they will drop the ball, throw an interception, or not make their free throws. That is the part I don't like. But, I have seen my kids grow so much in the sports that they play. They are true athletes!

Tuesday, May 21st was the first game of the season for Kolar and Jordan. Of course their games were at the same time. But luckily, they were also at the same place. There's a silver lining in everything, right?! So I was running from field to field trying to see all the important things that both boys were doing.

Kevin is helping to coach Kolar's team this year.

Kolar pitching - he did such a great job!

 He also played first baseman.

 And catcher.

Up to bat.

 Unfortunately he struck out, but at least he tried.

 

Kolar's team lost, but he played so good. He tries so hard - and I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who works hard with our kids in all sports. Although they lost, he had a ton of fun and he played good in all the positions.

Jordan's team won. They played Carver's team (they will never put Jordan and Carver on the same team - so frustrating). I think the score was 8-13. They played pretty good for the first game of the season. Jordan hit a double, a triple, was hit, and had another double - I think. Trying to keep track of both games had me a little frazzled.

 

He is such a good pitcher.

He has been pitching since 3rd grade - 6 years now! 

Up to bat.

Yes, he did hit this ball for a double.

Jordan is an amazing athlete. He has the drive, natural ability, but most important he practices all the time. He truly always does have a ball in his hand - football, basketball, or baseball. He is great because he wants to be great and he puts the time in that he needs to. He is also really good at helping Kolar.

Well, today was also field day at the middle school. This is the first year Jordan participated. I have no idea why, but the last two years he didn't go. I think he thought it would be boring or something. But, he ended up having a lot of fun and participated in four events. He also came home with four ribbons (no surprise there) - three first place and one third place.

He took first place in the 200 meter (30.75 seconds), 400 meter (100.30), and 4 x 100 relay (53.65 team time). This was also the first year that students beat teachers in the relay. He took third in the 75 meter hurdles (14.34).

I am so proud of all my kids. Being a wife and mother is my greatest blessing and joy. I honestly don't know where I would be in life without my family. They truly are the best!

Dylan's Ordination

Dylan was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood by his dad on Sunday, May 19. Those that attended were Curtis Black from the Stake High Council, Bishop Phil Lyman, Grandma Blake, Grandpa and Grandma Balch, Lyle and Maquel, all of us, and Dylan's good friend, Devin Lyman. It was such a great day and the spirit was so strong. Kevin always does an amazing job listening to the spirit and giving great blessings.

After his ordination, we all went to the church for his Seminary graduation. I am so proud of him for accomplishing everything he has. I love days like this, when the Lord shows us glimpses of heaven and eternal families!

Dylan's 18th Birthday

Wow - time sure does fly. I can remember the day this kid was born, just like it was yesterday and now he is the big 1-8.

There are a couple of birthday traditions that we have at our house. First, the birthday kid gets to pick what they eat for breakfast. Whatever they want, they get. It is the same for dinner and dessert. It is the only day they get to pick everything that we eat.

They also get to give us some suggestions that they want for their birthday. Well, this year the only thing Dylan said was money. I hate just giving our kids money. It doesn't feel like a birthday if they don't have anything to open.

So I wracked my brain trying to come up with a way to give Dylan his present without just handing him the money. So, I made a card for every year of his life. I started with 0 and made my way to 18. And with every card, there was money in it and a story about that year in his life. So for his 1st year, there was $1 and for his 2nd year $2, and so on. I thought it was pretty clever and fun.  Here are the pictures I used and stories I came up with.

0. On May 13, 1995, you joined our family. It was a hard and intense labor, but once you were here, life changed. You were a happy baby and just liked to play. You ate a ton and started sleeping through the night when you were six weeks old.

1. With a bigger sister, you started talking by the time you were nine months old, and started running - not walking - by ten months. You and Maquel would carry on conversations all the time. 

2. You never had a "terrible twos" stage. You were always happy. It was at this age that you developed your love of the outdoors. You hated being inside. We were always bundling you up so that you could go out and play, even in the winter. 

3. This age brought on your love of hiking and the mountains. Grandpa Balch would come and get you every Saturday and take you hiking and Grandpa Blake would take you on walks out to Comb and Butler.

 

4. From the time you were born and knew what a picture was, you never had a problem with your pictures being taken. You have always been photogenic, and even though you get mad when so many pictures are taken, you love looking back at them and the memories.  

 

5. You started preschool at age 3 but attended for two years. You officially graduated from preschool at age 5 and couldn't wait to start kindergarten. You loved school, because you could talk to everyone.  

 

6. From the first time you got to ride on a four-wheeler, you loved them. You were constantly wanting to go four-wheeling. And when we couldn't go, we would find you at grandma Blake's just sitting on the four-wheeler pretending to ride it.

 

7. You became a big brother for the second and last time. You were so good with your brothers when they were little. You loved holding them and feeding them. This was the one time that you were okay with being inside.

 

8. Your baptism day was awesome. You were so excited and happy, but then you always had a smile on your face. That was when you started talking about going on a mission -  and you have never stopped.

9. Sports started to become important at this age, but the biggest change came when you had to get glasses. You weren't 100% thrilled at the idea, but you never complained. You were pretty happy, though, when you could finally wear contacts.

10. You could not wait to get out of Elementary school and start Middle school. By this age you were sick of going to school with little kids and wanted to go to school with the bigger ones. Although school wasn't the most important thing, you never hated it.

11. For some reason, you never thought you were good enough to play basketball. This was the year that you fell in love with that sport. Once you started, you never stopped - church ball, city league, school ball, no matter what you are playing, you love it.

 

12. We were so proud of you the day that you received the Aaronic Priesthood. Seeing you pass the Sacrament in church for the first time is something we will always remember.

13. Officially a teenager and FINALLY being able to play school football. It was the highlight of the year. You hated playing against your friends and the Mustangs had an undefeated season that year.

14. This was the year you started high school. You weren't really scared, more excited. Only four more years left and you would be done with school - at least until after your mission.

15. You finally got your own room. You weren't excited to see your sister leave for school, but you were thrilled when she left and you got her room. No more sharing with annoying brothers.

16. You love to travel (when you are not sick), and we have been on a ton of fun trips together - Canada, San Diego, Disneyland, Las Vegas, the Cruis, Chicago, and West Virginia. We hope that you will be able to see many more places in your future.

17. This was not the easiest year for you. Losing your grandpa was one of the hardest things you have had to go through, but always remember how proud he is of you and that he is cheering you on from the other side.

18. Man, where does the time go. You have grown up so fast. We can't believe that you are officially an adult, but we know that you will succeed in everything that you want out of life. We hope that you have the BEST year of your life! We love you beyond words!

 

So that night we had dinner and opened his presents. The one thing he wanted was to invite Charis over so she could have dinner with us. I didn't have any problem with that. We had homemade chicken strips, cheesy mashed potatoes, pretzel raspberry jello, and indoor smores. Everything was so good.

 

He didn't like opening everything in front of all of us.

We did happen to surprise him with an outfit.

 

 

The girlfriend - Charis Seely.

 

The boys decided to see if they could still climb the pole in granny's back yard. Dylan didn't quite make it to the top, but Jordan did.

Dylan and Granny.

I wanted a picture of the boys together, so Dylan was holding Jordan and Jordan was holding Kolar. It didn't last very long, but it's still cute.

This one is blurry, but I love it! They are all happy.

 

And of course I'm taking pictures, so I didn't get one with him, but that's alright. I still can't believe that he is 18 and going on a mission in two months. Time goes by so fast. I am soooo proud of this kid and all the things he has accomplished. I know that his life is going to be amazing. I am truly grateful to be your mom. Love you, bud!