Pamper Me, Pamper You - Boys are People Too.

I am beyond thrilled to announce my trio are being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society - again.  See post LAST year when they were inducted into the NJHS.  At their previous school, students were selected at the end of 7th grade.  We have the certificates and cords and pins from that lovely candlelight ceremony.  It was nice.

Evidently their new school does not induct until the end of 8th grade.  According to the website of this national organization, membership is able to be moved from one charter to another and charters are to accept transferring students.  If they do not meet the criteria, such as 8th grade inductees as opposed to 7th grade inductees, they are to be "inactive" members until they meet that particular criteria.  I think that makes perfect sense.  But who am I.

Although I have highlighted this information and shared it with their school representatives, they have dismissed my point of view and required them to fill out the application  - AGAIN.  Thankfully, they were selected - AGAIN. (I definitely made my views known that they HAD BETTER BE)  They get to be inducted - AGAIN and we get to attend the ceremony - AGAIN.  I don't really mind because I am always happy to be supportive and I'm proud of their dedication and hard work.  I think it's nice they will be recognized among their peers. I am not thrilled with having to pay another $30 for duplicate pins.

On to the topic at hand, pampering.

Since we do have this little ceremony looming in our near future, my children, specifically my boys, were appearing a mite shaggy.  Actually they were really, really shaggy.

Since moving here, Mike has taken the boys to the barber he visits - the $6.00 barber that is a step above the $5.00 barber school we visited when we first hit Utah soil.  But Mike had to work Saturday morning and I didn't feel like driving all the way downtown to the $6.00 barber and every weekday afternoon is filled with baseball and homework - so the boys talked me into visiting a local "sports" cut establishment. After all, they have friends that go there and highly recommended it.  You the word of a 14 year old boy is like gold.
This place is a little more costly, but upon learning we were new customers, we were eligible for their special new customer deal.  The boys got the "works" for the price of the "standard".

I have no idea why my boys have such serious looks, bordering on scowls even, when they get haircuts.  They've always been like this.

This place provided a few little extras they've never had before.

Tea tree shampoo with aroma therapy hot oil conditioners ....

Towels gently warmed and a scalp massage......

Doesn't he look relaxed.... sort of a zen like state.

Followed with styling, and a neck and shoulder massage.

Notice the smile is re-appearing as the neck and shoulders are relaxed.

They cleaned up really nice.  But I think Mom is in need of some pampering too.

Soon, I hope.  Very soon.

Two Years into the Teen Thing Now - How Amazing

I missed the actually date posting this, but I need to get this done.  Not only do I have 3 teenagers, these teeny tiny preemie teens are a couple of years into it - unbelievable.  Of course until this past April, technically I had 4 teenagers since Matthew JUST reached the ripe old age of 20.

As I dig into the recesses of my memory, the day these children came into this world is a day I will never forget, even should I live to be 100.  We had struggled through 13 years of infertility, numerous surgeries and procedures, some sad losses, and were given a less than 5% chance of a pregnancy resulting in ONE baby. 

Once I amazingly became pregnant, and more amazingly we went beyond 6-8 weeks, suffering with weight loss from hypermesis, heading in to the 2nd trimester, I contracted a very severe case of the flu.  It was so severe I was hospitalized.  I had 2 cracked ribs from coughing so much.  It was not a pleasant time AT ALL.

At 26 weeks, I was again admitted with preterm labor.  Magnesium sulfate became my new best friend - NOT!  Nasty nasty stuff, but effective.  After a long week,  I returned home only to go back a few weeks later, around 31 weeks, and was there for the duration. 

Right around 34 weeks,  pre-eclamsia reared it's head and it was the end of the line for this pregnancy - the one that wasn't supposed to happen.

Early Sunday morning, 5:36, 5:37, and 5:38, weighing 4.1, 4.3, and 3.8 - on Mother's Day morning, my sweet B B G made their appearance.  Tiny, healthy, feeders and growers who came home at 13 days (baby B),  and 19 days (babies A & C) - and miraculously changed our lives for the better.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my BABIES.

I LOVE YOU - to the moon and back.

Heavy Hitters Hitting the Ball

We have morphed from the season of endless hoops to rounding the diamond. I love it!

My boys are so accustomed to playing with each other, they make the perfect left handed pitcher, right handed catcher duo.

It's fun to watch someone you love doing something they love ♥

We are about 1\2 way through the season.

They may be "big" boys, but they were so happy to have jerseys like a real team instead of simply tee shirts. It's the little things that are important.  They are both looking forward to the day they might actually have their names on the back of their jerseys, although I pointed out they will have the same names. "So we will have to have a 1st initial too." Shirts are borrowed from the high school team so we do have to give them back at the end of the season.  They got to request their numbers and initially there was drama because someone else dared to latch onto #33, the valued and much loved number belonging to Jason Varitek, who I think is now retired anyway.  But my catcher #30, got over it since evidently the #33 jersey was a smaller size and we all know size matters.

This awesome photo above is from the first game (as is the one below), and although his face is hidden, there is a huge smile forming because the ball is G.O.N.E - as in a home run.  It must be a nice feeling to just leisurely lob around those bases.  This was the first home run of the season for our team.  The second home run followed a few batters later as son # 2 (who is actually son #1 in the ABC birth order but is son #2 in the batting order) knocked it out of the park as well.

I was so glad I had my camera with me, and although my children all love to cringe and moan and lament my obsession with taking their pictures, rolling their eyes and complaining for the world to hear,  they were glad these images were captured for all eternity.

As I walked back to my chair, I was asked "what are you feeding those boys".   As my son #2 put it later that evening -"I am glad to be here playing ball in Utah because they didn't see me play before and now they all think I am a power hitter.".  Vanity much?   A few games later, ball player son #2 hit another homer.  Lest you become too impressed that he leads the league with his TWO home runs, those are his only home runs career wise to date as well.  Son ball player #1 is anxious to up his stats but so far he's been close, but no cigar. A friendly case of healthy sibling competition.

So I guess there is something to be said for moving and leaving your history behind you.

Our 2 older boys, the ones I am not supposed to mention, played baseball - one season each.  Neither cared for the sport.  We have always had the rule of "you start the season, you finish the season". And they did.  Matt also played soccer for many years up until 7th grade and then decided it was no longer cool, even though he was very good.  Both Matt and James did karate for several years too.  My girl played tee ball along with her brothers (yesterday I think, or so it seems), in her french braided pigtails with red ribbons to match her uniform, then she played softball for another year, but her heart wasn't in as her thrill is in dance.

Baseball becomes much more competitive as they get older.  It's no longer always fair or equal as far as playing time.  I suppose it prepares them for the real world, but it can be tough on the parents. 

Mike played ball all through little league on into pony league and junior high and then later high school. He also played in college - a pitcher.  Truthfully he lost a lot of momentum after his dad was killed, his junior year in high school.  I can certainly understand that.  He loves watching his boys play.

Believe it or not, I played softball A LOT - all though junior and high school, but not on school teams as we didn't have such a thing.  I played intramurals in college and city leagues in my 20's and Mike and I played coed softball up until Matt was a baby - then life and chasing kids and age caught up to me.  It happens.

You know, I actually hit a home run once.  I was always a good hitter and could be counted on to get on base, but speed was not my best feature.  Short legs do that.  My boys are tall.  I still remember my home run though.  I was 6th or 7th grade.  It was at the YMCA team girls league back in Houston.  It was the ONLY game that neither of my parents were in the stands.  My mom with all her illness, didn't attend many of my games, but my dad always tried to make it for at least part of the game.  I can still see him sitting on the bleachers, cheering me on, usually arriving halfway during the game because the insurance business was not a 9-5 job - more like 8am - way past dark.

No matter how old we get, we still value having someone cheer us on.  And we remember.  I hope my kids do recall their first cheerleaders.  Baseball - America's game.

Catch Up - misc - Spring is Here

I need to catch up with the last month.  Baseball has started and is in full swing, occupying most of our spare time. LOVE. IT!

But I want to post a few pics that I have so I have them for posterity.  My laptop recently died and upon Mike repairing it (thank you honey - so glad it works again since I can't get a new one budget wise), ALL of my photos from the past few years are gone, kaput, adios amigo.  I am so sad.  I did have a few backed up on an external hard drive, but the majority, no.  So at least I have a few on my blog.  Which reminds me - who has made their blog into a book of some sort - like a photo album.  Is there such a thing.

He was so pleased to see the west embraces the east, for a price of course.

I was hoping I still had my Easter pics as well and I do - a few.  I had not planned to color Easter eggs since we are "a little old" for that.  Evidently, we aren't - and I'm glad.  About 10 pm Saturday night they mentioned it.  So we did a dozen.  Life events are so much easier as they get older.  All I have to do is set back and watch, with very little instruction.  I can remember dying eggs and being worn out when we were done, trying to keep up with eggs and six little hands and dye - well, you get the picture.

I sure miss my babies, but I love having sweet big kids too.

Although eggs were not on the original agenda, I still enjoy fixing up Easter baskets for them. (the older two, who I am not supposed to mention, get a little spending cash)

Even though the baskets look unequal, believe me the goodies and treats are equitable.  Good things come in small packages, you know.  I can personally attest to 3 small things that are terrific.

We have long passed the day of plastic eggs and goldfish crackers, bubbles and playdoh and sidewalk chalk and hot wheels.  It took me MANY years to realize the evil of Easter grass.  It looks so cute in the baskets, but serves no purpose other than to make a mess for many weeks to come.  I had not intended to do any type of stuffed toy, but I happened by a "buy 2, get 1 free sale" and they happened to be SO appropriate - birth order, boy, green\yellow color, no glasses, a little smaller - boy, blue, taller, glasses - and pink\purple girl with glasses.  It was fate.

Baskets were from a local thrift store so they didn't match, filled with socks and underwear because the Easter bunny is practical like that.  Also, a frisbee, nerf basketball, books, sandals, ONE chocolate bunny (tradition), water bottles, and assorted hair thingies.  The other tradition is color coordinated Peeps.  The multiple mama in us may fade, but it never truly disappears.

Mike worked Easter, like he does every other Sunday, so the kids and I went to church, then I cooked dinner and we had our Easter dinner later Sunday evening.

Thanks for sticking with me - baseball posts to come.