The Pitcher

Someone wants to know why he can't join Little League.

Around 4PM

3.29.12

Bleu Gets Snap Happy

Any of our littles would jump at the opportunity to play with my phone, probably because I don't let them touch it very often. I use it as my watch, alarm {five times a day!}, and lifeline to the outside world. On it I exchange notes with My Sweets, look up things, and get my evening New York Times fix. Right now I use the Droid Incredible by Google, and I keep it pretty clear of games and apps. Nothing against apps, but I save those for the iPad.


Yet the wee ones are fascinated by phone technology and eager to perform the simplest tasks. Bear likes to steal it and dial my mom by clicking on her photo icon. Then he walks around the room drooling on her face and won't give me the phone back. Buby races upstairs to "dismiss" or "snooze" my alarms when they go off. That's actually a great help. Occasionally Bleu gets snap happy with the camera function, like this afternoon while Ollie and I rolled around on the playroom floor.

Inseparable

As fate would have it our children are all equally spaced, exactly 2 1/2 years apart. First came Buby, 31 months later Bleu, and 30 months after that Bear. Fall-spring-fall. Boy-girl-boy. It was never planned that way, but I sure do love how it all went down.


I assumed at this point the two brothers would have the tightest bond {both being boys--I know that sounds horribly sexist}. Or even perhaps Buby and Bleu since they have had each other's backs the longest. Right? It is like the play date that never ends around here. Our first and second are polar opposites in personality but work hard at getting along. They've turned negotiation into a science, and I am proud of them for that.


But to my surprise it's Bleu girl and Ollie Bear who are most inseparable. They communicate, comfort, share, and laugh well. Pretty much ALWAYS. They look for each other in a crowded room. They don't stop looking until they are together again. They just connect naturally and have an eerily similar sense of humor and {I dare say} temperament.


Bear brings out the cool and calm in Bleu {who can otherwise be quite dramatic}, and Bleu carries over her strong nurture instinct to guide her little brother. It'll be fun to see how/if all this changes as they grow older.

The Riverfront

I am so thankful for the river that runs through our little village. We scooter down there often to dig in the dirt, climb over tree roots, skip rocks, and build beaver dams. Once in a while I wonder what it would be like if we'd stayed in the city to raise our children, but I cannot imagine missing out on all the farms, forests and riverfronts here. They are absolutely majestic. We live in such a fantastic area.


p.s. You can't tell, but I'm way high in the sky on a branch in the fourth shot.

p.s.s. Isn't my mom beautiful? I love how Ollie flirts with her. We have had the best week!

Black-ish Hair

I've never had my hair dyed. A few highlights here and there but never colored at a salon. My natural hue is dirty blond, but I was bored with it and craving change. So instead of going short at my salon appointment last week I went very dark. My Sweets begged me to text him a photo from the parking lot, and here it is. Obviously I stink at self portrait.

Little Black Dress

Saturday afternoon my mom and I snuck out without the littles so that I could try on a few bridesmaid dresses for my brother's wedding in July. Liz is letting us girls pick any black dress we want. Isn't she the best bride ever? Within minutes of entering the shop I spotted an entire "clearance" rack of black size 2 just-above-the-knees. They were all so different and pretty I couldn't decide.

The Ballet

I haven't been on the computer to share photos even once this week, but I'm having the most fantastic time with my mom in from out of town. We've laughed and talked and shopped and walked. My Sweets and I have enjoyed extra date nights, and this afternoon I snagged four tickets to a Peter Pan ballet right before they sold out. The only word to describe it is c-a-p-t-i-v-a-t-i-n-g. Here are a few phone shots to remind me.







Bleu, Buby and Grandma.

End of an Era

Today we said goodbye to the village bakery as we know it. I can't help but feel a little sad. My Sweets and I ran into the owner at a restaurant earlier in the week, and she broke the news to us that she had just sold the business. It will remain a bakery, but everything will change. We've known her since we moved to the area seven years ago, and she wanted us to hear it from her first.


The bakery--or cookie shop as our children refer to it--is a special place. It's where they each had their very first sweet treat. It's where they learned to decide and order and pay. It's where we met Kitty. It's the first place I'd look for Buby if he ever ran away from home. It's where I could see Bleu's picture taped to the wall. It's where My Sweets got his carrot cupcakes and where I fell in love with banana cream pie.


Oh well. Tomorrow it'll be something else. We celebrated today by giving Bear a taste of a "Mama's Sugar Cookie." We did it about a year earlier than planned {I make them wait forever!}, but I wanted to give him the same experience his siblings had.

Best Climbing Tree

We took our Sunday drive on Saturday this week. The weather was unbelievable for March {so much so that I wished we could all squeeze in the Jeep and take the top off}. My Sweets wanted to visit a maple sugar farm way up in the mountains to show the littles how it's done... and then treat them to homemade pancakes on Sunday morning.


And we did all of that. But along the way I spied the best climbing tree. There were more branches on one trunk than I've ever seen in my life. As a kid I loved to climb trees. I would spend hours playing near the base, swinging from branches, making my way to the tippy top. It was easy for me to climb things, and it was something I could do without friends or brothers around.


As soon as I noticed this tree in the field I got so excited I threw Buby my camera {which was around my neck} and ran like a seven year old. My Sweets wasn't surprised at all--he knows me--but Buby was a bit unnerved by the whole thing. I got two thirds of the way up when he pleaded for me to come back down, safely. Poor kid hugged me so tight.


Once we got back in the car I discovered all the cool shots he took. He snapped every photo above except for the last one, which I took with my arm. I love my Bubs. And as much as I LOVE tall trees I'm pretty sure he will never climb to the top of one.

Oh Bear

You are so freakin' cute I can't stand it.

The Hitter

Buby had his first official practice tonight, and I must say that he is so far "The Hitter" on the team. I had no idea!! He hit at least 15 straight pitches before missing one {above}.


Tonight felt more like June than March. We ate a picnic dinner on the bleachers. It was sunny and warm, and the rain held out until the very end. Bleu was in good spirits and quite amusing, Bear was such a better spectator than last week {because I brought my mom}, and the rain afterward made our whole neighborhood smell a-m-a-z-i-n-g.


The best part is: My Sweets snuck out of work early {like half day early!} to be there for the whole practice. We were all surprised, but Buby couldn't believe his eyes.


Yes, I love him EXTRA for that.

Little League

- Minor 1: Coach pitch
- Team: Red Socks {I know!!}
- Practices: Monday nights
- Games: TBD
- Players: 10 {7 boys, 3 girls}
- Grades: 1st and 2nd
- Equipt: Glove, bat, cap, cleats


P.S. Buby went straight from school to art class to baseball Monday night, so he wasn't dressed quite appropriate in his blue trousers. Ha! First real practice is March 19.