Parenting flies by

The days can feel exhausting which makes us think they are long, but really they fly by like the years. 

These kiddos are the best. I also want the best for them and that can be a bit stressful. I wish I could let go a bit more but I’m not good at it. David is the relaxed one; I worry and plan and figure. 

Tomorrow Clair is 11. Eleven years of parenting this sweet, smart, kind, snuggly child has been nothing short of amazing. She has the patience of a saint and I think that’s a gift Vonita sent her. She has the smarts to become a doctor, which she insists she wants to. She has the heart to love like Jesus. She loves her family! I’m thankful each day that God gave her to me to parent. 

She’s coming down with a cold on her birthday eve. I’m sorry for that for her. I hope it’s nothing more than a cold and she moves through this quickly. 

I look forward to celebrating with her tomorrow. 

Birthday is coming

Clair is 11 tomorrow. 

Last night at the dinner table, Clair looks at me and says you’re gonna make my cake tomorrow right? Worried eyes.

I look at her and say, why are you worried about when I will make your birthday cake? 

Her response, because if you don’t make it tomorrow, then you won’t make it and then I won’t have a birthday cake. With a very panicked voice. 

I looked at her and said have I ever let you down? Have you ever had a birthday with without a birthday cake? Have your brother or sister ever had a birthday without a birthday cake? I don’t think so so you don’t need to worry about when I will make your cake. You will have the cake you want for your birthday.

I told David last night I can’t believe that she questioned whether or not I was gonna have a birthday cake for her considering this is one area. I have never let my kids down on. David says well the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree now does it?

Clairs having a strong season

Clair has started off the season well. She has the highest on base average of anyone on the team and continues to show that she’s starting to learn how to use the bat as well. She’s also quite strong defense. She threw a girl out from third in our second game and pressing everyone. And Friday’s game she dove to catch a pop fly at third base and out. I love that the game is clicking for her. I love that she’s enjoying it! 

Soccer game fun

Saturday afternoon we are watching Max play soccer. Everyone was there. As is typical the girls like to distract themselves. The games are about an hour and 15 minutes long. Max is on a new team this year. The coaches are tough and the team is struggling. Max is doing his best and he’s much stronger after working all winter at Pfp. I really hope that he can get recognized for what he’s doing. Anyway, a couple pictures of Max and his soccer game as well as some of the art The girls left me with on my phone. They sure like editing photos.

Determination and intensity

At the last softball game, Clair hit the ball was running to first. Shortstop made a play and a throw which was bad and hit her in the back. I heard the thump as she fell to the ground, grabbing her back and reaching around on the ground for the base, so she would touch base.

After The first baseman had control of the ball. I started walking towards her to see how she was doing. She starts walking fast towards me. I’m asking are you OK? And she’s not responding to my question but instead asking her own question - Am I safe? Am I safe?

I tell her yes she’s safe and she runs back to the base and sets herself up for the next play. I repeat are you OK? Do you need a pinch runner? She stares me down - No, I’m fine - with an angry get out of my way mom look on her face. 

So I say OK and turn to walk back to the dugout. I can’t help but have a little smile on my face as I return to the dugout. I’m just tickled at her determination to stay in the game and keep working hard. Meanwhile, the other parents are probably wondering why I could be so heartless to be smiling on the way back from talking to my injured daughter.

I would’ve liked to of hugged her and rubbed her back and kissed her and told her it was OK. But I knew that wasn’t what she wanted in that moment. She wanted to save that for later. Now it was time for business, the business of scoring. 

I love this girl and her intensity and emotions towards things!

Clair’s first softball game ball

Game 1 for the Win and first game ball for Clair! 

We had our first 10 u softball game of the season. I love coaching, even when we don’t come out on top.  But the absolute best is watching my girl with a clutch move on the field. She played heads up defense but that’s not why she got the game ball. Her concentration tonight was amazing. 

Bottom of the last inning, bases loaded, and clutch double from my girl to win the game for her team. She has proven over her young life that when it comes to sports, she is great under pressure. I’m reminded of how well she did as a goalie in travel soccer. 

Everyone was so excited! No pictures from the actual even as usual, because I’m busy coaching 🙂. 

When I gave her the game ball she was a little embarrassed due to all the attention, but she was also very proud of herself. I am so proud of her! 

I am also proud of all the girls tonight. They are the come back girls. They like to wait until the end of the game to use their bats. I hope to help them stop waiting until the later innings and get the bats moving early. It’s early in the season so I believe it’s possible. 

What’s the reward for such a great game? A McFlurry of course! 

The 2024 solar eclipse

Today we had the pleasure of seeing an 87% total eclipse of the sun by the moon at around 3:15 PM. The kids were all pretty excited about it. I decided to get the younger two out of school early so they could come home safely and enjoy it with us. we tried to make an afternoon of it. We got the viewing glasses luckily at the last minute. I made viewing masks out of them. The idea was fully protect our eyes from looking up even around the edges. It’s a good thing I made those because Claire would’ve never ever been able to look up. She struggled to look up , even with the full plate coverage.

When it got to the very end at 87%. It was still so bright outside. The only way you could tell it was a little bit less bright was the fact that Clair could be outside without sunglasses and that never happens.

Each of the kids took turns going inside and coming back out to see it. David and I basically hung out outside and enjoyed it. David looked at it through his telescope. I enjoyed a couple siders.

It was an interesting experience, and I’m glad we made an afternoon out of it.