Root, root, root for the home team!

It was a genius quick committed moment that made sure we got tickets to the last season game of the Tin Caps - which happened to be the best game we have been to yet!  The made an amazing strategic play in the first inning to make sure that they were ahead for the rest of the game.  Then there were just some fantastic hits and errors from the other team that made it a shut out!  It was an exciting game to watch, which is saying a lot for baseball.  There was a tragic foul ball that went into the right stands and hit a man right in the head with force and things stalled out for about 20 minutes until they had cleared the fan to the ambulance.  From our side, a lot of people were unsure what was happening but my conjecture of the whole event was accurate - as we overheard the next day in Church from people that were sitting in the stands nearby.

Some super cool friends joined us on the grass for the game and then the fireworks after (you have to move from the grass cuz they set the fireworks off from right there!) which was a perfect distraction for the kids and fun conversation for the adults.  

Moreover - the best lesson was that putting in the effort to make sure you go out and do something special as a family does really pay off.  Unfortunately, I spend too much time murmuring about how much work it will be for me to coordinate everything, when in the end I don't remember all that stuff so much as how FUN it was to go.  Much more fun than just sitting home.  It fits my purpose - to provide growth for my kids and myself and we grow together too.  And the Tin Caps are pretty good for a minor league team - they are in the play-offs, maybe another game ahead?  Next season for sure!

Final Friday: Ex-straw-vaganza

Final Friday, again! I was excited to have some fun with straws this month. I got a lot of them from the dollar store. We didn't use as many because we are loosing our fun families following. Lucky for the Ricks family, they still fall in both the family and fun category (thanks for still showing up). We did have fun with straws! I was only disappointed that my geiser idea did not work out, baking soda and vinegar are just not potent enough.

We DID have a straw blowing foosball/air hockey table where you could try and score a ping pong ball through the opponent hole. Eve was best with the slimer approach.
We DID make air planes that you launch off your straw (great idea born from the drive thru wrapper blowing concept). We haven't yet perfected the right design to keep them in the air.
We DID have lemon-lime jello to slurp through the straw. That sound is so satisfying, probably the origin of the word slurp comes from the union of straw and jello.
We DID have the bubble table, which was the biggest hit. All you need is water, a table, and bubbles. You blow the bubbles directly on the table, or in a bowl, or in your hand, or in each other. Aidan and I were the best team, creating some amazingly large bubbles (we're talking base bigger than a large dinner plate).

Final Friday: Pre-Easter Fun

The 27th brought family fun again this Friday. I was not as put together this month and didn't do so stellar of advertising. We had the Ricks family for a bit, then a lull, and then the Landen's came. It was fun both times. I had plastic eggs with slips of paper inside. Much to the boys' glee, some of the slips said that the eggs were worth money. Others were vouchers for horsey rides or kisses from mom. One had them ask what was in my pocket which varied from milk duds to tissue paper, to a 'high-five.' We had fun hiding the eggs for each other and finding them. Egg hunts are great for all ages because you can vary the ease of finding the egg. Faith and little Josh and fun finding the easily hid eggs together, and since they couldn't read, we ended up altering what the papers said. Everybody got at least one voucher for a 'nest.' Now that we have tried this once, I am better prepared to do it again with a whole slew of funnier inserts for the eggs.

Final Friday: Ultimate Pajama Party

The best part about the end of the month.....Final Friday! We have started the tradition this year (two months running) of hosting a family party for our friends and family. Last month's disco party was not as disco-y as I had hoped, for lack of a great disco ball I am sure. This month was GREAT!




Our regular neighborhood families were in attendance, as well as our real family from a few streets down. I am so glad they come to play. Faith and I got the party started building the beginnings of a full room forth, and then the boys helped as they arrived. There was room enough for every one to fit inside. Jamie entertained us all with a Crocidile story, and it was true, I was just as entertained as the kids, if not more. Jamie is a good storyteller. We had popcorn of all kinds, including Pirate Bootie (cheetos meets popcorn). The night was ended out with a boisterous pillow fight! Awards go to Cole Hohne for his amazing flying attack from the chair, he almost knocked me over. Better luck next time buddy.