Wonderful Day

On Sunday I was one of my niece, Maggie's two godmothers. Her aunt Pam and I shared the duties and we have been blessed with the most pleasant and happy little goddaughter you could ever meet.

She was so good in church and when the time came for the ceremony the priest doused her head pretty good and she was all smiles. And by doused I mean that he soaked her face and the water went streaming down her back and little Magnolia Jean just smiled up at him, taking it all in stride. What a sweet little baby.

All the kids were so good in church--people in the choir even came up to us after Mass and told us. It was very nice not to have take them to the back, especially when we were sitting in the very front of church. But I think that is part of why they didn't act up. It's hard to pay attention when you're just staring at someone's bottom in front of you! It helps that St. Francis de Sales is a gorgeous church and there's plenty to keep their attention.

After, we celebrated both Gracie's 2nd birthday and Maggie's baptism. It was supposed to be at a nearby park where they had Grace's first birthday party, but it was so cool and there was a constant mist, that it was moved to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We had wonderfully delicious cake from the Bon Bonerie.

On a roll

We had tickets for last night's Reds game out in centerfield, just three rows from Drew Stubbs...and completely surrounded by Cubs fans. The boys definitely got an education about how not to be a fan, but we brought enough good-spirited Reds fanaticism to make up for them.

We dressed like it was November but with all the jumping up and down, clapping and hootin' and hollerin' we didn't get cold. It did help that Charlie would rather sit on my lap than in his seat!

Meredith hung out with Grandma and Grandpa because between the cold, the late night, and her love of running around, it probably wasn't going to be the best night for her. She was missed, but we're hoping that soon she'll be a regular participant in these mid-week trips to the ballpark. Charlie says she'll have to be three.

The sixth inning was the most exciting of the night, with the Reds scoring seven times and one of the boys' favorites--Jonny Gomes--dumped his hitting slump by hitting a two-run homer over the centerfield wall. So much excitement for one night! The boys did so well until the walk back to the parking garage. Lou and Ben did it without much complaining, but Charlie has yet to grow his big-boy legs and had to be carried most of the way.

The Reds take on the Cubs once more tonight, but our family won't be at GABP, just listening on the radio with hopes of another win over the Cubbies!

Good Start

After breakfast the boys rush to brush their teeth and then, it begins. In the ten minutes or so before Lou and Ben's ride comes the three of them play a high-intensity game of baseball in the small space between the front door of the house and the dining room table.

They've created rules for this version of baseball. Sometimes they all agree on these, sometimes they don't (but really, isn't this what they see on the big league fields when players, managers and umpires come together to bump chests?).

But right now they are getting along. I'm typing, listening to the play by play that they call out, imitating the broadcasters they hear. Little Charlie is still in his jammies--pirate-looking striped pants with a "Great American" T-shirt--and the boys have their clothes, shoes and jackets on (yes, it has dipped back below acceptable temperatures for May).

Their ride has driven past our house to drop off a little sister to grandma's, pick up another boy, and they know they only have a few minutes to play baseball before it's off to school.

I love mornings like this.

Oh, and the Reds just swept the Cardinals. It's a good start to the week :)

Caught In Between

I have a traffic jam of pictures waiting to be loaded on here. I have thoughts and memories and funny anecdotes to share. But what I'm giving is a whole lotta nothing.

I'm finding that it is similar to my feeling with the video camera. I'd love to do it more, and I'm going to regret that I didn't, but picking it up (or, in this case, typing it up) causes me to be away from it actually occurring. Ok, maybe not entirely, but that's what I'm saying to make myself feel better.

These days of searching high and low for lost gloves and pacifiers; of reading books and doing math worksheets; of wiping noses and bottoms; of whipping up "three course meals" or nuggets and mac 'n cheese; of playing baseball and Star Wars and house and whatever else strikes our fancy...they are going by quickly and I'm going to be mad that I don't remember the details because I don't write it down as often as I'd like, I don't take as many pictures as I'd like...they're still going to be there. I'll be able to recall them, however fuzzy they may be. But, regardless, I am aiming to do a better job at typing them out and reflecting on why so many parents of grown children tell me that these are the years that you will remember.