Spring is here and we are so glad she has arrived! Old Man Winter hit hard and long this season. Luke is playing his 2nd season of Little League and Ben is head coach again. For this season, we are all about those A's! Luke's favorite positions are 1st, 2nd, and catcher and he is still batting left-handed. So far he has played 9 games and has 21 hits and 13 runs!
Snuggles before we are off for Elle's soccer game!
Elle is our little speedster on her soccer team this year. She is on the purple Galaxies and again, Dad is the head coach and our buddy Tony is coaching with him. Ellie loves to play sharks and minnows and kicking goals. She also likes to play goalie!
Ellie has really come a long way since last season and she is loving it! Although she has yet to score a goal in the game, she passes and dribbles like crazy and is a tough little defender. As of right now, she will tell you that dance, swim, and soccer are a tie and she loves them all.
Luke really wanted to try out football this season. His best bud Ayrton plays and his Dad is the head coach so Luke wanted to give it a try on his team. He likes it but he is the new guy on the team and knows he has catching up to do compared with baseball and soccer. AND no worries, friends, this is only flag football. There is no tackle or contact. :) If so, I am sure my tenderhearted boy would be out.
The boys play at Rochester High School on the Cowboys team. In the pics below, Luke has the blue socks and bright orange shoes on. :)
The cutest cheer section. With Ellie's bestie, Zaydee, Ayrton's sister. :)
Dad's and Donuts! My guy not only coaches both our kids' teams on the weekends but takes our kiddos to school fed and ready for their school day each morning! This shot was taken the morning of Dads and Donuts at their school. 😍
Just like that my sweet, little Luke...My baby who made me a mom, is EIGHT!!! With being the first, he has gone through all of our learning curves as parents do, and the over excitement for each little milestone that occurs. He had our undivided attention for many days but then had to learn the patience and flexibility of not only being the big brother to one, but to two other babies in our family. Luke is still sensitive to all around him and even though he may try to hide it sometimes, he definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. He LOVES family time and when it comes to being home with us or some other option, he would rather just be home with all of us. For his birthday, he always asks for time with us over presents. This year we surprised him with a Putt-Putt date with Ben and I and his Auntie Meg and Uncle Chad, without us knowing, got him the exact same thing! He loves school and can't pick his favorite subject between reading, writing, and math. He loves playing "Monsters" with Jon, Brayden, Gibson, Alex, Christopher, Lucas and DJ at recess time. His best friends at school are Gibson and Jon. His favorite specials at school are Art and Gym. He still loves the color red and his favorite books to read are A-Z Mysteries.
With all of the spring sports with these crazy kiddos, we decided to celebrate Luke right after school on Friday! He asked to have a "home party" this year and so easy peasy Ayrton, Gibby, and Jon came over for pizza, cake, and lots of sports!
These guys started with soccer...
One of my favorite shots of Drew. He is always a little grumpy when asked to smile for a pic so this one is just perfect! What a sweetheart.
Luke, " Bring it 8. I got this!"
Then Ben was out there and they all started up with football! At this point, I had asked the boys for almost an hour if they were ready for pizza yet. Ummmm, yeah, not so much.
And they're in!
While I am getting cake and ice cream ready, time to fill it with sports somehow...Oh yes, football on the WII.
Present time...
Gibby made Luke a huge card. I love that kid.
And to finish out this party... Back outside and this time, baseball!
The next day, Gma and Gpa Uitti, Uncle Tom and Aunt Cathy, and G.G. all came out to watch Elle play soccer and afterwards we got Jimmy John's and headed to the park downtown for a picnic. Of course, Ayrton and Zaydee were also there, so our kiddos were pretty much off once we got there. We had so much fun celebrating Luke's bday and enjoying the day with all of them!
Having cake and presents back at home! Here Luke opened his gift from Uncle Tom and Aunt Cathy...Tiger tickets to go with them to a game and a certificate saying that Luke is now officially part of the Tiger Kid's Club!
We love our family!
On Sunday, Luke's real birthday, our tradition of birthday pancakes! That was the best number 8 I could do and Luke still loved it. What a guy! Happy 8th birthday, Luke! We love you to the moon and couldn't be more proud of you.
That Friday, I was able to take a 1/2 day to hit 2 Mother's Day parties in the afternoon! First, I headed to NC3 to enjoy a lunch with my favorite, littlest of all time. Drew surprised me with pizza, salad, and a cute little vase he had decorated with tissue paper and flowers. I love you Drewie and love being your mama.
Then, I was able to make it to the Kindergarten Mother's Day Tea! Ellie and her class surprised us with a fully decorated classroom, homemade bows for our hair, and two sweet songs about their Mom's which had me smiling and crying all at the same time. Gah, I love you, Ellebelle and I love being your Mom, too!!
Tea and muffins!
Elle painted this beautiful canvas for me! I love it!!!
Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! You are superheroes, I tell ya!!! A special Mother's Day wish to Mom Cooley and Mom Uitti who have always poured out unconditional love. I love you and I am so grateful to have you both!
So Drew, he is kind of a puzzle whiz kid. Give him a puzzle and he'll figure it out and LOVES doing it!
The next day, all sports were canceled ( A secret, Wahoo!!!!), so I swept the three of them up and headed out to Somerset. I haven't taken them in a LONG time, like only Luke remembered being there before so everything was fun and an adventure. Elevators, escalators, the "bridge with the moving floor", fountains for wishing...
Once we were home, the clouds parted and soccer was back on. Off we go with this little athlete.
After Elle's game, we all hung out at Meg's and Chad's and the BIG thing of the day was to give Harlow a bath! Auntie Megs had three "helpers" on her hands. Drew kept on saying, "We have a job to do. Right guys?" Such a little man with a big job. :)
And Happy Mother's Day! We had a great service at church (pic below) and then I enjoyed a homemade brunch afterwards from my hubs. A relaxing afternoon with Luke's football game and then a dinner at Meg's and Chad's with Mom, Stan and Mama Z. (Chad's mom).
I am one grateful, busy, blessed Mom to these three and I couldn't love them more!!
Just before bed, Luke and Elle surprised me with a hard-covered book that Luke had authored and Elle illustrated the pictures to each page!!! The story was about how they had picked me out the perfect gift but then they lost it. Days passed and when they found it, I was so happy that I took the family to Culver's for ice cream. Seems pretty spot on. :)
One last pic. Watch out world...
