Catching Up!

Oh my goodness, can it really have been a month and a half since I blogged?!? It has been a really busy couple of months. Things should slow down now. I'll try to hit the highlights! Hang on for the longest blog ever!

MOTHER'S DAY!
I woke up to a yummy breakfast cooked by my wonderful husband and beautiful cards made by the boys and pretty flowers they had picked! We were going to go hiking at Albert Pike but the weather was so crummy. So instead, Tim watched the boys and I worked on one of my work projects for most of the day and felt so much better that I was able to knock some of that out! The next weekend we took our trip to Albert Pike, to Little Missouri Falls, and had a wonderful time hiking. The weather was perfect... in the 70s! Couldn't ask for better in May!

SWIMMING IN THE CREEK!
The boys have enjoyed lots of time swimming in the creek! One day after our big rains, the boys pulled out a raft and inner tube and enjoyed floating down there own personal rapids! Ben has really enjoyed playing in the creek too! He does everything his big bubbas do. He really is quite amazing and seems to have no fear. It makes me smile to watch them splash and play and to know that for them right now life is so care-free!

NATE'S GRADUATION FROM KINDERGARTEN!
Two weeks ago, "my baby" graduated from kindergarten.... complete with cap, gown, and diploma! He has had a wonderful year, make that a fabulous three years at Glenwood Christain School! He has learned so much and it has been such a blessing to have a firm foundation of Christ implanted in his little heart while at school. Next year will be a big change for my little man as he will start FIRST GRADE at Centerpoint Elementary School. He is already nervous but excited since he thinks they have a cool playground there! I'm excited too but a little sad that we will be leaving our comfort zone, a.k.a Glenwood Christian School! Love you Nate and I'm so proud of you!

ZACHY AND THE END OF THE YEAR SCHOOL PROGRAM!
Zac is in K-3 (preschool) and his group along with K-2 and K-4 were responsible for the end of the year program! Zac was a "pear" as were the other 3 boys in his class! He memorized his lines and everything! He was hilarious when it was time to sing because he sang very LOUD and really got in to the motions! Now when it was time to sit still and quiet, he was quite the little wiggler... taking off his shoes, smelling his feet, playing with the girl's hair in front of him, wiggling all over the seat, smiling and waving at everyone! I was sitting down front on the floor taking pictures, giving "that look" and sweating bullets because he was so squirmy and distracting (to me), everyone else informed me he was so cute and made the show! You know how it goes, it is sooooooooooo cute when it is someone else's child but stressful when it is your own! Lesson learned.... sit at the back of the room and then you don't notice the small stuff! He did great and he was definitely the cutest one up there! Love you Zachy! All of my pics of Zachy are on my dad's camera so I'll have to include those in a later post!

AWANA -End of Year Program
Nate and Zac both attended AWANA this year at church and had a wonderful time. Nate has done an excellent job memorizing his bible verses this year (no thanks to mama who forgets and waits until the last minute to practice)! Zac has enjoyed his class too and both did an excellent job at their end of the year program!

WORK AND PLAY:
This last weekend I went to Blytheville for 4 days to work and daddy kept the boys! In all honesty, I must say that Tim is the best dad, laid back, loving, fun, and just wonderful. He kept the boys for me and didn't even think twice about it. He took all 3 boys camping accross the street from our house! Nate an Zac were in a tent and Ben was in his OWN tent! It was Ben Ben's first camping trip! Tim set up the pack in play in the tent and little Ben slept through the night like a baby! Can I add BRAVE to the list of things my husband is... or CRAZY! The boys seemed to miss me while I was gone but they had a lot of fun swimming in the creek here at the house and at Albert Pike! They ate pizza, sonic, hot dogs, smores.... sounds great doesn't it! Thanks daddy!

SUMMARY:
I have enjoyed teaching cheer this spring but am glad for a little break until next fall. Last night was our last class and last night was also Zac's last T-ball game. The boys have enjoyed ball this spring and it has been fun to watch them. I'll devote an entire post to T-ball only! I know this summer will pass all to quickly but it is hard to imagine how we are going to fill our days... creek, Nana and Papa Doc's pool, more Creek, etc! We are leaving for Florida next week and we are all so excited and can hardly wait! I can't wait to see my sis and her precious family! Our next big event will be the 4th of July annual Oosterhous Celebration here in Glenwood! Can't wait!

All of that said SCHOOL IS OUT and I'm thinking "SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER" AND "JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL"!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game(s)!

Much of our time is being spent at the ball field! At least every Tues. and Thurs. night! For those of you who have children who travel to games.... I cannot imagine. Tues. and Thurs. nights are a circus for us! Games usually start at 5:30 or 6:00 and generally the boys' games overlap some. Tim arrives around 5:30 and on Tuesday nights I hand off the kids and head to the gym to teach cheer class at 6:00... I miss the games but I try to make up for it on Thursdays by yelling really loud (which Nate says is embarrassing and begs me to stop)! I've threatened to do a cartwheel and a cheer to which he pales instantly and starts saying NO NO NO!


I cannot believe this is Nate's 3rd year... he is an EAGLE! He is playing pitch machine this year and is loving it. He is on a team with most of his school buddies. He usually plays 2nd base or shortstop and sees a little action. He's pretty in to the game and has done really well hitting off the machine... some games much better than others. He's a hustler in the outfield too. Overall, the atmosphere is still pretty relaxed, no keeping score, not trash talk, etc. However, the boys are really focused this year and much more serious about the game in general.


This is Zachy's first year and it has been a riot! His team is the BASEBURNERS and their shirts are tie die! We love Zac's team and his coach is really good with the kids. These games are hysterical. Zac is finally getting the picture that T-ball is NOT a contact sport for the most part. The first game he put a fellow team mate in a headlock in order to wrestle the ball away from him. He tackled one of the little girls on our team and fought with her for the ball. For the record, he plays shortstop. He will chase the ball wherever it goes..... all the way to right field if necessary. Finally the coaches wised up and decided that Zac needed his very own coach to stand behind him and tell him when to chase a ball (2nd and 3rd game the coach held on to his shirt to keep him in place)! Now I think he has got it and he doesn't chase after balls that aren't near him. Zac is really good at batting and running fast! It is amazing how much he has improved since the first game.... he lets the other kids get the ball if it is not near him and the coach has let go of his jersey!


As for Ben, he's not really in to the whole ballgame thing.... he just likes to walk around in bubba's batting helmet while looking for the nearest mud puddle to jump in to! He keeps the parents entertained with his antics!

It has been a fun season, all we have left now are the celebration parties and metals!