Birthdays, field trips and travel ball

How do you working moms do it? I mean, the ones who work outside the home. EVERY mom is a working mom. I resent when someone says, "So you don't work?" Really???

Being a SAHM comes with its own set of challenges. I guess if you've never done it that's hard to understand. If you do work outside the home I know time management is tough so... mucho respect.

In yet another attempt to catch up I decided I better combine a few things. Otherwise I will never get caught up.

Grant and Mac both had field trips within a week of each other. I love field trips. The actual field trip itself is usually overrated, but the one-on-one time it provides is worth the chaos that comes with it. I also love that my boys still want me to go on their field trips although Grant is over the whole holding momma's hand thing. He told me the other day as he pulled his hand back that it "felt weird" when I tried to hold his hand. [gulp]

May we pause for a moment of silence while I mourn that loss.

Grant's field trip was to Lanark. They went last year as well which made him all the more excited to go back this year. It's the perfect field trip for Professor. I thoroughly enjoy going myself although this year it rained. The whole time. Not a drenching rain but an annoying, steady, misting rain. Walks through the nature trail were made even more "exciting" by the fact that little boys shook the wet trees as the moms walked under them. ;) We left there with wet clothes and feet and some of us had hair that resembled either the untamed mane of a lion or a chia pet. But we had fun! :)

Lunch break

A lesson in camouflage - this was really neat. I wish I could remember
just how many children are in this picture - it would surprise you

Sweet Professor

One of the highlights of the day was getting to see these teeny babies close up

Mac's field trip was to the zoo. It had to be rescheduled two different times because of weather so by the time we were able to go, not many chaperones could make it. We were able to sweet talk Paige's teacher into letting her go with us.

Since she helps Mrs. Schweers every day the kids know her well, and she knows how to handle them. And Mrs. Schweers sweet talked me into riding the bus. Parents are usually asked to meet there since there isn't a lot of extra room on the bus. It was a very loud ride there and a very quiet ride back. :)

Mac has a weak stomach, especially with smells. The zoo first
thing in the morning was a bit much. haha

Checking things out with Caden

Bueller's group consisted of all ladies... naturally

I have no doubt Mackey was happy I was there.

But I think he would have been just fine without me had he known Paige was going.

She came by our house the other night to sell candles as a fundraiser for cheer leading, and you would have thought the boys were being visited by a celebrity. Needless to say we're quite fond of this sweet girl. I have my eye on her for some summer babysitting.

The month of April is filled with birthdays in our family. Dawnie's is the 18th, mine the 20th, my mom's the 21st, and Maggie's the 22nd.

My parent's friends, The Deavors, were kind enough to let us use their beautiful pond (which is more like a small lake) for Snuggie's big day (she bid adieu to her 20's). We thought we would wear the fish out then head back to The Colleys for a fish fry. Well, weather in Alabama as we well know (especially today being the anniversary of the 4/27 tornadoes) is quite unpredictable. A cold front came in making it a bit cool for the fish to bite. So while the weather and fishing could have been better, the company and time spent together were fantastic!

We did manage to catch a few...

And boy were they monsters!

We also managed to jack up Granddaddy's rods and reels :)

In true Martha fashion, Rachel was in charge of lunch.

And it was grand - thanks, KK!

Of course, Mrs. Amy made the cake - perfect for Snuggs

The two who made it happen - they baited hooks (because I do not
touch crickets) and untangled lines all.day.long.

The sisters

My favorite of the day

With Friday being my birthday, Saturday being mom's, and Sunday being Claire's we decided to celebrate all of ours at mom and dad's Saturday after Grant and Mac's games. We had hamburgers and hotdogs and the best cookie cake you'll ever have. If you've never had a double-layer cookie cake from Sam's you're missing out. I have absolutely no pictures but everyone was there (including my aunt, uncle and Nana). Great day.

The next day Grant and Mac played ball in Auburn. It was a last-minute tournament and was only our second ever. Chris very recently put together a travel ball team. Because we can't interfere with league ball - all our players are currently in league - we have had very few practices as a team. It shows. We're very new to travel ball. No pun intended but it's a whole different ballgame. We've been told it will take some time to get our feet wet. We believe it. It's been ugly getting annihilated our feet wet.

Turbo with cousin Grey
We were excited Uncle Donnie & Aunt Rae could come

Sissy and Meems braved gale force winds (only a slight exaggeration)
 to help cheer on the Wetumpka Rays

The boys have fun, but it does make for a long day.

Those pictures are from our first tournament in Montgomery. :) Once league ball is over we look forward to pressing on with travel ball in hopes of putting league in our rear view mirror. And maybe even start winning some games. We'll get there.

One more thing...

I just have to say I'm so proud of my baby girl. Bethany started her very first job this week working at a local miniature golf place in Decatur - Funland Putt-Putt. A job she sought and secured all on her own. Her first day she worked 11-7 with no break. That's okay. She says her paycheck was totally worth it. :) Welcome to the working world, Boo. We're very proud of you!

Celebrating Turbo

We had a ton of fun celebrating Reid's birthday in all kinds of ways. Chris will say, "Y'all are the most celebratin' people I've ever met." HA!

I'll mostly let the pictures speak for themselves. There are a lot of them.

Thinking we wouldn't be here the weekend of Reid's birthday, we planned a little celebration at my parent's house the weekend before. If you know my mom and Rachel you know they couldn't stand the thought of not celebrating his birthday with him somehow.

We had dinner then it was time for cake and ice cream. Not just any cake. And not just any ice cream.

Miss Amy made the cake. Of course. 

So great and yummy! Her cakes are always a treat. The only thing that made the cake better was my mom's homemade ice cream.

Time to sing

A little bashful

So funny to look at everyone in the picture. Check out their mouths.
Everyone is trying to "help" blow out the candles :)

Mmmmm

Then it was time for presents. Both of his brothers wrote the birthday boy a note all by themselves and took money out of their own wallets to give to him. This I love.

"Shelf" a/k/a Chef Reid was the theme for the night. In case you didn't know, Reid wants to be a shelf when he grows up.

Between "Aint" Dawnie's mixer,

RaRa's "kitchen tools" as he calls them, and his chef attire he's well on his way. ;)

He has asked more than once if his apron is "dirty proof." I took it to mean if it was okay to get it dirty. I assured him that yes, it can be washed. Little does he know there's not much we have around here that isn't dirty proof. :)

A few more snapshots...

The cousins got some quality cousin time and naturally there was lots of eating, talking and laughter.

And did I mention laughter? :)

A great way to celebrate our Turbo.

Reid really wanted to go to the beach for his birthday. When he first mentioned it Chris and I thought it sounded like a great idea. We have been wanting to go down and check on the camper anyway. Unfortunately things don't always go as planned, and it just didn't work out for us to go. We have promised him we will go as soon as we can. He was bummed (so was I) that it didn't work out. Well Friday night we may not have been headed to the beach but monster trucks were headed to Montgomery.

We didn't tell the boys we were going until we pulled up to the Coliseum. They were ecstatic. The monster trucks were fun but I have to say the motorcycles with all their tricks stole the show.

We got the boys ear plugs. Mac and Reid put theirs in as soon as we sat down. Professor didn't think he needed his.

Once those monster trucks got going it turns out momma was right ;)

These pictures aren't the greatest and the red eyes creep me out - even creepier when I tried to correct them. But it's all I have so I'm going with it.

Yes. That's pink cotton candy. Mac is apparently becoming quite secure
in his manhood (boyhood?) because he picked the pink cotton candy over the blue.
He is even asking for a pink Polo shirt. There is no denying that boy is a
Norton but a pink shirt??? His daddy would NEVER. Neither would Grant.
He'll sure look handsome in it, though. You never know with Bueller.  

There are two motorcycles in that ball. Two. 

Reid isn't a fan of cotton candy but a snow cone? Yes please.

Birthday boy

You know it's been a good night at the monster truck show when your ears are still ringing at bedtime. :)

Then of course Sunday came which was his actual birthday. He requested Chuck E. Cheese. Grrrr. The one in Montgomery is, shall we say, less than stellar. Ok I'm being nice. It's disgusting. And the only time I'm comfortable being there is as soon as it opens. So that's what we did. We were in and out of there in a couple of hours and managed to talk him into eating somewhere else. I felt like we brought home enough germs just playing there. Eating there? If they can't even keep soap and paper towels in the bathroom what must the kitchen look like behind those closed doors? Yikes! I just couldn't do it. Thankfully every.single.table was reserved so... awww, shucks... no place to sit.

They always go to skee-ball first - my personal favorite

Whatever it was it captured their attention

Sweet boy

Quiet and still... maybe we should see if we could get
one of these at home. hahaha

After lunch elsewhere we headed home and spent the rest of the day being lazy - sans food poisoning. Yay!

Sissy wasn't here that weekend so the next weekend she decided she would have a Sissy/Reid day. I don't know that those two have ever had a day like that. They were both rather excited. I had a couple of errands for B while she was in Montgomery. Have I mentioned I'm getting a little more used to her being 16?!? Then B had a few things she wanted them to do together.

One of their stops was Petland to play with some pups.

It's always fun to get some puppy love.

Not long after lunch with Meems, B was ready to call it a day. She let Reid have Coke at lunch. She now understands why I don't let the boys have caffeine. ha!

Thank you, Sissy! It's no secret your brothers adore you.

I can't believe our baby is 5. Such a big boy. The boys' ages right now are 5, 6 and 7. I love it when they're like that. It's much easier now than when they were 1, 2 and 3. :)