What time is it?

It's baseball time.
I mean what says spring like baseball, dirt-filled air, and gusty winds.
Zach and Calyn are playing coach pitch baseball this year. Tim is the team's manager and gets to pitch to our players. The transition to pitched balls is going well so far. Calyn did ask after the first practice if Tim could please stop throwing balls at her. She was afraid he was going to hit her. But once she got use to it, she has done well. Zach is in the process of switching from batting righty to batting lefty. I think with a little more practice, his batting will improve. Several of the Dallas boys have odd right/left handedness. Uncle Pete is left-handed but bats right-handed. Tim is right-handed, but bats left-handed. Zach has always switched between eating with his left and right hand, so it stands to reason that maybe he might be a little odd as well. We will see.
Today was our second game of the season. We won 8-1 (we won our first game 11-3). I did not get many pictures because I was keeping the score book and checking on Grant and Abby. They sat in the car because Abby has a sinus infection and Grant has the croup.
So far, the season is really fun. We have a great group of kids. All but one of the kids seem really interested in learning the game. Despite the score, our fielding is pretty terrible. We won because the other two teams were not very good hitters. Hopefully we will improve as the season progresses. So far, Calyn is the only girl we have seen. Maybe some of the other teams will have girls playing?
I am looking forward to a great season. Go Express!

Zach getting some last minute instruction.

Zach batting lefty.

Calyn running after hitting the ball.

Zach and Tim playing catcher.

Heavy Heart

One of my childhood friends had a baby in October. Evan was born at just 26 weeks and spent several months in the hospital. He got to go home just a few weeks ago and meet his two older sisters, Olivia (7) and Ava Grace (4).

Unfortunately Evan contracted an infection over the weekend and went to be with Jesus this morning. I ask that you pray for his parents, Seana and Casey,and the rest of his family. They have really been on a roller coaster ride the last several months but have proclaimed the name of Jesus at every turn. As believers they know that Evan is with Jesus, but they still hurt. So please take a moment to lift up this sweet family and also pray that Evan's short life will continue to turn other towards Jesus.

Thanks friends.

Is Spring Break really a break?

Usually the week before spring break, Tim and I look at each other and ask what we should do for spring break. We usually agree that we should go on a fun trip but never really have the time or energy to plan one. This year as in the past, we decided to stay home and work on house projects and go for special outings with the kids. One thing I love about Tim's job is that he can take off time during spring break if he chooses to do so.
So for spring break this year, here is what our family did:

Beth and Tim took Grant to his six month doctor's visit

Everyone went to the park

Beth took Grandma to the airport

Beth ran about 12 miles

Tim turned over the soil in the garden and flower beds and put down black paper that prevents weed growth.

Tim cleaned and organized the storage shed and the back porch

Beth took Zach and Calyn swimming

Everyone ate dinner at the Williams' house (that is both Williams families-thanks friends!)

Beth made green food for St. Patrick's day

Zach and Calyn each wrote a book

Tim painted the downstairs bathroom

Tim, Zach, Calyn, Abby, and Grant went swimming with the Gomez family

Everyone welcomed three new members to our extended family at a birthday party

Beth cleaned out her closet

Tim spent several hours doing his real job, some at home and some at Tech

Beth and the kids watched Annerson so Lex and Leah could have a garage sell

Tim, Zach, and Calyn had baseball practice

Beth shopped at Gap, Old Navy, and Wal-mart

Beth wrote an exciting passage about muscle contractions

Beth threw away the pumpkin that had been on the front porch since October!

Grant tried squash, carrots, and green beans

We had a busy week, got a lot accomplished, and had a lot of fun. Although we stayed busy, spring break is definitely a break because we got a break from our normal routine and got to spend so much time with Tim.

Busted

Grant has been sitting up for about a week now. I really have been meaning to blog about this accomplishment but kept putting it off. Today a sweet friend was over and walked in and caught Grant in the act of sitting and playing all by himself. The first thing she said was, "When did he start sitting?"
So here he is:

He turned 6 months old on Monday. He weighs 17 pounds (50th percentile) and measures 26.75 inches (60th percentile).

Besides sitting he recently got his first tooth (bottom right). No pictures of it yet, but it did get a fluoride treatment at his doctor's appointment.

Grant is still easy going and usually happy. He has been a little grumpy the last few days. Both Tim and I agreed that he seems to be missing his Grandma. He still is not sleeping well at night, but at least his cuteness makes up for my lack of sleep.

He can pick up toys and likes to chew on his burp cloths, blankets, or socks. He recently discovered his feet. And he can now roll from his tummy to his back.

He is quite enthralled with ceiling fans especially when they are moving.
Be sure to check out his long eye lashes.

He is wearing size 3 diapers and 6-12 month clothing.

Slow down little boy! You are growing up WAY too fast.

A GREEN Day

Today was a very GREEN day for the Dallas family.
It started with Tim working with his GREEN thumb in the backyard. He got the back flowerbeds and the garden cleaned out and ready for to be planted.
Some of us wore GREEN clothes.

We walked to the grocery store which was very GREEN of us. Abby and Grant rode in the GREEN jogging stroller while Zach rode his scooter and Calyn rode her bike. We even carried our groceries home in our GREEN reusable bags.
We ate GREEN crepes for dinner.

We drank GREEN milk.

We had GREEN cupcakes.

The kids ate on GREEN plates and drank from GREEN cups.

Even Grant got in on the eating-of-the-GREEN.

He likes his GREEN avocado.

Tim started removing the GREEN from the downstairs bathroom.

Grant wore GREEN pajamas to bed. He made me promise not to take his picture since he was wrapped in a pink swaddling blanket.

We really enjoyed our St. Patrick's Day.

How about you?

Thunder thighs

I have absolutely no idea who he inherited his chunky thighs from but at least they are cute on him.

Yes, that is rice cereal on his hand. A blog post about that will follow soon.

Good things about visits from Grandma

The kids bounce off the walls the first couple of days that she is here but then settle down once they are use to her being here.

She took the kids to Toy-R-Us.

She empties the dishwasher.

She gives Grant his bath.

She is the best bedtime story reader. Even I sometimes like to listen. We visited the new library to stock up on books.

She keeps Grant entertained.

She got introduced to Blue Sky (ie., another excuse to eat there).

She plays with the kids at the park and I get the chance to run.

She loves Krispy Kreme donuts so we take her there often.

She plays with Abby while the twins are at school.

She shares in the numerous diaper changes that occur at our house.

She teaches my kids about Jesus.

She taught me (again) to make crepes.

She likes to play games and work puzzles.

Fortunately, her visit continues for another week.

A typical day

One of my favorite blogs recently had bloggers link up and show their daily routine. I am not going to link up but thought it would be fun to look at my daily schedule.

7:30am Feed Grant if he has not already eaten.
8:00am Wake-up big kids and feed them breakfast. Get Grant and Abby changed and dressed. "Encourage" Zach and Calyn to get dressed. Brush my teeth, put on contacts, and put my hair in a ponytail (unless it is Tuesday-then I shower before heading to Bible Study).
8:55 am MWF-take Zach and Calyn to preschool, head to the mall to walk, go home to shower, play with Abby, and feed Grant again before picking up the twins at noon.
Tues-go to Bible Study til 11:30am
Thur-take Abby to Parent's Day Out. The twins and I either head home to hang out or go do something fun.
12pm-1pm Lunch
1pm-2pm The kids play while I usually try to get some chores done. Sometimes we play games or do projects such as painting. Lately, Zach and Calyn play the Wii.
2pm Feed Grant. Abby goes down for a nap. The twins have 'room time.'
2:30pm-4pm If Grant takes a good nap I usually do my Bible Study, read, do chores, work on projects, and do actual work if I currently have a project from my part-time job.
4:30pm Usually go for a jog/bike ride if the weather is nice. Tim often meets us after work.
5:30-6:30pm Cook and eat supper. Feed Grant.
7pm Tim and kids hang out. I usually do more chores or have a little time to myself or hang out with everyone or spend one on one time with a kid.
8pm-9pm I bathe and feed Grant while Tim bathes the big kids, reads books, and puts them to bed.
9pm Tim and I usually watch TV either together or separate and we both often work also.
11pm Feed Grant and put him to bed.
12am Read before going to bed.
12:30am Go to sleep. Usually Grant wakes sometime between 2am and 5am and gets fed again.

Well there you have it. I love having a husband that usually gets the kids ready for bed. It allows me to focus on Grant. Tim also gets the big kids ready for church on Sundays (including breakfast and except for hair) so that I can get ready and feed Grant.
I am working really hard on cooking supper consistently.
I have also started running again and so am often trying to squeeze this into my schedule. I cannot wait for warmer weather so that Grant, Abby, and I can go to the park in the mornings while Zach and Calyn are at school.