For it's Root, Root, Root for the Mar-i-ners... If they don't win, it's a shame?!

When I was little, I remember I loved it when my parents took me to the Kingdome to see the M's. I can even sing the commercial for you sometime if you want an added flashback:) Didn't seem to matter if they won or lost or if we observed from the outfield bleachers?! My boys...not so much (though I'm sad to admit) & we have sweet seats thanks to my dad now! We have to pace them with concessions & trip to centerfield playground for them to even humor me, but they did for 3rd time last night & I finally remembered the camera:)Thank goodness the monsoon subsided (seriously @ the end of May? no doubt will cont for Mem Day weekend eh?) so we could trek to the ballpark from our free parking spot; however, the laps we took to find it made it so we were 10 min too late for Griffey t-shirt giveaway-ugh! No worries, cuz I'm not ashamed to say we took one that we found in the aisle after the game & we have connections that might enable us to have a couple more after the fact--He didn't get a cool walk-off home run tonight either, but gotta love him!
I regret to inform you that I'm not that down with rest o' roster this season, but hey!
T'was sheer joy for the rest of the innings to hear Dane's complaints re: everything under the retractable roof and Cole's whines that he hadn't had enough to eat/drink (never mind his earlier treats @ McD's c/o Aunt Amy?!) not to mention that Luke prob had no business being there post-fever, but got to be along for the ride bez binkie 'cuz I left in car...s'pose he has to break the habit soon anyway eh? Just keepin' it real re: these type of events once combined with motherhood! Ahh the good ole' days when we'd go early enough to get autographs during BP, leisurely watch every pitch usually ending in victory & stay late enough to watch players drive out?!
Documenting Luke's first season & Cole's last in the playground, latter due to height restrictions...Luke was sent home early with Nurse Grandma Neecy from childcare on Fri in this cute outfit after vomiting 3x (random, but I had to throw it in the post:), so shouldn't have been surprised that he wasn't 100%-But he had fun running in circles & went down slide once...Older boys were thrilled that they got 2 visits in one game since we got there with half hour to spare prior to first pitch (yes, you read that right & should be impressed for those who know me:)
Similar to the Disney characters, Huey loves the Moose from afar & will point him out every game on the visiting team's dugout, but doesn't want anything to do with him up close & personal incl just the life-size picture @ playground:/
Thought it was funny that Cole asked me en route (only boy still awake in the back seat, mind you) how I always knew the way home & never got lost?! Glad I can still impress him with my mad navigation skills...Told him half of it was just reading signs & other came from going on same roads for 17 yrs:) Another funny comment he made to Chris other day was in comparison to animals, "people can only run fast & far when they've had a 5-hr energy drink?!" At least he pays attn to commercials during sporting events eh?

Who's Keepin' Score?!

Cole's coach-pitch team is quite a bit more die-hard than Dane's leisurely t-ball pace, the latter in which the score is still fun-fun with the Astros in the lead:)
However, Cole & his Mets team are benefitting thus far from their arduous practices in the form of undefeated season., which is fun when it's the first season in which there are 3 outs (or 4 runs)-Cole is batting .750 we figure....thinks he needs a new glove, but not if he's retiring after this season as rumor has it?! In meantime, he has been borrowing Dad's since seems more confident with bigger target in the outfield:) Tried to practice catching pop-flies with football helmet so not afraid o' the smaller ball comin' @ 'em, but not sure it really worked 'cuz they were kinda opposed to whole idea. We are thrilled if they make contact when @ bat and will settle for "bunts" since neither really understands that he might risk getting someone else out with hit via infield?! Oh well! Has made for some crazy evenings with their double-headers in diff locations and lots o' dinners on the run, but we have made it even if didn't leave much time to warm up:)
Huey will sure gain some experience watching his bros for 5 yrs before he has a chance to take a swing on a team of his own! We are already putting most of our athletic stock in the youngest, but certainly not too late for others...I just read a book re: raising successful & happy children that basically said they have a choice of what activity in which they want to participate, but doing nothing is not an opt. so we'll see what's next--trying to enjoy this season and hope they will too even if after the fact?!

Thanks to Grandpa Gar, Grandma Neecy, Aunts Britt/Cait/Brooke, "Aunt" Jami, Uncle Rich & even lil' Ben for coming to cheer on the Parker boys:) You should all be proud esp of their dad for skipping the holy Husky spring game for one of Dane's --sadly those conflicts are bound to increase as the boys get older with own activities, but even mom slipped in suggestion to skip out on a Fri night but he was committed to his team:) S'pose we should be grateful that dedication is @ least being instilled @ young age eh?

5/5 Fiesta!

So we may not be heavy drinkers, but we managed to have our own fiesta for Cinco de Mayo in our fam room...Costco helped us out with a smoothie & churros after our pulled-pork quesadillas in the car since we had to get some Mothers' Day errands done too:) The sombrero from last year's world fair (@ Zeiger Elementary) provided the finishing touch for our pinata courtesy of Cole's class-who knew first graders were into this holiday?!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Now if we could only get some weather like so of the border & for it to stay >24 hrs, it would really feel like late spring!

He's Got Good Taste

Since it's official on FB, must be real deal since that's THE authoritative source eh?! Parker boys and I just wanted to add our endorsement of Jake's taste in women, universities and sports:) They had a blast with "Uncle Jake" in my parent's yard wrestling, playing King o' the Trampoline & having private football clinic. Helped that grandma picked 'em up early so they had afternoon outta childcare! We were all appreciative of Jake & Brooke's efforts to entertain 'em on little or no sleep from driving home all night...Didn't have long to bond since they were headed up to M's game that very night they came into town! Hope to see him again this summer & hope even more that he gets starting posit on the Coug Squad! Either way, we're fans!!
Of course, we're glad to add Aunt Brooke to nearby fam until Aug @ least:) Of course, while I'm mentioning aunts....we're glad that Aunt Britt's still in the Great NoWest. Thanks Uncle Lance for sharing Jake's good taste & staying nearby for a while so we could see this handsome guy grow!

Always a good time with Aunt Cait as well...She runs over to greet boys whenever we have chance to bond & there's no doubt that nephews/nieces are her top priority:)
Now if we could just get Uffens girls up here for the summer-good times in WA would be complete!

Sunday Best

I know I have posted previously with these future missionaries in their Sunday best; however, I just have to repeat how grateful I am for them-esp on this day o' rest even when they go a lil' stir crazy with break from activity level during reg week...gotta love 'em!! Should prob learn to take their pic prior to Church rather than afterward when can't possib stay in those clothes a second longer:) We're quarter of way through year & I still can't fig out how we can be late when they are dressed 2 hrs before start time? Guess we're still working on the "ready" part...I always manage to find one more thing to do ie futile search for 2T khaki pants in Luke's closet-Can you believe MIA for boy #3?! S'pose I will settle for being on time and then try to be early one of these fine Sundays! Don't get your hopes up anytime soon...

Tulip Pedal WITHOUT the Ped/tals

Difficult to make this post succinct let alone the title as I learned a lot o' life lessons yesterday while on this adventure with my good friend Candice. She didn't want to be pictured, but was an all-star traveling companion and should be noted, logged 22 mi. on her bike for first ride o' 2010!! On the other hand, I was not so prepared...Should've known wasn't the brightest idea when I haven't ridden my bike since college and even then, it was just to/from campus-certainly nothing hard-core. But this sounded fun & scenic (note: would've been had we gone mo earlier?!) & change o' pace from the half marathons I've attempted. I knew Candice enjoyed cycling & tried to tempt a couple of my sisters to join me...I had my dad pull my bike down from its rack in the garage & my neighbor "tuned it up", but wasn't his fault he missed potential tire troubles 'cuz my dad had warned me it was all in sad shape. He did offer me a couple of other bikes as opt, but I politely declined 'cuz I didn't want the responsibility nor did I think my bike was that ancient?! Needless to say, I knew I was down to one bearing & hoped there weren't many hills to challenge the gears...Should've realized when I put my bike out the previous night for my friend to load for our early start that a flat tire was NOT a good sign to begin what ended up being just 20 mi. course. I wanted to try 40 initially but we decided we could drive toward bay for view later:) Turned out that was the only way I saw tulips too despite the valiant efforts of Joe @ the equipment station,
'Cuz the tube within my rear tire was DONE on the first road aptly named Chilberg:)
I didn't want my friend to miss out on full course 'cuz she felt badly for my ignorance, so I sent her ahead & decided I would just get a good run in along with plenty o' photo oppor. Too bad I couldn't @ least make it full distance of half marathon as I hoped, but my knee reminded me that I had not even run for a couple weeks let alone trained for any races in the near future with current circumstances. Guess this became sub for Snoqualmie Half (5/1)?! The other insane part of our am was fact that we thought we had to leave Puyallup @ 4:30A to get up to La Conner on time, but found out there was no official start meaning we could've literally rolled in whenever & been fine with exception of weather, which also left a lot to be desired:/ That is not good news for 2 working women who are clearly not a fan of early mornings esp on Sat?! Oh well!!

Prob don't care, but here are some visuals for what I learned as great time for self-reflection running 9 mi. afterward solo...Get ready for me to be all philosophical on ya-'Bout as deep as my blog gets:)

Very apparent that we are all @ different stages in life!

Just what I was thinking...

Until I spotted Bald Eagle overseeing the tilling o' fields, latter of which I saw way more than beautiful flowers on post cards from the area:)
Flying outta my frame like another balding head I know:/

3 blooms to remind me of sons still planted in my life and needing constant care...
no rush to uproot them!

These kind were definitely on their way out too!

Only field on my course that was in full bloom:)

Ventured over to Tulip Town, but wasn't even open yet as you can see
& if it were, wouldn't have spent $5 to go inside?!

Best didn't get any better as road was appropriately named...word itself was part o' inside joke that prob would've "had to be there" in jr high to fully appreciate but just goes to show I can't escape the sentimental nostalgia (redundant?) of my past no matter how hard I try-ugh!
T'is certainly cyclical like the sign!!

This guy was just marinating in a marsh @ the corner...

Oh, there's main attraction finally?! Only problem was I think it would've been more appealing had they placed purple next to yellow:) I'm not the brightest tool in the shed, so took me a while & reminder from my mother that they aren't going to waste when in full bloom since big business comes from harvesting bulbs:)

For the record, right after we drove by these fields we picked up another lady who'd experienced 2 flat tires as well JUST after having her bike serviced (didn't know that was regular deal for avid cyclers), so @ least I wasn't only one?!

I have to say if you are ever up in that area, our lunch was awesome in Anacortes & we'd highly recomm Adrift (also symbolic @ this point in my life) restaurant incl 2, count 'em, 2 cookies, that I fully enjoyed after my hearty lunch jam-packed with flavor!! Prob cancelled out our workout, but hey! We felt like we'd deserved 'em for the exertion of the am?!
Thanks Candice for letting me be along for the ride literally! If you ever decide to switch from banking, you would be an excellent therapist:) Don't worry...I won't give up my day job for writing OR photography?! But certainly welcome release from life if only for a day--Thanks Grandpa Gar & Grandma Neecy for taking care of Cole, Dane & Luke so Mom could escape even if not clearest route. We couldn't get into shower/baths fast enough by time we got home from going straight to Cole's practice in downpour...even prior to late dinner! Loved ending it by falling asleep while watching a movie curled up with my boys!

Huey See, Huey Do!

After Easter egg hunt, it was Luke's idea to grab the older boys' hands on either side of him...How cool is that?




























I don't feel self-righteous posting this 'cuz only managed to get boys to watch one talk from General Conference on Sat c/o Pres. Monson...But I love how intently they are listening to prophet esp as Luke mimics serious pose from his bros. They have taught him some other things that make me cringe or him screech like a Velociraptor, but they all @ least look like they're paying attention here eh? Funny to see him observe for first time how to sit like that & now he copies it all the time.
He will even join 'em when meeting with their baseball teams after practice just to be like the big boys:)

His other deal lately that isn't necess like Cole n Dane (although nice to still have my choice of 3 men to cuddle with these days) is his affinity toward blankies. Might be just toward all comfort obj in general as he adjusts to childcare, but unique feature of his Linus stage is the fact that it's quantity over quality:) He seriously had 5 this am & wanted me to carry him & them out of his crib, immediately downstairs & even wanted to be swaddled in his high chair for breakfast...definitely must-have while watching cartoons with bros too!
If they get a balloon, so does he complete with accompanying static accentuated by his longer hair 'cuz I just can't part with curls--Definitely tries to keep up with 'em on the playground--
Still waiting to record his performance of Nursery songs since doesn't always want to do it when I have camera ready, but here he is showing his latest body part label--
Can't say the youngest in this fam isn't pictured as much as oldest:) More of his latest tricks later when he's in the mood...