5

Rilyn turned 5 this week!

I can't believe that she's already 5! Where did the time go?? She woke up bright and early as usual (most mornings the kids are up by 5:30) and I made her wait upstairs while I went downstairs to turn on all the cameras. She got to come down and open her presents before breakfast (don't mind the jammies or lack there of. Its gotten a little to hot for clothes lately and she grew out of all of her old warm weather jammies) and she got lots of fun things and lots of birthday money (thank goodness because we were hoping to not add to our enormous toy collection).

She had a very special number 5 pancake for breakfast and then it was off to school.

Since her birthday was during the week this year she got to take cupcakes to her class at school. She loved that. She came home with a birthday crown and a big smile for being the star of the day. That night she had a softball game and she took cupcakes to her team for after the game and they sang her Happy Birthday.

She also was the lucky girl that got to hit the "Grand Slam" at the end of the game and run all the bases and bring in all the other girls on base ( Rilyn's Grand Slam). What a way to end the night. The next day Cody got to be home with us all day and Rilyn didn't have school so we had a McDonalds picnic at the park and played.

That night was her birthday party and we had so much fun with our friends. Of course I spaced and didn't take pictures (Bad Mommy!) except for her cake which was actually cupcakes. She wanted a cupcake party so we had lots and lots of cupcakes.

I think all in all I ended up make 4 boxes of cupcakes (or about 8 dozen). I'm all cupcaked out for a while I think.

Can't let this post go by without telling you about Rilyn's little stinker of a brother. He has always been busy but always a good listener and he didn't destroy too much well I guess that is changing because hes almost to the terrible 2s. He played photographer at one of Rilyn's games this week and got a picture of himself as well as about 20 others of the sky, grass, and random blurs that I deleted.

Hes also decided that drawing with chalk is fun which is fine until he decided to use it on my walls in the house! Its happened twice this week (don't worry the chalk has found a new, much higher hiding spot). The second time I made him clean it himself to learn a lesson.

Not sure if he got the message but heres hoping. And heres hoping that this is the worst I have to face from him for now!

Most Improved

This week in softball Rilyn's coach said she was the most improved hitter. We've been making her practice everyday. Her hitting is what needed the most work. I am happy to say that she is AWESOME!

At her game on Friday she hit the first ball that was pitched and first time at bat and the third ball pitched her second at bat. AMAZING!! She also had an awesome cheering squad (Ashlee, Cassidy, and Mike came to the game) so she was pretty much in heaven. She told us after the game that we still weren't loud enough and that we need to invite more of her friends to come watch so more people will cheer for her. High maintenance much?

Oh and this week I picked up one of Rilyn's birthday presents a little early because they seem to be in high demand and I didn't want it to come to the night before her birthday and I'm driving all over town trying to find it. Anyways, I thought I hid it well. She walked by it about 10 times before it actually caught her eye. So needless to say she got her birthday present, her new Beta fish, Twofer, a week early.

I have to share the conversation we had when she found the fish and then the discussion about her birthday after:
Rilyn: Mom why is there a fish in your basement?
Mom: What fish?
Rilyn: Mom there is a fish right there. Why is it in your basement?
Mom: I have no clue what your talking about!
Rilyn: Mom Whose fish is that?
Mom: I dunno. Go ask Dad if he knows anything about it (I should also note that Cody had no clue the fish was in the basement)
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Rilyn goes up stairs to ask Dad about the fish in the basement and he really is clueless so Rilyn's really getting bugged by us not knowing anything.
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Mom brings fish out of basement and turns on the video camera for the next conversation.
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Mom: Ok fine Rilyn its your fish but its supposed to be for your birthday. I told you not to go in the basement.
Rilyn: I know but I sneaked down there anyways.
Mom: Are you going to be sad on your birthday when you wake up and you don't have any presents because you already found it?
Rilyn: No. I'll be ok. Are you sure there are no other presents?
Mom: Yes. That was your present (my fingers may be been crossed)
Rilyn: Oh. Yeah I'll be ok.
Mom: Ok. Well if you change your mind I'm showing you this video to remind you that you said you would be fine.

Mother's Day

I love being a mom! I love my kids! I love getting to spend all day with them. They are so wonderful.

The best part of having my wonderful kids is that on Mother's Day I get presents (Ok so maybe it's not the best part but it is definately a perk). Even better than that is now that I have a kid in school I don't have to go get my own Mother's Day present! Rilyn's preschool class did a Mother's Day tea for all the mom's and it was so cute. The kids all dressed up in "tea time" clothes and sang songs and said poems (I only have a picture of the girls in her class from after their performance. I was too busy holding Casen and videotaping to get pictures too. I need more hands!).

We each sat in our childs chair where we recieved flowers and a placemat with questions the kids answered about us (mine was awesome! Rilyn thinks I'm 12, that I look prettiest when we go see daddy, she loves when I make chocolate chip cookies, she says I always say I love her, and that I'm funny when I make silly faces. The best part was listening to the moms around me. None of them were under 40 on the age question and one of them always says to "go clean your room".), they made us cute little boxes that said I love you inside and there was a picture of us with our kid in a cute frame that says I love mom.

Seriously, BEST Mother's Day ever!! Casen loved watching his sissy and then eatting ice cream and cookies after. It was a great day for everyone. On actual Mother's Day, Cody got me a very nice card and some of my favorite candy. It was great. I love being a mom. I love looking at the two beautiful, funny, smart, loving children that I have every day. They make me smile all the time. Life can't get any better!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Well this week was the official start to t-ball for us. Rilyn had her first game on Tuesday and she did so amazing!

I was so proud. She was chasing after balls and diving in front of balls.

She had some great hits too.

She was a natural ball player. Casen loves cheering on Sissy, as long as he has lots of snacks.

Her second game was on Thursday and that one she started out strong but had a small collision while playing short stop that kind of scared her. She was playing short stop and the girl on second started for third base and they collided and bounced off each other. Poor Rilyn I think was more embarrassed than anything else. She toughed it out though and played the rest of the game.

There may have been some daisy picking going on while she was in outfield so I guess she has some of my ball playing skills too (My dad told me that after coaching 1 season of my softball that he couldn't do it again because all the daisy picking drove him crazy, I guess boys don't do that kind of stuff). During the 2nd inning the coaches try pitching the balls to the kids rather than using the tees and Rilyn got a great hit!

I was so proud. I think the funniest part had to be during her teams last at bats. She was on third when the last batter came up and since its t-ball the last batter gets to run all the bases, anyways, the batter hit the ball and Rilyn casually strolled from third to home plate while the rest of us stood back yelling "RUN". I guess we'll have to work on that. I'm excited to see how she improves this season. She's really a natural and we're so proud of her! GO RILYN!