Catchin' Up

As we close this school year, we also close another chapter...Baseball and Softball. The past four months have been crazy to say the least. So much so that I am worn out(Matt works 3 or 4 nights week so I am generally on my own running around!). I can't imagine how my kids must feel. Even though it's been chaotic, it's been the BEST kind of chaotic. I used to see moms with multiple kids, in multiple sports, running from here to there and everywhere. I swore long ago, I wasn't going to be that mom.  Too stressful. Too tiring. Just too much all around. Well, I am now that mom. Funny thing is, I can't imagine my life ANY other way. When I'm watching my babies do what they love, I find my happy place. My sense of calm in this demanding world. When I watch them, I'm at peace. A kind of peace I've never known before. True, beautiful, hopelessly overwhelming peace.

This season was Taya's first time not only to play softball on a team, but it was her first time to ever even hit the ball. Her team did awesome. She was on the 6U team(5 & 6 yr olds). Their record...8 wins, 1 tie and 3 losses. They did so well they made it to the End of Season tournament. Out of 11 teams, they came in fifth. After regular season ended, we jumped right into the All-Star tournament(the very next week!). The all-star team is typically made up of the best 11 or 12 players combined from the two teams of that age group. You have to try out to make this team. Our town, however, is so small we only had one 6U team so therefore all our girls "made" the all-star team. They went to the tournament with heart and within the first two games were eliminated. I was sad...Taya was not. She said she will play again next year but for this year she is done(her words, not mine).

 Our lil' catcher!

Cutest thing ever!

The Ladycats

This was Corbin's third year to play baseball and I have to say, probably the funnest for me, as a mom, to watch. With his age of 10, he should have been on the 10U(9 & 10 yr olds) team. However, we signed him up late(whatever, no we didn't) so that team was full so they put him on the 12U team(11 & 12 yr olds). The 12U division had two teams. One team with all fifth graders and one sixth grader(kids he's used to playing with) and the other had all sixth graders, one fifth grader and one forth grader. Guess which Corbin was...that's right, the forth grader. Due to birthdays, some of the boys he was playing with and against were 13 years old! He's only 10! He just turned 10! After my shock wore off, I asked Corbin if he still wanted to play and he said yes.He(and myself) are used to him being a starter and truly one of the best players on the team. This season due to the age and experience of his other teammates, he sat the bench a bit and didn't get as many hits(when he normally hits anything and everything).  I have since asked him if he is glad he did that or would he have rather not played at all. He said he's glad he played because it all only made him a better player. Yes, that's my boy. Mr. Humble.

His team did so well(11 wins and 2 losses) that they also made it to the End of Season tournament. This was a BLAST! They kicked butt. He had a tournament game last Wednesday night, Friday night, Saturday night and two Monday night(Double header). They won four of those five games and made it to the CHAMPIONSHIP! They played the championship game last night(Tuesday) and lost 3-0. They played a hard, rough game and did their best. They came in second place overall! That's a pretty wonderful accomplishment!

 Watching the other team get their Championship shirts.

Tomcat team picture

 Our Champion

Corbin and head coach, Brian

Love him to bits!

Love them both to the moon and back!

Corbin getting his shirt

Now that regular season is over, we move into All-Star time with Corbin. Due to his age, he couldn't try out and be on the 12U all-star team, so fortunately, the coach for the 10U team was kind enough to take a look at Corbin and see if he felt he was good enough to join his all-star team. Of course he was and now is back playing with kids his own age. At practice tonight, I can really tell how much him being on an older team helped him. He is way ahead of the boys he is now playing with and against. He also got to try out for pitcher and made it with flying colors. It's safe to say he's on cloud nine.

In more Ramey family news, Ethan has joined the school band and has decided to be a percussionist(drum line and such). He recently had his spring concert and I couldn't be more proud. During the concert he played the symbols and did awesome, if I do say so myself(I have video of the performance on my phone but my computer apparently doesn't like it). 

Well friends and family, that about sums it up. Our life the past few months in a nutshell.

We now get ready to dive into summer...full speed ahead.

From The Mouth Of Corbin

Corbin, Corbin, Corbin. My class clown. My funny man. My humorous child.

Just yesterday, Corbin struck again.

He and Ethan went to local convenience store to get themselves a treat. Later that evening Corbin and I were making the beds and he very excitedly tells me "I got a two for one deal on Chex Mix! Cheese and Hot N Spicy!"

I think my savvy, money saving attempts are paying off.

Then, same night, bedtime. I'm tucking him into bed and notice what I think are crusted boogers on his bed sheet. Nice. I asked why he wiped his boogies on the sheet and he replies with "What? It's snot from when I A-CHOOOOED(a-chewed)!"

Note to self: It is no longer called sneezing. It's called A-CHOOOOING!

I LOVE this kid. To the moon and back. Endlessly.

Party Time

Recently, Ethan turned 12.

In previous years we've always done "family" parties but this year we decided all our kids are past that. We want to make their birthdays all about their friends. The kids they see everyday. The kids they share secrets and chatter with. This year for Ethan's birthday he wanted a sleepover with his friends. I didn't hesitate and immediately agreed. Agreed before I remembered Matt works every Saturday night. It was too late. I couldn't take it back and disappoint him so I forged on :-/

Morning of the party

On our way to get party decor

She dressed herself and did her own hair

He invited four friends. Logan, Bryce, Pacen and Blake. I had 24 HOURS with all these boys...What was I thinking?

It turns out our house is the "cool" place to be and I often times feel like I'm running a childcare center. My point? Taya had two of her neighbor friends come to play, too. For most of the afternoon and evening I had nine kids in my care. Alone.

We met all the kids at the school playground. My hope was that the playground would wear them all out and my night would be more calm. NOT!

All the kids, minus one

After the park we headed home for some basketball, bike riding and dodge ball. We then did the pinata. That all happened so fast and the poor thing busted open so fast I was unable to snag any pictures of that event. 

That night, the girls went home and it was just Taya, me and six boys. My house smelt lovely. The smell of dirty, sweaty boys is awesome.

We had pizza, cake and ice cream and they all settled in to play Wii and PS2 and watch movies.

 Ethan, Blake and Logan

 Taya, Corbin and Bryce

Pacen

While the boys did their thing, Taya and I did puzzles.

Finally, about 1:30-2AM they all crashed.

Sunday brought a day of fun. We headed to Frisco. We stopped at Stake -N- Shake and grabbed some lunch.

Birthday Boy!

After lunch we headed to Main Event in Frisco(Matt met us there!)! They all had a blast playing arcade games(what kid doesn't love that) and getting prizes. They played mini golf and laser tag but the coolest of all was the Gravity Ropes course. So cool.

Finally, it was twenty four hours later and time to take all the boys home! As crazy as it was, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat to see Ethan so happy. He told me thank you over and over and said it was the best birthday ever :-) Be still my heart.

Happy birthday, kiddo. You deserved it!

My Pre-Teen

It's hard to believe another year of childhood has gone by. Hard to believe in one short year my first born will be a teenager.

When I think back on the past twelve years I'm amazed with the life I have. The husband that makes me whole. The children that make me complete.

I've learned(with the help of my "crazy" pills) to relax more and treasure the "ordinary" days. The ordinary moments. The uneventful days that start off with cinnamon rolls for breakfast and end with story time and prayers after dark. The jam-packed days filled with school, homework and numerous sports activities. And everyday in between.

I've learned that no matter what I'm doing or how busy I think I am,  if a hug needs to be given, or even be gotten, to stop and relish in the moment. I've learned that pretty soon my eldest will rather be with his friends than me. That the time of embarrassing him just being in his presence is looming near.

But most of all, I've learned that no matter how hard I try, I can't keep my son a baby, a child forever. He is going to grow. He is going to change. He is going to become his own individual person.

Ethan is spunky. Witty. Determined. He is hard headed, stubborn and independent. He's a complete combination of both Matt and I. He's big brother to two. An inspiration to many.

He was the first to call me mom. The first to call me mean. The first to say "I love you". The first to say "I hate you". The first to melt my heart. The first to break it. The first to totally consume me with more love than I ever knew possible. That will always be true and will never change. He was the first to completely steal my heart. Every time I look into those big brown eyes I see the cutest baby boy ever, I see the handsome young man he is becoming.

It amazes me that we have hit the pre-teen years and next year he will be all teenager.

I see a future full of hope, desire and love. I look forward to what will be.

He is and will always be my baby boy. He will always be my heart and soul.

Happy birthday, Ethan. You and your love make my life complete.

Tot Plays Ball

As if my kids weren't growing up fast enough, we have hit yet another milestone. Taya is playing softball! I swear, I have never seen a cuter little girl all decked out in her uniform, With her hot pink cleats, hot pink helmet, hot pink softball glove, pink batting gloves and pink bat. She melts my heart.

Last night was her first game...and she did GREAT! She got an hard, awesome hit her first time up to bat. Too bad the other player tagged her on the way to first base and she was out :( Didn't bother her though. She was all smiles walking back to the dugout. 

She had blue lips from her ring pop!

The team did great and they won 8-7. Her second game is tomorrow night. Can't wait!