It's That Time of Year AGAIN!

BASEBALL

Opening day.

I spent the whole day at the park.

The kids had fun.

This will be the only picture of a clean uniform.

At least my daughter is excited.

She is the one with her hands up in celebration.

Mr. M. was supposed to be there.

He is their coach.

He had to work out of town.

My oldest was there is support only as you can see!

I was able to get him to wear his team hat but not the uniform.

He had his first game on Monday.

The little guy still gets a little bored in outfield.

I caught him dancing again.

The two pizza shop sponsors played against each other.

I didn't ask who won, they may ask whose pizza I like better.

My daughter dressed in style.

PLAY BALL!

A Day in the Field

Baseball.

I spent the day watching two of my kids play baseball.

Each of them is amusing to watch in their own way.

This is my youngest caught in the act of dancing in the field.

You may not notice, but his hat is inside out.

In this picture he is doing exactly what his coach told him to.

Get dirty.

 Slide.

Only he was a tad too short on his slide to first base.

BUT, he did listen to his coach!

He enjoys the game and makes you laugh.

My daughter in concentration.

She is fun to watch because she has a passion for the game.

My little girl was recruited to 11U this year.

She makes us all proud.

I caught her in the act of leading off each time the pitcher threw the ball.

She pays attention.

Watching the girls pay softball is much different than the boys.

They celebrate each other and the team.

They celebrate the game.

My oldest was around, here and there, playing with his friends.

He plays on different days.

I enjoy that he is becoming more responsible.

He is growing up.

I did get some pictures of him at bat from this weeks game.

Now that the game has kid pitching, it makes it is harder to hit the ball.

In fact they tend to not even swing in fear of getting out.

I told him to swing anyway.

You would rather get out because you tried, than for just letting the ball go by.

He enjoys the game, but I think it is time with his father he enjoys more.

Whether Mr. M. is coaching his own team or assisting the other kid's coaches.

This guy is always on the field.

This is the most important part. 

Sometimes even he gets to play ball!

So far he has only played once this year.

His time for playing will come again at the end of summer.

After the kids play.

Such a great dad!

Crazy Socks

My daughter loves to wear crazy socks.

The brighter and funkier the better.

This is an average daily outfit.

I love her individuality!

As long as she feels comfortable in her mixed up outfits then I am all for it.

It is hard enough in life without having to worry about what others think of you.

A disclaimer, the kitchen that looks like a cyclone hit it.

Yeah, that is what it looks like when I get home from work everyday. 

She fits right in with her crazy sock wearing baseball team!

Do you let your kids wear their own style or do you choose?

I have to tell you though, I told my oldest son if I ever catch him with his pants below his butt.

I will pants you!

I hate that look!

When I Grow Up

Do you remember when you were a kid and everyone asked

"what do you want to be when you grow up?"

I think I know.

I want to be a gardener.

A few pictures from Arbor House Lane Gardens.

I love flowers, planting, weeding, pruning.

I thought I was going to go simple this year due to a full schedule of BASEBALL.

Ah baseball.

If you are new to my blog then you might not know I have a hate love/hate hate relationship with the sport.

I do enjoy watching my children play, especially my daughter, she has an enthusiasm for the game that her brothers do not have.

I just am not enjoying being at the baseball fields 5 days a week.

I am a gardener.

I putter in my gardens.

I weed.

I plant.

I prune. 

I do not do BASEBALL!

Anyway, as I said I thought I was going to do easy this year due to lack of availability in my gardens.

NOPE!

I have already planted six pink fairy shrub rose bushes and I have about six more to plant.

I am also in the process of designing a new garden to work towards future pool privacy.

AND

I am hoping to talk Mr. M. into letting me turn our vegetable garden into a potager garden,
 otherwise known as a kitchen garden.

If you thought I have no time to garden, why on earth does Mr. M. think he has time to garden?

He is coach for one of my son's baseball teams and a coach helper for my other son's team.

So, my plan is to use this to my advantage and mix my flowers and his vegetables in one garden.

Picture found here.

Picture found here.

Both of these pictures are great gardens.

I love the second picture for all the different heights but I think there may be too formal and too much shade for a vegetable garden.  

The fun thing about gardening is that you can always be creative with colors and styles,
within your zone of course.

How about you?
Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?

Have a wonderful weekend.
It is going to be a beautiful day to garden and get our pool ready, summer is on it's way!

A New Way to Read

I was excited to get home from work yesterday.

There was a package waiting for me.

 A Kindle Fire

A new way to read in bed.

Or anywhere I want.

While the kids were at bible camp, Mr. M. and I played with my new toy.

You would think that Mr. M., being the computer guy and all would have all the latest tech toys.

Nope.

We don't even own a cell phone, the one he has is for work.

I am hoping to find a neat case like this one here.

And a pretty shell like this.

I kind of figured that since I am not going to escape baseball anytime soon in the next 10-15 years, 

I might as well enjoy myself while I am there.

Saturday is the LAST DAY OF BASEBALL.

It is an all day event.

Mr. M. finally gets to play instead of coaching.

The tournament starts at 9:00 and he has a chance of playing 5 games, all in one day.

So, happy me has loaded lots of books, magazines and games to occupy myself.

I may let the kids play a game or two.

How about you?

Are you a Kindle or Nook reader?

Does anyone have any books they would like to recommend to add to my reading list?

Summer Mantel

I had not changed my mantel since Spring.

 I guess it was in need of a little change.

A simple mantel.

More beach shells.

I am not quite done, I am thinking maybe some hydrangeas instead of the orchid. 

Oh my, a little more blue.

I found three of these frames and I just love the look of the faded worn blue edge.

A picture of my daughter and youngest son playing together on Long Beach in Canada.

Don't you just love the vintage blue mason jar filled to the top with buttons.

Buttons, buttons, you can never have too many.

A little ironstone pitcher.

To me they are the perfect accessory, they look great anywhere.

Here is the urn that matches the one in the previous post.

I will eventually fill it with sea shells also, but for now.

Baseball is life.

Thanks for visiting.

I am joining The Lettered Cottage for a Summer Mantel Party.

A Loved Father

Father's Day

We took my husband to a neighboring fire company for father's day breakfast.

Then the rest of the day was his to do as he pleased.

We did some swimming and per his choice, he did some yard work.

A dad's job is never done.

He did get to relax and watch some movies with the kids too.

Mr. M. really is the #1 dad.

I set the table for Dad's dinner.

I have been collecting baseballs and gloves whenever I see them cheap at a garage sale or thrift shop.

The baseball theme.

Mr. M is coach for my oldest son's team and he is assistant coach for my youngest son's team.

He also helps out with my daughter's baseball team.

Yep, lots of baseball in this family.

I found some cheap ties at Sally for decoration.

During dinner we were all given a demonstration on how to tie a tie.

Did you notice the black chairs?

This is what they look like under the slipcovers.

The just love their dad so!

I hope everyone had a wonderful father's day too.

Let's Play Ball

I thought I would share some photos of the kids from their baseball games today.

Mr. M. always enjoys a post while he is out of town working.

I caught the little guy in the act of dancing while standing on 2nd base.

At least he wasn't one of the three sitting on the ground playing in the dirt,

or running around trying to catch each other in the outfield.

I know there were a few testing Coach's patience for sure.

In fact, I know that the coach was surely missing his assistant coach.

That's my girl sporting her pink and reds.

Don't you just love the socks. 

Even in the rain they played a good game.

The coach even said he was proud of the team for not complaining about it raining during the game.

And my oldest son being a great helper.

Even though he wasn't playing, he helped his sister's coach by being back up catcher.

Dad should be proud, he is doing really good with his throwing.

I guess he has had a great coach for baseball!

I may have to eat my words because actually baseball is not too bad this year.

In small doses of course. 

Mr. M. your baseball players miss you!

ME TOO!

I'm Late, I'm Late

I must say that many times I find myself saying that.

So many wonderful link parties that I have missed or I am so dang late for I feel frazzled.

I am still trying to become that organized person that I need to be to juggle all of the different jobs I have as MOM, WIFE, SISTER, CREDIT UNION TELLER, DOMESTIC CLEANER, FOOD PREPARATION SPECIALIST, PERSONAL SHOPPER, FURNITURE MOVER, DESIGNER, TEACHER, CHAUFFEUR, NURSE, HANDY MAN AND NOW...............

BASEBALL FANATIC.

Those of you who know me, 

know that from Spring til the end of Summer, 

I spend several days a week at baseball.

If you don't know me yet, let me tell you a secrete. 

I HATE BASEBALL!

Oh and a wonderful thing happened this year. (HEAVY SARCASM)

Baseball went from 3 days a week to 4 days, SHOOT ME NOW.

I know right now, my girl Sara read this and is saying "poor Alaina."

Anyway, enough about sports, back to my missed parties.

I know I am not an organized person, I'm creative, artistic but NOT ORGANIZED!

So, I am almost done trying to be organized, only a few more rooms to clean out and I will

revert back to my creative side.

Now, that doesn't mean I have been uncreative, oh no, just that I have not had the time to share it with you.

Oh, I have been painting, sewing and gardening.

I wanted to join Nesting Place for her Plant Party yesterday, I am just a little late though.
But, guess who decided to play with her blog Sunday night?
ME!
Oh yeah, and now I can't find my blog list.
So if you were a regular on my sidebar and you don't see your name, let me know and I will add you back to my list.

See this wonderful green and white combination.

The little sister and I went plant shopping.

We didn't get much because SNOW was expected this week.

More plants just waiting to be potted up.

Don't you just love my new garden urn, gotta love TJMaxx. 

These beauties were on sale at Home Depot, an after Easter sale that I gladly took several off their hands.

I love white hydrangeas, I am hoping to re-pot these in my large planters for the deck this year.

Isn't he a cutie, some kind of succulent.

Who says you can't bring the outdoor plants in.

This is Irish moss.

My little corner in the office gets lots of sunlight and a perfect place for plants.

I have a few more posts started so that I can join more fun parties, I can update you with my basement progress,  and share some new treasures with you.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by, make sure to visit the Nester too.