in full swing

Another season of baseball is underway.

Harrison has moved up to AAA/Kid Pitch Division and whoa boy, kid pitch is certainly interesting (and slow. so, so slow).  Every time Harrison is at bat I hold my breath hoping he doesn't get hit with the ball. 

His main position this year is first base, and he is seeing a lot of action and doing an awesome job!

Sawyer is on Minor B/Coach Pitch, and the games are similarly slow moving - but you are less likely to get pegged with a pitch ;)

Sawyer is an intense little player.  And it seems appropriate that he is on the "Scrappers" team this year.

Another Scrappy-Doo - Graham.  He keeps the fans entertained.

I know he already can't wait to be old enough to play.  I'm trying not to imagine practices/games/snack stand duty/picture day X 3.  Daunting.

the longest soccer season ever

We had so much rain in the month of October that rescheduled games had to be rescheduled. And when it finally stopped raining? It snowed.

The boys finally had their tournament on Saturday to close out the season. Thank goodness, because it would have been tricky to play in parkas.

Sawyer played on Minor B, Team England. He scored many goals this season and definitely improved his game from last year. He also really loved playing goalie.


Harrison played Minor A, Team Italy. His position this year was defense and he was dubbed "The Oak Tree" by his teammates. He was much more competitive this year and did an awesome job protecting the goal.



Next up...basketball.

Turning 9 on 9/9

We weren't going to have a big birthday party this year, instead Harrison was going to invite just a couple of close friends to go minature golfing. After considering the scorching heat and the idea of a group of boys armed with iron clubs (especially the birthday boys younger brother!)...we decided to spring for a party afterall....

Nothing is easier then a bowling party. At Happy Tymes you bowl, have lunch and cake and then receive tokens for the arcade games. Perfect.





Harrison is a great big brother and he can't wait for his little sister to arrive
His favorite thing to do is play Legos
He plays baketball, baseball and soccer
His feet are as big as mine
He enjoys playing the Wii, on the computer, and Angry Birds on my phone
His favorite food is a hamburger
He is big on hand washing - his and yours
He likes to spy on people
He watches reality tv with me (everything except the Real Housewives!)
If you ask him to play a game he wants it to be Monopoly
He is great at saving his money
He has no idea what he wants to be for Halloween...9 is definitely an "in between" age
I'll take more little boy and less tween
Happy Birthday Harrison!!! We love you!!!

1+1

Yes, I'm sad to see them growing up...but I have to confess that after a summer of non-stop fighting, I couldn't wait to ship these two off to school.

Sawyer was very excited about starting Kindergarten. I'd be even more excited myself if the class time was longer then 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Harrison is pretty reluctant when it comes to school, but he was excited to meet his new teacher and hopeful that she'd be nice enough not to give them homework on the first day.

I love that my guys will now pass each other in the hallways!

Since our district doesn't bus for Kindergarten, I had the perfect opportunity to walk Sawyer in and snap a picture with his incredibly sweet teacher. You know the type - she's been there forever and everyone loves her.

And it wouldn't be the first day of school without the pencil cake!

Here's to a great school year ahead!!!

writer's celebration

Harrison took this years Writer's Celebration very seriously....if only he felt the same way about his spelling!

I'm stealing this great idea from Andrea and sharing some exceprts from Harrison's school journals this year.

Easter!
Easter is onle 5 days away. We have bin filling eggs up for the easter egg hunt. The big pris is ten dolers. I have one 2 times in a row. My nana hides the eggs in her backyard but thar esey to find. I wish she would hide them more hard. For lunch we are having spagety. I forgot to teal you that my nana is atalein.

The New Baby Sister
My mom is having a baby sister. She is stil in my mom's stumick. She is aposto come out in October. I askt if the baby floddered yet?

The Basement
After a few weeks of beging my mom and dad we finale got them to buy the basemint. It takes a vary, vary, vary long time to finish the basemint. A few weeks later a guy came with this very smelly paste to cover the wall and sell the leaks.

Longwood Gardens
A few days ago my famile went to long wode gardin. It was awsom. My mom took tawns of pikshers. After my brother finale cowoperided we got a chrismis picsher.

The atake of Sawyer
One day me and Jake K. went to my house. We had an epic batle. My bruther was chucing stuff at our faces. We had to run. He was going to kill us. We tried hiding. We tried saprising him. Finaly we just let him win but it was fun.

...I am siting at my desk. I can not think about anything to write about. I still can't think of anything. Ok I can still not think of anything....

brothers & baseball

Harrison & Sawyer played for different divisions this year, but both were on the Orem Owlz team for their age set. Sawyer thought this was awesome! Harrison thought it was completely unfair. I just thought "I hope I don't mix their shirts up like I did for soccer"

Sawyer abandoned the tee early in the season and had some great hits this year. He loved sliding to every base...including first...you might be impressed that even I know you are supposed to "run through" first base! I also had to teach him that just because a little boy tags you on base, you aren't actually out unless he has the ball - it's such a technical sport ;)

Harrison did great with the pitching machine this year and really stepped it up in his fielding! We've heard a lot of comments about his strong throwing arm, so maybe we have a pitcher in our future? His favorite position of the season was first base. He played on a team with lots of friends this year and the boys were undefeated - whoohoo!!! Or as us Owlz mom's liked to cheer "HOOT! HOOT!"

Things I've Learned this September

1. Don't get all excited when you sign your son up for lacrosse and it only costs you $20. Once you shop for the stick, helmet and gloves you probably won't even have $20 left in your bank account to cover the registration fee.

2. Even if you put your email address on the invitations, no one will RSVP for your parties.

3. The Phillies are having a good season (school spirit days clue me in).

4. If you start a 400 page book the day before Book Club it's going to be a stretch to finish.

5. No one wants to be a robot or root beer for Halloween, no matter how much you beg.

let them eat cake!

Harrison's laser tag birthday party was on Saturday.

My friend Laura made the cake, and it puts my pencil to shame! We were very impressed with her creation!

Hiring out birthday parties is the way to go! All I had to do was show up. My one effort of the day were the party favors, and even they were the easiest things ever.

Harrison's friends know him well - he received mostly Lego sets and Nerf guns for his birthday - he was thrilled!

Today we headed to Grandmom and Grandpops for more celebrating! Harrison received a Spy Gear Lie Detector Kit which he's been using for no good.

H - Mom, did you buy anything else on the credit card this month?
Me - Ermmm, no.

Lie Detector Kit - BUSTED!!!

Grandmom made a very special cake for the birthday boy too.

It's a big job being the oldest. We love you, Harrison!

GR8

Get it?!

Happy 8th Birthday Harrison!

The schools in our district have off today for Rosh Hashana, so Harrison brought in his birthday treat yesterday. I was happy to check out his classroom and meet his super sweet teacher.


This morning Harrison read clues and went on a hunt for his hidden birthday presents - among the loot were two DS Games, Lego Miners sets and Star Wars Trouble.

I told the boys I wanted to get a nice picture of them together...

When I asked Harrison what was the best thing that happened when he was 7, he was quick to answer "Having Graham" which seriously melted my heart into a gigantic puddle of mush. His goal for 8 is to learn to write in cursive.

We were supposed to head to an Adventure Farm in Lancaster today, but last night we checked the online calendar to see what time they opened, only to find out they were actually closed. We scrambled to think of a fun alternative and ended up at Dave and Buster's instead. I don't think Harrison was too disappointed ;)

We love you birthday boy! I know I say it every year - but thanks for making me a mom, it's the best gift ever!

second grader

Harrison was eager to leave for the bus stop on the first day of second grade, despite his many protests the night before (do I haaaaaave to go back to school tomorrow?)

He packed a peanut butter sandwich, cheese string, nectarine, pretzels and water bottle for lunch. I decided it was completely acceptable to include a post-it note with my well wishes, but respectfully left off any XO's or hearts.

This year our neighbor made the switch from private kindergarten, to attend first grade at the same public school as Harrison. He was more then happy to take her under his wing and help her find her classroom. Sawyer was happy to have her little brother to pal around with while they waited for the bus. Notice Sawyer's Paper Jamz guitar - he really made it feel like a block party ;)

We have the same sweet bus driver from last year.

And the same cake, too. I iced this with Graham on my hip, don't judge.

In the spirit of back-to-school, I am giving myself a homework assignment. Catch up on this blog! We had such a busy August - and September is already filling up, I can't get any further behind, so look for updates soon!