Milestones

Well, this makes my 200th post!! What a milestone (no, not really just a good lead-in to this post). We reached a milestone last night at our house. I know Wooten is 13 (14 in November). I know that his voice has changed (I am reminded every time I ask him a question and a man's voice answers).

But, last night takes the cake. I do not know what part of reality stung the most. The fact that he told me that his favorite actor in "Transformers" is Megan Fox. From the picture below (which I might add was one of the more family friendly pictures I could find of her) you can tell her acting talents are probably not what appeals to him. Yikes!!
Then there's the other part of reality. The fact that my telephone rang at 11:45 last night. I did not answer, but caller ID revealed that the caller was a young lady calling to speak to my boy. Again, YIKES!!!

Now there is the question the man voice asks, "Mom, do I call her back even though she didn't leave a message?" Do I respond as a Mom ("No, you don't call her back she called at almost 12 o'clock at night") or as a former young lady ("I'm sure it would make her day to receive that call")?

In reality, the time of the call really does not bother me. It's just the fact that she is calling at all. But, who can blame her - what a catch he is!?!?

More baseball

Below the pictures are two videos. One of my nephew, Josh from last night's game; the other is of Christian's home run June 12th.

Here are some pictures from Christian's last game of the spring season.
[Back row left to right: Tom, PaPa (Tom's dad, Bill), Nana (my mama), Mr. Bobby (Mama's friend), Mimi (my grandmother), Uncle Brad (my baby brother), Wooten

Front row: cousin Jacob, Anna Gracen & Christian]

Tired Christian and my nephew, Jacob.

We went out to watch our nephew Josh's baseball game last night. The Rockies are playing in the Minor League playoffs. They won 6-5. Josh batted in the winning run!! Way to go, Joshua!!! Here it is:

Christian finished up his spring baseball season June 12th. He hit a home run to start the game.

It takes forever to upload videos. I'll post some more from this game later. Christian had 2 triples and 4 RBI's this game. I also caught the out he made on 1st base on video. The Nationals won 17-11. They finished the season with 6 wins; 2 losses and 1 tied game. Looking forward to fall ball!!!

Shirley Goodnest & Marcy

Another cute e-mail I received. Be blessed!!!

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school.
He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us?'
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you,and give you peace. May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.
I know you smiled! I sure did, Pass this on and brighten someone's day!

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy 5th Birthday to Little Miss Sydney Bennett!!!

We love you!!!!

HOME RUNS & Life lessons

Last night's game was great!! Christian hit his first HOME RUN!!

The Nationals were up to bat first. Christian was the first batter. He had some great swings, but did not make contact with the pitches from the pitching machine. Out comes the tee. He swings, the ball flies out to center field. He runs to first, second (there is scrambling in the outfield), third and then HOME. The next two Nationals, Ethan and Chase, hit great singles. Then comes NySheed with a HOME RUN. Nationals are up 4 runs. Kyler comes up to bat and hits - you guessed it a HOME RUN. 5 minutes into the game and they already had 5 runs.

The Orioles scored their 5 runs. Christian got two outs at 1st base. The Nationals score 5 more runs the next inning. Orioles are up to bat. Christian made two more outs at 1st and Oakley made an out at home - stopping the Orioles at only 3 runs that inning. 10 to 8

Top of the 3rd - Christian makes a powerful hit to center field. The center fielder did a great job of stopping the ball. Christian gets a single. Ethan and Chase continue with powerful singles. Bases loaded - NySheed comes up to bat. He hits a grand slam past the center fielder! Bases are loaded once again - Jacob knocks a single bringing in the 5th run of the inning.

Orioles come up to finish up the inning and the game. Christian makes an out at 1st. 1 run is scored. McRae makes an out at 2nd. Christian makes the last out at 1st. (6 outs for the game). Nationals win 15-9.

The back story to NySheed's grand slam is so sweet. One of the Nationals got out at 1st in the 2nd inning. He made a fantastic hit, but the first baseman made a great catch. NySheed was sitting in the dugout and saw this. He said, "When I'm up to bat next I'm going to hit a home run for Carson." When NySheed finished rounding those bases and came back to the dugout, he wore the biggest smile. He looked at Carson, pointed and said, "That was for you, Carson." Not only are these boys learning how to play baseball, they are learning how to be a team - how to reach out to others (life lessons).

I have seen several instances like this on the baseball field this season. I have seen players go up to check on a teammate that is having a "moment" in the field (they are 5 and 6-yr. olds and they have moments). Last week Christian was having such a moment before the game. The encouragement he received from his fellow teammates and coaching staff was awesome! He went right out there and did his best.

I have so enjoyed watching Christian and the Nationals play baseball. Watching them interact with each other on and off the field has been priceless! Those are the things that will stick with them.

Weekend Getaway

Tom and I had a weekend getaway this past weekend. It was the first time we have left the kids for more than one night. Usually when we go on trips it is as a family. Tom was off of work, we had a place to stay, so I thought a beach getaway would be GREAT! It was!


After dropping the kids off at MeMa & PaPa's house, we headed to the OBX (North Carolina Outer Banks). Growing up we always went to Emerald Isle/Morehead/Atlantic Beach. Last year was our first visit to OBX and we loved it.


My dad and stepmother have a condo in Manteo. Before heading there we decided to check out the Dare Day Festival. We had a wonderful lunch from Tom Thumb's Cookout. For someone who claims not to like seafood - I sure did eat a lot of it this weekend. Here is my soft shell crab basket (soft shell crab on bun, fries, hush puppies) from Tom Thumb's. They batter and fry the whole crab. Because it is soft shell you can eat the entire thing - legs and all. You should have seen the little girl that was sitting across from me. Her eyes were as big as saucers as she watched me eat the crab legs. I had to look away so I wouldn't laugh. Tom enjoyed a shrimp basket (shrimp, fries, hush puppies).


Saturday night, my dad and stepmother, Tom and I ate at Kelly's. (I can not say thank you enough Jennifer for this recommendation!!!) I did not order the Smoky Fillet Oscar that Jennifer did (even though it sounded tempting. Didn't think I could handle the cheese sauce). I ordered one of the specials: Blackened Tuna with grilled shrimp drizzled with a wasabi/soy sauce served over a bed of rice and green beans. Delicious!!!! Not to mention the homemade sweet potato biscuits and other rolls that filled the bread basket. Kelly's has a birthday club that you can join. You receive a coupon to use towards your dinner. (I'm all about a coupon!!) Then we went to the movies to see the new "Night at the Museum" movie.

Sunday morning we attended Nags Head Church. What a blessing!! Check out the links on their website for podcasts, Pastor Rick's blog, teaching series and The Milepost 13 band. The Milepost 13 band is led by Nate Lawrenson (Confessions of a CF husband). Tom and I got the chance to say hello to Nate, Tricia and Gwyneth Rose. If you haven't checked out their blog - take the time to do so- you will be blessed.

We headed over to Grits Grill for lunch. Jennifer said they served large portions. Tom's omelet was HUGE! I stuck with the seafood theme I was on and ordered a crab cake sandwich. Yummy!!

We visited Jockey's Ridge. One of my favorite places. I wanted to get some good sunset pictures. Tom turned down some random road at just the right time. Check them out in the slide show.

We used a coupon Sunday night at Rita's,. They have a birthday club, also - buy one get one free. Tom and I ordered the cream ice. He had cookies and cream which tasted like snow cream. I had the fudge brownie. Very yummy. It was interesting seeing what other people were ordering. The most disgusting I saw was blue raspberry Italian ice, vanilla frozen custard and Oreo pieces all mixed together - YUK!! The girl fixing it didn't even flinch - I bet she has seen all kinds of weird combinations.

Monday morning (later than Tom wanted I might add) we went to The Dunes Restaurant. We ate there last year and loved the buffet breakfast. They renovated it over the winter. It looked amazing. The food was still as wonderful as we remembered.

We did a little shopping/browsing. I definitely wanted to make a stop on the way home. A little place in Jamesville caught my eye - Mackey's Ferry Peanuts. What a nice store! The cashier was very friendly and full of information (and free peanut samples). You can stop by the shop on your way to or from the OBX or you can order online. The homemade peanut butter, the salted in-the-shell peanuts, the blister-fried peanuts, the flame thrower peanuts and the dark chocolate peanut clusters were the samples we tried. All were very yummy!!! I wish I had bought some of the peanut butter! Guess I'll just have to make another trip to OBX soon!!

Getaway Slideshow

Birthday, birthday, birthday

We celebrated my sister-in-law, Jennifer's birthday (5/29), my mother-in-law, Betty's birthday (5/30) and my birthday (6/4) with a joint birthday party complete with not 1 not 2, but 3 cakes (one for each birthday girl).

Jennifer's husband, Matt, made a scrumptious Hershey Bar cake. Betty had her favorite - store bought birthday cake with sweet, sweet icing. I had a lemon supreme cake with lemon pie filling in between the layers and smothered in lemon icing.

We had a great time eating, visiting, swimming, eating, opening presents, eating.

I had a wonderful 38th birthday. (38? It seems like yesterday that I turned 18 or 28. I guess tomorrow I'll be 48.) I did have a wonderful birthday filled with friends, family and love!

Baseball update

Homemade sugar cookies that we made for snack for the team.

2009 5&6-yr. old Nationals

(Back row:) Coach Jim. (Middle row:) Chase, Tyson, NySheed, Christian, Jacob (Front row:) Peyton, Carson, Andrew, McRae, Ethan, Oakley (Not pictured: Kyler and Cayden).

Christian is serious about playing 1st base.

The new baseball complex in Wilson is open! Christian has played two games on the new field. The Nationals won on opening day (5/30/09) , but lost to an undefeated team (by only 3 runs) the following Monday. Christian plays 1st base and is doing awesome! The game opening day he made 8 outs (all 3 in 2 innings); and hit 3 singles. The last game he made 5 outs (all 3 in 1 inning); had an RBI and hit 2 singles.

This week wraps up the spring baseball season. The Nationals face the Orioles tonight and the Mets on Friday night. This will be the third match up with the Orioles. The Nationals won the first game and lost the other. The previous match up with the Mets ended in a tie.

Christian is a little disappointed that the season is almost over. Luckily, there is fall baseball to look forward to. Depending on the birthday cutoff, Christian might still be in the 5-6 yr. old league.

We are very proud of Christian!! He has made friends and worked hard. He has received compliments for being polite and listening to the dugout mother. He is really in his element when he is playing baseball.