barrett: 107 months old

We're one month out from Barrett's 9th birthday!  Party prep is in full swing.  Barrett chose a "cruise ship" theme, which is actually kind of hard to make into a birthday party, since most inspiration photos are of retirement parties!  We decided on a pool party, and decorating with a cruise ship centerpiece, nautical flags, tons of beach balls in the pool, and captain's hats as favors.  I haven't gotten to throw a party at home for years (thanks to Covid) so all my creative juices are flowing!

As you can see from Barrett's shirt, baseball is in full swing!  He's got games throughout April and into May, and is really enjoying practicing with his team.  Every practice he learns something new, and improves just a bit more than the last practice, and I think he's finally getting the hang of it.  

 Likes:  Judy Moody series - he's re-reading it, "Because of Winn-Dixie," and the Roblox game where he can build amusement parks

Dislikes: being hit by the baseball - that took his breath away!

152 months old

We're cruising fast to the end of the school year, and I've now spent way too many work hours getting the kids into various summer camps.  Britton is going to her same sleepaway camp for two weeks, and then to the YMCA day "adventure" (code for outdoors, in the Texas heat) camp for two weeks with Barrett.  She doesn't want to do a theatre camp this summer - last year's was a bust - and is in that in-between age where she doesn't necessarily need to spend the entire summer supervised and entertained.  But I'm still working from home and need someone else to be in charge, so we'll see how we fare.  

We're going to a rose emporium tomorrow to pick out some new roses for the backyard - everyone gets to pick out one.  This might be the first time Britton has been excited about gardening!

Her junior high band just had UIL competitions.  They're letting parents attend, so I got to see the performance and the sight-reading portions.  They scored all "1"s which is the best score!

Softball is in full swing!  Britton is playing first base and right field this season.  Her batting has improved tremendously from last season, and she's made a few hits in the games!

Hitting that ball!

 Likes:  softball, biking to the library to get books, roller skating

Dislikes: 7:00 am band practice for UIL - good thing it's over!