First T-Ball Game, Go Big Green Machines!

                                                                                              photo taken by Nanny


Monday, August 27, 2012.

The real thing. 

Here We Go. 

Clean uniform, tucked in shirt, new baseball socks,
playing against another team...at a real genuine field.

I mean, it's a pretty big deal your first tee ball game. 

So big, that I made sure big man had a nap, so he could function for a 6:45 game that evening. 

All day it was, "I'm playing BASEBALL TODAY!"

"Case do you know SO many people are coming to your game tonight?"

(starting naming them off...)

"WOW! All the peoples coming??"

We showed up early, getting a little batting practice in. 

Then it was time. 

We walked over to our side of the bleachers, and I was just blown away by all the supporters he had. 

I literally felt so much love, I felt like I was about to explode. 

We are extremely blessed. 

Nanny, Poppy, Mamaw & Papaw drove all the way from Ashland, to come see Case's very first game. 

A two hour drive. 

About an hour or so tee ball game. 

A two hour drive home. 

4 hours for an hour game. 

Love them. 

It truly meant so much. More than they'll ever know. I know they won't be able to make every single game, but the fact that they all made the effort to come to his first game - was, 
simply heart warming. 

Bringing tears to my eyes now, as I think about it.

Mommom & Grand-Dad

Mimi (Uncle "Beel" had bowling!) Cy, Griffin & Avery 

Case was so excited, the first two people he would say when I asked him about who was coming was "Mimi & Avery??" He adores those girls. 

Joe & JJ (Neighbors but like family)  

Our friends Justin & Kelly, and their sweet girl Sydney. 

Andrew & Stephanie and their sweet baby boy Austin. 

That boy definitely had some fans cheering him on for his first game.

I'm sad I didn't get a good picture of everyone! 

I forgot my camera card in my laptop, so only had my iPhone and video camera. 

(HATE when I do that!)

Rhett was such a trooper, he sat in his stroller

 eating cereal and drinking his water for almost the entire time. 

Until Nanny asked me if she could walk him down to the other side,

 so he could get a better look at Case and Daddy in the outfield. 

I was hesitant at first, as I know as soon as you get him out, there is no getting back into the stroller for him. 

However, I quickly gave in, and so glad I did. 

He had a blast walking back and forth with Nanny & Poppy. 

 Okay, now for some quality pictures. 

THANK YOU NANNY! 

Following pictures taken by my talented Mother in Law, Sally...

I could look at these forever. Sweet, perfect memories that I know we will cherish forever! 

After the game, they had their little team meeting, and team snack. 

Then Case got to come & finally see all of his "fans"!

He was one excited little boy!

Okay back to iPhone pics eek!

Saying Good-bye to his Ashland family,

What a fun, whirl wind of a first game.
It flew by for me, running around taking video, snapping pictures with my phone, and talking to
our sweet family and friends that could make it.

I am so thankful for such a wonderful time, and that Case loves playing baseball.
Matt and I are so proud of him, he's growing up so quickly!

Getting a players drink from the concession stand, was probably one of his favorite highlights of the night!
He was pumped...and hilarious!
Crazy!

 

I think our sweet boys were missing each other tonight after the big game.

They were SO HYPER when we got home!
Combine all the excitement of the game, plus a sweet team snack, plus drinks after the game,
and Mommy & Daddy reliving the whole thing with him on the way home...the boys were just wild!

So off to a bubble bath they went, and didn't take long after that for them to both be snoozing in their beds.

What an awesome day.

No Rain, Happy Case

After a stormy first practice, Case was able to get in a couple cloud free practices.

No rain, and no relief from the heat either. 

It was HOT. Hot. Hot. 

Did he care though? 

Not one tiny bit. 

The bystanders were being eaten up by mosquitos and dripping the sweat, 

but Case was out there. Every bit of his heart poured into his little practice. 

Little brother was one of those bystanders, and as Case was waiting for his turn to bat, 

he stopped to talk to his best bud. 

"Rhett, look!" he whispered. 

"I playing baseball, see? You watching Rhetter?"

 

Very First T-Ball Practice

Oh my goodness. 

It's finally here.

Time for Case's very first t-ball practice.

I cannot even begin to describe how excited he was. 

After registering, we asked my sister what all we would need, 

and went shopping with Daddy. 

Baseball pants. 

Cleats. 

Glove. 

(Ended up getting a bat too)

So for days and weeks before, we talked to Case about it.

"Are you so excited??"

"You are going to be practicing, so soon!"

"You'll be learning, and playing with new friends that love baseball too!"

So after anxiously awaiting the e-mail, to give us the information for the first practice...

we gathered up our baseball stuff and were ready. 

I had asked Mom earlier in the week if she could watch the Rhetter man, 

just for the first practice so that 

we could just soak in every ounce of excitement

 that we knew Case would be exploding with.

Also, funny story.
The other day, Cy, Griffin & Avery were teaching Case how to exercise.
The boys I guess told him that he needed to exercise to get ready for baseball. 
So before we got ready for t-ball, he announced:
"Mommy! Wait! I gotta essersize before practice! Watch!"
He was doing fake little push ups, and was laying on his back pumping his imaginary dumbbell into the air.
CRACKING me up.

So Mom & Dad arrived around 4:15, and we got him dressed. 

Rhett had just woken up for a nap, so Mom put him in the stroller for a short walk to divert the melt down of seeing Mommy and Case leaving. ;) 

Dad opted to go with us, to watch the first practice. 

We were so excited! 

Well, walking outside to get the stroller out of my truck for Mom, I noticed it was looking a little gloomy.

Actually, pretty chilly compared to the 80 some degree weather earlier in the afternoon.

I hadn't even thought about checking the radar. 

Dad said he was going to grab his umbrella, so I grabbed a jacket for me and we headed out. 

On the way there, Dad told me he wasn't sure which was more excited me or Case!

Have to agree! I admit I have been absolutely giddy. 

Matt and I can't stop talking about it. 

It's just going to be so much fun! 

 We arrived about 10 minutes early, walked on down to the back practice fields, asked around and realized we were in the wrong spot. 

Walked back up to the field, and found our new head coach, met him and his wife. 

The wife's Dad (so Coach's Father in Law) is the assistant coach - and I think it's going to be a great team! 

As soon as Case got on the field, and I was filling out a sheet with our contact info, 

we felt sprinkles. 

Daddy got there, just in time for the first drops. 

While everyone was arriving, and kids were talking and playing, 

Case went and ran the bases. 

By himself.
(and the wrong way ha - not too worried though we know he knows the right way - we hope!)

 Well, not too long after they got to get on the field

it started to thunder. 

Then it started to rain, then it started to really rain...and really thunder and flash some lightning too. 

So we all huddled under the dug out, 

coaches went over what it means to be "baseball ready" 

and they introduced themselves one by one. 

Precious. 

 After introductions, the thunder was just non stop. 

So, the coach made the call that practice didn't look like it was going to happen. 

Before the final decision that practice was over, 

Case walked up to the coach, and quietly said, 

"I all done." 

 (Which meant he was all done talking, and ready to go play on the field) 

As they walked out of the dugout, and he realized no one was going onto the field, 

and that practice was over...he was absolutely devastated. 

It broke our hearts! 

(Tears the entire way to the car, and home)

Headed home, my Dad and I laughed and talked about how no matter how it went

it would, (and was) a memorable experience. 

He didn't get totally deprived of his baseball evening, though. 

His amazing Daddy took him into the living room 

and practiced until Case was ready to eat dinner. 

We assured him there would be lots of future practices and games, 

and lucky for him he only has to wait a few more days until the next one. 

Hoping the rain stays away! 

Looking forward to our fall ball season. 

So very excited! 

Sweet Baby Girl

I am so, so excited to share that our family has just added a sweet, beautiful baby girl.

Eric & Erica just welcomed their daughter.

(Matt's step-sister & her husband)

 

Audrey Hope Turner

7 lbs 14 oz 

21 in

Isn't she precious?

Oh my goodness, how I ACHE to hold her! 

They live in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

WAY too far away. 

Wish so badly, we could be there right now.

She was apparently nice and comfy in Mama's belly. 

Sweet girl came 6 days after her estimated due date. 

She had a long journey getting here,

but of course (and clearly) worth the wait.

I'm sure I was driving my Mother in Law absolutely crazy, texting her for updates over and over again. 

(Sorry, Sally!) ;)

I just love love love babies, and so unbelievably excited for her arrival. 

I wanted to feel like I was there, part of it. 

Wish I could be waiting in the waiting room with everyone else, anxiously awaiting the words, 

"She's here!"

Counting down the days, until I can hold her. 

Have to share a sweet story as well, about Case. 

When we heard the news, Case and I talked about how "Eric, and Erica's baby in their belly, decided to come out! She was here! They named her Audrey Hope!" We looked at her sweet face for the first time, thanks to picture messaging and facebook. 

Well, that night, while Case and I were praying we thanked God for baby Audrey.

We finished up our prayer, like always. 

I kissed him Good-Night, and shut his door. 

Walked downstairs, to finish up cleaning up toys, and turning lights off, 

when I heard his door open back up. 

"Mommy?"

"Yeah, Case?"

"Mommy, I like baby Audrey."

"You do?? Isn't she so pretty?"

"Yeah, she pretty. I like her Mommy. Night! Love you!" 

 Couldn't stop smiling the rest of the night thinking about that. 

She's already stealing so many hearts. 

Congratulations, Mommy & Daddy! 

Love you guys!

Can not WAIT to meet you, baby girl. 

We love you so much already!

Lunch & a Trip to The Game Farm

Mom & Dad suggested another outing for all the Grand-kids. 

This time, lunch and a trip to the Game Farm in Frankfort was brought up, and Amy and I both agreed that it sounded very fun! 

All the kids and I have been with Mom & Dad before, but the last time Amy was working longer hours and wasn't able to go. Now that she has an amazing schedule at work,

 she was able to join us on a weekday adventure!

After Happy meals, and Diet cokes we headed toward the Game Farm. 

We split up between my truck (with the third row, yay!) and Mom & Dad's car. 

On the way down, I had my boys and Cy in the way back. 

The whole way there, Amy and I were CRACKING up at Cy & Case. 

Case has this new rendition of "Row, row, row your boat"

(Row row row your boat gently as a dream, mary, mary, mary life is in the trees) 

and Cy and Case were making up even funnier, crazier versions, that had Amy and I laughing so hard! 

It went something like this, alternating between Cy and Case...

Row row row your tugboat

gently on the trees

merry merry merry Christmas

life is but a dream

I can't even remember all the things, they came up with. 

Crazies! 

Well, we arrived, and all piled out of our cars. 

Excited about seeing some of our Kentucky Wildlife! 

 

 (Daddy hates the pictures with the snake ;)

So Cy and I had this bet, that if I could get this hat on his head without him knowing - that he'd wear it the rest of the trip. 

Guess who did just that? ;)

Griffin taught Case how to catch some fish! 

Actual size of an Eagles nest, is that not insane?

Go Wildcats! ;)

Crazy Kid. 

(& yes, I realize, that every picture of Rhetter was in his stroller - but believe me I couldn't unstrap that boy or he would have tried to cuddle with the bear or pet the wildcat. Like, seriously.) 

Had so much fun. 

Thank you Mom & Dad!