Connor's Winning Hit

It was Game 8 for the spring baseball season for Connor!  The Red Sox have had a good season with 4 wins, 1 tie, and 2 losses and overall standing of 2nd out of 10 teams.  Last game was a loss by 1 point, which was such a disappointment to the team and the Coach.  For this game, they started out with a great lead ahead of the other team, but lost their lead somewhere in the 5th inning. 

At the bottom of the 6th inning (final for this level), Connor gets up to plate with 2 outs on the board, 2 runners on base, and the score was 15-16.  Chris and I immediately feel for Connor because his strike out could be the end of the game with a loss. 

After a couple foul attempts, Connor gets a hit that travels shortly past the home plate....we all yell for Connor to hustle to 1st base and the other runners to start coming in.  After, we think we tied the game with the opportunity to put another batter up, they rule that hit as a foul.  Apparently, the ball hit the plate and rolled forward.  Again, we feel for Connor and didn't even know why they called that a foul (until after the game).

Connor gets up to bat again for his final hit with one pitch left.  Concern felt by all and boom...he hits the ball and it travels far enough into the infield for the kids to scramble after the ball.  Connor hustles to 1st base while not 1, but 2, of our runners came in to home.  That was the winning hit that allowed us to win 17-16! 

It was so great to hear the team players congratulating Connor on the winning RBI and pointing out what a great team play that was!  That was a nice confidence booster for Connor especially after his last game where he struck out each time.  I am definitely not missing his final 2 games as I want to see how these kids continue to improving on their play and incorporate in strategy (accidental or intentional)!

The sleeping situation solved...

For many months, longer than we can remember or are willing to admit, we have been battling with Claire about bedtime. She did not want to go to bed when the boys did and she definitely would not go in her crib. We found our options were to either rock her to sleep for hours on end, which she still sometimes woke up from, or just let her "hang out" until we were ready to go to bed. In most cases, by then she was ready to crash. As you can imagine, we created a bedtime monster...and then to make matters worse, she started going to bed with us instead of her own bed because we were more desperate for sleep than she was!

After our spring break vacation week, we decided it was time to re-train the bedtime monster. After several failed attempts at SuperNanny solutions and stuck body parts in the gate at her door, we stumbled into an alternative solution.

Night 1: Brady upset by Claire being upset led to Daddy laying down with both of them in Brady's bed. They both went to sleep shortly after.

Day 2: Chris and I remembered that we did not have these bedtime battles with the boys when they transitioned to the big kid bed. Perhaps, the bottom bunk bed is magical!!

Night 2: Musical bed game began!! We asked Brady to go sleep in our bed, so that we could give Claire his bed temporarily. Claire only required a parent to lay down with her for about 10-15 minutes. After a couple hours, the music started back up for the kids to be moved to their proper bed.

Night 3-8: Musical beds is a nightly game with great success! Chris and I gained our evenings back!!

Night 9 forward: The game has changed. Brady has now decided that he will sleep on the top bunk with his brother and Claire can use his bed. For 3 nights now, they are all going to bed in the same bedroom at the same time and sleeping through the entire night.

Chris and I love the new sleeping situation! I have also officially concluded that Brady's bed is indeed a magic bed! As an added note, I find it quite interesting that here we are motivated to find a 4 bedroom home so that they each have their own bedroom and they have all piled in one room together! It's really sweet now, but I am sure it will change as they get older!

Connor's Girlfriend

Apparently for Connor, time does make the heart grow fonder. Last summer, Connor and another girl from summer school "claimed" each other as girlfriend and boyfriend. It was very cute to hear the reports from Brady and friends at school about the reported hand-holdings and several of the boys were on a hunt for their own girlfriend. At one point, there was even wedding plans being developed (for 20 years from now of course).  At the end of the summer, they had to part ways for the new school year and did not see each other again until December. During that time, Connor reported that she was still his girlfriend to Brady and apparently classmates.  When he finally saw her after a few months went by, he was very quick to remind her of their relationship.  Young love...so cute!

Over the last few months, they have had the opportunity to see each other more often during some fun activities and also for ice skating lessons. They are so cute together...I enjoy watching them grow up together and I hope they will be friends for a long time.

Reunion time...breakfast with Santa

How sweet that he chose this picture for his Christmas project!

Ice Skating fun!

Roller Skating Fun

IceMen Game

Be Creative, but Specific

When it comes to chores, the boys aren't quite to the age where they are begging for chores for allowance money in return. They really only have one set chore right now as part of their role in the household and that is to gather one laundry hamper each on Friday night. Anything beyond that requires a creative pitch or issuance of a challenge. Apparently, it also includes being very specific...

One evening, I gave the boys an empty laundry basket and asked the boys to go on a scavenger hunt to collect towels for laundry and find out how many they could find. Next time, I need to be specific that the hunt was for DIRTY towels, not clean towels. Brady returned with a fully-loaded laundry basket of neatly folded, still stacked towels from the linen cabinet ready to collect his prize for the MOST towels collected.

Icemen Game

In December, we had the opportunity to go to our first hockey game, played by our own Evansville IceMen in the D-Patrick suite at the Ford Center (thanks to my mom). The kids had such a great time that I put in a "special request" to my "contact at work" that I would love to go again in our suite.

In January, we were able to enjoy another great IceMen game along with some close friends (or should I say the boys close friends). The kids had a really good time enjoying each others company, the wonderful snacks, and the game. I love that we have a new family activity at a wonderful venue to add to our list!

Ice Skating Lessons

Chris and I like to allow the boys opportunities to try new activities; if nothing else to expose them to the activity so they aren't afraid. I remember the fear I had the first time I was asked to do something with my friends that I hadn't done before. Ice skating was the last activity that we decided to introduce to the boys. We had taken them ice-skating once and they seemed to enjoy it and Connor even became comfortable with working his way around the rink solo, so we thought that a 6 week lesson would be fun.

The lessons kicked off in mid-December with a break for the holidays and ended in late January. While the lessons weren't the typical ice-skating experience around the rink, it gave them the opportunity to learn the basics of navigating the ice. For 30 minutes, they worked their way from one side of the rink to the other learning how to skate frontwards, backwards, and squatting slightly. The first day also included a lesson on how to get up when you fall....I think I missed that lesson in my childhood based on my awkward attempt to recover when I fall!

Connor quickly became comfortable on the ice and the teachers did a great job of introducing more "advanced" basics to him throughout the lessons. Brady hit a discouraging patch in the middle, but came around during the last two lessons. He was out in the middle of the ice rink making an effort and really listening to the teachers.

While I would like to think this is a new experience we can have as a family, Connor and I may be the only two most interested in this as a family activity.

PineWood Derby - Congratulations Connor!

Connor participated in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby in January. This was the 2nd derby that he participated in with the 1st one being the Space Derby last fall. The derby races are a great opportunity to work with Papa Ross and Daddy on converting his block of wood to a racing machine!  Check out his cool car that won him an overall 3rd place and had the occasional wins of 1st and 2nd during the individual races.  In addition, Connor received the award for Judge's favorite.  Congratulations Connor...way to go!!

Our Little Cub Scout

Oh my gosh, Connor is growing up so fast! As a first grader, Connor can now participate in Cub Scouts. There was a booth at the school open house and he was so excited to join, mainly because of the promise of shooting a bow and arrow. I really don't think the camping and fishing is what appealed to Connor, but he seems excited about those activities as well.

The best part of Cub Scouts is that we have found a way to reunite Connor with his best friend, Carac. They are now in different schools and life gets busy with our families, so this was a great way for the boys to see each other regularly (and for the dads to further bond). Crazy thing...it was the boys' idea that they join the same Cub Scout Pack and Den. Not sure why us resourceful moms didn't think of that!

They have had a couple Pack and a couple Den meetings so far and last night was the first night that all the boys wore their Cub Scout Uniform. It is very important to have the shirt, with all the badges, and all the related accessories so that they can wear the uniform proudly. Chris worked very hard on getting those badges applied before his first pack meeting...that was a chore that Chris would probably agree is best left to professionals. Once Chris was done, Connor was anxious to try on the uniform and even more excited to wear it to the first pack meeting. He definitely wore it proudly!

They have a lot of activities planned between now and the end of the year, including the big popcorn sale. Connor has a very full social calendar now and a lot to prepare for as he advances through the cub scout program. The best part for me is seeing his excitement about it and watching him mature before my very eyes!

Claire's Adventure Outdoors

What a beautiful Sunday morning! This was the first time that Claire has been let loose outside now that she is walking and we aren't in the midst of snow or flood seasons. It was fun watching her react to the grass and hang out with her brothers! Connor was the very protective big brother walking her around and redirecting her. Brady also had fun giving Claire a push in the baby swing.

Bike playdate

On a beautiful March afternoon, I took the boys for an afternoon play date with some classmates from school and fellow co-workers kids (6 boys, 1 tomboy)! Brady was the youngest of the group, but was the biggest bully among them talking smack to the other kids.  "My bike may be small, but I bet I can go faster than you"

They started out the afternoon riding bikes in the parking lots and open buildings. There were some occasional breakdowns over hurt feelings and injuries...no surprise there!  At one point, our daredevil kids ventured over to a large parking lot with a 45 degree incline or better. After a few scary "flights" down the hill (mostly from the moms' perspectives), we talked the kids into spending the remainder of the afternoon at the playground. After a fun afternoon of sunshine and fun, we then took the kids for some dinner before parting ways. It turned out to be a great afternoon!!

Connor is in love!!

At Connor's annual eye visit, I was sitting with Connor and Brady in the consultation room waiting for the eye doctor to come in. We talked about their day, school, friends, and more. During the conversation, Connor announced "I'm in love! I know who I am going to marry when I am older!".

We proceeded to discuss who this person was, how she is an older girl at 6 1/2, and how she is so much fun! About a month ago, Connor had announced that he was trying to decide which girl of three was going to be his girlfriend. One of the girls was not making the cut since she left for India for 3 months (and Connor must have moved on). He had then narrowed it down to two remaining choices. We now know who won based on his announcement today!

Later that night, I asked him to tell daddy about her and he proceeded to describe her hair color, hair length, eye color, height, and how they play together at school. Young love....so sweet!!

My baby Connor isn't a baby anymore....Connor turns 6!!

It has been hard to believe that I have a kindergartner and to think that I now I have a 6 year old! Connor has matured into a very smart, curious, creative, intuitive little boy, I mean little man!

Following is a glimpse of Connor's first 6 years! I showed this video to him and he loved it! I thought he was going to cry at the end, but he instead asked me to save the video forever. I teased him that he needed to stop having birthdays...it goes by too fast!

Holiday Pics of the Seaton Kiddos

Brotherly Love...

I love the relationship my boys have with each other! They support, love and watch out for each other. They fight, threaten, and tease each other. Sometimes, they back up each other's stories and other times they reveal their version of the truth.

Perfect example of support and then the threat heard tonight....Connor said "I put your dirty clothes away that YOU left in the middle of floor! Now, you owe me a million dollars or else!!"

Fall School Pictures

I love the kids' school pictures....they look so great! They are growing up so fast!

Way to go Connor!!

I am a very proud mommy...Connor learned to tie his shoes! We had bought him and Brady both tie shoes back in August with the urging that they need to learn how to tie shoes...it is a childhood rite of passage! Connor came home from school announcing that he knew how to tie shoes now. I immediately responded with "that's great, show me". Apparently, Ms. Bunner, a retired teacher that helps out occasionally, took all the kindergarters that did not know how to tie shoes aside for a one-on-one repetitive lesson.

Of course, he had to let someone else teach him and would not take instruction from his parents. I have a feeling that is how it will be on several things....parents don't know anything!

Ever since then, Connor has been a huge help to us with Claire and Brady's shoes. That is until Brady had to go back to Velcro due to size limitations/availability in new shoes.

Fall Festival

It's an annual tradition to head to the Fall Festival at least once during the week. In the last couple of years, the focus has moved from the food to letting the kids ride rides. This year, we purchased unlimited wrist bands for the boys since they had so much fun riding rides last year! I was the lucky parent of the four to also get the unlimited wrist band to ride with Brady when he needed an adult companion.

Working on best mom award and trying to ensure adequate daylight time, I picked the boys up early from school to head to the Fall Festival. We also met up with the boys' best friend, Carac and his mom. The dads joined us later in the evening. We spent the entire evening in the kiddie ride area with a parent occasionally disappearing to go grab some food. I felt like I spent the majority of my evening in a state of dizziness and I am pretty sure Chris paid some of the ride attendants to go extra long for better pictures of me!

The boys had a lot of fun riding as many rides as they could that evening, some more than once!

Fall Pictures 2010

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we made an attempt at family pics in the park on a fall Sunday afternoon...three kids and two adults does not make for a coordinated group photo. It was always one of them! Got some great personality shots though! Great example of their personalities...stubborn and bossy, defiant and defensive!

My boys...the planners

At dinner one night, the boys were planning their evening of activities after dinner. They were discussing making a deal about the plan and agreeing on it. I only requested that baths be somewhere in that plan, so Connor stated it would be in the middle. They made a plan, apparently agreed on it, and then "presented" the plan to us to be sure we agreed.

Step 1 of the plan was started...Brady decided he didn't like the plan and was making his own plan. He then disappeared upstairs to start the new plan. Connor, so confused by Brady's departure from the plan, said he needed to have a meeting with Brady. He then started re-negotiating the plan with me. Somehow, the bath was falling off the list.

The other night, Connor was having trouble deciding what he wanted to order from McD's. Brady came up with a plan to get one of each, cheeseburger and nuggets, and they could then split. Great thinking Brady...that sounds like a plan!

We think it is so cute that our boys have those discussions with each other and make decisions. We will take that as a good sign! A friend commented that they come by it honestly!

Who needs toys...when you are creative?

Who needs toys...when you can make your own toys with markers and papers? Connor has really shown us his creative ability lately....all he needs is some paper, markers, scissors, and tape or yarn. He has created masterpieces, books, costumes, and toys. It has been really neat seeing his creations, especially the details. She a few samples below.

Batman Costume

Ray Gun

Train Track w/Remote Control

Computer (on the backside is his password)