Boys of Summer...and a girl too!

Hunter started his first year of T-Ball a few weeks ago and I thought I would share a few photos from his first game. He really seems to enjoy playing the game(unlike soccer)and especially loves the uniform. I had a hard time getting the shirt off of him to be washed. Watching five-year-old kids play any kind of team sport is always entertaining but I have found T-ball to be ridiculously cute.

At the end of the inning, which is after everyone on the team has had a chance at bat, the last batter gets to run around the bases as if they had hit a homerun. This is Hunter's favorite part of the game. Look at that big grin as he runs toward home!

This is Hunter and his best friend from school, Max P. There are three boys named Max in Hunter's pre-school class this year. I find it hilarious that Hunter always refers to him as Max P. even though he's the only Max that Hunter hangs out with outside of school. It's been really fun to watch their friendship throughout the year. Sadly, Max P. will be going to Osborne and Hunter will go to Edgeworth for Kindergarten.

I hope Hunter sticks with T-Ball and continues on with baseball. It was always my favorite sport to play and it's something I can teach him and play with him.

Gryffin and Olivia both enjoy watching their big brother play, but prefer the playground next to the ball field. I've been having lots of fun getting to know my new camera and try to take at least a few pictures every day. I am going to be posting a few of my favorites from so far this spring so stay tuned.

Happy Easter!

We started the weekend off right with an Easter egg hunt at War Memorial Park on Saturday morning followed by egg dyeing and cookie decorating at my mom's house. Olivia and Gryffin weren't really sure what the egg hunt was about until they discovered what was in those colorful eggs...chocolate!

They soon became quick comrades on their hunt, and then the ever so tricky task of peeling the foil from the chocolate. Olivia quickly became impatient with the unwrapping and ate hers wrapper and all shoving as many as could fit in her little mouth at once. All while Gryffin slowly and meticulously peeled the foil from his chocolate and savored every bite of his miniature peanut butter cup. This is an accurate example of how these two little characters eat on a daily basis.

Hunter and I went back to my mom's house to dye some eggs and decorate sugar cookies while Tom took the twins home for a nap. Hunter did a great job with both activities and had a nice time doing something artistic and creative without Olivia and Gryffin getting into everything and bothering him.

Sunday afternoon, before dinner, there was another egg hunt at my mom's house. Now seasoned pros, Olivia, Gryffin and Hunter made quick work of searching out the eggs with the help of all the cousins.

Hunter is such a great big brother and designated himself Gryffin's "hunting helper" in the back yard garden. Both my little guys looked so handsome in their Easter outfits. Olivia, of course, had to wear her favorite Matilda Jane knot dress. Even though all three kids consumed way too much sugar, we escaped the day without any major episodes and all three of my angels were asleep by 8:30. I think Tom and I are getting the hang of this parenting gig...

Success!

After 2 weeks of persistence and determination, Hunter has mastered the art of blowing a bubble... and Olivia has mastered the art of pulling the gum out of Hunter's mouth while said bubble is being blown.

The Lowen Sisters Six

My dad, his wife Wendy, and their daughter Abby(my youngest sister) visited from Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago and we got all the Lowen sisters together at The Spaghetti Warehouse in the Strip District for dinner.

It was a little crazy considering we were a party of 17, but it was a good time and it was great to get all the sisters together.

Emily and her oldest Izaya (who's 13!)

Aubrey's the oldest at 33, followed by me and then Emily. Daughters four and five are twins Claire and Nora. I can't believe they're already 15!

And daughter number six is Abby who is just a year older than Emily's youngest, Eli with whom she's pictured here. I'm glad they got a chance to visit. We don't get to see them that often and it's usually only for a short period of time. We were hoping to make the trip to Minnesota this summer but traveling far with the twins is still a little tricky. Maybe next summer...