Our weekend

We had a great weekend!

We started off Saturday watching Matthew's last baseball game.  This is always bittersweet for me.  Baseball completely consumes our lives from mid March until the end of May, so I am ready for a break.  I do, though, love watching the boys games so much, and I am so proud of how much Matthew has improved this year.

Matthew mainly played 3rd base and right field this season, but since it was the last game, the coach moved the players around to different positions for fun.  Matthew ended up pitching the last inning.  I was anxious to see how he would do.  He only saw 4 batters...struck out 2 and got the other one out by throwing it to first!  It was nice to see the Reds end their season with a strike out by Matthew Barnhill!

Then, we headed to Frisco to see Baby Lydia.  The boys hadn't seen her yet, and Mary Beth and I hadn't seen her since the day she was born.  We had a great time hanging out, loving on Lydia, and going to the pool on a beautiful summer night.  Michael and Jilinda have been such a vital part of our kids' lives, and we can't wait to get to know and love their children as well.

It was a short trip to Frisco, as Mary Beth had a pool party Sunday afternoon and I had book club that night.  It is so hard getting out of town!  I hope that will change this summer.

First Day and Last Day pictures

Mary Beth woke up today so excited about her end of the year party!  She had such a wonderful year.  Mary Beth never once didn't want to go to school, and I think this year prepared her so well for kindergarten this fall.  She can hardly wait!  

I am so grateful that she had my dear friend, Amy, for a teacher, and her best friend, Whitney, in her class for the second year in a row.  Mary Beth made some very special friendships this year that I know will carry on to next year.  Until then, I am looking forward to spending the summer with my little Mare Bear!

Last Day of School- May 2009

First Day of School- August 2008

Second to last day of school.

First Day of School.

The kids, Brunetter, and Danny Gokey

I am taking a break from my extremely busy schedule today to remember why my schedule is so busy.  I am so very proud of my three children!  Each one has blessed me in such unique ways.  I wish I could freeze time right now.  I have never enjoyed the kids ages as much as I do right now.  We are in that wonderful stage between diapers and pimples!  So at the end of each long day, I can look at each one of their sweet faces and know that it is all so worth it!

Also, on a much more superficial subject, I am so glad I was able to convince my hair dresser to let me go brunette again!  Or, at least, brunetter.  Still got some highlights up in there!  She tried to make me a blonde for over a year, and it just wasn't me.  My soul is brunette.  This makes my dark haired Matthew, so happy!  My blondies, Thomas and Mary Beth, wish I hadn't of gone back to the dark side.  Oh well, you can't please them all!

Finally, I am loving Matthew's new glasses!  He loves them, too, and is so proud to look like Danny Gokey!

Track Day 2009!

One of the first events to signal the end of the year is Track Day.  This is the day that my kids live for in school!  I always love the funny pictures of the kids doing relays and tug of war.  Thomas...always smiling.  Matthew....intensity seeping from his pores!

Side note: I pulled the while shorts that Thomas is wearing, out of the dryer one hour before these pictures were taken.  That child looks at clothes and gets them dirty! ;)

Always smiling!


I love this one!

Victory is ours!
Mary Beth got to come to Matthew's track time.

2 weeks..

Two weeks from today, all three of my babies will be home for the summer!  It seems this year has been light years busier than any in the past, and I have never looked so forward to summer break in my life!

While I am so excited, a sweet time in Mary Beth's and my life will come to a close.  Nearly two years ago, my 3 year old daughter and I dropped Thomas off at kindergarten.  I was emotional dropping him off, but also thrilled with the idea that I would have lots of one on one time with Mary Beth for the first time in her life!  We had a great day that day, shopping at Target and eating lunch at Panda Express.  I remember thinking that I wanted to savor every minute with her, as I knew how quickly these two years would pass.  They seems almost instantaneous in the two years that Matthew was alone at school!

I can honestly say that I enjoyed this time so much.  I really did savor it, and enjoyed having my side kick with me when she wasn't in preschool!  Mary Beth loves to shop and "do lunch".  She is a wonderful errand companion...hopping in our grocery cart, checking off items on our list, and giving me suggestions on what to buy.  Mary Beth also loves cuddling on the couch and reading books with me.  I am so proud of the little girl she is turning into and I know I will always enjoy our special relationship.

I am excited about her starting kindergarten, but for some reason, get a little choked up when she says goodbye to the boys still in her nightgown and crazy bed head.  Of course, this doesn't always happen, since Baby Girl likes to sleep until 9 in the morning if I let her!  I loved this time with Thomas and Mary Beth, too, when Matthew was the only one in school. 

 This...

 And this...

will forever remind me of this precious time with my daughter.  How could these two years  have melted so quickly into 2 weeks?

Innerspace Caverns

Today was Matthew's 3rd grade field trip to Innerspace Caverns. It was so much fun! 

The Balcones Fault...

Ice Cream Cone...
Matthew listening intently...
Texas Chip and Dip...

  

Mining for gems...

Soda straws.  Each one grows 1/4 inch every 50 years!

A little bat sleeping...

Amy and me going underground!

The monster...
Matthew and his buds traveling underground...

Innerspace Caverns was discovered when the first interstate highway in America, I-35, was being formed. I found it interesting, since one of my patients a few years ago, who worked for the highway department, was there when it was discovered.  We were a little apprehensive about traveling 30-70 feet underground, but thankfully, the rocks held firm!  It was great to spend time with my favorite 9 years old, and one of my best friends, Amy, whose daughter was also on the trip.  We even managed a little retail therapy in Salado, and found these pillows!

Matthew at 9 1/2

Today, my little boy is 91/2!  Just 6 more months in the single digits!

Just a few years ago, I said that I could write a book of all the funny things that Matthew said and did.  Since then, he has moved from being a precocious little boy to such a grown up "pre-tween", as Matthew likes to call himself!

Matthew has never been so busy in his life!  He takes his school work very seriously, and still loves learning.  He is definitely more English/Literature/Science minded, although he likes Math as well.  He is rarely seen without a book near him.  Since the school year started, he has played two seasons of soccer, basketball, and now baseball, not to mention playing the piano and participating in LTC.  He has handled all of this beautifully, and I am proud of his hard work in every aspect of his life!

He still manages to find time for himself, and can either be found reading, riding his rip stick or bike, shooting hoops, playing catch with his Dad, or practicing pitching on our fence....our poor, poor fence!

Other than God and his family, sports reign supreme in Matthew's world.  He loves all kinds of sports...loves to play them, watch them, read about them, collect sports memorabilia, and talk about them all the time.  Almost all of his clothes these days come from Academy!  Matthew is never seen without some sort of Under Armour garment on.  He even wears them under his church clothes!

Matthew is getting so big.  For the past year or two, he has been unable to put my ring on his ring finger!  That's right, his fingers have been bigger than mine since he was 8!  He also wears my unisex T-shirts and flip flops, and they fit perfectly.  In fact, the shirt he is wearing in the pictures once belonged to my sister in law!  He went to the doctor recently and found out that Matthew is 90 pounds!  He isn't remotely fat, but has lots of muscle mass.  I can't believe that my baby is now the size of many Hollywood actresses! ;)

Matthew is very healthy.  Other than getting the chicken pox (of all things) the first few weeks of kindergarten, he hasn't missed a single day of school for being sick until this March!  Even then, Matthew claimed his tummy hurt until it was too late to go to school, then he miraculously was healed.  I guess we all need a mental health day every now and then!

Matthew is a huge Daddy's boy!  Bryon has such a calming affect on Matthew, and he is always happiest in his Daddy's company.  This doesn't hurt my feelings, as I know he loves me dearly!

Matthew is responsible, trust worthy, independent, self confident, witty, gregarious, and playful.  What a blessing he has been to us these past 9 1/2 years!