Its rough being talented...

 

(last years photo of BOTH the boys and their Championship wins!)

Our boys are yet again AllStar Baseball players! I say that with the utmost joy and happiness and not meant in a flaunting or cocky way at all! OK OK.. maybe just a little bragging!

But seriously, this is why we allow our boys to be the best athletes that they can be, why we push them to learn their sports inside and out, why we as parents put our lives on hold for pretty much the whole year ( if you count football and basketball as well.) Because we have talented young men in our house. Not that our girls are any less talented... but right now, its all about Asher and Trev(Dogger)

Both boys earned a spot last year and though they are on seperate teams ( Asher is just a few months shy of being old enough for Doggers team) we had a blast. We were all over the map, between regular tournament games and then winning States and on to Regionals ( in totally another State) but it made the summer memorable and fun. Crazy, YES. Of course. We didnt get to take any major family vacations, and sometimes when we talk to other families and hear all about their plans for lazy summer days, beach vacations, and days traveling to sight see we have second thoughts. But then we spend our night watching Asher pitch a 16 strike out game, or Dogger catch 2 pop flies and get the outs..... watching Noah coach and spending time with our baseball family.... there really is no other place we would rather be!

So bring on All Stars! And to all the other teams out there...

Watch Out! The RAMS are taking it all the way this year!!!

Best of Luck and Congrats to all the boys who worked so hard this year and we will be seeing you on the field!

For my bear...

Bears...

I love you. And.... because I know how much you loathe Country Music... I shall refrain from making you actually listen to this song... But read the words.

I love you. With all of me. Forever isnt nearly long enough.

In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. For richer or poorer....ALWAYS.

Love,
Your bear
P.S. I would never put you in the zoo.

I've been a walking heartache
I've made a mess of me
The person that I've been lately
Ain't who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me
Watch as the storm goes through
And I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I've lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you

There's more here than what were seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You'll always be love's great martyr
I'll be the flattered fool
And I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I've lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you

On my own I'm only
Half of what I could be
I can't do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I've lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you, gave me you
Gave me you

R & R

So its Monday again. I don't know about you, but in our house, Monday comes way too quick. Especially after a long weekend full of baseball. But it was fun, as always. Of course, with 4 boys on 6 different teams ( yes you read that right... Aaron plays for Varsity. Joel plays for JV and town Babe Ruth. Trevor plays town Majors and Asher plays town AAA... plus Trev and Asher have been invited to play on an AAU team also. And...that does not include the times Asher gets called up to Majors.)
So anyway.. with all the games and field locations, this weekend was one of those weekends where Noah and I kinda bounced from field to field. and occasionally got to sit next to each other and watch an inning or two, share a snack, and then it was back to the car for another drop off at another game.

Saturday night we found ourselves alone, with no children A VERY rare occurrence in our house. Of course, we had the dog. And were exhausted from bouncing around all day ( and hubby coached all day also) so our alone time, our peace and quiet, was pretty much spent snuggled on the double chair in the living room watching silly animal shows on Animal Planet ( we LOVE those) and having a snack. Not even dinner. We had eaten off and on throughout the day... it wasn't til about 10:00pm that we realized we were getting hungry, so a cup of tea and a snack and we were off to bed, to prepare to do it all again Sunday.

A quick breakfast out alone started our Sunday morning and then we were off and running to 3 games, One of which we got to watch together. Then it was me with Trev and Asher while daddy coached Joel's afternoon game. Then it was home, quick family dinner and family movie. ( in times this crazy I am still eternally grateful we can have even a short amount of time to enjoy a quick healthy dinner and a movie with our babies!)

So my point to all this is.... I wish Noah and I could take a vacation. It isn't that we don't love our kiddos... we do! That's just it! We love them so very much that we often find ourselves forfeiting our own plans and weekends to provide them with the happiness, joy and lifestyle that they deserve. I cant imagine NOT watching my children play ball... it kills me to have to "drop off" and come back halfway through a game and find out I missed a HomeRun or an awesome catch at 3rd base or a perfectly pitched inning.
But I feel sometimes that for my own sanity... I need a break. A little mommy-daddy time. A little selfish time. When Noah and I first got together we talked alot about the importance of family vacations as well as childless vacations. Last year we were fortunate to get to St. Pete in Florida for a few days alone. ( where he proposed... ) and it was the best time I have ever had. I long for it again. I long for just a few days to sleep in next to my husband, to get up when we want, to eat breakfast on the beach, to sit in the sun all day and to have not a worry in the world. If even for a few days.

Then reality sets back in and I remember that I am the mom of 6. My husband is the dad of 6. Six very busy, talented, awesome, loving and amazing children. They need us. They enjoy us watching their games, cheering them on from the sidelines, coaching them, seeing those catches, pitches, and awesome throws to get the OUT for the team.
And I wouldn't change that for the world! So for now.... This memory will have to do....

Baseball season is upon us!

The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The term "sunflower seed" is actually a misnomer when applied to the seed in its pericarp (hull). Botanically speaking, it is more properly referred to as an achene. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel or heart.- Wikipedia


Your welcome for that tidbit of info. If you have little baseball players running around your house like we do ( and even not so little ones) you are probably all too familiar with this little staple on the baseball field. If you do not have little ones who play ball, then let me just tell you... there is nothing quite like finding seeds all over the back seat of the car, empty seed packages stuffed into baseball pants pockets going into the wash,  stepping on seeds all over your bathroom floor (yeah,  I don't get it either... but I'm pretty sure they all eat seeds while on the potty... at least they do in my house I think!)

Original
Ranch
BBQ
Buffalo
Cheese
Jalapeno Hot

these are just some of the flavors Sunflower seeds come in now-a-days. ( and a huDge thank you going out to DAVID SEEDS for making my life as a mom that much more challenging because now its not as simple as just running into the store and grabbing a pack of seeds.. now I need to remember which flavor my 4 boys like. God forbid I grab the wrong flavor!!)

I was not prepared for the seed phenomena. I had one boy. He was never crazy about seeds, or anything real healthy for him, for that matter. BUT since Noah and the boys moved in, and he became more of an avid baseball player... man, we cant keep enough seeds on hand in my house this time of the year.
I, myself, enjoy a nice already -shelled sunflower seed. I am not one of those moms you see spitting seeds all over the field. ( yes, I know a few.) They are tasty on salads. Sometimes I might have a handful as a quick snack. They are quite healthy.

The thing that amazes me the most about the Seed Phenomena ( as I will call it)... Come the end of baseball season, there isn't a seed to be found in my house. (except for that stray seed that I might find while sweeping up the bathroom floor.) Seriously. Its like they are gone from the planet. The kids don't beg and plead with us to stop at the store and get them seeds on the way to football practice. They don't keep half eaten bags of seeds in their backpacks, nor do they stop 1/2 court during a basketball game to grab a handful. Its just weird. I think.

But then again, I'm just a mom. SMH.

** maybe I can get Big Daddy Noah to weigh in on this issue, seeing he has been a ball player all his life and a coach. Im sure he can shed some light on the phenomena!** Stay tuned!!

From Noah

Hi my name is Noah.. Jeni's husband. She completes my life. Jeni is the most amazing woman I have met and I am truly blessed to have her in my children's lives as well. We are Christians in a real world with a real relationship with the Lord. No body is perfect but Him, and we are all a work in progress. We don't judge!!!! You cant in a family this size. I am so intrigued by Jeni's blogs and her posts. she is funny, smart, practical and you'll learn something from her, she is that good!!!! Our Children Kylie 18 Aaron 17 Joel 15 Jocelyn 13 Trevor 11 Asher 10. Highly dynamic kids. Talented and gifted far beyond their parents and shoulders above their peers. We are not better than anyone and we are not "braggish" parents We believe in recognizing our children's gifts, talents and abilities and require them to use them in honorable ways. Plus its so much fun to see whether its Trevor running on the football field making that 3rd touchdown, Aaron jumping up and making the unbelievable catch on the football or throwing a ball home from center field like it is a laser, Jocelyn cheering and singing our national anthem that will put shivers down your spine, Joel pitching strike after strike after strike, and skateboarding like a pro, Kylie singing in chorus and hearing her angelic voice knowing she can be a devil hehehe and finally Asher He like his brother pitches at amazing speed for 10 and he's also the family math wiz. Wow! I'm tired of typing but never get tired watching them enjoying with my Jeni by my side. She is my dream come true.
We have three rules and only three rules in this house and it applies to all of us 1.We work well together 2.We play well together 3. We put others first. Enjoy!

Welcome aboard

Welcome aboard.

I am Jenn ( or as my family calls me.. Jeni) and I have started this blog as a diary of sorts, and a scrapbook, if you will, of our family.

There are 8 of us. Yes.. 8!

Noah and I have 6 beautiful, talented, awesome, loving children.

This is our journey through baseball games, football games, basketball games, cheering comps, graduations, school projects, family holidays, drivers licenses, after-school jobs, grocery bills and most importantly LOVE.

Noah and I are also fitness buffs therefore you might actually get a few pointers from my husband, the trainer, or myself.. the picky eater trying to lose a few pounds.

I have written blogs in the past but this is different. I hope to write some articles WITH my Husband as well as thoughts once an a while from each of my wonderful children because  well... parenting 6 kids isnt always easy but Im sure being one of 6 children must not always be a cake walk either!)
We are a Christian family as well so please feel free to add your Christian comments! We welcome them!!

So ... settle in and join us on our amazing journey raising 6 children, two by two, in God's wonderful world!!!