Preston's last T-ball game

Last night was Preston's last T-ball game of the season. I was so sad to see it end. The weather was beautiful this time, unlike the other game I went to where the wind was horrid.

Once again, each kid got three pitches thrown to them. If they didn't hit it, they set up the stand. Preston hit a pitch both times!!!!!!

His first hit! I think his eyes are closed in the picture, which makes that more amazing of a hit.

Because it was such a great hit, it was considered a home run. Its fun to watch those little legs run to all of the bases.

I love how each time he got on base, he would stand with his hands tucked behind his back.

Picking rocks during a boring moment of the game.

Getting ready to throw the ball.

What a great throw. This is one of my favorite pictures.

The 2nd time he hit the ball, I wasn't quick enough to get a picture. Here he is running to 1st base.

Safe on 2nd.

Waiting patiently on 2nd base.

And then not so patiently on 2nd.

Trying to skip 3rd base and run for home.

Safe on 3rd base.

Running for home.

And he's SAFE!!!

Guarding 1st base. I even got him to grin and wave.

The look of a little boy who really enjoyed T-ball.

Each team got a trophy to end the year. Preston was so cute. They each started to hold up their trophies and he noticed his wasn't the tallest. So he stretched his arm higher. It still wasn't enough, so he stepped up on the cement. I am such a proud aunt.

I love his face in this picture. I wish I had zoomed in on just him.

After the game, I pushed Tyler in the swings. He loved it. He was pretty busy watching everyone around him in the other swings, so it was hard to get him to look at me for a picture. And I loved his outfit; those irrigation boots really make it cute. But they also made it hard to get him out of the swing later. I had to cheat and take the boots off to get him out.

I love days like these when I get to spend so much time with the boys. I also learned that I take way too many pictures, but I don't care. Its easy to do when they are so cute.

First fishing trip 2011

Last night Josh got off work a little earlier then usual, so we decided to go fishing. 

The fishing was pretty intense, oh look, something cool! This was graved into the rock, so neat.  

And the crawdads were climbing everywhere. 

Ok, it was a pretty dead evening. Not a single bite. We did see one crawdad, but the hot dog broke off the line and he took off with it. 

But at least it was a beautiful evening. Hopefully the fishing will be better next time. 

Valex's 1st birthday

My nephew turned 1 this week. For his birthday party, my sister asked me to make his cake. In our family, its tradition for the one year old to get their own cake. When we put Valex's cake in front of him, my youngest brother, John wanted to know why Valex got a cake to himself. My mom explained the tradition and told John that he had one too for his first birthday. John decided it would be a better tradition when you are old enough to remember. ;)

Wilton has a guitar pan, so she asked me to make two guitar cakes, one for Valex and one for the guest. I had her email me pictures of Valex's dad's guitars and I tried to copy them.

Valex got the acoustic guitar. It was the easier one to copy and I thought it turned out as close as you can get for a cake that is pretending to be a guitar. ;)

The electric guitar cake was also inspired by a picture she sent me. It ended up being my favorite.

About 2 hours before the party, I realized I didn't have a card. (Those cakes kept me too busy to remember anything else.) I was at work so there wasn't much I could do. I knew I could just buy a card, but I enjoy making them so much. Luckily I had some scrapbook paper with me because I was going to Jessica's after work to craft before the party. So I cut a few things out and then stole some pop up dots from Jessica to put it together. It is my first square card and also the first card I've put together on my own without following a design.

One more brag and then I'll get to the birthday party pictures. I LOVE shopping for clothes. And I LOVE finding good deals on clothes. About a month ago, the Children's Place was having a sale which included items at up to 60% off and free shipping. Ten minutes later my shopping cart was full and I had checked out buying 7 shirts. Since Valex's cake was a guitar, I decided to stick with the music theme, for the most part.

I think the white shirt ended up being my favorite.

I couldn't rest these cute dinosaur shirts.

After checkout, I realized I had bought 2 shirts that were almost identical. But they were both cute so it didn't matter.

The green shirt, and the orange below, were from another good sale at Old Navy.

The party was last night at my mom's house. I only put my camera down long enough to get the cakes out, so there is a TON of pictures. In my post about the t-ball game, I complained about the lady who kept getting in front of my camera. Last night, I WAS that person.

Opening his first birthday present. (Only my mom would use Christmas wrapping paper.)

Vanessa knew it was my present before reading the card because I like ribbon. For me, half of the gift is about presentation. Hence the stress over the almost forgotten card.

So much ribbon, that Valex couldn't open it on his own.

You can tell this present is from one of my brothers because of the duck tape. ;) I thought it was cute that Alden went to the store just to buy nice paper, but then used duck tape to wrap it. Valex had to take a break to sneeze.

He hasn't figured out forward yet, but he can go backwards and make it jump.

One of my favorite pictures from last night.

Trying to blow the whistle. I'm sure he'll figure it out soon. ;)

Another favorite.

My handsome and thrifty brother. (He's the one that used the duck tape.)

He was pretty fascinated with the candle.

He wasn't sure what to think of the cake.

Still not sure.

Maybe just a little taste.

Hm, still not sure.

One more of my favorite pictures from last night.

His dad is holding the guitar that the cake was inspired after.

I think the dog ate more cake then he did.

I take that back. I think the kitten ate more cake then he or the dog did.

Final destruction.