They say it better... Abby

I thought this was an interesting commentary about the 16 year-old girl, Abby, who tried to sail around the world.

Photo Friday VI

This was our last night with Grandpa.  Half-priced fajitas at Pappasittos and Graham's game.  A good time was had by all.

Two of our favorite people came to visit.  Teresa (in the green) stopped by all the way from Illinois.  She used to live with us back when we just had three boys and Graham was only 3.  It seems like yesterday that we were just doing babies, and now look at these big kids.  Danell (in the pink), Teresa's bff from seminary, is infamous in our house.  We know her best as the girl that Graham said, "I hate you" to.  He was 4 and had just watched Nemo... you know the scene where Nemo tells his dad that he hates him (why does Pixar do that to us parents?)  We made him call Danell the next day and profusely apologize.  By the way Graham is leaning in, I would say all is well now.

Onto joyous occasions, we attended our friend Amanda's wedding.  The boys were very excited because her husband's name is Benjamin Franklin, and there are not many people who have been to Benjamin Franklin's wedding.  Aren't they handsome, by the way?  They were in heaven with the all-you-can eat fruit and all-you-can-drink lemonade.

You knew there would be baseball pictures, right?

Asher's famous pose, holding the ball HIGH up in the air to show the play MUST stop.

The tiniest player on the team.  Love him.

Graham got to play at the Dr. Pepper field right outside of where the Ranger's play.  There was music, an announcer, and below-ground dugouts.  Very big time for him!  And a special shout out to the Whiting family for making it to so many of his games.

Very serious.  And very much improved from last year when he most likely would have been playing in the dirt.

His lefty throw.

I love this photo because when I asked them to get in a picture together they threw their arms around each other.  My two oldest.  Polar opposites, but such good friends.

They say it better...

These posts are for all you readers out there.  Chris often sends me articles during the day that he wants me to read, mostly from blogs that he follows.  I love it.  It is a way that we can dialogue about things we normally wouldn't-- things other than kids, work, or who will clean the toilets.

This one is about how to demonstrate love and humility.  Hope you like it as much as I did.

Photo Friday V

Well, it's been an action-packed week around here.  Lots of baseball, sugar, and swimming makes for perfect summertime days.  Grandpa added extra fun to our week, too.  He has taken each kid on a special "date."  Graham chose to go to the Boy Scout store and buy a Swiss Army Knife (and it has been strapped to his belt ever since).  Asher picked the Science Museum.  Samuel chose to go hit some golf balls and get his own Dr. Pepper (I am forseeing lots of time on the therapist's couch over this one, "I only got my own Dr. Pepper when my grandpa came in town").  Joseph wanted to go to Target and buy a toy.  And Nathan, well, he didn't get a date, but he did get lots of special attention (that's what you get when you're the 5th child).

I love all these little guys.

Washing the bugs off of Bucky (Grandpa's truck).

I mean, aren't his blonde locks to die for?

Getting some 1st base coaching from Daddy.

Such an innocent little face.  Or maybe sad.  Maybe he was looking at the scoreboard which was not so much in our favor.

Making the stop.

Intense to make it home.

Grandpa and the baseball boys.

Thanks for spending the week with us, Dad!

Let the fun begin.

Grandpa arrived late last night.  The boys couldn't be any more excited to have him join us in our week full of activities.  He was already able to see Graham sing in church this morning, enjoy an afternoon swim, and top it off with some Sweet Sammies tonight (a local cookie and ice cream place, for you non-Fort Worth friends).

photo friday IV

I promise that photo fridays will not always be all baseball pictures.  The season will soon be over and then I will have to find other things to take pictures of other things besides my boys at the baseball fields.

He is one happy Cleveland Indian.

This one wants to put on his baseball clothes at 8 am.

This shortstop is warming up.

Making the throw to first, although I would guess it is not preferable to have your eyes closed.

The cutest left fielder there ever was (until one of my other boys is a left fielder).

Chris likes me to post these pictures so he and his college friends can discuss things like "batting form."  This one is for you, Scott & Doug.

He is very serious about his batting.

I just love these boys...

Especially that one in the middle.

See!  We did something besides baseball... we went to the pool!

photo friday III

after a night of backyard baseball

these two are cute beyond words

ranger game buddies

when playing in the rain, it is very important to have your toothpaste handy

and be in your undies

his favorite present

My husband is the hardest person to buy for.  Ever.  He really is.  He does not want much.  Gifts are not his love language.  When birthdays roll around, it is hard to come up with something that will wow him.  Well, our second born did it this year.  He thought and thought... what would Daddy want?  A Baylor baseball stadium of course.  Many hours and a roll of tape later and this is what he came up with.

the bird's eye view

the score board.  note to self... work on the letter 'c' tomorrow.

the building to the right is where players are taken when they are injured, or where women go when they are ready to have their baby.  that's what he said.

ticket stand

and another view

Thank you for making your daddy very happy this year, A!  To show your love and attention for the game made his day.