Fall baseball

For the first time, Caden and Cole played fall baseball. We gave them the choice of baseball or soccer. The choice wasn't too surprising since Caden loves baseball and Cole would be playing with his best friend. Typically, September is a quiet month to get used to school and recover from the busy summer, but baseball did not allow for that.  Practices started in August, and games were played on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-August through September. Both boys had great coaches and teammates. Their skills improved, and they had fun.

Cole was thrilled to play REAL baseball. He was over tball!

Loved playing catcher!

Cole is wearing the blue hat, playing third base. 

At this age, the kids were thrown up to nine pitches by their coach.

  

Gavin and Cole

Caden was happy to get the chance to play some more baseball after the spring/summer games ended.

Probably playing center field here

Kid-pitch at this age, so there were some wild pitches thrown occasionally

Caden's coaches and many of his teammates were from Sherman. The coaches were worth the thirty-minute drive to practice one-two times per week. They were fantastic with the boys!

  Made for a very busy August and September, but it was fun!

Extras from September

September was a pretty busy month with fall baseball for Caden and Cole and our trip to Universal Studios and Sea World (photos to come).  Here are a few extra photos from September that do not fall into those categories.

Labor Day at Island Bay...After an afternoon of games and swimming, the clouds let loose and it poured briefly. We were left with this beautiful complete rainbow over Lake Springfield. 

Who knows?!

Kieran scootering away

Harry Potter Night at Barnes and Noble...

Photos of fall baseball and our fun trip to Universal Studios and Sea World are coming soon (hopefully!).

Kieran starts preschool

Big deal around here...Kieran is going to preschool.  He goes to Cherry Hills Preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00-11:30.  His teacher is Mrs. Hart.  There are nine kiddos in Kieran's class.  He seems to really enjoy school and is doing well.  

Preschool open house before the first day of school is a time when preschoolers and parents can hang out in the classroom together. 

First day of preschool!

Very excited!

Showing off his backpack

Can't believe Kieran is old enough to go to preschool!

It was a sunny morning!

Kieran after school with his first preschool art project

A couple weeks after preschool started, they took a field trip to the Apple Barn.  We have been on Apple Barn field trips together, but this was KIERAN'S first field trip. 

Making our way through the corn maze

Goofy face in the apple orchard

Learning all about apples

Kieran and Alivia...awww!
(Alivia's older brother, Tyler and Cole are friends and went to preschool together.)

Enjoying his yummy apple

Extras from August

What else we were up to in August besides the Illinois State Fair and going back to school...

Swinging in the backyard

Playing at a park

Watching the much-anticipated Phineas and Ferb/Marvel movie

Quick park trip on a very hot day

Caden at his friend's scuba birthday party

We went to the Cardinals game when Fred Bird's birthday was celebrated. Mascots from a few other teams surprised Fred Bird before the game. It was a hot day, but we had fun.

Caden met up with his friend, Griffin in the much cooler videogame area.

Worn out Cardinals fan!

Enjoying some cool treats on a hot night...Clearly, shirts are optional.

Kieran with his cul-de-sac buddy, Hugo

Back to school

Photos from the first day of school 2013

Excited about 1st grade and his Skylanders lunchbox

4th grader...last year at GES

This is the last year the boys will be in the same school building until they are a senior and freshman in high school. Yikes! This realization made me want to cry. 

Ready for another great school year! Maybe Kieran was ready to have Mom to himself again. 

The boys with our neighbor, Sophia

The cul-de-sac crew...We have the whole building covered, K-4th. 

And they're off!

Illinois State Fair

We made two trips to the Illinois State Fair way back in August.

On our first visit this year, the focus was rides and fair food.  The boys made good use of their mega passes.

The big boys were good sports and rode some of Kieran's rides with him.

Cole is in the middle bumper car.

Caden, Curt, and Cole on their favorite ride, Avalanche (if I'm remembering correctly)

Another ride wave from Kieran

Caden and Papa on the Sky Glide

Kieran, Nana, and me on the Sky Glide...Kieran wasn't so sure about being up that high.

The boys on one of Kieran's favorites

Kieran loved going through the funhouses with his big brothers.

Caden 

Cole and Caden coming down the small slide...We went down the giant slide too, but didn't get any good photos of that (MY favorite!). 

On our second visit of the year, we spent most of our time in Conservation World, but we saved some time for rides and fair food (of course).

Kieran really did not want to share this kettle corn. 

The big boys tried rock climbing...

Cole

Caden

 and archery...

Caden

Cole

This photo was taken either right before Cole fell forward and knocked down this display or right after.  I've blocked it from my memory. 

and target shooting...

It is not easy to aim at a target using a red light when one is red-green colorblind.

More rides before bidding farewell to the State Fair

We'll be back again next August!