Play Ball!

Luke's latest field trip was to see the Lakeland Flying Tigers baseball team.  I am not sure how many of the kids were totally excited about the game or even watching it for that matter, but the weather was breezy, the bleachers were covered and it was fun just to hang out with Luke.

Why Is This So Funny?

There is not even a cat involved, and yet, this just keeps me so entertained...

Almost There

We are almost at the end of the Spring soccer season, which usually means waning interest from the players and families.  However, Luke played in a 3 v 3 tournament with some friends a few weekends ago and ever since then he seems to play with increased interest, excitement and confidence.  It is completely awesome, yet totally weird, because his little team pretty much got slaughtered for all 10 hours at the tournament and I wasn't exactly sure it was going to help his love for soccer.  However,  since I am not one to look a gift Messi in the mouth,  I will just sit back and enjoy the view.

And here is a nice video of Luke making it look easy...

I Shall Call Him, Houdini

Last weekend the kids and I took a bike ride down to feed our goat friends once again, and as Luke was the first to round the corner, he yelled, "COW!!!"  Sure enough, one of the cows from the Ag department had escaped and was enjoying a lovely afternoon gallivanting around the practice track and beyond.  I didn't really think too much of it, I mean, he really wasn't going anywhere, but I did wonder how long he would be out until someone noticed.  We decided to keep our distance and go on with our normal feeding routine.  Which worked out fine until the cow started to do a little dance and run towards us!  I know it was just a cow and not a charging bull, but any loose animal over about 50 pounds scares the crap out of me, so we all got on our bikes and took off.  Luckily he did not pursue. Eventually he was blocking the exit of how we normally get home so we felt like hostages for a time, and  in the end we decided to take the very long way home.  This experience has completely scarred poor Luke, who was shaking, near tears and losing about two years off his life every time the cow would even start to move in our direction.  Note to self:  Cancel the cow birthday cake you ordered for him...

How to Have a Magical Beach Day

Step 1:  Go to Anna Maria Island with your awesome friend and her family and sit on the gorgeous beach.

Step 2:  Add one dozen handcrafted donuts.

Step 3: Reluctantly share the donuts because either your kids are getting these or the seagulls are, and since seagulls never get me anything for Mother's Day, they lose.

Step 4:  Have a blast digging a hole.

Step 5: Use the perfect breeze to fly a kite, while others play some soccer.

Step 6:  Become your own buried treasure.

Step 7:  Sit in another hole.

 Step 8:  Bust out the brand new snorkeling sets you have been keeping for over a year!

Step 9:  Actually ride waves on a boogie board because the wind and water are just right.  

And finally, Step 10: Lower your expectations for all future beach trips because they probably are never going to measure up in your entire lifetime :)

The Birthday That Refused to Die

Cindy's birthday is actually March 30th, but due to scheduling conflicts we had to have the Studio C party on March 22nd.  Which meant that we then had to have presents and cake with Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday, March 27th.   

And then the ward Young Women's group came and heart attacked our door on the night of March 29th.  

She was actually SUPER happy about this, but her picture
taking face is, you know, sucky.

And then finally, it was her actual birthday, so after the Blue and Gold Cub Scout Carnival we snuck in a quick cake and present moment of our own. 

This just proves that frozen rice crispie treats are amazing and you can make anything out of them.

Hopefully Cindy's dream came true when she opened her present (which was taped to a package of red velvet Oreos, just so we all recognize the mighty work that was done).

SURF LESSONS!

I found a place in Cocoa Beach that will teach you to surf.  So in the next few months she can take a friend over and realize her life-long dream of following in Barbie's footsteps and obviously becoming a surf champion, while barely overcoming a mermaid curse and finding out who her true parents are.  It's gonna be a long day.

And how did Luke react to all of this non-stop celebrating?

Meh.

Okay, really he was just as silly and kind as he always is :)

Brian Gets Our Goat

Brian spent all of March in Gainesville at the University of Florida doing a rotation of radiation oncology, which consequently is the medical specialty he has decided to pursue.  Seriously, Brian?  It's like you're not even trying to challenge yourself.  Anyway, he got to spend a few of his weekends here in Lakeland taking in the night life and scenery.  Which is another way of saying he came to our house and got to feed some goats in the rain. 

It's not too late to give up your medical school dreams
and switch to goat husbandry.

AND, he got to color some Easter eggs.  

It was magical.

No, you don't understand, look at this egg:  It was magical!!!

And that sums up Brian's visits with us in Lakeland.  Tune in next time where you will get to see pictures of Brian raking the front yard and then shopping for paper towels.  Settle down, I will post them as soon as I can!

Ta-da!

Just FYI, we finally got that glass panel put in the front door.

I think it turned out lovely.

Only downside is constantly getting ready to yell at the kids for leaving the front door open.

Oh, wait, sorry, it's just the new glass :)

OURS

OUR INSPIRATION

NAILED IT!

Do You Have Any Special Skills We Should Be Aware Of?

Well, I am pretty awesome at taking pictures of people in mid-air.  Here is a portfolio of my work:

This picture had me freaked out for a few minutes because I tried to look at it
right after I took it and squinting in the bright sun made Luke pretty
much invisible.  I was trying to figure out how I could have missed
him completely, and yet he was not in the water or on the board.
Well played, scoreboard.

You're obviously hired.

How to Throw A Studio C Birthday Party

Step 1:  Enlist your brother-in-law to create an invitation that looks something like this:

Step 2:  Plan your menu.  I was thinking of something like...

With...

Some...

And to drink, how about some...

Step 3: Head to Party City and have a magical night of finding exactly everything you need for your own costumes- Juan who works at Cabo, Lobster Bisque and Shoulder Angel, respectively.

Step 5: Have the party.  Which includes, watching some Studio C on a projector with awesome sound:

Playing Mafia.  See picture above.

Perfecting your best "Poker Faces" while playing Uno:

Dividing into teams for some Studio C "Who Said It?" relay trivia...

 Playing twister: 

Eating some C-shaped birthday cake:

Tying balloons to everyone's feet and having everyone try to pop them.  (Yeah, okay, this has no actual tie to Studio C, but 12 year olds just love to run around like maniacs, am I right?)

Playing the "Blender Game."  Which is basically where all the kids agree to play a trivia game where they could possibly end up drinking a totally disgusting concoction, yet not one of them actually follows through with that promise.  (This game was played as a live YouTube event by the Studio C cast.  Click the link here to watch.)

It was only a mix of milk, hot sauce, spinach, banana, yogurt,
vienna sausage, tomato, goldfish crackers and an artichoke heart-
what's the big deal??

I just can't do it!!

And having a scavenger hunt.  Again, no real tie to Studio C, but kids just love scavenger hunts and the church is huge, so it's a match made in birthday party heaven :)

Step 6: Thank all your guests for coming.  Thank you Scott Sterling, Aww Yeah, Lady Shadow, The Absent Minded Robber, Juan, and Destiny from the Restaurant of Life.  And everyone else who came and played along :)

Love this group of kids! Not pictured: Lobster Bisque, Emma, Rebecca and Ben.

Hope you had fun Cindy, because I am off the hook for the next six years!  

The last time I threw Cindy an official birthday "party"