Tennis and Track

This season has keep our evenings pretty busy with practices, meets, and matches. Bella decided to try out tennis this year and Graydon is running track.

At our school, tennis is not an option until high school. Bella has hit around with Andy throughout the years but, other than that, didn't come to the season with much experience. Bella's coach has been pretty impressed with Bella's tennis ability and decided to put her on the Varsity team right away instead of starting out on JV. She is the only freshman on Varsity. That brought with it a lot of nerves because it meant Bella would be playing girls who were older and more experienced. We figured this would be a learning season for her and kind of expected that she would have a lot of losses because of her inexperience. However, that hasn't been the case. She has been showing up and has been winning! Against seniors! I love watching her play. She always gives 100% to whatever she does and I am so proud of her effort. 

A sweet mom from the team takes photos at all of the matches and I got some pics of Bella from her. 

This is the one photo that I took. 

Graydon decided to participate in track this year. Even though he doesn't technically go to Hauser yet, they let the 6th graders participate because some of the schools they compete again begin junior high in sixth grade. 

The tricky thing about having kids in different sports is that often times, they have events on the same night and never in the same town. I wish I could clone myself because I hate choosing between events. And I LOVE watching my kids do their thing - whatever it is - and I hate to miss it. 

Graydon's current track events include: 200M, 100M, 4x100 relay, and high jump. 

The look of determination! 

High jump is still a struggle for him - he hasn't been able to clear the bar yet. But I mean. . . look at the height he is trying to get! The good news is that he isn't getting down on himself for not being able to do it yet. He expects that, with practice, it's something he will be able to do someday - if it's something that he really wants to accomplish. 

Good effort, Graydon! 

These are busy days, but they are a lot of fun too! 

The Wild Outdoors

It's campfire season. Andy and Curtis have built quite a few fires already this season. These times around the fire end up being nice times of bonding for our family - especially during these busy May days. 

The fire has been useful for a little bit of outdoor cooking as well. 

Andy bought the boys a BB gun and Curtis has been doing a lot of target practice. He's getting pretty good at hitting the bottles. 

We also got some motorized dirt bikes. It started with the little red one on the right and somehow they multiplied into three bikes. They are already getting a lot of use as there is a lot of property around us for riding. 

Don't worry, he wears a helmet when he rides. 

We're looking forward to a lot of outdoor fun now that the weather is getting nicer and we just have a few weeks left of school! 

Easter

I've always considered myself a Christmas girl. It has always been my favorite holiday. But recently, I think I've switched over to Easter. I love the reason we celebrate Easter: Jesus's triumph over death and the hope we have because of Him. It's been a hard year (not necessarily for us personally, but all around us - and I feel that) and that hope is something that I find myself clinging to more and more. I also love that this holiday doesn't come with a lot of hustle and bustle. That makes it easier to focus on the meaning of what we are celebrating. 

Easter Sunday was perfect. The weather was exactly how you imagine and hope Easter to be like. Our kids are becoming pretty understanding about my need to get nice photos when they dress up. And they're getting pretty good at it as well - we set up the tripod and got this family photo in one shot!

 

We did our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Andy and I hid 91 eggs around the front and back yard.

Bella being a goofball. 

 

Time to open up the eggs to see what they found.

 At this point, all of the eggs were counted and we discovered that there were still a few more eggs out there. 

The hunt continues.   

I gave the clue about an egg in the swingset area. All three kids were looking and no one saw it. (Hint - look near the bottom of Graydon's right foot). I eventually had to pretty much point right at it.  

Still a few more to find.  

Every year, one egg holds the grand prize: $5 and a chocolate bunny. Both Bella and Curtis have won this egg multiple times, but Graydon has never found it. Until this year! Easter 2021 is the year Graydon finally found the golden egg! It also happened to be one of the first eggs that got opened up. Money! Each of those slips of paper represent $1.  

We don't do little prizes anymore - just candy and money.  

Our grand prize winner!  

But wait. . . there's more! They still had baskets to find. Curtis found his first. I believe it was hiding in the master bathroom shower.  

Bella and Graydon's were a bit more challenging. They were still looking for their baskets 30 minutes after Curtis had found his. We eventually had to start giving them hints. Bella eventually found hers hidden on a top shelf in the garage. Graydon's was buried at the bottom of his hamper. Graydon officially has his own room now. This used to be our guest room. It's still in an in-between phase, but he doesn't seem to mind. He just enjoys having his own space. And Curtis doesn't mind having the other room to himself either.  

Later that day, we decided to drive out to our land. I haven't been back since were purchased it in September. We hiked through the woods a bit and Bella drove the Jeep around.  

I enjoyed all of our quality family time together. It is always my favorite.