Happy Birthday, Sue!

Happy Birthday to Sue-Sue!

Stay tuned for some pictures from last night's gathering at Gregory's!

First haircut!

Before:






After:

Tickle torture

Claire's birthday!

I can't believe she's six! She (was the same age as Lucas when I met her!)

She had a lot of fun running around with Lucas, Sepporah (her cousin), Olive and Ingrid (a friend's twin daughters). The kids had pizza and cupcakes, had a water balloon fight (surrounding Sarah when she would emerge with more), and chased after Daniel, keeper of the bubbles... After the party, Claire and Sepporah had a little dance party for Grandma and after everyone was gone, Claire introduced her to her new favorite game -- CAMP.

Thanks to Aunt Janet for contributing some of these great photos!

Tiny Dancer

Before we set off to Claire's dance recital (which I SO wish we had video of) we snapped a few shots at the house. You should know that all I said was, "Let me get a couple of pictures of you," and she started posing like a pro!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Beata!!!! Hope you are having a great day!!!!

Kid Quote

From Gupp:

Soon after the divorce I had to buy my first car. I got a blue Corsica without power locks or windows because that's what was on the lot and what I could afford.

I was driving Joe and one of his friends somewhere and I asked Joe to roll up the window. His friend (who I can't remember) asked him why he had to roll up the windows because his dad had automatic windows and locks on his car.

Joe says: "When we were rich we had those on the red car but we are poor now."

Grandma Libby

Check out THIS STORY from the Sentinel.


Says Gupp:

This story was in the Sentinel last week. The picture (from 4/7/1911) shows Grandma standing in front of the building they are talking about in the article. This was on a postcard that Grandma sent to her friend in Bay City (where Grandma originally came from), May Parks (and May must have given it back to her). It says: Dear May: This is a picture of five girls who went to the masquerade the other night. Don’t we look foxy tho? Write soon. Libby. Mom’s note on the card: Libbie is in the middle, she’s almost 19 years old. Maybe you recall mom talking about Grandma coming to Belding to work in the silk mills and staying in the dorm rooms because mom said she was chasing after Grandpa. I don’t know how she met him or knew about him but that was the story mom told.

I have talked to Jill Mason mentioned in the article and they would like to have the postcard for display. I just thought you would like to know about this little bit of history about a grandma who was stubborn and determined to get her man. The thought of the whole thing makes me smile…..

P.S. Tonight I'll have Dan help me make the photo more visible. :)

The next Monet?

Here are some pics of Lucas making Sarah's Mother's Day gift, a cup "just like she drinks tea out of!?!?!?!!!!!"

He first wanted to go with a giant T-Rex, but once I steered him toward cups and such, he picked this one out right away.

Note the size of the T-Rex:



And what he went with:

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing moms, grandmas and aunts in our family (who do a fair amount of momming from time to time). I hope you all have a great day!!!!

Play Ball

by Karen Balice-Gregory

I know how difficult it is to keep a 3-year-old entertained and I can even manage to handle a couple of them at a time occasionally, but multiply that by 10 or so and you have what my father used to describe as "Farts in a mitten." I don't know if he made that up or if its some kind of cliché he read somewhere but the description is right on the mark.

This week Miles began his career in baseball...T-ball to be exact. I had the distinct pleasure of being at his first practice trying to contain myself as these brave coaches began their yearly ritual of instruction. We knew that Miles was athletic and coordinated because he has been playing ball since he could walk but teaching him how to be a team player is not quite the same as playing one-on-one. He is learning all about sharing in and out of preschool and he's been taught that "everyone gets a turn" but trying to help him comprehend it is another matter.

The coaches sat the kids down to explain the rules and most of them seemed to be listening. They were split into two groups to practice batting and catching. As the coach worked with one player the other four or five waited their turn trying to balance the batting helmets on their little heads. Some of them were kicking dirt while others sat down to pick through the stones. Kids began to chase each other ... run over to their parents...get a drink...go potty...tell a story...pick a flower...do anything but pay attention. It doesn't take much of a distraction (butterfly, bee, bird, squirrel) to get them off base, so to speak.

The coaches (and parents) continuously redirected the players with statements like "you have to wait your turn", and "now watch what I'm doing and then you try it." Some of them threw the ball with great vigor but had no real target area. One player was designated to catch the ball but all of them took off after it ... can't have too many backups I guess. There were a few tears followed by "she won't throw the ball to me" or "he hit me in the head," but by and large the team was pretty well behaved.

Pretty soon we'll be sitting in the stands cheering them all on wondering if or when they will ever get it...trying to keep the laughter down as we are thoroughly entertained by their innocence and soothing their broken bodies and spirits when they get hurt. We will all want them to have fun and enjoy the world of athletics minus the competitive edge that will come along all too soon.

Looking back, I must admit that some of my fondest memories were made on the ball fields. It's not always easy sitting in the stands until sundown after a hard day at work, especially when its cold or windy, but its worth it. Trying to help your child deal with defeat or failure is sometimes a challenge but usually a teaching moment. I can't think of a better place where you can go to be entertained so cheaply while escaping the stress of every day life. Someday all those little "farts in a mitten" will be running around this world competing for their lives and we will look back and appreciate what a gas it all really was (pun intended).

Really? REALLY?

Yes, really. This is what we're working with around Che Baidas these days. Whether he's happy, sad, wants attention, you name it -- ear-piercing scream.

Today I was able to get it down on video. It's funny to see him scream and then wait -- wait for me to reappear, wait for me to come out of the bathroom, etc.

Just thought I would share!




P.S. Because I think Joe will get a kick out of this... the other day when Anthony was screaming...

Kirsten: Sarah, someday you're going to have to pay for my hearing aid.

Sarah: I think it will be more because of the rock concerts you go to than Anthony.

(Ha ha. "Rock concerts." OK, mom!)

Kid Quote

I know, I know, cliche -- kids say the darndest things. But they really do. If one of yours does (or did at some point even if they are now grown) e-mail them to me and I'll put them on the blog (or put them up yourself if you're authorized.

Lucas has had some real gems in the last few months. I'll start it off with a good one.

The night before Sarah and Loren went away for the weekend a couple of months ago we were talking about them leaving...



Kirsten: Lucas, do you think mama and papa should make you a brother or sister in the Bahamas?

Lucas: They can't. They won't have a kitchen.



OK, you get the idea. Now... GO!

And if you want to be able to post, just let me know. It's easy. I can e-mail you the link to be able to.

Olé!

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, and in honor of that, we had enchiladas at our place.

We even got Claire to try one bite:



So, she deferred to her lasagna, Daniel and I had the enchiladas, and our special guest for the night -- Lucas, had PB&J. Although there wasn't much play time, Claire and Lucas were able to create one maraca out of a can, jewelry beads (which the Easter Bunny will never, ever, ever get again because they are all over our house), paper and tape before dinner. (Claire had just come from dance class, if you're wondering about the outfit!)






Oh, where did I get my crown, you ask? Claire made me a special Cinco de Mayo crown at school. Daddy's wasn't finished until I was taking Lucas home. Claire gave the blue maraca to Lucas and made a red one for herself later.

Here are a few more pictures from dinner:





I had taken Lucas to make his Mama a Mother's Day present (photos will be posted after Sunday!) and then we came to the house. He immediately wanted to go in Claire's room and find her black horse, which he apparently saw in the 2 minutes he was in her room at the last house. I didn't know what he was talking about, but we quickly found it.




Lucas ran through the house terrorizing the cats. Meanwhile, I snapped a few shots of the house. Clearly, we're not yet unpacked all the way, and this is only a couple of rooms of the house, but here you go!