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We had two tball games this past Saturday. That means twice the fun right? This was Kent's first game which was hilarious. He was so happy to be playing in a game!

Sometimes he got a little bored and had to entertain himself.

Then the fight broke out between Kent and one of his teammates. This was one of the first times Kent got the ball but his teammate wanted to get it too. She wouldn't let him throw it at all. Finally he got out from behind her and threw the ball to first base. When he looks at these pictures, he just says, "she wouldn't get out of my way."

Jason was super excited to be out on the field helping the kids out. He was the second base coach and directed them where to run next which was important because they don't always run in the right direction.

That's keeping his eye on the ball!

Running home!

Kent played shortstop, first base and pitcher. He said his favorite part was when he was at bat.

Clark also played on Saturday. He played shortstop twice, third base and pitcher. He's loving the game. His favorite play is when the bases are loaded and someone doesn't hit the ball too hard. He runs up, grabs the ball and waits at home to tag the runner. He's done that a few times and his team loves it!

There was one time he was on third base getting ready to make a run. The bleachers are right in front of third so I was trying to cheer him on. I said, "Ok, Clark, time to go home!" He started to take his helmet off and walk off the field. He thought the game was over and we were really going home! Ha! It's like an Amelia Bedelia joke.

Game 2 - Saints vs. Bulls

T-ball is so much fun! It takes up a lot of time, but watching the boys play is so worth it! 

Clark played pitcher and shortstop this game. He really loved shortstop and did a fantastic job. He tagged two people out which was pretty awesome. I think he's enjoying himself which is the best part!

Clark running into home!

A cheer for a great game!

Game 1 - Saints vs. Slammers

Clark's first t-ball game was so much fun. It was a beautiful Saturday even if it was a little windy. There are four fields and the games all start at the same times. They start each set of games with the national anthem which I think is so cool. Then the games last for 4 innings or 90 minutes. They play 9 batters per inning. Our team has been playing outs but I guess it is up to the coaches if they want to do outs yet or not.

Clark at bat 

Clark played left field, third base and pitcher twice. He really liked being pitcher. He said that he was able to do a lot more than in the other places. Jason was a proud dad. He loved watching him field the ball and throw to first. It's fun to see him playing hard and having fun.

Love this part of the game!!

Riptide Practice

Kent is loving his time at t-ball. He does pretty good paying attention and trying to follow directions. Maybe this hit wasn't home run material, but it at least got him to first!

Fielding some grounders

Playing catch with Clark. Clark was so excited to help out at Kent's practice. He was really good at trying to get them to learn how to play.

T-Ball Preseason

This is our first year in t-ball and we're loving it. 

Hanging out at one of Clark's practices

The parade - what a fun time that was! Kent had on perma-smile. It was priceless! Kent's a Riptide. I was in charge of planning and making the banner. The kids all did such a great job with their handprints. I think the banner turned out cute and we won a runner up prize! Go us!

Clark's on the Saints (love the Saint Bernard!). We thought it was fitting since we're Saints. Ha!

Walking IN THE STREET! That was a pretty big deal for the both of them.

Our fans! Thanks for coming to support the boys Gigi and Kara!

Classic Clark

Love t-ball. So excited for the season!

Winter OIympics 2014

We celebrated a LOT during February. We had Chinese New Year, the Superbowl and the Winter Olympics all in the first week or so! The kids were loving all of the fun stuff we did. I was just loving the food. Just keeping it real.

I decided that I wanted to have a little party to celebrate the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. We made a paper chain out of the Olympic ring colors. I still have a bunch of strips leftover from our snake project from last Chinese New Year, so any time we can use our strips, we do. Here's what we did for Thanksgiving with more strips. And the leaves from Clark's family tree used these strips too!

For dinner we had Russian Blini. Oh. My. Goodness. Can I just say that I was instantly back in Russia when I took the first bite. The phrase for "blini with sweetened condensed milk" is one of the key phrases that I remember in Russian. That's how much I used to order them!! 

We used this recipe and they turned out so yummy. We had many different toppings to use: sweetened condensed milk (my favorite), strawberries, bananas, cream cheese fruit dip, chocolate spread, chocolate almond spread, chocolate hazelnut spread, powdered sugar, and maybe a few more things. I can't remember. It was fun to just try different combinations and see what we liked the best. I stand by my favorite of blini with sweetened condensed milk lightly dusted with powdered sugar on top. Oh, who are we kidding, you just load that thing up with powdered sugar! I won't be waiting until the next Russian Olympic games to make them though!

During the opening ceremonies, we played a little bingo game that I found online. It didn't last long. We really just liked talking about the different countries and guessing how many athletes each one would have. We had the globe out so we could find the different countries and we had google out so we could answer any of those tough questions Clark asked!

Clark really enjoyed the Olympics this year. Everyday he would follow the US on the app and see how many medals we won. He loved watching the videos of all of the new (to him) sports. He thought curling was hilarious. It was so fun to see how much he enjoyed the games. Made me love them more too!

Tubing Fun

Josh celebrated his tenth birthday at Villa Olivia for tubing. After the sadness of the forgotten snow pants, we all had a great time. Even if some of us were a little colder than others. Some of the group ready to go! 

Ready for some tubing fun!

Clark and Kent had the best time ever on the hill. Clark jumped right in and rode all by himself. Kent had to ride with an adult, but he didn't mind one bit! Jason had him hugging him for the first two or three rides. Then he turned him around to face forward and Kent just went crazy with excitement!

The best part...not having to walk up the hill. Minimal effort. Maximum fun.

Some fun shots of people coming down the hill. Thanks Gigi for taking them! Top to bottom, left to right: Clark, Boompa, Alvinia, Uncle Dave, Jason and Kent, me

And finally the birthday boy! I didn't see him out on the hill at all, but I saw him for a little bit at the restaurant afterwards. Happy Birthday Josh! Thanks for such a wonderful time!

The Strength of the Pack is the Wolf

and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

Our annual Wolves game was nothing short of fantastic! The Chicago Wolves beat the Rockford Ice Hogs in a sold out game. It was also the girl scout night which is the best night ever to go see a Wolves game. The crowd is insane. I was a little worried when the game was tied in the third period. It seems like every game we go to ends in some ridiculously long overtime struggle. Normally I'd say cool, but not with such little kids. The Wolves came through and scored for us just in time. Thank you!!!

Clark and Kent both wanted snow cones when we first got there, so I brought back a red one for Clark and a blue one for Kent. Then Kent tells me he doesn't want the snow cone. So I ate it. Notice my blue smile above. Then about 30 minutes after I had the last satisfying bite of snow cone, he tells me that he wants to have a blue snow cone. Grrrrrrr.

Kent did love the game. He sat and watched most of it. He would often stand up so he could be ear to ear with Jason to discuss hockey, or just where Skates was!

I took a video of the crowd going wild. You don't get the full effect, but you get the idea. It was loud!

Football is Finally Over

I thought it was over right after the last game, but we still had trophy night! I had all but forgotten the crazy football season that we had this fall until we got a text telling us when and where the trophy and team party was going to be held. The kids had such a great time and loved getting together again. I'm really thankful for all of the hard work that the coaches put in and for the great team that Clark was on.

The morning of the party I told Clark that he was going to get a trophy. His eyes lit up and I think he was on cloud 9 all day. He wanted to know if it was a first place trophy or if it was going to say Champion on it or not. I told him it was a participation trophy, but I don't think he cared. It says he's a champion no matter what words are on it, haha!

Soldier Field (well, almost!)

I know this is going to come as a shock, but Kent loves football. He eats, drinks, sleeps, lives...football. We went to pick up Jason some new running shoes for our big race in May. Kent was ecstatic that he lucked out and got brand new stadium in the process!

Read carefully...those are Kent's two favorite letters to write, "t" and "o". If you ask him what he wrote on the top of the box, he usually answers, "coaches."

Having fun with his teenymates! He loves these little guys. He asks to look them up on YouTube all the time. He watches videos of all the different guys you can get like the glow-in-the-dark guy and the Seattle Seahawks. Seriously, when he told me that he wanted a Seattle Seahawk teenymate I about died laughing!

Jason helped with the turf and the yard lines. Looks like he got a little tired by Kent's end zone. Kent marked the middle and his end zone. Clark had to help of course and label his side. He's very good about being the team with the mismatched helmets. Kent is always the Ravens and the Falcons because they have matching helmets (at least that's why I think he puts them together). The Titans and Redskins are always the opposing team (translation - mom or Clark's teams).

He is desperate to put together an entire team of teenymates! My response (to just about everything these days), "Put it on your Christmas list."

He LOVES Football

Enjoy a little .gif file of Kent kicking the ball. Reminds me a little of Charlie Brown. 

Touchdown!

For the post-season the Colt division of Flag Football had an All-Stars game. Anyone who played during the season could come and they would divide into two teams and play each other. I did quite a bit of grumbling since the game started an hour late, I had a lot to do when I got home and it was so cold out. Not to mention that I was in a skirt since I came from Auxiliary training. But boy we were all singing a different tune as soon as we saw Clark score a TOUCHDOWN! Here's a little recap of Clark's 14 seconds of fame!!

And this could be one of my favorite moments during the entire season. After Clark's touchdown, Hayden came running to him to give him a high 5! Seriously awesome.

Ian and Kent cheered from the sidelines! Well, they at least ate candy...

I also caught this awesome flag pull by Hayden! I was trying to get a flag pull all season and finally managed on the very last game. Way to go Hayden!

Great game for our All Stars!