Easter '11

Jake finally asked. I knew the day was coming but I still wasn't prepared for it:

"Mom, tell me the truth: Is the Easter Bunny real?"

Gulp.

"Well, what do you think?" (stalling)

"I don't really think a giant bunny can hop from house to house all over the world. Seriously Mom, tell me the truth. Is it you and dad that hide the eggs?"

I am not a huge fan of Easter myself. And for some reason the Easter Bunny isn't nearly as sacred to me as Santa so I came clean. The look of disappointment on his face when I answered his question was so sad but he quickly

got over it. However, I knew it was only a matter of time before more questions surfaced - this time concerning the plausability of a fat man in a red suit flying through the air in a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

Double gulp.

Yep, not two days later we were driving alone in the car when he asked me, "Mom, tell me the truth: Is Santa Claus real?"

"Well, what do you think?" (stalling and trying not to panic)

"Mom, come on, don't lie to me. Do you and Dad put things in our stockings?"

"Yeah, you know that. We always put stuff in the stockings." (stalling... stalling...)

"OK, but does anyone BESIDES you put stuff in the stockings?"

"Yes" - (Thinking to myself, I am not lying. Sometimes dad or grandmas put stuff in stockings. Is being evasive the same as lying???)

"OK but does SANTA put things in the stockings? Is Santa real? Do you believe in Santa?"

Long pause. (THINK, THINK, THINK. Why don't they teach you about these moments in parenting school?)

"Jake, Santa exists in my heart and you can decide on your own if you believe in him" (oh,

yeah... that's brilliant, Mom!)

He wasn't quite satisfied with that answer but after asking the same question several more times and getting the same answer, he turned on the iPod and found his new favorite song to blast.

OK. So I chickened out- took the easy way out. But I am not ready for these questions. And I am definitely not ready for my baby to not believe in Santa.

Tanner Plays Ball

Tanner was so excited for his first t-ball game. All weekend he was reminding us that he played on Monday night (as if we could forget with Brian coaching!). When the day came we worried the game might be cancelled as it rained hard all morning. But by noon the skies had cleared and we even saw some sunshine and blue skies.

After all these years of getting to watch Jake play games it was finally Tanner's turn to play instead of just be a fan. He has spent so much time practicing in the backyard and on the Green with his dad and big brother (and sometimes his sister who plays outfield and pretends to be a "fairy" who flies to wherever the ball lands). When asked what his favorite thing to do is, he answers, "Play ball!".

He was a stud! Seriously, that kid's got talent. His stance is perfect- almost funny to watch as it is

so clear he is imitating the pros. His swing is right on. He can catch high fly balls. And he's got an ARM on him. He has obviously watched a lot of sports on TV and has benefitted from the years of watching Jake's teams play. He played first base in the first inning and made two plays there. His friend Evan was on the pitchers mound and those two play together at least twice a week so they had it down. He knows just where to stand and just where he needs to be when the ball is hit. He obviously gets so much joy out of playing the game.

It is so funny to watch these little guys play. Bless Brian for coaching. He is so patient and positive with the kids- even the ones that clearly have never seen a baseball game in their lives and have no clue how to throw or how to pay attention for that matter! They look so small out there on the field. I love how everyone gets to hit and there are no outs and everyone gets to run the bases until they "come home".

Such a difference from kid pitch (which Jake is playing this year). Suddenly the competition is on

and winning matters (at least to the players and coaches) and kids are aware of their individual performance. Ugh. I love it but it also terrifies me watching Jake and wanting so much for him to succeed because I know how much it means to him. So... the innocence of t-ball is so great.

Last night's game was too long by half an hour- all the kids were fidgety by the end- and it was COLD outside (everyone was bundled in hoodies, coats, wool hats, and gloves, not to mention blankets!) but it was so much fun to watch my boy in his element. My Tan Man. He was so happy and so excited to be there, clearly proud of himself and hamming it up in the outfield in the 2nd. Yes, this is one proud Mama.

Turning the Double Play

Yesterday was Opening Day for the North Boise Little League. For the first time, both Tanner and Jake are playing, so we weren't able to hit the Opening Day festivities AND the Hidden Springs Easter Egg hunt. Bye Bye Easter Bunny. Jake's team pictures were in the morning and Tanner's were in the afternoon, and since I am Assistant Coaching Jake's team and Managing Tanner'e team, that meant we were at the ballfield all day long.

In typical Boise spring fashion, it was alternately, cold with rain/snow and warm with sun over the course of the day, so we had to bring a truckload of equipment, jackets, sweatshirts etc. We hauled ourselves around two circuits of photos, the running the bases station, the pitching station, the obstacle course and the hitting station. We started about 10:30 in the morning and finished about 3:30 in the afternoon.

All the kids, including both of our boys had a really good time. Jake threw the fastest on his team, which is cool since he is the smallest kid. Tanner threw second hardest on his team and did great in the hitting station. The T-Ball kids are great, but the attention span isn't really there, by the time we got to the hitting station, there were only three kids left to hit.

Games for Jake start this week, Tanner has one more week of practice before he starts games, but our schedule is beyond crazy trying to keep up with both boys schedules as well as therapy appointments and work schedules. Tanner's team has practice on Monday and Wednesday. Jake's team has had practice on Tuesday and Thursday until now. This week he has games on Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. We both know this is the beginning of a new level of craziness that will go on, depending on the season for the next 18 years or so, when all three kids are involved in sports or something else.

So far, Marisa and I still remember

each others names when we pass in the night, but I'm not sure how much longer we'll be able to even say that at this rate. But as I have explained to her, when it gets to be too much. "You better be able to embrace the insanity, because you'll never make it thru otherwise". Enjoy the process, even if the process is slowly driving you stark raving mad. But in the short term, GO ROCKIES (Jake) and GO YANKEES (Tanner)!

Basketball Heaven

Jake and I took our trip to California last weekend (his birthday present from us and Auntie Sue) and it was even better than either of us had anticipated- and we were both pretty excited to begin with! The idea was that Jake would spend the weekend with his Auntie Sue, while I hung out with old friends. It was just what the doctor ordered- for both of us. Jake needed the one-on-one attention with one of his most favorite people in the world while I really needed to reconnect with old friends and have some time to myself after March being so difficult.

It was really fun to travel with just Jake- easy and low key. We played lots of games of Wordle on the way there, each of us had a good book to read, and it was fun to have the "alone" time together. I started my festivities an hour after landing by meeting some old friends from my Sycamore days for Happy Hour- just like old times. Some of the people there I hadn't seen since I had moved, five years ago! It was so much fun to catch up on everyone's lives- some had become Grandmas, others had several children marry or get engaged, one had retired. I felt like no time had passed. It was fun to catch up on "Sycamore Gossip" and just hang out. After Happy Hour Lisa and I went to dinner and got to spend a little more time together. I miss my friends!!

Jake had a great evening playing Old Maid (and winning prizes, of course), building forts in the garage, and watching a movie with Auntie Sue. I was spoiled with a Peets card to use during my visit, as well as some of my favorite Sees candies. We both needed the TLC and appreciated the thoughfulness so much.

The next day we were up bright and early (530AM) as Uncle Eric was picking Jake up to spend the day with him. Eric is equipment manager for the Warriors so he and Jake spent the day together at the Warriors practice facility- Jake got to meet the players, get autographs, see the training room, have a made-to-order breakfast by the team's chef,...even shoot some hoops with a player or two. Uncle Eric gave Jake so many Warriors goodies- tshirts, sweatshirts, workout gear, hats, and two b-balls. They were gone from 7AM until almost 6PM. Jake was so excited when he got home. He even has a picture of himself with his favorite player, Steph Curry.

While Jake was in basketball heaven, I was visiting with more friends. I had a several hour coffee break with Sheila in the morning, then headed to Livermore to check out the town. Lots had changed since we moved, but it still felt so familiar. It was fun to just hang out there for a few hours. Later that afternoon I met up with Shannon for drinks/dinner and lots of conversation! Again... I miss my friends! It was great to see Sheila and Shannon without any of the kids around! On Sunday I headed to San Jose to spend the morning/afternoon with Kim. We had a great afternoon together in downtown Los Altos. Again, without the kids... (Are you seeing a theme here??).

On Sunday Jake hung out with Auntie Sue (recuperating from the long day before) and got ready for the Warriors game. He and Mona and Auntie Sue celebrated his birthday before going (ice cream cake and all!) then headed to Oakland. Jake saw lots of people he "knew" from the day before and even got to go in the locker room during halftime. The players remembered his name and high fived him and stuff, which was very cool. He came home that night with even more Warriors loot from Uncle Eric, including a Steph Curry jersey.

It was a really great trip for both of us. It was so special for Jake to have the time with his Uncle Eric, Mona, and Auntie Sue (and the Warriors!) and for me to spend time with my friends and sister. I definitely want to make the trip more often in the coming years.