The Littlest Baseball Boy

Oh Coop...the one who was practically born with a bat in his hands.

 








It has been pure JOY to watch Coop do what he loves to do.  All that practice in the living room is really paying off on the field - ha!  He loves being on a real baseball team...with a real uniform and everything.  All that t-ball stuff wasn't his cup of tea, apparently.  He loves that his Daddy is his coach, he loves catching, he loves hitting and playing 1st base.  Although I heard him tell Hunter the other day, "I'm a pretty good 2nd baser." 

He is getting better at staying in his position and letting other kids get the ball.  And he is getting quite a few hits off the pitching machine (those balls come pretty fast)!  He knows Mondays and Wednesdays are his game days and he is happy and excited on those days, and asks all day,"When is Daddy gonna be home so we can't be late to my game?"  

My littlest baseball boy...oh how I love you! 



Easter Sunday

What an amazing day.  One of the best I've had in a LONG time.  Such joy filled my heart from the very first sound of Hunter running down the hall to the living room to see what the Easter Bunny had brought to the very last sound of Dave saying, "What a great day...", right before I fell asleep. 

I made a big breakfast for us while Dave worked out before church.  Hunter got the 'Dennis the Menace' DVD in his basket, so we watched it and laughed while we were getting ready.  I have not heard Dave that loud and that much in a long time.  Hunter said right before we left for church, "Did you hear Dad howling and cackling?"  Ha!

Church was WONDERFUL!  Such great songs, a great message, such loving and special people...Dave & I left feeling overjoyed and refreshed.  Coop said on the way home, "I feel good when I'm at church."  That made me smile.  :)

The food at Mom & Dad's was SO good!  I ate way too much, but I couldn't help myself!  The sugar cookies we helped Nana make on Saturday were especially delicious.  Why are those things so dang irresistable? 

Finally, we ended the day spending some time with Dave's family.  His mom and stepdad just bought a new house and it is big and roomy and has lots of space to spread out and have fun.  The boys had fun dying eggs with Grandma and their cousin Rykker. 

I just can't say enough about Easter 2011...it means so much to know I am saved by the blood of Jesus.  I hope the joy spreads out into this very busy week and I can keep my eyes fixed upon what's really important. 

Hey, two blogs in one week!  I need a prize for this!

Wow...

Well, for starters, I just have to say that I have seriously thought about deleting my blog.  Not that I don't love doing it (when I actually do it), but I have been absolutely terrible at taking pictures!  I have just a handful since Christmas.  And you'd think I'd have a ton, since the boys have been so busy with spring sports.  But no...no I don't.  And the ones I do have were taken by other people - ha! 

So here we go:  I'll do a run-down of what we've been up to.  Hunter started playing AAU basketball this winter.  He is a 3rd grader playing on a 4th grade team, and none of the players have played before so it's been a real learning experience for everyone.  They finished the winter season with a record of 2 wins and 8 losses, but they won their first game of spring session just last Saturday and we are seeing tons of improvement!  Coop also practices on a basketball team of little guys.  Their plan is to practice, practice, practice and then enter the fall AAU session.  Coop does a great job at basketball practice.  The hoop is still a bit high, but every once in awhile he makes a basket and he is so proud of himself! 

Baseball has now started for both the boys.  They play in the Grandview Cal Ripken league.  Dave helps coach Coop's 'Rookies' team and Hunter plays on the 'Minors' team.  Hunter had his first game this past Tuesday, and was the starting pitcher.  He was nervous, but did a great job.  It is quite a difference from hitting off a pitching machine, like they did last year.  We are anxious for Hunter's team to learn lots more of the fundamentals and start winning some games. 

I have not been able to be at any of Coop's baseball practices because I take Hunter to soccer and basketball practices on those days.  But from what Dave tells me, Coop is quite the player...but then I already knew that.  He spends all day in the living room swinging small wooden bats, catching pop flies he throws to himself, and doing a play-by-play announcement using various MLB players' names.  At this very moment he is pretending to bat like Kevin Youkilis and he just said, "Home run!  Out of here!"  Now he is humming the song they play at Safeco Field when something good happens and everyone stands up and claps.  Hahaha! 


First soccer game of the season is tomorrow, along with the 2nd basketball game of the season.  Dave is playing softball so the boys and I will be on our own, then we'll go up and watch Daddy play.  I have been tempted to complain a few times during the past few weeks...we have practices or games on EVERY day of the week.  But then I remember...this is what I always dreamed I'd be doing.  Now I'm living it and there's no way I'd trade it for anything in the world.  As long as the boys are okay with it, then I'm okay with it. 

Toby Mac!

A wonderful weekend was capped off on Sunday with an early birthday lunch for Hunter at Red Robin and the Brandon Heath / TobyMac concert.  After church we went to Sports Authority where Hunter picked out the most awesome new baseball glove!  He seemed a little confused as to why we were telling him that this was his birthday present...I think he was a little bit sad, thinking maybe he wouldn't get any presents on his birthday, but there is a possibility that he will.  :)

Then to Red Robin, where Aunt Kris, Uncle Kev, Nana and Papa all met us.  Hunter said he just wanted the birthday sundae, not the singing...but that doesn't fly in this family.  Ha!  So we had the singing and the balloon and the sundae and all of that.  He tried really hard not to smile.  That must be a 9 year old boy thing? 

It was chilly standing in line waiting for the doors to open for the concert, but we kept busy by laughing at what people were wearing...I know, I know...making fun of people at a Christian concert sounds funny to me too, but seriously!  It's like you just want to say, "Excuse me, but did you put that on on purpose?" 

We found some good seats, then Coop noticed that a little boy in front of us had a new pair of TobyMac drumsticks.  He proceeded to whine about how we "needed" to take him to buy a souvenir.  I'm positive he feels like he is entitled to a souvenir everywhere we go because my dad actually does buy him something wherever we go!  I gave him a piece of candy instead.  LOL!  Meanwhile, Hunter started to act a little weird.  He put his hood on and jammed his hands in his pockets like he was bored. 

House of Heroes was the little opener band...they were good.  Brandon Heath followed, and he was awesome!  He has a really great voice, and it was fun to see the looks on the boys' faces when they realized they knew most of the songs.  Coop proclaimed, "Hey mom!  They play these songs on K-LOVE!"  Next came intermission, or "halftime" as Coop called it.  At this point, Hunter actually perked up, but only because Dave told him he'd buy him some popcorn. 

Then the lights went off and the countdown began.  2:00 flashed on the big screens in neon green lights...and counted all the way down to zero.  We were all on our feet screaming and going nuts!  Well, everyone in the arena except for...you guessed it...Hunter.  I tried to get some good pictures, but I have a really bad camera.  So I just decided to take it all in and try to remember it.  It was so fun watching Coop dance and clap and wave his hands in the air.  He grabbed my cell phone and started waving that too.  He was all-smiles the whole time.  Hunter waved Dave's phone around for about 2 seconds.  The ONLY point that I saw him actually smile was when he looked across the aisle and some old ladies were dancing around and waving their hands in the air and shouting.  Hunter poked me and pointed them out and we both laughed really hard.  :) 

There is just something about that music that gets me excited about Jesus.  I mean, TobyMac is a self-proclaimed 'Jesus Freak', so why can't I be one too?  I have a feeling it's not the last time we see him in concert...let's hope next time ALL of my family will enjoy it!  Ha! 

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas! I told myself I wouldn't say it, but my goodness…hasn't this year just flown by?! God has been so good to our family this year – I just have to share the highlights with you all!

We like to say Coop (age 5) is in his senior year of preschool. While he could care less about learning his letters & numbers, he loves his friends in his class. I think he gets his "social butterfly" nature from my dad (or possibly me – ha)! Coop played t-ball this summer and made a double-play in his very first game! The kid lives and breathes baseball, and we can't wait to see how that talent progresses in the years to come. He is a huge fan of WWE wrestling and John Cena…he never misses an episode! He has 3 wrestling rings and lots of action figures and acts out all the matches. Coop loves being outside and helping Daddy on projects around the house. He keeps us on our toes, but he is such a blessing!

Hunter (almost 9) is in 3^rd grade and is December's Student of the Month at his school! He never ceases to amaze us with his vast knowledge on every subject and his dry sense of humor. With a brain like a sponge, he is always quoting random facts that he has read in a book. He played 1^st base in Cal Ripken baseball and continued playing soccer this year. He improves and learns more every season. Hunter loves his PSP video game! He is also a great big brother…his patience with Coop is very admirable. He spends many afternoons in the backyard pitching balls so he can practice his pitches and Coop can practice hitting. Many times I find myself thinking, "Hunter is one of my best friends."

I think it's safe to say I have had one of the BEST years ever! It is truly a blessing to be able to stay at home with my boys. I also watch a 2 ½ year old little girl during the school year, and she is just wonderful…the daughter I never had. In June, I got to go to Vegas with my sisters and a few of my cousins…we had a blast! We also enjoyed a camping trip to Ocean Park with family and friends over the 4^th of July holiday, and 2 days at the Great Wolf Lodge! And of course, those who know me understand that I live for softball season. I am Dave's biggest fan and the boys & I travel with him wherever he plays. So many fun memories are made out on the softball fields, plus I get a great tan!

And then there is our hero…Dave. As I like to say, "Everything's better and more fun when Daddy's home!" He loves the snow, and took a couple of snowmobiling trips to Halfway, OR. When that was over, he started softball again – his team took 4^th place in the state, and they also won several other tournaments! He helped out on the boys' soccer/baseball/t-ball teams too! But the most exciting news of this year has been his new job. In August, he started at Hanford as a planner/scheduler. He really likes it and enjoys doing something different. He still owns his business, so he is pretty busy, but he takes such good care of us and we are so thankful for him!

We are also thankful for the birth of our Savior, Jesus! We know we would BE nothing and HAVE nothing without Him. We hope all of you, our friends and family, will let Jesus fill your hearts with much joy and peace this Christmas season and throughout the coming year. We love you all!

The Kleinow Family – Dave, Ali, Hunter & Cooper

December...

It's been good so far! I think this is the earliest we've ever gotten our tree up, but it's beautiful and it makes me happy. Another thing that made me happy was that the house got a good dusting since I couldn't just put up the decorations on top of a layer of dust (even though the thought did cross my mind)! I have appreciated each time it has snowed, and also each time it has melted. :)

What has really ticked me off, though, is this year's Christmas card.  The picture I chose is not the best, in fact neither Dave or Hunter is smiling.  To top that off, I ordered 125 of them...and am now debating whether to send it out or do a completely different one.  Just thinking about it makes me have a headache, so enough of that...

Aunt Kris came over and we made some AWESOME sugar cookies!  The little ones, we just called "dippers" - we just dipped them into the tub of frosting and ate them in one bite.  We came to a quick understanding of why mom does this only once or twice a year...it takes forever!

Hunter's Christmas program this year was different than any other one he's ever had.  It was held at the middle school gym and his 3rd grade class actually wrote a song about elves and performed it with Buck & Elizabeth ( a couple who travel to different schools and do assemblies).  In the picture, he is third from the right.  It was fun...Cooper loved it! 

Coop's class is having their program on Friday, so stay tuned for those pictures.  I am positive it will be hilarious...Coop + a stage + an audience = hilarious. 

Thanksgiving at Rockaway Beach

Our trip was SO fun and relaxing.  The view from our house was absolutely beautiful...such a gorgeous sight to wake up to every morning!  We spent every morning sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee and watching the waves.  The boys INSISTED they saw whales, hammerhead sharks and sea turtles through the telescope.  :)

The house was big and comfy.  My Uncle Ruben and his wife Denise, my cousin Stephanie and her kids Kellsye, Sydnie and Rylin all came to Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.  As you can see in the picture, Dad made the mashed potatoes.  :)  It was so fun to have them there with us!  We had a coloring contest and watched a whole days' worth of football.  We also got to drive into Tillamook to visit Dave's grandpa Kleinow and his aunt, uncle and cousin.  It was a long, full, fun day spent with family - absolutely perfect. 

 

On Saturday we drove into Seaside for a little "adventure", as the boys called it.  We went to the outlet mall and did some Christmas shopping, ate lunch at El Mariachi Loco (our favorite Mexican restaurant in Seaside), rode the carousel and of course we had to go to the arcade!  Papa bought the boys some more stuff at the toy store.  Everywhere we go, Papa buys his grandboys something special.  Hunter ended up with a bag of marbles, a koosh ball shaped like a pig and a package of glow-in-the dark stars for his bedroom ceiling.  Coop picked out a rubber snake, a 'Cars' die-cast car and a harmonica (which had to be confiscated once or twice).  He left the snake in Nana's pillowcase and scared the daylights out of her.  :)

I have not stopped thinking about our trip since we got home, and every time I think about it I thank God we got to go.  There was a time not too long ago where we could not go anywhere for more than a weekend because of Dave's job.  Now that he has a different one, he can take more time off!  We are already talking about renting a bigger house next Thanksgiving, that way we can invite more people! 

I love my family and I love my life.  Thank you, God, for these blessings!