Family T-Ball

 About a month ago, we all ended up in the front yard playing t-ball on a beautiful evening.  I have been horrible about taking pictures of anything lately, but this particular time I forced myself to run inside and grab the camera.  I'm glad I did.  

Before the kids bat, they do a slow full turn holding their bat out as far as it will go.  Jackson taught them to do this.  They do it to make sure there is no one in their 'blood circle.'  It is actually very effective at getting the observers a safe distance away.

Alexander was enthralled with the bat.  He insisted on holding it backwards no matter how many times we showed him to turn it around.  It was adorable.  I love the next sequence of Jackson helping him hit the ball!

Thomas and Nicholas are constantly climbing in this tree...Thomas especially.  Estella always wants help getting up in the tree.  I have stopped helping her up, but she convinced Daddy to help her this time.  You can see why I don't put her up anymore...she gets scared and pouty the minute she is off the ground and I have to haul her back down. 

Mother's Day Placemat

I loved this place mat that Nicholas made at school for Mother's Day.  I have a feeling it won't last forever around this house, so I scanned enough of it to preserve the memory.  I love having a little glimpse into the way my child sees me.  I was surprised that he thinks I like cleaning, but I decided I am glad he thinks that because it means I'm not complaining about it.  I actually cried when I read that my favorite thing to do is take rests.  I know it is just because I have been so tired with this pregnancy, but I really don't want my children to think that is my favorite thing to do.  I thought it was so sweet that he said the prettiest thing about me is that I love a lot of people.  That is the best compliment anyone could ever give me because that is how I want to be...I want to have love for everyone.  Thank you Nicholas!  I love you!

Nicholas Kindergarten Graduation

A month ago Nicholas had his Kindergarten Graduation.  I sometimes wonder how necessary little ceremonies like this are and what they are teaching the kids.  Nicholas was so excited and kept talking about how he would be in 1st grade after the graduation.  He was a bit confused when he had to go back to his Kindergarten class for another week after :)  

Each of the kids had a line they had memorized and they passed the microphone around and each recited their part.  Nicholas was one of the last to say his part, so he was almost beside himself with anticipation once the moment came.  He did fabulously!  They also sang some songs...one of which was "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" in Latin.  

He is so excited for first grade.  He is a bit nervous to go all day.  He talks about it now and then, worrying that he will get tired.  We found out that he got the teacher that he had been hoping for...our next door neighbor, Mrs. Dollar.  He keeps saying things like, "I can even have school lessons on the weekends, because I can just walk over to her house and she can teach me!"  :)

Tree Swings

 Bubba and Grandma Chelle (Jackson's parents) have the BEST tree in their front yard.  Bubba has it decked out with rope swings.  One of the swings is fixed to a pulley, so you can swing and get pulled up and down.  Bubba sat on the swing and the older grandkids were trying to see how high they could lift him off the ground.  He didn't stay on long, so I only got one out of focus snap before the action stopped.  I did get a good one, though, of Essie and Juliette together.  They are great buddies!

Berry Cousins

We LOVE living close to most of our Berry cousins.   There is a special relationship between cousins.  It is kind of like having a brother or sister that you don't live with, so you don't fight as much.  These are some pictures (in age order from oldest to youngest) I took at a family dinner a few weeks ago.  The only cousin not there was little Jonathan, and Jazzy sent me a picture of him to add to the bunch :)

Climbing

 Alexander is at the climbing stage!  I feel like I am constantly pulling him off of tables, chairs, and counters.  One unfortunate thing about his climbing is that he has now gotten tall enough to open the cabinets you see behind him in the first pictures.  These cabinets hold pencils, crayons, markers, glue sticks, scissors, tape...all very fun ways for Alexander to make messes and destroy things.  Essie has FINALLY stopped drawing on forbidden surfaces...it only makes sense that Alexander should take up where she left off.  I have been scrubbing walls and furniture much more than I would like.  Whenever he has a drawing instrument in his little hands and he sees me he says, "Paper...paper!" and looks for a piece.  As soon as I take my eyes off him, he is drawing on the table or chair or himself or anything that isn't paper.  Then as soon as he sees that I am looking at him, he will innocently say, "Paper...paper!" again.  It is a pain...but MAN he is adorable!

Essie picked some flowers for me and set them on the table.  Of course as soon as the attention was away from the table, Alexander was right up there taking a look for himself.  Also...these pictures remind me...he has been taking his diaper off also.  He strips his pants, then his diaper and makes fun messes on the floor.  I put him in one-piece clothing for a while and that seems to have stopped it (for now anyway).  And yes...his toes are painted.  Essie and I were doing ours and he was asking so sweetly I just couldn't resist.  We picked out a nice manly blue for him :)  He was so proud of his blue toes!