Spring Might Actually Be Here

Snow and cold had cancelled Rock's first baseball weekend, but we finally had 50 degrees and sunshine. Rock played a few innings in the first game, then started and played the whole second game at second base. He played pretty well, and got his first HS hit.

He thought he looked pretty bad-A in the sunglasses.

Luca enjoyed the action

We commemorated the one year anniversary of Gpa Myron's passing with delicious steaks. I was careful to cook them to a perfect medium-rare.

Dad threw a couple of eggs on his and we really had something going.

Unfortunately, some members of our family don't believe in the sanctity of delicious beef. They sliced it up and put it back on the grill until is was as dry and tough as a Birkenstock. 

Ryker had a tough day while Rock was playing baseball, he was home alone all day. He said that he took two naps and listened to the entire 7th Harry Potter book. 

Luca knows where treats are at all times, and uses his big brown eyes to get them.

DeA had some leftover Coke from making Cafe Rio sweet pork, Jens had me take her to the Stop and Rob for Mentos, and we did a science experiment.

We tried to get Luca to wear safety goggles, but the goggles, they do nothing.

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Jens and Max tried hard, but they just couldn't get enough Mentos into the bottle fast enough to get a real reaction. Now she wants some two-liter bottles and one that's Diet.

 

Preseason work

The kids are pretty excited about baseball and softball. Jens and Rock have been putting in work downstairs.

They kind of have to stay in the basement because spring just won't show up.

We had quite the week with Ryker's band concert on Monday

and Jensley was in a play Tuesday and Thursday

Rock remembered Thursday morning that he needed to make an ethnic food and send the pic to his teacher. We made a quick batch of chilaquiles.

Salieron riquisimos

Manson Schools had their Family Fit night, and this year DeA got with Rissa and did a game with Javi's light up dot pods. It was a big hit

DeA's strategy was a little unique and not effective

Rock had his first baseball game cancelled because they are all cowards that are too afraid to play in three inches of snow

Leo puppy had surgery and came home all hopped up on anesthesia and pain meds. He is pretty funny when he is high. He wanted to lay on the catwalk and just look outside.

He later moved and sat on the stairs like some sort of psycho or sphynx.

 

Spring Training

DeA came up with some questionable excuse to have to fly down to Arizona early, leaving the kids and me to hold down the fort through the hockey tournament and church. Ryker and Jens spent the time remembering what it was like when they were little and their mommy wanted to spend time with them.

There were some moving parts to get to SeaTac, Rissa had to come to the hockey game with us and rode to Cashmere to meet Nama and Hampa who were in the San Juans. Rissa drove Mom back, Dad came with the kids and I to the airport. The flight went pretty smooth, Ryker wore down the battery on his new phone adding contacts and playing chess.

We arrived in PHX a little before midnight, but then issues with the ghetto van kept us from getting to Whit's until around 2am. It's a good thing she called Dad earlier, because otherwise she was expecting us on Tuesday.

The kids always love cousin time.

The 12-passenger van was quite the ride.

The first day of practice was a little cold and windy, but the kids said that they were ready for it.

It looked nice and sunny.

But quickly the kids started looking for cover.

We didn't make it very long because all the kids, young and old, were cold.

The short morning gave us more time to relax.

Cami got right into the spirit of the trip.

Ryker wanted Raising Cane's and Top Golf for his birthday. The cold days postponed Top Golf, but he still got his Cane's.

By Thursday the weather was much better.

We met Schnookums, Lindsey, and Mama Zista at an escape room and ice cream shop. It was a lot of fun.

Top Gold was a big hit with the kids, and they each tried to hit the yellow target on the fly for $5.

It's always nice to have Nick and his good example for the kids.

The little kids really seemed to like running around at practice and enjoying the sunshine.

Jens helped MadBum get autographs from players that they didn't know.

It has been a few years since we were able to do a normal game, with covid and the lockout. Ryker went straight to the nachos.

Uncle Nick did too.

A full day of practice and the game wore little Jens right out.

Spring Training is a baseball trip, and this year that meant little league games for MadBum, D-Rell, and Brando.

Lakai enjoyed the cuddles.

Chick-fil-A is something that we have almost every day.

We were out in the grass on Saturday with our big group. It was a lot of fun.

10th trip in 11 years (no trip during covid). They are getting big.

The kids enjoyed the last night together playing Mario Kart and staying up way too late.

It was a good trip home, but we did hit a blizzard on Snoqualmie and slow-pokes everywhere else.