Play ball!

We are past a nice, relaxing weekend. Steve and I took it easy. It was nice to have some cooler temps. these past few days. Everyone else seemed to appreciate them, too, as our neighborhood was "abuzz" with walkers, runners, etc. I am trying to maintain a little patch of green around our house. It probably looks funny not to have the whole lawn nice and green, but I am not up to watering an acre+ with sprinklers! Even with all my sprinkling, it is pretty dry, part green-part brown, and patchy with some weeds. I know I'm not the only one with a lawn like that!

Poor Buddy got a "talking to" last night. He has been playing hard these past couple of days and it has slowed the healing of his foot down. In fact, it really didn't look any different from Friday- which is bad news. He is going to stay off his feet today (except for the game) and off them tomorrow and the next day until it is healed. I didn't realize before how hard it can be (with a child) to recover from a foot injury. He begs me to play...and it has been hard (obviously I have failed) to say "no". My lack of discipline with him has been the problem. At least this has turned out to be a real lesson- he said last night how much he wants to have his foot better and that I can count on him staying off it. Good!

Steve and I took Buddy out last night for practice. He pitched, played in the field, and did some batting practice. It is my job to chase all the balls- which I did successfully! It is a great way to work up a sweat and get some exercise. I chase balls, Steve plays catcher for Buddy's hard pitches, and Buddy can bat like Barry Bonds without steroids!

Martha is in her happy place with the possibility of going to 2 sleepovers this week. She is having cousins sleep over and a sleepover with friends. It is the big thing, I guess!! I remember going to sleepovers, but they were when I was younger. I didn't do any high school sleep overs! Martha is much more of a socialite and will probably live a normal teen life with movies, the mall, and sleep overs- sans rebellion (?!!). She will worry about her hair and her clothes. She is all girl and very aware of what a fashionable girl should look like- whether or not we can attain that or endorse this fashionable look is another thing. While I was ignorant of the world around me, I am happy to see Martha functioning with girls around her and not a fearful, shy child.

I decided early on that I was going to force them to do things for themselves. So, I have them make phone calls, order their own food at restaurants and sometimes pay, ask adults for help and directions, etc. I think this has really helped them gain confidence. Martha was 3 when she first started getting her own breakfast!! I wasn't lazy- she just wanted to do it on her own. She would pour the milk into a glass and cover it and put it in the fridge the night before and she would have her cereal bowl all ready to go. SHE thought of it. Then, when she got up (which was earlier than I liked), she would just open the fridge, take out the milk and pour it over her cereal. She would sit and eat her cereal and be happy until I got up. She was sooooo funny!!! I think if children ask to do something on their own (barring the risk of setting themselves on fire) they should be allowed to try. I have given up some of my controlling tendencies-not all- just some. :o)

Well, it is time to get going this morning. We have family coming to stay today and overnight. Martha gets to babysit her baby cousin tomorrow- she is so excited!

I will provide an update on his tournament game tonight or tomorrow. He plays at 6:00 tonight. It will be a tough win, if they pull it off.

Have a great day!