ShannonAlbert.com - June 2009

This week, Blake and Mia are taking classes at the zoo in the morning so I drop them off and Nicki picks them up. Blake is spending the afternoons with Mia's family and then we pick him up after work. They seemed to really enjoy their first day and today they get! to go! on a boat! ride! They were excited about this and hopefully they learn something about animals in the process.

Running, primary mode of transportation.


Picking up their buttons w/their names on them.


First ones there!

I've been making these fajitas for years. It's pretty easy and healthy and it got my dad to start liking fajitas. We're only home 1 evening this week and I have to be quick if I want to cook dinner so the onions and bell peppers were purchased pre-cut, the guacamole was store-bought and Payton had started the chicken marinating before I got home. As a result, dinner only took about 15 minutes to get together which is good because our A/C is broken and the temp in the house reached 86 at dinnertime.

Chicken fajitas, Weight Watchers cheese, wheat tortillas, sides of guacamole, pico de gallo (made by Andy over the weekend), baked Tostitos and taco rice.

Is it normal for parents to be nervous before their kid's game? Because I was. The kids had only practiced once, didn't really understand the flow of the game and were antsy when they did practice. Also? We happen to have a child capable of monumental meltdowns especially if people are laughing at him. So the game begins and we hope and pray Blake doesn't *gasp* get laughed at.

Blake and Mia were both playing a second base-ish type position. I could have set my camera on a tripod and walked away and still caught Blake in the frame. He never really moved from this spot.


After watching the team bat for 4 hours (maybe less), it was our team's turn to bat. Mia was the first batter for us.



She got a hit and eventually made it around to home...


Moments before this pic, the other team's third basemen (who looks cute in this pic) was giving Mia the stare down. She would later do this on second base to the other team.


Score!


Eventually it was Blake's turn to bat. Please Dear God let him hit the ball...



He did hit the ball and made it to second base but the inning was over at that point so it was time for the other team to hit for 4 hours again.

Side note: the other team had a kid with a temperament just like Blake's except that kid didn't hit the ball. He declared that he hated baseball and then covered his ears when anyone would try to speak to him. I was all "look at him...we don't have the only hot head!" That kid eventually rebounded after a cooling down period and was quite a good player. Thankfully we didn't have to witness that this game with our child.

When our team returned to the field, somebody thought it would be a good idea to put our ball-fearing boy at the pitcher's position. He actually did field one ball which is exactly one more than I thought he would. And he looked super cute doing it.


Payton tried to join in the baseball festivities but didn't blend in with the 6 year olds very well...


11 hours later, the game ended. I don't know what the score was but just glad we made it through...


I asked Blake about the game afterward to see how he thought it went. He said he didn't know what he was supposed to be doing like "who do I throw it to after I get the ball?" and "was I suppose to put my bat down after hitting?" because they really didn't have much practice. Now that we've had 1 game, I'm sure the next will be even better. And hopefully shorter.

Got this recipe from the Hungry Girl cookbook. It has lean ground beef, pinto beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, packet of ranch dressing mix, minced onions and corn in it. It's one of the yummiest tasting things I've made in awhile and very healthy to boot!

Completed the Couch-to-5K running program and will officially be running my first 5k on June 21 in Oklahoma City. I was looking for something in June for a cause that meant something and found this one for the Scleroderma Foundation. I've only learned of this horrible condition in the last several months as it's affecting the sister of a friend. Hopefully the money raised can help find a cure for this horrible disease.

As of Monday, June 2, I will be training for a half marathon using this training program. I hope to run the half in Wichita on September 21. Running is addicting, y'all!

Blake's last day at his daycare was Friday (he'll do summer camps for the rest of the summer). He's been with Ms. Carol every weekday morning since October (and some days all day when school was out). She's one of the nicest people I've ever met. She had a tear in her eye as she talked about how she'll miss Blake and how much fun they had together and how he always made her laugh. She thanked us again for the restaurant gift cards we've gotten her (with so many teachers in the family, we've learned well!) and mentioned that her husband was currently unemployed so eating out is a luxury. Such a sweet, sweet lady.