A Big Week for Caleb

Before I share all of Caleb's news, just wanted to share some of the week's happenings. We went to Randy & Sherri's over Memorial Day Weekend. It was the first weekend in a while that Craig was off and we had NO baseball games. It is SOOOO nice to only drive 2 1/2 hours rather than 4 to see family! We started out with lunch with the Shelton's at our very favorite Mexican food place of all time - Papacitas! Really it is my all time favorite place but I have brainwashed the kids into thinking it is there's as well. We then spent the rest of the afternoon with them! Can't wait for vacation!! Then it was off to Memaw & Papaw's. The kids had a great time fishing on Sunday. Our hooks were to big for the massive size of the fish (just kidding if you notice Craig & Christian's large catch!) so catching those little perch was HARD. But the kids had a great time. We enjoyed wonderful steaks and baked potatoes and just had a great time.

Then on Tuesday Joel talked Craig into shaving his hair. Joel HATES to have to fix his hair every morning so Craig told him this was the only way to change that. I was a little nervous but Craig did a great job. I don't know if you can really tell by the pictures just how short it is but it is VERY SHORT. Joel however LOVES IT!!

Now on to Caleb. Caleb is playing his 4th season of baseball. This year has really been hard for him. He is now in kid pitch and it isn't an easy transition to make. He has spent most of the season in left field and seen very little action. (Which if you know Caleb at all he NEEDS action!). Anyway on Tuesday at practice his coach asked him if he would like to pitch and Caleb said yes. The coach worked with him on Tuesday and encouraged us to work with Caleb at home. Christian practiced with him a little big on Wednesday before his game. The whole way to the game Caleb kept saying, "I really, really hope I get to pitch tonight." I was thinking I don't think there is anyway you will get to pitch with only one practice and I hope not because your dad is working. Sure enough bottom of the first and out to the mound he goes. He was SO excited at first. He did really well for the first 3 batters. They all got hits and he threw strikes to each batter. The bad thing was the defense behind him was sleeping so the bases were loaded with no outs. He then started to struggle - really struggle. The more he struggled the more upset and frustrated he became with his self which means the more bad pitches he made. The coach left him in and he pitched the entire first inning. Caleb was distraught by the time he got to the dugout. He kept saying he had been a horrible pitcher (his words not mine)! I really encouraged him that he had done a great job with only 1 practice under his belt. By the end of the game he seemed better and I think was proud of his self. I was certainly proud of him and the job he did pitching for the first time.

Earlier this week I got a call from his 2nd grade teacher informing me that Caleb was going to receive the Science award for his class. I was so excited on Thursday for me and Craig along with my parents to get to see him receive the award. He had no idea and I think was surprised. He stood up and got his award and sat down so fast I couldn't even get a picture until afterwards. I have shared many times how much Caleb does not like school and can struggle in specific areas so we were so proud of him to receive the award.

This is our last week of school - YEAH!! I think we are all ready for a break (and I an sure about week 2 I will be ready for them to go back - LOL)! They have big plans for the summer: 1) to spend a week with each of the grandparents (Billy & Jo and Mom & Dad I am sure you haven't heard of this plan since it was just discussed in the car today on the way home from the pool because they already are going to Randy & Sherri's so they think they should go to everybody's), 2) Caleb & Joel have free tickets to Six Flags so that is in the plans and 3) our vacation to Florida!

Week in the life of the Wilson's

As school is "winding" down it seems that our activity level is "speeding" up. This week was no exception. I am teaching/hosting a Bible Study every Monday night here at the house. I am really enjoying it but it does mean we have to get "creative" with what we do with the boys especially if Craig is working. This past Monday he was off so they left - which was great!! Then early around 3 am Tuesday morning Joel got up with a stomach bug. So far (thank you Lord) he is the only one who has had it.

Wednesday night was Christian's Spring Band Concert. He was very excited and participated in 4 of the songs. He played 2 songs with the jazz band and 2 songs with the beginner band. He was recognized for receiving a "1-Superior" at the Solo & Ensemble Competition. He also received a special recognition because he received a Judges Award. Out of 86 soloists only 6 received a Judges Award and he was one of them. He really loves playing and is very good at it (I guess he gets that from his Uncle Kyle). He is going to continue to play next year! (Sorry the pictures aren't very good - the lighting was really bad in the auditorium).

Friday was field day for both Caleb & Joel. They were both participating at the same time so I spent a lot of time running back and forth around the entire school. Unlike when I was young and did field day there day is a little different. They don't compete against other classes just against their own class and they do not receive ribbons or anything. The kids have a great time but I kind of miss the sack races, relay races, and a tug of war amongst classes. Anyway, they did have a tug of war between 2 classes and that was the kids FAVORITE event. In a close 2nd was something called "Jump the River" where they had to jump over 2 jump ropes laying in the grass. If they miss and land in between the ropes it is called the river. They also had several games of trying to "put" the golf ball into a hole, throwing noodles a certain distance, racing on scooters and carrying pingpong balls on a paddle. Luckily the weather was perfect- overcast and windy (the afternoon classes weren't so lucky!). (Pics of are both Joel's class and Caleb's class doing the tug-of-war)

Speaking of Friday afternoon we had received word that the pool in our subdivision that is closeset to our house would open on Friday. My kids are pool addicts. With 3 kids we spend A LOT of time at our pools within our subdivision because they are free and convenient. Believe me when we decided to build in our subdivision here in Dallas high on our list was how many pools do they have! Our subdivision has a total of 4 pools and the largest is the nearest to us! I decided yesterday to take the kids after school. I know that we had a chance of rain in the forecast for today (Saturday) and wanted to make sure they got to swim this weekend. The water of course was FREEZING but they didn't seem to mind and all 3 of them swam for two hours before we left. They had a great time and I enjoyed getting some sun and reading (it is so nice now that all 3 can swim and I don't have to worry so much about them)!

So today (Saturday) Joel was scheduled to play baseball. But the forecast was right and so far it has rained since about 4:00 am. Therefore baseball has been canceled and I am home with 3 boys who can't go outside and a husband who is sleeping from working 12 hours last night. So we have so far made 2 trips to Game Stop! They "pooled" their money and bought a used game - which of course didn't work -thus the 2nd trip back to Game Stop! My hope is that they will quietly play this game the rest of the afternoon - I don't really believe that will happen but I can hope anyway - right!! My plans are to continue reading the book I started yesterday, listen to the rain, drink some Diet Dr. Pepper and watch the Astros (who are playing the Cubs which is never a good ending for the Astros but again - I can hope!)!! (Pics - Caleb: jumping the river; Joel: jumping the river; Joel putting; Caleb putting & making a whole in one; more swimming).