Redo Part 2

After many months and not so constant work, the kids room is finally....mostly done! But with baby on the way so soon, got enough done to appease myself and call it good for a while.

I took these before shots at the end of February, before we started the HUGE project of organizing and eliminating.

Our house was disastrous for a while as we switched everyone around and figured out where things would go and Jon built shelves in closets to organize better.

Then he continued by building beds and cubby stairs.

He had lots of help!!

The kids have been sleeping in their new beds since March, and have loved every minute!!

Then I had to finish by painting walls, beds, table and chairs, stairs, and dressers, sewing bolster pillows, comforter embellishments, and curtains and then giving the room a personality.  It was tough finding something that fit for both boys and girls. I finally decided on industrial/ music.  I'm still in the process of getting more music in there, and still haven't finished a few things, but I am satisfied for now.

We have had this table and chairs since Evey was born.
This is their first re-painting!! Shocking for a piece of furniture in my house!!!

So after months in the making, here is the almost final product.

Play Ball!

The kids have all had a ton of fun playing ball this summer!  Lex is in T-ball, much better that stupid start smart!!! But, he would still rather have a pitcher. The "T" is for wussies!!! I, as stated previously, am a bum, and again, waited until the last games to bring out the camera. And of course the last game was played on a makeshift field instead of their regular diamond with awesome red dirt and lines and everything!  Ugh! It's just what I get for being a procrastinator!

Lex had had a nasty stomach bug the day and night before his last game. We were all sad he would miss his game....but Lex had other plans. His game was a little bit later in the after noon, and he sucked it up and wanted to play. We went ahead and took him. I know we may be bad parents for this, but Lex LIVES for sports and counts down the "sleeps" until his next game, whatever it may be. So this being the last until fall soccer, we let him play. He did well, but I could tell he wasn't on his best game, poor guy.

The city makes it so there is a gradual learning process in each progressive league. They learn basics like throwing and catching in start smart. Then in Tball they go to a game set up, and have them run bases, but there are no outs and every kids is out on the field. This bums me a little because the kids need to learn that getting "out" is part of the game and not to get hurt feelings over it. More on that later. But, Lex's coach was awesome and really taught them some fundamentals: how to stand with one foot on base and reach for the ball, where the play is and other stuff  like that. Lex was a great First baseman and Pitcher. He can catch most any ball thrown to him and throws really well too. Can wait to see him progress!!

I'm pretty sure they got this kid out, but since there are no outs he gets to run the bases still. Dumb, if you ask me! But if you ask other, less competitive parents.... 

This is where I can tell Lex isn't feeling well...his form isn't as rigid as normal.

But a good hit still!

The last batter is the "grand slam hitter" in that he hits and gets to run the bases no matter who gets  "out" Lex was that hitter this time and as you can see, the coaches get the kids to get the ball to the catcher so that as each kid on base runs home they can tag them out....but there's not outs...DUMB!!

Let's give a cheer. There's no winner, but hey we had fun!

What a cute little athlete!

Paris was in coach pitch this year, the step up from tball. The only thing different is, obviously, the coach is pitching the ball to them. There are still not outs, even though if you have a good coach -we did- if you are gotten out, they make you go back to the dug out. It doesn't count against the team though, and most teams just left the out girl on base.

Paris was a great hitter! She usually hit the first ball thrown to her! Love the face!!

She would throw off her helmet as she was running to first. Which made me laugh, and no one ever corrected her on it. Apparently it's not a rule to have a helmet on as you run the bases. Paris is a little diva. She has a pink glove and a pink helmet and uses the pink bat. AND, hates to be the "grand slam hitter"!! She is very particular and likes to have everything go just the way she wants it to, so being tagged out at home does not work for her. This is why I hate these stupid no outs rules and the last hitter thing. It isn't teaching our kids good sportsmanship. We try to tell Paris it is okay to go last and be tagged out, that is part of the game and every kids has to do it sometime, and sometimes she'd cry because she'd have to be last, and she wanted to be first or third or whatever number she hadn't been yet. Her coach is her friends dad and he and his wife adore Paris and don't mind catering to her. We are annoyed to no end with Paris' attitude sometimes and get on her about crying and pouting. One time Jon yelled out "There's no crying baseball!"  Not mean or anything, and he was actually quoting a movie, but I'm not sure the other parents picked up on this and he got some weird looks. I laughed!! We have another year of this division of coach pitch, and so we will be helping Paris to become a better team member. The next league up is much better! There are many more regular softball rules! But, for now, it was fun to watch Paris, and all her cutie little girly things she did as she played. And she really did enjoy playing!

Evey's regular season is over. I missed taking pictures!! I have some on my phone if it comes to that, but lucky for me they play a city wide tournament. She missed the first 2 games of the double elimination tournament, but the team won one and lost one, so they played again yesterday (6/28) and won putting them in the number two seat for the state tournament and in the finals for the city tournament. So, I will have another opportunity or two to get pictures of her. Phew! So, until then...

Fun with Photos

For the last couple of weeks, we the children of the Lindsey household, have been collecting pics on a app called Photo Booth. I have put these pics in a slide  and will now present it to you.

                                                      

                                                      I hope you liked our slide!!!!!!!

Dance Shows 2011

After a week of dress rehearsals for both the
Jazz show and the Ballet, the girls did a
fabulous job at the performances on Friday and
Saturday nights. We weren't allowed to record
during the actual performances, so I had to
make sure I was at the rehearsals at the right
times to film them. Unfortunately, because they
are rehearsals, you can hear babies crying and
the directors telling them to smile and a
choreographer's hand come in the the picture, she
was right in the way and I was trying to film
around her. Anyway, The girls are just getting
so much better and they are so fun to watch!


Paris went through a period of not loving ballet for
a while. She has been telling me her feet hurt. I got
her new ballet shoes, but it didn't help much. I'm
thinking we may need to see a podiatrist, she
walks a little funny and complains about her
feel every now and then. Anyway, but as soon as
she knew what her classes part was in the ballet and
what their costumes were going to look like, she got
really excited and loved ballet again.  Her costumes
were a huge mess, and long story, short, the beautiful
midnight blue ones ordered for them were given to a
different class on accident and then problems upon
problems later, her class received the leftovers of many
other classes. I know this because I was a seamstress
this year and was given these random tutus the day
before rehearsal to sew and make semi pretty and matching.
They ended up not looking too bad on stage mostly
because the wings made them all match. Paris' costume
was one of the prettier ones and thankfully her favorite color,
so she was happy!

Again, this is a rehearsal, so the lighting wasn't right and
they didn't have up the really pretty woodland set.


I got to see Evey dance her ballet, but not sure why I didn't get it on
film, but just know she was beautiful!!  She can't wait for September,
when she is 11 1/2 and they will evaluate her for pointe shoes. She is
confident they will let her, it's all up to her own little body. We have
to take her to the dr to make sure she is at 90% of her adult height,
and that the bones in her foot are formed enough to put them through
the torture of pointe! She's not going to be a tall girl, so hopefully she
has a little growth spurt this summer, so she'll be ready!

Paris loved her Jazz/tap class!! When it came time for choreographing
the number they would do her teacher held a vote in the class on
weather they would do a tap  or a jazz dance. She said it was tied, but
one girl was missing that day, so her vote would be the deciding vote.
So obviously that girl chose tap.  Paris had voted jazz, but was still
happy, especially because she really likes the song.  It makes me laugh
though because in both of her dances, Paris knew the steps, but
because the teacher stands off stage and does the dance for those that
may forget, she looks over there, and misses steps sometimes.  She did
it perfectly at the show and didn't even glance at the teacher! We will
get a DVD from the show later down the road.




This is Evey's company (JDC) dance. I have loved her teacher and
the choreography she does, it is very beautiful and Evey loves her too.
Evey is hoping to move up to the next level company, CDC, at auditions
in August.  CDC does more dances per show and Evey is so ready for
that! But you have to be 11, so this is just her year as far as advancing in
dance!




I hadn't seen any of the girls dances until the rehearsal. I just drop them
off and pick them up. Evey's teacher had told me a while ago that she
had a special part for Evey in her Jazz piece. This is the same teacher
as JDC, Emily, and Evey said that Emily had told her she choereographed
this piece with Evey in mind as the featured dancer. So when I saw this,
I was crying like a baby. I would say it is from pregnancy hormones,
but I'm not sure I can shrug this off on that this time! I was just so proud.
She dances really well and had such a pretty smile! I think all of the other
video taping mommies there at rehearsal thought I was crazy, bawling my
eyes out.  Hey but it wasn't bad enough that you can hear me on the video,
so that's good!! Wink!
Evey also got recognition from "the star" dancer at the show on Friday.
We had left our makeup bag and  hair straightener at the Covey center
and when we found the bag on Friday, the straightener was gone, so I
couldn't curl Evey's hair, so we had to go in the big girls dressing room
to use one of theirs. When Angel (this is the most featured dancer in the
whole studio!) saw Evey she said "oh, I love you!!" I think it was a great
boost of Evey's confidence, but she is just so wonderful and humble,
she didn't let it go to her head....I guess it went to mine!!

Soccer!!

I waited until the last game of each kid to take pictures.
It's been a crazy season, lots of rescheduled games for weather.
I'm glad I waited though, They all played fantastic games!

Paris has decided she likes playing again. I'm pretty sure it's
because her friend's dad was their coach and her bestest friend
was also on the team. At this level it starts to get harder to score,
because the kids start getting it, and the numbers of kids starts to
dwindle, it starts to become the kids that actually enjoy and want
to play.She really did good at most of the games.
Her favorite positions are defense and goalie, but she plays
offense rather well too and has some super speed when she
turns it on!
She was really close to scoring a couple of times in this game,
and had an awesome breakaway!

Evey has just gotten better and better every season.  As I said
before it gets harder as they get into the older leagues, Evey
is now in the highest league provided by the city. I guess it
just goes to school teams after this and there are a few club
soccer teams in the valley.  Evey loves to play offense and
is generally put as a forward. She is also one of the smallest
in the whole league and it is so funny to see her show down
with a huge girls that dwarfs her. She has no fear though and
is awesome at being aggressive and charging.  She has been
so close so many times to scoring a goal, but either the goalie
gets it, or it just misses. Her last game was a double header,
and the team has never looked better! They worked so well
together to move the ball, and coach was on top of giving them
rests so that even in the second game they weren't overly tired!
Well Evey got her goal in the first game, and I amazingly got a
picture of it!! We were so happy we sent all of the family texts.
Then not 10 minutes later in the next game, against a different
team, she got another!! And I got a picture! Amazing!
She was so happy and we were so proud!

Goal # 1

Goal #2

And there was much rejoicing! 

Evey missed team pictures, even though
 we were at the field watching Lex,
 we didn't hear my alarm...oops!
So this will have to do this season.

Lex is absolutely amazing! The kid is a natural at sports!
He absolutely understands everything that is happening in the
game and will help his team mates to know what to do, or help
the coach to know who the ball went out on or whatever, he is
just totally focused on the game and it is so fun to watch. His
league is the beginning league, where there are a million kids and
only a handful that really know what to do. Most of them don't follow
the ball or cry if it touches them. There are 8 on a team and only 4 on
the field at a time and no goalie (see why it's easier at this younger level)
and the games are only 24 minutes long, so each kid would get to play
for 6 minutes then rest for 6. Lex had a teammate that was awesome
too and they would dominate! They would break away from the pack
and run it down to score every time. The coach ended up trying to not
play them at the same time because the score would end up being like
15-0! But, we don't keep score in this league!! Lex's average goals were
about 3. But sometimes would score as many as 6. We started telling
Lex to help some of his other team mates, so he would pass them the
ball or throw it to them. He was so good about it even when though he
would usually end up having chasing it back down to get it to the goal.
He is so fun to watch! Next up (no break, we are already playing) T-ball (Lex),
Coach Pitch (Paris) and softball (Evey)

Winter can't wait to play! She is such a good cheerleader. She shouts
"go,go,go, (insert sibling)!!"  I think she'll be great too, she loves to dribble
the balls around on the sidelines and even understands that she can't cross
the white line.