Trappers Night

With the boys playing so much baseball of their own, it took us until the end of June to make it to our first Bees game of the year.

And the Bees weren't even the Bees! It was '80s night and the team was rockin' their throwback Trappers uni. Pretty cool.

Tate and Paige ran into Bumble late in the game — after the seventh inning stretch but before Grandma decided to feed them ice cream at 10 o'clock at night.

I was excited to take Curtis to game now that they've been playing the sport and have a better idea what's going on.

Unfortunately, Curtis spent the morning throwing up and had to stay home from the game.

Tate, however, was not only healthy but completely attentive. He and I brought our mitts so we'd be ready to catch a foul ball. We were sitting on the third base side and every time a left-handed batter came to the plate he reminded me that we needed to get ready.

"It's better if you sit like this," he said as he scooted forward.

"You mean on the edge of your seat?"

"Yeah," he confirmed. "On the edge of your seat."

So we sat on the edge of our seats.

No foul balls came our way. But we were ready. 

Beauty and the Beast

Spent the evening at the Taylorsville Dayzz movie in the park with my favorite 11-year-old.

Lucky Fella

15 years today. 

Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton is to Traci what Punk Rock Bowling is to me.

She's been waiting for this show since the first time she heard the soundtrack. 

Four Wheeler

If you get 'em muddy, you gotta clean 'em up. #tatersgonnatate

Sun Bather

For Tate, summer has officially begun. #tatersgonnatate

The Windup

Curtis takes the mound for the first time.

Sports Saturday

Morning on the field.

Midday on the pitch.

Afternoon on the court.

Evening in the cage.

Sports day. 

Another Night at the Ballpark

Busy week of baseball. Game 2 of 4.

Scouts

Curtis is now a Wolf, with the makeup to prove it.

Opening Day

Opening day for my little first baseman. #tatersgonnatate

So Tired

Wearing your Hulk Hogan costume can be exhausting.

Baseball Guys

Tater Turns Six

In just six years, Tate went from this kid to this kid. Happy birthday, Li'l Red.

The Wheels on the Bus

Our kids’ school always struggles to get parents to help out with activities. But not on zoo day. For parents, the field trip to Hogle Zoo is pretty much the sweetest volunteer assignment there is – the school bus takes care of the transportation and the animals take care of the entertainment. Plus you get to spend a day outside in the sun with your kid.

And I was lucky enough to land the gig.

But it turns out, it’s a tougher task than I thought. Each parent was given a group of kindergartners to keep an eye on. For me that meant Tate, a boy I’ll call Horatio, and girls who we’ll call Miffy and Biffy. Here’s a quick look at our day together.

Before we got on the bus

Miffy: Biffy, do you want some sparkle chapstick? Here, have mine. 

Biffy: Yay! I love sparkle chapstick!

Miffy: I want it back. [Grab!] My mom says I can’t give away my chapstick.

Biffy: [Wailing] Miffy took my chapstick awaaaaaaay!

On the bus

Miffy: I’ve never been on the bus before.

Me: Pretty cool, huh?

Miffy: No. I’m skeeeered. [Waaaaaaaail.]

Me: You’re not scared. Stop fake-crying.

Biffy: [Bawling] Miffy keeps touching meeeeeee.

Me: Miffy, stop touching Biffy.

Biffy: [Bawling] Miffy’s not touching me.

Five minutes after arriving at the zoo

Miffy: I’m hungry.

Horatio: Me, too.

Biffy: [Bawling] I’m sooooo hungry.

Me: Lucky for you, I’ve got some snacks for you guys.

Five seconds after having our snack

Miffy: [Sees another group from her class eating granola bars] I’m soooo hungry. Can I have a granola bar?

Me: No. You’re not really hungry. You just had a snack.

Five minutes later

Miffy: [Sees another group from her class eating ice cream] Uhhhh. I’m sooooooo hot. It’s so hot out here.

Me: No it’s not. It’s 65 degrees.

Miffy: If only there was something that could cool me down.

Me: I’m not buying you ice cream.

Miffy: But I’m sooooo hot.

Just about every minute after

Me: Horatio, hurry up. Tate, over here. Ladies, come on. Come back. Over here. Let’s go.

Biffy: [Bawling] Miffy’s being mean to meeeeeee.

Miffy: [Bawling] Biffy’s bugging meeeee.

Tate: I’m boooooored.

10 minutes before we have to get back on the bus

Me: Girls, come back. Don’t run.

Biffy: [Trips and goes tumbling down] Whaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!

Me: Are you okay?

Biffy: No! I need a band-aid here. And here. And here and here. [Sob, sob, sob]
Could this day GET ANY WORSE?!

Me: I hear ya, Biffy. I hear ya.

The whole field trip only lasted about three hours but somehow it felt much, much longer. I tip my hat to all of the teachers who deal with 30 of these little rug rats all day, every day.

Nevertheless, it was nice to spend a few extra hours with my favorite redheaded monster.

On Safari

Back home after a successful spring break in Las Vegas and St. George.

In the Cages

No better way to start off a morning.

The Petroglyph Hunters

Cold Water

Luckily our kids are impervious to cold water. The pool was frigid! Brrrrrr.

Photo Bomb!

Photobombed by a redheaded five year old atop Hoover Dam.