Happy Birthday to You

Dear Anthony,

Well another year has passed and now you are 12 years old. It really seems like just yesterday the doctor put that screaming baby on my chest making me a mom. You have always been, and will always be my best birthday present.

This year you were at your Dad's for your/our birthday.  It always feels strange to be away from you on those special days. I am glad that you got to enjoy cake & ice cream with your Dad and friends in California. This weekend we will celebrate with your friends in town. You have chosen to have an Angel's Baseball Birthday party at the batting cages.

It is fun to look back and see how much you have changed in a year. In fact, here are 12 things from before you turned 12:

1. You started horseback riding with 4H
2. We saw snow in Julian - TWICE!
3. You got to see Tony Stewart race here in Yuma
4. We ran the Color Me Rad 5K (out of our family you finished first)
5. You got an Outstanding & 3 First Place ribbons at the fair for your horse project
6. You finished 5th grade!
7. We went to Waylan's Water World (more than once)
8. You volunteered for VBS at your Dad's church(not my photo)
9. We vacationed at the beach with your cousins and Grandma & Grandpa - you went on the boogie board, flew Grandpa's big stunt kite, tried to rock climb and went to the Santa Monica Pier.                                           
10. You started 6th Grade
11. You started playing "Fall Baseball" and your team won one game
12. We bought our first house & moved

In all honesty it was a GREAT year and I hope that next year is even better.

Love,

Mom

Stop by Deidre's blog to continue reading more letters to our sons.

My Major League Son

Dear Anthony,

Anthony, this is my first letter to you, yet you are my oldest. You have always and will always have a special place in my heart. I do hope that you enjoy these letters along with your brother and sister.  Right now you are 11 years old and just started the 6th grade. Your favorite baseball team is The Angels and your favorite football team is The Steelers.

This year you asked to play baseball. We had tried playing t-ball years ago, but you didn’t seem to have the passion for it.  We never signed up for a second season.  You have played various sports during the summer with your Dad.  Now you are getting closer to the age where there are school sports you will be eligible to play.  I decided to give baseball another try and let you sign up with certain expectations, (Doing homework, keeping grades up, going to practice without complaining).  You practiced with your Dad, Bill and at your Grandparents before try outs.  Then we got the call that you were recruited by the White Sox!

We didn’t anticipate getting so many monsoons this month.  I think it has rained more this month than it did all of last year. You had numerous practices cancelled for rain and the first two games got cancelled as well.  You finally got to play your first game last Wednesday.  You played a great game, even if your team didn’t win.  You even got a hit on your first time up to bat!  I have a feeling this is going to be a great season.  I know that you are playing with all your heart and that is what matters to me.

Love,

Mom

Please continue to Anna Bein and read the rest of the letters in the blog circle

Photos

Ellie with Santa


Anthony with Santa


Anthony getting ready to sing

Tuesday, December 9th

Sorry ... still playing catch up. At least I am only 2 days behind LOL. I will get caught up this weekend I think.

Tuesday night was Anthony's school Christmas recital. His Dad came down and picked him up from school, and went to swimming with him, and stayed for the recital. Anthony's class sang "Jingle Bells" and each child got a little jingle bell to shake during the song. It was so cute. I managed to squeeze my way to the front and took a video. I need to figure out how to post a video on blogger so everyone can see it.

At the end there was a surprise visit from Santa!! Anthony seemed to know just what to do, because he went straight to the Library and we hardly had to wait at all for the kids to sit on Santa's lap. I definitely heard Ellie ask for a Barbie, but Anthony did a good job of whispering so I didn't hear him.

The kids both went to Grandma & Grandpa's house while I went out to practice. When I got to the house to pick them up I found them playing with the presents that Aunt Tina & Uncle Bill sent down with their chocolate advent calendars. Anthony got a Spiderman Workbook & YoYo, Ellie got some jewelry & hair clips. They both wanted to "catch up" on the days by eating the chocolate, but Grandma stopped them.

December 7th

December 7th
Originally uploaded by sunflwrdesigns

Sunday morning was the Children's musical at church. Anthony did a great job, I was SO proud of him. This is our cast photo and one of the close ups that Grandma was able to take Sunday morning while I was directing.

December 6th

December 6th
Originally uploaded by sunflwrdesigns

Here is my page for Saturday. We spent the morning at church for the Dress Rehearsal. The kids are really sounding great and Anthony has been working SO hard to learn the songs and motions.

Some Layouts...

Day 1 - Failed tree decorating:


Day 2: Smelling the lawn ornaments at Grandma's house:


Day 5 - Anthony's class Flag Raising:


Day 5 - Angel Dinner: