She's Still Got It!

19 Weeks Pregnant and a Home Run Hitter!

Yes, I am still playing softball with #3 on the way, but tonight I was amazing! :)

I am always the first up to bat and I crushed the ball over the left center's head and ran the bases for a home run! I also hit a triple tonight - maybe this extra weight is giving my hits an extra boost. The whole team hit really well tonight and we won by 15 runs. I play shortstop and I sat on the bench tonight for only the second time in six years - I was told it wasn't because I was playing poorly (which I was) but because they need to train a new shortstop since I won't be able to play all summer.

Not very often do I have something to blog about myself so I sat right down when I got home tonight to document my successes. One of the girls on my team said I needed to write about it in my journal - well here it is!

I have played on this team every summer that we have lived in Albuquerque, minus the summer I was pregnant with Kirra. I started late in the season the year Kade was born, but there had been a lot of rain outs so I got to play in most of the games. Our team is made up of mostly Mormon women and we play in a "City Church League" so it's clean and fun. We are the Saints and always wear red. Some of the women have been playing softball together for 30 years - four of them will be 50 this year. They are having grand babies and they have been playing since they were having babies! We have a great time!

Preschool Graduation

Kirra is officially a Risen Savior Preschool graduate! She keeps saying she can't believe 4 year old school is over (remember we haven't been allowed to call it preschool) and her mommy can't either. I will have a kindergartner in less than three months! Today when we were putting away the dishes Kirra said, "I already miss Miss Vivi and Miss Margaret" but I told her we would see them at her little graduation. She said, "Well then after that I will start missing them, but pretty soon after my birthday I'll go to another school and I will love my teacher there!" Her attitude is awesome and I am so glad she loves school.

Daphne, Kirra, Anastasia & Megan
There were two cakes - one with the boy's names and the other with the girls!
Kirra's teachers - Miss Vivi & Miss Margaret. Miss Vivi told me, "I am really going to miss that one! She was always telling me about her jewelery and complimenting me on mine." Yes, my Kirra loves bling and never hesitates to tell someone she loves their necklace, bracelet, rings, etc. Kirra loved her teachers and about three weeks ago when I asked her what we should get them for an end-of-the-year present she immediately replied, "Flowers!" So after school on Thursday she got to give each of her teachers a potted Gerber daisy and cards that she had made. She was thrilled!
Kirra & Miss Rita - the director of the Risen Savior Preschool. She has been the director for 19 years and Kirra also enjoyed her. Miss Rita would do 'circle time' in the morning with the kids: calendar, singing, praying, weather, and explanation of the days activities.

Filing in to sing to the parents - I'm not quite sure what Kirra thought was so funny but it's a great shot of her expression.
Kirra was in the second row while she was singing so all the pictures of her have someone else in them. They sang so many cute songs - I'll have to put up the video.
Peeking out . . .
Waiting for her diploma.Kirra receiving her preschool diploma from Deacon Mark.

Cute girl!

Mormon Girls at a Catholic Preschool! Brynn, Rachel, Kirra & Daphne
Joshua, Kirra, & Daphne
Proud Mommy and her sweet girl!

Jewel, Lauren, Megan, Kirra, & Daphne. Kirra got to go to school with a really fun bunch of kids and I enjoyed getting to know the mom's through the co-op setup of Kirra's school.
Kirra & Daphne with their preschool diplomas.
Jewel, Lauren, Kirra, Beata, Daphne

Last Day of Preschool

Today was Kirra's last day of school! It's so hard to believe nine months have gone by since she started at Risen Savior Preschool in September. She loved every minute of it and is looking forward to Kindergarten! The last day of school was Dinosaur Day and the kids made Dinosaur Dioramas.

Oh, my girl!
Kade and Kirra played in the car after we got home - Kade showed me his tongue for the picture.
They had a great time buckling up in the back and not in their seats.

Washing the Beast

We returned home late Monday night from Carlsbad and then Scott, Bob, and Kevin went golfing on Tuesday afternoon. On their way home they went through a car wash and the Excursion was so dirty that the car wash basically made zebra stripes in the dirt. When they got home they got out the car washing supplies and finished the job, with some serious help from Kirra & Kade. Kade is going through a scaredy-cat stage so when they would spray the hose he would run away yelling, “Scared”! Washing hands with the hose was a "scary" thing for Kade.
I absolutely adore that smile!
Walking the water down the street.

Orphan child - no pants, runny nose, crabby, etc.
Making sure every last drop of water is out of the bucket.
Washing the sidewalk -
Laying down on the job.

Carlsbad Caverns 2008

The second day of our journey took us to Carlsbad Caverns – or “Captain Carlsbad” as Kirra has affectionately called them since we visited last April. We took the Natural Entrance and hiked down into the caves and enjoyed the spectacular views.

The entrance of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Kade was asleep just as we left the parking lot and stopped to talk to a park ranger.
Kirra found a cave of her own before we even started.
The prickly pear cactus was amazing - there was so much of it and it was in bloom. On our way down!
Grandma & Grandpa listening to their cave information devices.
Kirra and Uncle Kevin doing some caving.
Kade totally oblivious to the creeping through the cave.
Mommy and Kirra on the hike down to the Big Room.

Kirra was always good to make sure and tell Scott it was a 'passageway' and he would have to duck!
Our lunch in the cave - sandwiches from one of the three Wal-Marts we visited in three days.
Cheesy kids.
Kade enjoyed riding in the backpack and was always making sure he could see "Gama" and "Gampa"
So, OK a picture of just me? I just feel a little left out sometimes since I am usually the one carrying the camera and want to let the world know I am on these trips too!

Thank goodness for Kirra's budding camera skills or we'd never be shot together!
Our little group taking a rest.
Action shot. . . in the midst of falling.
Head to head competition. . .