Spring is in the Air

It's baseball season again, that's right.  It's all baseball, all the time around here.  2 practices a week and 2 games a week can make even the biggest mommy fan tired, and I'm not even playing.  Good thing it consumes 90% of our life, or we'd have nothing else to do.

Besides telling everyone that he's a big boy now and not a baby any more, I was surprised to find Brooks touting at our first game that the Baby Mascot had returned. In full force I might add, sporting the team colors and setting up post with all the mandatory gear.  And never failing to scream "Go Buh-Buh" from the sidelines. Boy will he be excited come September when he too gets to play.

Of course, Chance is cuter than ever.  He decided to keep his lucky number 11 to keep up his so far 100% batting average.  He's been working on sliding, which I hope to get a video of soon.  In Saturday's game he actually did make a successful slide in to second to save himself. 

And Ryan, he's assistant coaching again.  Seems to really be loving it this season.  So much that he's even been out secretly scouting the competition.  And now we see how little league in the Mound get's its competitive reputation!
Go Astros!

CRY BABY

First week back to school had some rough spots, but all in all we got off to a good start. 

Wednesday, however, Chance got off the bus with slouched shoulders and said it was the WORST DAY he's EVER had.

Nathan stole his nice pencil, and made him use his not so nice pencil.  And the teacher basically just said deal with it.  This was heartbreaking and I got to hear all about it.  As soon as the story was over, little man pipes in, looking straight at Chance in the most appropriate moment he could have possibly chosen and says CRY BABY.

This sets off a severe reaction, clearly hurts Chance's feelings.  Makes him get up from the couch and run to his room in tears, with the little toot chasing right behind chanting CRY BABY CRY BABY CRY BABY.

I'm sitting there, having to cover my mouth cause really it was just timed so right, and I'm still puzzled how Brooks knew to say it at the most appropriate time, and with the most appropriate dagger-in-the-side tone.  I'm puzzled how he knew that phrase at all.  Maybe Chance is getting a taste of his own medicine.  Needless to say, I cleared that laugh off my face, told Brooks he hurt Chance's feelings and consoled the poor boy.  I have a feeling this is just the beginning.  I need a parenting book and fast.

LA LOO BUH-BUH

Schools out for summer.  And really who needs a break at all?  Apparently not baseball.  We just jumped right in with out first summer league game today.  In the 102 degree heat, but who's counting.  It is nice to see some color back on my skin though after 4 years of summering it in Switzerland.  I forgot how much I like being tan. 

Chance got a couple rocking hits, and as usual his trusty fans were in the stands: me and Brooks, while Ryan is helping to coach.  I think his fans go a little over board sometimes though: today Chance was playing first baseman and Brooks had a clear shot of him from the stands, screaming BUH-BUH!!!!!! BUH-BUH!!!  The first 10 yells got a look from Chance over the shoulder with a very patient but somewhat shy smile.  That reaction set Brooks to the LA LOO BUH-BUH mode, screaming it over and over until finally Chance looked back and said: SHHHHHHHH Brooks!  You are distracting me!

I mean the little guy just lives his life for his big BUH-BUH, following him every where, wanting everything he has, wanting to be just like him.  And what does he get?  He gets allocated to the cheering section.

But despite his yelling distractions, he did get his one moment of glory, when at the end of the game he ran up to Chance while he was in the team huddle.  Chance reached out with his arm, brought him in close and let him participate as if he was one of the team.  Now that is brotherly love, and I was watching it all from behind kicking myself that I didn't bring my video camera!

WHERE HAS A YEAR GONE?

This post has been in the works in the back of my little head for the past month, or two.  Not sure where the time goes really, and why since moving back I absolutely struggle with content. I looked down the other day and completely appauled myself.  I had to grab the camera and capture the moment.  This pretty much sums it up and puts all my lack of blogging in to perspective.  I mean if I can't even maintain my toes......

 

I think I've been somehow processing content since our Swiss friend Siro came to visit way back in April. 

Now that is a true friend, who promises to come and visit and actually sticks to his word.  I mean, we live in DALLAS of all places.  I kept cringing at the fact that this guy was coming from Zurich to Dallas......what in the world do we have to offer him here? 

I was reminded of the fact that it took me several months not to drive down the road of concrete hell to the gym and cry.  Or cringe at the scenery as I drove over the lake.  Now I've realized that it's not that Dallas is all that ugly, it's that Switzerland is just THAT beautiful, and once you've seen such beauty for 4 years, it takes awhile for the eyes to adjust back.  A year later and I find myself driving over the same damn going, ah, how pretty!

His visit was a constant reminder of how far we've come in a year since our move back to the US. Let's just say it wasn't a cup of tea this past year, so many adjustments, so much resistance to be here.  I remember a couple months in to it, telling Ryan, you have to take me back there......we can't still be here in a year.  I won't make it a year.  I refuse.  And then one Sunday night a month or so ago, we were retiring for the night and it hit me. It was May 1, 2011.......it had been ONE YEAR. 

Siro helped us to laugh at ourselves, as Americans, and to see why it has been so hard to adjust to the American way of life once again. 

Like Drive Up ATMS.....or actually driving at all. 

Or weather systems that leave you wondering, why do I choose to live in constant fear of being thrown in to the Wizard of Oz?

Or as American parents, do we really need to be THAT concerned about where our SEVEN year old is in the batting order?

It did however make us appreciate our roots.  Like good ole Bull Riding

And REAL margaritas

And the fact that we still have each other, and that we still really like each other :)

I guess you can say it's taken a year to really blossom.  For all of us to put our feet down.  I mean I finally planted that damn garden.  Now if that isn't a sign.....

And the boys, finally I can take them off my worry list.  Chance has become an incredible ball player.  He was named most improved at his last end of season awards ceremony.

And Brooks wont be too far behind him.  We're making Brooks practice daily so he can be assured first place in the batting order when he starts his T-ball a year from September.

 

We'll see where another year takes us.  Happy 1 year anniversary, honey.  We made it even though I didn't believe you that we would.

Spring Break in A Town

Saturday was Mimi's birthday.  We had originally planned to head to Austin Monday morning for a little post celebration since Chance had weekend baseball obligations, but earlier in the week Chance came up to me in a desperate panic..........Mom, we HAVE to be there for Mimi's birthday, and we HAVE to arrive at her door unannounced, WITH BALLOONS.  So we scratched the baseball practices, loaded the car and headed to Austin Saturday morning to arrive at Mimi's house WITH BALLOONS, "unannounced"

Mimi's a bit like me: Doesn't really like surprises, and likes to have her house clean for guests. 

Next thought in that mind of yours is "Stacey?  Clean house for guests? Have you been to her house lately?"

Let's just say I WISH I could have a clean house for guests. 

But back to the story.  So, to spare Mimi the stress of us seeing how messy her bathroom really gets, and to selfishly ensure us clean sheets, I spilled the beans and we arrived at her door "unannounced" with her pretending not to know we were coming.  Mimi can put on such a fake act, I have to wonder if she often does it to me.  Chance believed the whole thing.  And somehow Ryan never clued in cause a couple days later he was asking me if Mimi was surprised to see us at her door step.  He's been working way too many hours to get anything straight, so we'll give that one to him.

Saturday we had Mimi birthday celebrations over at Uncle Drew and Aunt Andrea's house, with some mandatory tree climbing and walking in this great nature preserve behind their house.

Sunday my cold worsened and took my voice with it, Brooks was struck with a 102.5 fever and basically the rest of the week was down hill from there with regards to our health, putting a blow to any chance of us seeing my grandparents or doing anything worthwhile.  I do have to say it was nice to be in the care of the Mims!

We did get to see Umpa, Lisa and Matthew which is always nice.  The boys enjoyed some good game playing on the balcony:

And later some wrestling on the bed which enabled me for a good shot:

Later in the week, I finally said enough was enough with the darn sickness and so we loaded the boys in the car and checked out the Austin Zoo.  It was so reminiscent of our beloved Knies Kinderzoo at the other side of Lake Zurich.  So small, so manageable in several hours.  Only thing different was that you'd never see this in Switzerland, and these guys weren't playing dress up.  I was chasing them about like a crazy paparazzi, trying to get a shot of these creatures I'm still trying to get used to.  Yee ha.

Other interesting creatures at the zoo included a pair of turkeys:

Another pair of turkeys:

Some giant turtles that actually moved way faster than expecting.  One stuck it's head all the way thru the fence and immediately thought that was a lost finger waiting to happen. 

Clearly my thinking didn't carry me over to the pigpen, where Brooks proceeds to stick his fingers thru the fence and almost gets his hand taken off.  I should have seen the sign.

We went for a little spin on the Zoo train.  Anti-climatic for the boy who went to school on REAL trains for the last 4 years, but pretty darn exciting for the little man who loves CHOO CHOO's.

 

Back at Hotel Mimi, we soaked up the sun and hunted bugs

Chance was so excited to have Drew and Andrea come over that he spent several hours arranging the backyard in to a perfect game haven.

He even created a sign to attract his guests:

Uh, Where's November and December?

Don't really know.  Somehow they got skipped over and the pictures have just sat in Adobe waiting to be doctored.  Well the doctor was in today, botox and all making us all look younger and more fab.  The pics are being posted by the minute in the right hand column but here's a quick teaser.

November brought weddings (an excuse to remember that yes I still do own make-up)

A package of letters came from Chance's old classmates in Zurich......from every one of them.  I started balling.

Thanksgiving weekend in Austin with family.  Train rides at Zilker Park with Umpa, Lisa and Matthew.

An updated family pic in Drew's backyard

Crazy boys at Thanksgiving

We surprised Mimi with a tree one night after coming in from a date.  And then had a tree decorating party the next day.  Brooks discovered that balls are much cooler off the tree than on the tree.

December rolled in and the ELF appeared, causing daily mischief until he left back for the North Pole on the 24th to report back any wrong doings to Santa.  Brooks is still on the hunt for that elf, asking everyone he sees ON A DAILY BASIS if they have his elf......."UUUUF?  UUUUUUF?"  It is now almost February.

We had a Christmas tree decorating party of our own, where we blasted Christmas music and danced around the tree in a moment of tribal harmony.  Those come few and far between and are so wonderful when they do happen.

Unpacking the Swiss Christmas tree ornaments brought many nostalgic feelings of our adventure there

Umpa and Lisa came to visit the weekend before Christmas bringing lots of goodies for the boys.

Chance turned 7.  And again for another year in a row, I asked myself HOW COULD I POSSIBLY HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD.  He asked his closest friends, neighbors and cousins to jump the afternoon away at Pump It Up bounce house.  And then we topped off the afternoon with a Mario and Luigi cake.....I mean who else?

After many hours of agony over WILL I EVER FINISH THIS THING, I finally did: and the kid got his book on time

No Christmas is complete without a Cookie Decorating Party.  And no Cookie Decorating Party is complete without icing smeared all over your face.

Christmas Eve brought tenderloin indulgence thanks to Jane's tried and true recipe.

And the loooooooong awaited, looooooooong anticipated day finally arrived.  Apparently that elf made a good report, cause come Christmas morning there was goodies awaiting us all.

Brooks didn't know which to ride, his new bike or his new broom.

Santa brought me things I never even knew I wanted: a waterproof handheld HD video camera.

Nanny, Pappy and Beth stopped by later in the day, snapping a rare moment of Ryan out from behind the camera.

Little man was happy as can be, of course

Aunt Beth brought him a piano that he can sumo squat next to like Linus

The Day after Christmas we hosted 19 people at our house, the Baganz side of course, fitting us all around one large table in our dining room.

After dinner we partook in some White Elephant fun

And snuggle time for Brooks and Pappy

It was nice to have a new addition to the festivities, Beth's new beau Steve

And Ryan got to live out his lost childhood fantasy of being a gangster with the hat he won from the white elephant exchange

All in all I gotta say November and December were pretty darn good.