Spring Training

That's right. It's baseball season. We've spent every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with a mitt in hand and a bat in place. 

Today was actually Eli's last game, and he earned the game ball! Jeff has been quite impressed with Eli's knack for the sport. It's so fun to watch Eli gain a passion for something, and not only something, but something that Jeff also loves. 

Another little dude picked up on the passion the minute he picked up Eli's baseball bat. When we took Jonah to Eli's baseball games last year (when Jonah was 1 year old), Jonah spent the entire game trying his hardest to make a break for the baseball diamond. This year is no different. 

Jonah is obsessed with the sport. He will sit and watch the entire game play out. He will cheer at appropriate times and yell, "Go, Buddy!" whenever Eli's up to bat. He just gets it. Today he found a hairbrush that was a close enough resemblance to a bat that he insisted on bringing to Eli's game. He swung that thing for 2 straight hours at the park with pretty accurate form. 

I can no longer trace the train of thought that chugged me towards the idea to potty train Jonah, but we hopped aboard and introduced this hands-always-on-his-hips guy to the potty. 

He loved it. It was like I was finally letting him do a thing he's been waiting two years to do. After showing him a few potty videos on YouTube, he was gleefully running around the house shouting, "POTTY TIME!" every two minutes, begging me to take him to the bathroom. This has been a much different experience than it was with any of my other boys!

Jonah quickly learned he doesn't like having wet pants, so many afternoons this week have been spent in the nude. I enjoyed this moment when he attempted to position his potty on his bike in the hopes that he could ride around without the fear of having an accident or the fear of missing out on any fun. 

We are one week in and it's looking pretty good! A couple mornings he has woken up dry, and he still expresses much excitement about the potty. He's always trying to keep up with the big boys and he doesn't back down from a challenge, so here's to hoping our training efforts don't get derailed! 

As luck would have it, the people who used to live in our house accidentally shipped a meal delivery service box to their old address. I was delighted to open the door and find a box of dinners--especially on potty training week! I called the company to make sure I could rightfully benefit from the mix-up and sure enough, the food was all mine! You could say I felt like a chef in...training...all week long!

This was just the reward I needed for enduring a week of never letting Jonah's bare booty leave my sight, 12 straight hours each day of listening to YouTubers serenade Jonah into noticing his bodily functions, and cheerfully cycling wet towels through the wash to pretend like the hourly accidents were a non-issue. Every potty training mom deserves good food that appears on her doorstep. 

Next up is the training...wheels! Eli had his first Pinewood Derby. Eli had meticulously drawn his car design the first night he got his block of wood. Jeff helped Eli put all his plans into action. Many hours in the garage and many sandpaper sheets later, Eli was ready to let it roll!

We did not take 1st place, but we did take home many tips that Eli is hoping to be able to use for Pinewood Derbys to come. (Eli is also hoping there will be many Pinewood Derbys to come even with the changes to scouting program.)

Now on to...safety training! Backward construction hat helmets are better than no helmets, I suppose.

Talk to this guy about safety! He's got the headwear and the eyewear covered!

Leave a broom out back for one day and next thing you know, you've got four little boys racing around a well-groomed motocross track. 

Our Monday garbage man tradition is still going strong. 

However, our loyalties to the garbage man were tested when we found this group of firemen TRAINING for a fire--hose and all!

Carson is training to be an artist. We already knew that.

Here's the spring part of the training! I've been loving the desert flowers in full bloom. Especially because we were sure this tree was dead two months ago. Now it's blooming with beauty!

The last thing in training is me! Sunday was Mother's Day where mothers everywhere are reminded we are in training to become more of the person we want to be. I'm glad to have four boys who remind me of my priorities and force me to consider my values as I try to teach them all the things that are important to me. We're all in training together just trying to make each other a little bit better.

And with that, the train has arrived back to the station. Hope you enjoyed the ride and we'll see you next spring!