Morrison hit a home run during the spring/summer baseball season this year, so he was eligible to participate in the Little League home run derby after the championship games. Their team didn’t make the finals, but that didn’t dampen his excitement for the derby at all! The kids and I got home from our Canada trip the very day of the derby, but then it ended up getting rained out and postponed. No big deal, it was just a few evenings later. On one of the hottest nights of the year. 🥵
The kids had the option of choosing who they wanted to pitch for them – parent, coach, friend, etc. – and Morrison chose Ryan. They both needed to warm up in batting practice beforehand that night! Then unfortunately they waited directly in the sweltering sun of the dugout until Morrison was up to bat. We may decide to have his coach pitch to him the next time he’s in the derby, but they both did great. There was a full opening ceremony where each of the kids was introduced, which was so fun to watch. And most importantly, Morrison was SO excited, because he hit a home run that Ryan and I both got to see this time!! I was thrilled! He and a couple other batters hit 1 each, a couple hit 2-3, one kid hit 7, and the winner hit 10! There were only 6 batters in all, so I was SO PROUD that Morrison was one of them and so happy that all of them hit at least one home run. And his team had 3 boys in the derby, the most out of any team – I’d say their coaches did a great job! He still claims that he’s waiting for track to be his breakout sport, but I truly love watching him play ball. His athletic skills are pretty amazing. Incredible job, kiddo!
I say it every time, but this kid never ceases to amaze me. He’s brilliant, helpful, kind, caring, empathetic, curious, responsible, respectful, inclusive, and the fastest wheels on his Little League team.
Last sleep of 9!
Every teacher he’s ever had says what an amazing student and classmate he is, and he’s always the one they turn to when they need help with something or need a leader in the classroom. His teacher this year told me multiple times that she’d have no problem leaving the room and letting Morrison just run the class. He’d be in heaven. 😉 He’s both a good friend and a good role model. He’s become Ryan’s apprentice for any and all jobs around here, and I LOVE that. I said these kids will know how to do more stuff by the time they’re teenagers than I do right now. And I could not be more proud of that.
He continues to have the most pure, golden heart and is still happiest when he’s helping others. Sometimes that can turn into policing when it’s trained on his younger brothers, but such is sibling life and love… 😉 The other weekend our neighbors had a 1st birthday party for their little girl, and they asked the girls to help decorate. I said absolutely, and if you have anything you need help moving around, setting up, etc., Morrison would love to get in on the action, too. He (and our neighbors!) were over the moon. He spent all morning over there with his sisters rearranging their backyard, creating a massive balloon arch/banner, decorating tables, setting up food, generally getting everything perfect for what turned out to be a blast of a baby’s birthday party. When he was all done, without prompting or being asked, he came home, showered up, and put on nice party clothes. I was so impressed and proud of him acting like such a little gentleman, I could have burst into tears. The thought he puts into things he does amazes me.
He’s still loving baseball and hit his first out-of-the-park home run this season! I hadn’t gotten to that game in time to see it, but fortunately his coaches had the live replay so they sent that to me. It was so exciting! He’s still dying to start track, though. He told me the other day that he doesn’t even want to try out for the higher-level travel baseball teams, because he really wants to focus on running instead once he gets that chance. You got it, kiddo! I love that he knows what he wants and doesn’t feel like he has to try out for the more exclusive teams just because he can or because his teammates do. To say he’s a natural athlete would be an understatement!
The color green remains his favorite and has been from the start, math is his absolute specialty, he’s made some really cool clay creations in art class this year and loves it, he’s gotten into another new hobby of weaving on a loom, his favorite food is sushi, Snugs and Elli are still tucked in next to him every night along with his other rotating collection of stuffies, and he’s the best little brother his sisters could ask for (except when he annoys them to no end) and the best big brother the twins could ever hope to look up to (except for when that aforementioned policing gets too annoying).
Happy 10th birthday, Morrison John!!! You’re the one who kicked off all the boys in our family, and for that I can’t thank you enough. You are such an extraordinary kid, and I can’t wait to see where that incredible brain takes you. It’s going to be somewhere amazing, I just know it! We love you so much and are so, SO proud of you!
School got out exactly 1 week ago, and it’s already been a whirlwind! The kids all had a half day that last day, then we got home, ate lunch, and immediately drove to Peoria for our annual summer weekend with family. It always coincides with Father’s Day, so I get to see my dad and Ryan gets the best Father’s Day gift every year – silence. We spent a day at my mom’s on the tail end of that trip, then we got home and their true summer break began.
So far this week we’ve worked on flipping our rental house before a new tenant arrives, and the big kids have been absolute rock stars helping with everything. The twins have done a great job entertaining themselves so we can get all that done, Lana and I have started our summer morning walks together, and we’re getting ready for our first of 2 trips this summer. Morrison’s spring/summer Little League is winding down next week, Lana starts cross country camp next week, the twins start tennis lessons the week after next, Della starts lacrosse lessons the week after next, and she started online driver’s ed today!
I love this season so much. My work will unfortunately be busier than usual this summer, but that’s ok; we’ll still have fun. Let’s go summer vacation!!
The girls both got braces this morning, and their teeth already hurt…
I think they’re slated to wear them for approximately 18 months, but there’s a chance they’ll come off sooner than that if everything goes according to plan and nothing breaks or goes sideways during their wear time. Fingers crossed! I foresee lots of Jell-O and applesauce in their future for the next week. 😉
The twins turned 7 last month, and they had literally been counting down to their birthday since Christmas. 😀
I recently reread their birthday post from last year, and honestly, not a whole lot has changed! Nat is still all about all things video games. Mario, Cuphead, Sonic, whatever. If it’s a video game, you name it, he can play it. He loves cats and the color red, mac and cheese and berries. He was the fastest kid in 1st grade in the fun run at school last fall, and he gives me 7 snuggles with his snuggies blanket and new stuffie cardinal every night when I tuck him into bed because they’re 7 years old.
Last night of 6!
Avit remains our in-house creator and builder. He still often says he wants to be an engineer when he grows up, and I think he’d be an amazing one. That, and working at Tommy’s in Canada and transforming it into Avit’s Burgers. He loves Minecraft and Pokemon, cocktail weenies and all fruit, the color yellow, and making games and projects for everyone daily. He will make friends with anyone and everyone, and nothing makes him happier than playing with all his siblings. He is and forever will be my little snug bug.
They’re doing great in 1st grade. They can read any book you give them, and they love library day at school. They both learned to ride their bikes last year, and they absolutely love going wherever those 2 wheels will take them. We’ve gone on a couple full-family bike rides, and it’s the best!
They have varying groups of friends they play with at recess at school, but they are and I feel always will be, each other’s immediate go-to for everything. They are equally happy playing by themselves and with the big kids. They are wild and crazy then serene and inquiring within a matter of seconds. They amaze me daily.
Happy 7th birthday, Nat Jennings and Avit Jerome!! Keep exploring and growing and just being you every day, because you two are more incredible than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams. We love you forever and ever and ever, and I’m so excited to see where you go in this big, wide world! Just always remember to come home and tell me all about it! 😉
As you well know, these are my favorites – year-by-year comparison photos and posts…
I thought I had already created these comparison photos from Lana’s first days of K4 and middle school last year, but I apparently did not. I just did her first and last days of elementary school. So here are some new cute comps, just a few months late!
