Baseball Practices Have Started Back

Well fall season has started!  The boys are so excited to be playing again.  Landon's practices started back on Friday.  Casen hasn't had a practice yet but I'm sure this week.  


Landon amazed me on Friday though!  Last season was his first to ever play, he played on a team with kids that had been playing since they were like 4....they were good.  Most were also aging out of coach pitch and ready for kid pitch so they were just some awesome players.  Landon being his first year really wasn't very good.  He was a bit scared of the ball so wouldn't get out there and try and catch it, he didn't throw well and barely hit the ball.  But on Friday he got out there and was so into it.  He was into the game vs playing with the kids this time.  He was catching, fielding and throwing so well.  They even had him practicing on 1st base which he was thrilled about.  He really did a great job!  Tonight they had another practice and he played short stop and 3rd base, he did good but the sun was in his face and we forgot his hat so not as good as Friday, he is super sensitive to light so he could barely see.  But after practice he asked to stay and throw some more and he was in the shade then and was doing so much better.  Fielding REALLY well, caught a pop fly which he was thrilled about and throwing so much better.  His aim has gotten a lot better he just needs to throw a bit harder, he can't get it from 3rd over to 1st but he's doing sooooo much better than he was last season.  They practiced batting today and he didn't get a hit but he was swinging much better and harder so he'll get it soon I'm sure :)  


He is really hoping to get to play infield and some bases this season.  


Casen can't wait for his practices to start he's been so bummed about Landon having 2 and him none so far.  They've been practicing all summer he can't wait to show his coach how much he's improved too.  


The season officially starts on Sept 7th so I'm sure we will have our first game that day or that week.   The boys are going to be worn out from school and practices or games almost everyday but we are excited.  


Tomorrow starts the 2nd week of school, Casen has talked about it all weekend and can't wait to go back tomorrow :)

Back To School Blog and Twitter Party with Fed up with Lunch

Feeding my boys healthy, homemade foods is something I feel very strongly about.  I am constantly trying to improve their eating habits and have them try new foods.  I love when I come across blogs that help me with that. I hope that one day my blog will be as informative as theirs and help other moms come up with ideas for school lunches and healthy recipes to make for their kids


I found a blog today via www.anotherlunch.com called Fed up with school lunch, they are doing a Back to School Blog and Twitter party.  Go check it out!  http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/2010/08/back-to-school-lunch-revolution-blog.html  Questions from her blog post.....

• How is “Back to School” going for your family? Great so far, we are one week in and I have to say this week was a total success.  No tears, happy and excited kids that are ready for next week
• Is school lunch important part of your child’s day? Yes, lunchtime is one of their favorites, what can I say my kids love to eat!  
• What is school lunch like at your school or your child’s school? Pretty typical I think, they do offer a fresh fruits and veggie bar each day, but the entree choices are what I remember as a kid...chicken nuggets, burritos, pizza and all the flavored milks
• Does school lunch need to be reformed? Yes!  Healthier options!  Our last school was a bit better, they had chef's salad almost everyday, baked potato bar, a lot healthier options
• Do you pack lunch for your kids and what do you pack?  Yes, I try and change it up, I've started posting their daily menu here on my blog.  Sandwiches, wraps, pastas, rice cakes, fresh fruits and veggies, homemade snacks and treats.....lots more to come as we get into the school year more.  We did fairly easy stuff this week just because it was all so chaotic getting back into the school routine
• Do you write notes in your kid’s lunches and what do you write? Yes the lunch boxes we got this year have a little white board inside so I write them a note everyday usually telling them I love them, to have a good day, etc.  I think I'm going to take from someone else I saw that answered these questions and do little facts on there too
• What are some of your favorite lunch recipes (kid-friendly or adult-friendly)? Southwest turkey wraps, granola balls, turkey pesto meatballs...I find a lot of my recipes on www.weelicious.com
• What are some great beverages for kids and adults? We mostly do water or maybe some watered down juice
• What is a traditional food item that you have made even more healthy and how did you do it? I think by making things homemade instead of relying on processed already made things it helps alot, using fresh ingredients.  We like to make homemade pizza pockets but stuff them with veggies and use pizza dough from a health food store or make our own
• How much time should kids get to eat lunch? About 25-30min
• What are some products that you use when you pack lunch? We love our lunch boxes from www.gogreenlunchbox.com  we also use camelbak water bottles that we really like

Day 5 Lunch

Can't believe tomorrow is already the end of week 1 of school for the boys.  They are absolutely loving it, but are also completely worn out and tomorrow starts baseball practice so even more tired, maybe they'll actually sleep in on Saturday.  


Today was a much better day around here, Casen finally remembered his daily folder and he's gotten stamps all week (good thing).  His teacher called today to schedule parent orientation and told me he is the sweetest kid in her class, so well behaved, polite and very smart.  Yay :)  


Here was their snack plate from today, they were still hungry after it, piggies. 

Blueberry yogurt pretzels

cheese cubes

banana

cream cheese and strawberry jam on a whole wheat tortilla

For lunches on Friday I'm going to let them fully choose what they get so here is what they chose this week

Casen's on the left and Landon's on the right

Casen: 

PB&J on honey wheat bread

strawberries kiwi and grape

blueberry yogurt pretzels

cheese cut into shapes

Revolution Foods jammy sammy (apple cinnamon oatmeal)

Bottle of water

Landon:

Southwest turkey wrap

strawberries and kiwi

blueberry yogurt pretzels

yogurt raisins

Revolution Foods jammy sammy (apple cinnamon oatmeal)

Bottle of water

Snack plate and Day 4 lunch

I've been trying to make the boys a snack plate so when they get off the bus they have something to eat because they are starving.  Here was today's, which they loved!

PB&banana quesadilla, grapes and veggie straws

They will be really excited about tomorrow's lunch because they love wraps, especially these.  We are trying something new too, the pb&j yogurt.  Hopefully they enjoy it all

Southwest turkey wrap, strawberries and yogurt raisins, veggie straws (becoming a huge favorite), PB&J yogurt, grape mashup and bottle of 1/2 water and 1/2 apple juice

Yesterday's lunch was a hit with Landon, Casen said he didn't really like the pb pancakes but he's not feeling well and hasn't been eating much so I think that has something to do with it, I will be trying again, probably during a weekend so I can encourage him to eat them more and see what he really thinks

After-School Snack Ideas

I got this in an email today and it has a lot of great ideas, I saved almost all of them.  Thought I would share in case anyone else is looking for ideas too!  I like to have a snack plate ready for the boys when they get home so this will really help change it up

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/50-quick-snack-recipes/pictures/index.html?nl=EATS_082510_P2_Snacks

Day 3 Lunch box

Well I totally forgot to get a picture of yesterday's lunch, was in a hurry and just slipped my mind.  Hopefully I'll be able to keep this up.  I love finding blogs with people posting pics of their kids lunches and new recipe ideas, helps me give the boys more variety.  I've had a lot of people lately asking me for ideas so thought putting up what I'm doing and the recipes might help others too :)


I'm really big on the boys eating healthy though as you'll see they do get some treats and not everything is the healthiest, but we try.  

Here is today's lunch:

PB pancake sammys (one with grape jelly and the other with strawberry jam)

Grapes

Chewy Granola Balls

Sunshine Carrots

Mash Up

Bottle of water

I'll add recipes when I get them from another site (weelicious is a favorite) otherwise feel free to ask for the recipe and I'll post it :)

First day of school

Today went great!!!!!  They had wonderful days and can't wait to go back tomorrow!  


I got up about 6:50 and got my clothes and came out to the living room to get dressed and a few min later Landon and Casen walked in, woke up on their own, big smiles on their faces.  They went and got dressed while asking about 1000 questions and running around like crazy while I tried to finish up their lunches and make them breakfast.  I made them eggs and waffles for breakfast, yum!  They ate and by then we were running late, got shoes on in a hurry and ran out the door.  Got to the school and luckily lots of people were running late.  I walked Landon to his class first and took a pic real quick outside his room, didn't come out good :(  But I tried to give him a kiss and he turned his cheek for me to kiss there then took off into his classroom...getting too big I guess.  Sad!  


I then walked Casen down to his classroom, he was getting nervous but still very excited.  We walked in and he put his backpack and blanket away in his locker and then gave me kisses and sat in his seat.  I snapped a few pics then left fighting back tears.  But he didn't cry, he did really well!  Came back home with Hayden and we told Daddy bye.  We hung out all morning, played trains, watched some tv, danced.  Then got really tired and took an early nap.  When we got up he hadn't peed again, 3rd day no peeing in his diaper at nap or bedtime!!!  WTG Hayden!  Then he helped me make turkey pesto meatballs for our lunch.  We ate and hung out some more, the day was going by really slowly, couldn't wait for the boys to get home to find out how their day went.  Mark showed up about 3:15 because he wanted to see them get off the bus on their first day, awww good Daddy :)  They didn't get home until almost 4 though!  We all walked out to meet them and got lots of hugs and tons of stories from the day.  


Here are some pics from today

Landon outside his classroom

Casen outside his classroom

Hayden ready for the day at home with Mommy

Waiting on the boys bus

Maggie excited to see them too

First day of school= TOTAL SUCCESS!!!!!

Now I'm off to bed, lunches are done (pics to come tomorrow) and everything is laid out and prepared, hopefully tomorrow morning goes a little smoother