Swickheimer Summer Fun List 2014

AYBS: The Reds

It was a huge milestone for Drew this past spring: his first time participating in an organized sport! From some wild reason, Drew seems to think that he's a baby boy (hmmmmm...), therefore he's too little to play a sport. He would always say, "When I'm big like Emma, I can play."

Well, he's a big boy now. And he can play!

He was a member of the Reds and Andy was the head coach. It was a pee-wee league, where the coach pitched to the kids but if they couldn't hit the ball, they put it on the T-stand.

As much as I'd like to say he was a natural from the get-go, it took Drew awhile to get into it. He always wanted to go play; to play in the grass, or play with some sticks. He was so used to just wondering around all the years watching Emma play, that it took some getting used to the fact that he actually had to pay attention. Watch the ball. Listen to his coach.

All-in-all, Drew had a lot of fun. He learned so much and he turned out to be quite a little baller. Fingers crossed, the kid is going to be an athlete!!!

The Reds
(Andy was running the Mini, so I had to step in and coach...on flippin' picture day!)

AYBS: The Thunder

Emma had a fantastic season of softball this past spring. It was her 2nd year on the minors (1st/2nd grade) and this year she was on team Thunder.

Team Thunder had some big shoes to fill. Their coach won the tournament the previous year, and he was looking for a repeat in these girls. Which was a tough task, with two - count them TWO - girls in preschool. Yes, preschool. We're talking, Drew's age. Why their parent's thought it was a good idea to put them on a team with 1st & 2nd graders is beyond me...

...but I guess it really didn't matter in the end. Because the Thunder WON THE TOURNAMENT!!! 

And what's even better, is that Emma truly enjoyed playing. She loved blasting the ball in the outfield. She loved singing the cute little chants that they sing in the dugout. She loved the friendships that she made.

And I loved watching her grow and play!

AYBS Champs!

Emma + Sydney
friends + teammates

Mother's Day 2014

This Mother’s Day was spent doing one of my favorite spring activities: yard work!

No seriously.  I love it.

I love working out in the yard, cleaning up the flower beds, mowing the lawn, pulling weeds…anything!

But before we did that, we started off with a family brunch at Sahm’s. Then after over-stuffing ourselves, we headed to my mom’s to clean up her yard and plant some flowers.  Many hours later (because wow…her yard needed work!), we headed back to our house to start mulching.  We didn’t mulch last year, so we had quite a task ahead of us this year.

OH, but wait.

I’m leaving out the best part: the presents! I wish I would have taken a picture, because I got some really cute handmade cards from both Emma and Drew. Those are always the best! And Andy got me tickets to Cirque Du Soleil Verakai which is at the end of July. Really looking forward to that!!!

Happy 5th Birthday, Drewbie!

To My Sweet Baby Boy Drew,

I'm truly having a hard time accepting the fact that you are now FIVE years old.  How did that happen?  When did you grow up?  When did you stop being a baby?  When did you outgrow the toddler phase?  FIVE YEARS OLD just seems so old to me. 

You've always been my baby.  You've always been sweet, sweet, little baby boy.

And now you’re five years old.

But even though you're a "big boy" now, you'll still be my baby boy.  You’ll still be my little man; my special little Drew-Drew.


You’ll always hold a special little place in my heart.

Love, Momma 

 

Drew's 5th Birthday Party

I still can't believe it.

I can't believe that my baby boy is FIVE years old.

FIVE.

That's no longer a baby.  Hell, that's no longer a toddler.  

He's freaking FIVE YEARS OLD.

So I told him that when he turned five, he could have an "official" birthday party.  Because that's the first time his sissy had one.  And, naturally, he chose to have his party at the same place that his sister did: Monkey Joe's!

But instead of inviting the whole class (1st-timer mistake that I was NOT going to make again!), we just invited the kids - boys - that he actually talks and interacts with.  So Mason (Mase-Mase), Sam (Sammy), Matthew (Matthew), Nolan (Noley), and Cole all came out to jump with Monkey Joe and celebrate Drew's big day!

This year, he really got into Star Wars (thanks to the ride at Hollywood Studios that he experienced during Spring Break), so some of the top items on his wish list were:

• Light Sabar
• Luke Skywalker action figure
• Jeti men
• and, of course, anything Ninja Turtle related!

Go figure: Drew would not pose for a picture to save my life!

 

 

I finally got one of him, though!

Sissy, on the other hand, has absolutely no problem posing for a picture. In fact, what I'm not posting, are the dozens - and I mean DOZENS - of photos that she took of herself at his party.

Emma's Hero Project

For Emma's Hero Project, she chose her Uncle Matt.  Because he's "so laughful" and "always puts a smile to my face."  

Here's the video she sent to Uncle Matt, letting him know that he is the chosen one:

And here is the story she wrote about her Uncle Matt:
My hero is Matt Swickheimer.  He is my uncle.  He always puts a smile to my face.  He is so funny.  He will cheer me up when I feel down.  He lives downtown.  He is a flight attendant and travels all around the world.  He enjoys going to concerts.  His favorite type of music is electronic.

I love my uncle Matt.