Baseball Season

These are pics from our first baseball game of the season and can you believe all I got to commemorate the even were two pictures of Hogan stuffing his face with cotton candy??? Nice!

We can mark Hogan's growth by how many innings he can make it through each year. His very first game he slept most of the way through- he was only about 3 months old. The next year he could only sit for an inning or two before I'd have to take him out to toddle about. Last year he could make it about 3 or 4 innings before I had to take him out to run about. And this year he made it through 7 whole innings before we had to go out and take a break. He's almost there!!!

Puddles

Anytime this spring we needed Hogan to do something whether it be pottying at school or staying in bed during nap we could tempt him with the promise of jumping in puddles. It was the cheapest, but by far the funnest, reward we've found for good behavior!

Hogan says: "I am jumping in the puddles. The puddles splashed on my tummy. The rain made the puddles, but right now the rain is forgetting the puddles. It is too sunny."

Daddy's Boots

More and more Hogan wants to do things like his daddy. Just yesterday in the car Hogan told me that he wanted to take his big blue ball far out into the trees. "But not with you mom. Dad will do it." And just like that I realized there are just some things that only dads can do- like keep you safe from lightning, throw the ball far into the woods and then take you to find it, withstand full force tackles, and teach you the names of all the Texas Rangers. Hogan will always be a mama's boy- I'm good for hugs, kisses, stories and comfort, but there's nothing that can replace a loving daddy, and I'm so thankful that Hogan has one.

Bluebonnets

I remember my mom making us take bluebonnet pictures...so I feel like I would be remiss if I didn't make my own child sit in a patch. He'll cherish the memory forever. Troy says only non-native Texans go for the bluebonnet picture craze- is that true????

Hogan says: "I saw an ant on my feet. I was sitting in your lap because there were ants." (See what great memories I'm creating!)

Snails

These were Hogan's favorite pictures from the muddy adventure outside of Oma and Opa's house. This was his first encounter with snails and they intrigued him greatly.

Hogan says: "The snails were coming out of their shells. I liked the snails. They felt cozy. Siiiiiike!"

Mud

Never think that rainy weather can stop us (or at least Hogan) from having fun. Oma and Opa had a perfect little mud puddle right next to the porch that Hogan spent many minutes exploring while I sat on the safe dry porch drinking coffee and snapping pictures.

Hogan says: "Picking up the snails was fun. I forgot to bring them home. Are they still there at Oma and Opa's house? We'll have to go check! And I got rain all over me. When I was scared of the lightning I ran and ran to Oma and to you."

Easter

Okay! The work-induced blogging hibernation is over and summer is here!!! So, I'll try to catch up on all those bloggable moments since...gulp April!

We spent Easter with Oma, Opa and aunt Allison. Oma was ready for Hogan to dye eggs, and as you can see, it was a pretty messy project, which means Hogan absolutely loved it. (See the proud display of dyed hands!). It was also fun for Allison and I to relive our past dyeing days and remember fun tricks or mixing colors and making designs on eggs. Hogan didn't quite appreciate our finesse, but we've got many years ahead of us to teach him all we know! :)

**** New feature - available on select blogs- Hogan's perspective! I scribe he talks!

Here's his take on Easter:

"I liked getting the stickers out and getting my hands all dirty and doing Easter eggs!"