Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Christopher's Turn

He's just the cutest. I have lost count of how many baseball seasons we have had - seems like 100s. I had reach a point of saturation, but now I find myself enjoying being at the ballfield...maybe because it's so familiar. And, maybe because I think my Christopher is just an adorable baseball player. Don't tell him, though, because boys are supposed to be handsome - not cute or adorable.





I have been trying to get pictures of all the kids - my reputation from phototaking during All Stars preceded me and the expectations have been high. That said, I have mostly only been to night games. Good lighting for about 30 minutes and then you have to get pretty creative. Maybe my reputation won't be so good for next season.



One of the nights, the coaches invited me to come onto the field. The ump came over to advise me that he usually wouldn't let a parent sit there, but....well, I was the exception (sweet Southern smiles work wonders). Little did he know that since one of the coaches is the commissioner of that league, he would have gotten outranked regardless.



I love the pictures under the lights, but only when they aren't moving. It gets a little tricky with motion. I have learned that's when you do creative things to make it look like you meant for them to be blurry. I think making the photo look like an antique is a really, quick easy way to do that and I do like the effect. Seriously, how could you not use a photo that shows this kind of focus even if it is significantly flawed?





But then, color is really the best when they aren't moving. Sorry, Christopher, you're just too adorable.

Happy Birthday, James

No....you're not crazy. You have read a birthday post already. I found the one that had somehow disappeared. Now, you can read the "mushy" birthday post.





I have always liked this picture. My two guys....Christopher at one of James's seemingly endless events, cheering him on and not complaining so much. James competing impressively. This was his first taste of athletic accomplishment without depending on someone else. When I see this picture, it reminds me how much alike my boys are.....and how different. I've been at home in total quiet (ok, except for tobymac jamming in the background) for a few hours this afternoon so I've had time to contemplate that I have a 12-year-old.

He's growing up and not just in size. Watching him race lately, I realize he races differently. I think maybe it's confidence, maybe it's hormones. As he comes blazing across that line, actually competing and holding his own with some much bigger boys, I can't help but reflect on that very first day with the bat and ball on our deck after church. He was determined to hit that ball. And, at three years old, he did. I think about this first triathlon. We had no idea what that was going to lead to. God has blessed him so richly. Even more, He has blessed me with him. With both of them. I have learned so much in the past 12 years. Seen sin I had never seen before. Found impatience that was buried much deeper than my usual brand of impatience. Even pride in them that is beyond godly. Yes, indeed, God has blessed me richly by giving me new ways to see my sin.

Happy Birthday, James. You bring us such joy and teach us so much. May God mark you as His own and use you mightily. We love you.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Hours Later....

Keith and James finally returned from their day at the races. They started first thing with James's race and then stay until the end of the day when the pros race. The race had its ups and downs....the ups, well you'll see below. The downs? Very expensive sunglasses, which he paid for himself, have a new owner tonight. Sure hope he feels good about his acquisition. Click here to enjoy the ups!

(Ok, ok, I know it's not the same as it actually being embedded in the blog post, but work with me here. I've been working on this for 3 hours and have had to implement quite a bit of ingenuity to get a very large file off Keith's Droid onto my computer, into some software that would allow me to upload it to SmugMug and then figure out how to link to that. None of it has been easy. So, now that I've had my whine...I do hope you enjoyed the video.)

Pictures of Christopher coming soon - I DO have pictures of him and baseball, I promise.



Happy Birthday, James

I just wrote an incredibly touching, tear jerking post. I still have tears running down my face. So, you ask yourself, why are you reading this instead? My computer lost its internet connection and in my impatience and kept hitting buttons until I lost the post.

Oh, well, unfortunately for you, you will never read my ponderings of motherhood and those touching memories. I just trust that God is sovereign and that James would have hated me forever for sharing those thoughts.

Instead, you get, Happy Birthday, James. Just for you, I'm adding your photo finish from yesterday. He didn't win, but the two guys that beat him are older and one of them much bigger. Did I say much bigger? How about huge? You can only see James's tire because he's tiny compared to him. Still, pretty cool. After races miles and miles, it's still a sport of inches sometimes.

Good job, James.


Saturday, April 24, 2010

He finished first among his age group. Was in the sprint for 3rd with older kids. Trying to find the video. It is on this phone somewhere.

candicetodd thought you'd like this Qik video

Hey there - candicetodd has shared this Qik video, james basketball. To watch this video and leave a comment for candicetodd click http://www.qik.com/6277430/de5b3cc6.

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- The Qik Team
----
Qik is the easiest way to record and share your life as it happens with your friends and family. Start Qikking today by signing up at http://qik.com/sign_up

James, the blur, leads his age group

In the front

Playing a bit of cat and mouse. Good job making others pull.

candicetodd thought you'd like this Qik video

Hey there - candicetodd has shared this Qik video, james basketball. To watch this video and leave a comment for candicetodd click http://www.qik.com/6276689/91ad2a9d.

Best,
- The Qik Team
----
Qik is the easiest way to record and share your life as it happens with your friends and family. Start Qikking today by signing up at http://qik.com/sign_up

candicetodd thought you'd like this Qik video

Hey there - candicetodd has shared this Qik video, james basketball. To watch this video and leave a comment for candicetodd click http://www.qik.com/6276614/316802fd.

Best,
- The Qik Team
----
Qik is the easiest way to record and share your life as it happens with your friends and family. Start Qikking today by signing up at http://qik.com/sign_up

They're off

CAT 3

Forgot to mention we had 2 people qualify for tonight. Wagner and Philip were 24th and 25th. Not sure which order.

Yes....it was....

The racing is halted. How many people can fit under a tent....sorry...I digress.

It wasn't Spook off the front but another Colavita teammate.

Athens

Downtown looks fun if not wet.  Is that lightning I see?

The sound

Wish you could hear the swish of the wheels. Nothing like it. Late breaking ... Ethan crashed. Still riding. Road rash on his elbow.  Alex Spook off the front

Seriously

It's raining so hard.

Athens Twilight

Weather is definitely threatening. Older juniors are about to race the Cat 3 race. Top finishes qualify to race tonight before the pros. Philip, Wagner, Ethan, David and Nick are all warming up.

Friday, April 16, 2010

James's Race Tomorrow

James is racing in the Sunny King Critical tomorrow.  He starts at 11 est/10 cst.   Watch him on the jumbotron at www.sunnykingcriterium.com.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The Thrill of Victory


A new experience this weekend. The anxiety of watching the chase. Who would win? Had I done the right thing? I probably wouldn't know for 10 days....what in the world am I talking about you ask.....



ebay, of course. I put my first item up for sale on ebay yesterday. I had no idea what I was doing or how to price it, but I must have done ok because I sold them and I'm happy with what I netted







Congratulations, your item sold!

I have to admit, I was drawn to watching how many people viewed my listing and how many were "watching" my item. I was kind of cool (and productive). I'm ready to load up my next item.

Friday, April 9, 2010

James's New Job

A few weeks ago James started "working" at our local bike shop. He goes two hours each week to learn the ropes, etc. I think it's really good experience. We've been going to the Bicycle Doctor almost since he opened up - he's saved us many a time, eg, something bad happens to the bike just before a race.

Here is a link to Scott's (a.k.a. "the Bicycle Doctor" especially when James is talking about him) blog where he gives James a shout-out. The video at the beginning is pretty funny, too.

Got more pictures and stories to come....just stay tuned.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Fun New Toy

I have found a new, really cool thing. Click on that link and you'll see what I mean. I can make a video with my phone and it feeds directly to the web. I'm thinking it's a pretty good way to share all kind of things.

At the bottom of the blog, you will see a link to more recent "qik" videos. You should check it out.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter

Happy Belated Easter! What a blessed day it was and how wonderful it is to be reminded of the unbelievable gift that we have.

To celebrate this year, I took the boys to Alabama to see my parents and my grandmother. Because we were going to Papa and Da's church, we got the boys new Easter clothes. I miss the days of knowing I would have a new outfit just for Easter.



They looked so handsome, if I say so myself. They were even relatively well-behaved - maybe because they were tired because we got in kind of late Saturday night. Whatever the cause, I'll take it.





Of course, you can't take the boy out of them. It wasn't 5 minutes after taking the pictures that somehow the balls just jumped into their hands. Note that I didn't yell and them, I just redirected the camera. Cute Handsome even playing basketball in dress up clothes.




They rode home from church with my mother and they got home before I did. There was a long string of shoes, socks, clothes, etc. right in front of the door when I came in. Those clothes just wouldn't stay on their little bodies. They were so ready to get back out to the basketball goals. Somehow they even got Papa out there to play. The best was H-O-R-S-E. Christopher kept making them shoot "granny shots." Absolutely hysterical.



The most special part of the trip was seeing my grandmother (a.k.a. "old grandmama"). I haven't seen her in years, but she looks the same if not a little more feeble. She'll be 95 in June...maybe I inherited a few of her genes.

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