Hey Batter, Batter!

Matt decided to join our church's softball team this spring. So far, it has been fun, and a great way to get out and get active.

Eli and I have been hoping to get to some games, but so many start late and are all the way across town. Ugh! Finally, last week, we were able to go to one. Too bad we were the only fans there...and the only fans to come to a game yet.

E had so much fun cheering for his daddy and telling all the players to "RUN!" or "Hit the ball!" And of course, the little playground near the fields helped keep Eli entertained when the game was no longer fascinating.

We were proud of our daddy, getting three hits and scoring runs. Yay, Daddy! They have another game tonight that I don't think Eli and I are going to make it to, but

Go Daddy and Go Good Shepherd!

Fishie

Eli has been taking swim lessons twice a week this month. He is doing so well! Due to all of his time in pools and the ocean since he was a baby, Eli is very comfortable in the water. He holds his breath well, and isn't afraid to go under. From the get-go, he has been eager to learn. After 6 lessons, I was finally able to get a decent video of our little fish in the making.

Too bad we only have 2 more lessons left before our "coach" has to head home for the summer. Darn college semester ends already. Oh well....guess I'll just have to become the coach from here on out. I just hope he has enough of the basics to keep improving, and that I can be a good swimming teacher. So proud of our fishie!

Oh My Goodness

I am sooooooo behind on blog posts this month. I might do a few posts in a row to try and get caught up.

Let's go back a couple of weekends....Look who came to visit us!

We had a fabulous weekend with Pap Pap. Hanging out, enjoying each others' company, eating yummy food both out and in, and a highlight of the weekend was a boat ride at Wakulla Springs.

Eli was super pumped about getting to go on the boat. At first, he was intrigued by everything going on around him and watched the water go by as he peered over the edge of the boat. He even saw a turtle that no one else did. There was all kinds of wildlife to be seen. Turtles,

oh so many alligators,

and a lot of birds. It didn't take long for Eli to get fidgety. Thankfully, it was OK to move around the boat. Once E was up front, he was happy again taking in the tour from a different point of view.

(notice Daddy's tight grip on the back of E's shorts to be sure he doesn't get too excited and end up taking a swim!)

Glad we went, and glad Pap Pap was able to come visit us on such a beautiful spring weekend. We head down to Dunedin for a visit this weekend. More adventures to be had, I'm sure.

Still not a lot of time on my hands to blog these days, so I decided to do a quick post to catch you up on what has been going on in our neck of the woods....in one picture-filled post (as opposed to several mini ones that are all things that happened a week or more ago....).

Here goes....

At the end of March, we headed back to the beach.

While there, we celebrated Aunt Kristi's birthday.

Delicious homemade "Snyder-style" ice cream cake was enjoyed by all....

...especially Eli.

That weekend marked the beginning of Eli and I's SPRING BREAK, so family had to head back to Tally, but Eli and I were lucky to get to stay the week. We were joined by several of Eli's buddies, their mommies, and siblings.

The kids had an absolute blast together despite chilly and windy days. The moms would be lying if we didn't admit to some intense moments with 6 children ages 3 and under....and for 36 hours, we had 8 kids (and 5 mommies!) Chaos at times,

but many sweet moments as well.

Highlights include: daily sunrises,

playing in the sand and water,

play-doh before dinner,

cookie decorating after nap,

shell hunting, races on the beach (a.k.a. wearing children out☺), nightly walks for ice cream,

reading together,

lots of reading!!,

and just good, old fashioned FUN! We were all ready to go home by the end of the week, but we also said we wouldn't have traded the time for anything. Hope everyone is game to do it again one day.

Eli and I were excited to get back to town; we had missed Daddy...and there were only a few days left to finish getting ready for EASTER. Eli was definitely into every aspect of Easter this year. He was eager for the Easter bunny to come and bring him goodies. He couldn't wait to dye eggs.

On Easter morning, he loved hunting for eggs over and over again.

And the little guy was fascinated by the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. In addition to what he remembered about the story of Easter from last year (the boo boo's in Jesus' hands and feet and that He rose from the dead), Eli learned about the crown of thorns (or the as Eli calls it, the "crown of prickers"), why Jesus was put to death, and the persecution he faced in the end. We talked about the awesome gift Jesus gave us in dying on the cross, but also the awesomeness of His rising again. Experiencing the story through Eli's eyes this year was beautiful, and on Easter Sunday, when we got to church, Eli discovered the Stations of the Cross. He quickly put it all together, realizing that these were just like the stories Mommy and Daddy had been telling him about Jesus. Matt walked him around the church after Mass so he could get a closer look at the Stations of the Cross. We immediately decided to bring Eli to the Stations next Lent. He is definitely ready.

What a glorious week we had with family and friends at the beach, and then capping it off with the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord.

Alleluia!

Still Behind

I'm still feeling behind. So many posts in mind, and no time to do them. For now, I'll leave you with Superman going for an early morning fly.