our little angel

Ben played on the Angels this year in the AA division, with his best friend Sterling and Sterling's dad Coach Brad.  Richard and Owen also helped coach the team- Richard focused on batting and Owen helped get them organized and kept the batters lined up.

AA league uses coach pitch- a step up from t-ball, but quite friendly competition still.  Each inning Ben would play a different position in the outfield.  He most enjoyed catcher.  Why?  Because the catcher gear makes him look like Darth Vader.  He least enjoys outfield.  Because it's boring.  Duh.

Ben really improved his batting and his fielding skills through the season, and it was great to get to play with Sterling.

spar champ

Ben signed up for a tournament at his karate school.  He spars each week during the second practice of the week and enjoys it.  None of us knew exactly what he had signed up for till we got to the tournament.

The first section of the tournament, the students competed on forms.  Ben decided last minute to change up which form he was going to use, and got a little stuck.

The second section of the tournament was a sparring match.  The four yellow belts competed against each other.  Ben won each round, and ultimately first place.  We were all so proud that he wanted to go out and try the tournament, and it was an exciting result for him.  The kid next to Ben didn't actually get beat up- he just looks like that.

spring performances

Pictured is Owen's piano recital from March; the boys singing, playing chimes, and showing their artwork in the Zion spring concert in April; and Ben's class's chapel in April.  Ben was dressed as Joseph.  They did great in all of their performances.

Owen has been playing challenging piano pieces, sounds wonderful with them, and is willing to get up and play them at the recitals.  He's a great role model for the younger students and for his little brother.

easter turtle

I got home from San Francisco in time to celebrate Easter Sunday with the boys.  The big treat for them was a note that they could get tortoises as their gift.  It's been a long time coming... we have a mixed house- part dog supporters and part reptile supporters.  After getting the OK from the pediatrician, I ran out of arguments and agreed to two tortoises.  During the week after Easter, the boys went to the pet store and picked out Russian Tortoises.  Owen's is named Torts, and Ben's is named Tortoise Explorer.  They've proven to be good house mates- they don't smell, and only eat lettuce and fruit.  Owen has been a very good caretaker of them.

We had a fun Easter egg hunt, took the annual photos in front of the daffodils, and hosted a fun Easter brunch for the Warnocks.

fabulous forty

Easter weekend, I flew to San Francisco to spend a long weekend with my oldest friends- and I mean that in both definitions- Sheila and Jen and I have been friends since forth grade, and both turned forty in April.  We had a fun girl day and celebrated not just their birthdays but also Sheila's pregnancy.

Morning at a spa, lunch in swimsuits on a sunlit balcony, afternoon tea, cable cars, fabulous dinner- we had a great day and kicked off their milestone birthday in style.  Later, Sheila and I got to do a little nursery shopping and enjoy a sunny weekend in Oakland.

Update: Baby Ellie was born in early July, a beautiful, healthy little girl!