Presentation to Children's House Rooms C and D

On Thursday, Daddy went to Children's House and gave a slide show presentation on his trip to Peru.  The kids seemed to have a really good time.  They liked it when I showed them my soccer ball, as well as some toboggans I got for the boys while in Peru.  I asked a few questions  that got some interesting responses, even simple questions like "Who has been on a plane?" or "Who has been on a train?"

The boys wore their Peru jerseys and had a great time that Daddy was showing their friends some place where Daddy had been.  Daddy also had a great time showing the kids some pictures and items from Peru.  He is going to do this again in a few months after Daddy's next mission trip.

Here are some pictures from the time at Children's House:

Both classes are listening to Daddy.

How many people have been on a plane before?

I think we have seen these pictures before, right Jack?  - Mark

Daddy's soccer jersey.

The boys with their Daddy after the presentation.  All three had a great time!

Some random pictures

We have not had a good random picture blog entry so here are some pictures that the boys asked Mommy to take:

First thing in the morning, Jack in his rocking chair.

Also first thing in the morning, Mark in his rocking chair.

Practicing their basketball...in the kitchen.

Showing off their new baseball uniforms.

Mommy's birthday

On Monday, Mommy had her birthday.  In the morning, we had to take the boys to the dentist.  While we were there, Mark told the dental hygienist that not only was it Mommy's birthday, but also told her how old Mommy is now.  It was so cute.  Unfortunately, we could not celebrate together all day as it was a work day so Mommy and Daddy had to go to work and the boys had to go back to Children's House.

After dinner, we all got around the birthday cake that Mommy had!  She loves these cakes.  It is one of her favorite parts of her birthday.  And this year an added bonus...TJ Warren scored a career high 41 points in a 7 point victory at Pittsburgh.

Here is a picture from her birthday:

Everyone is happy for Mommy's birthday!  We love you!

Now it is time to play baseball

Once they got back home from the game, the boys, who still had their uniforms on including cleats, wanted to start playing some baseball, especially with it being the first time this year that we had nice enough weather to play outside.  They had a great time playing and felt like real players with their uniforms on.  Why do I think that this will not be the only time that they want to wear their full uniforms?

Here are some pictures from the boys playing:

On first base, it is time to steal second base.

I will knock you in Jack.  Watch this hit!  - Mark

Next up, a big time swing by Jack.

The new pitcher is Jack DeVault.

Uhh, why oh why is the catcher in the middle of the flowers?

Let's go catch this grounder.  - Mark

I am going to catch all of the balls hit to me.  - Jack

We are two cute boys!

Mark

Jack

Hey, when is Daddy getting home?

I hope Daddy gets home soon!

Yeah!! Mommy is here!!

My brother is my best friend.

Best Friends!

You want the ball?  I want the ball?  - Mark

I want the ball.  No, you want the ball?  - Jack

We just heard that UNC athletes go to class!  HA HA HA HA!

Did the Wolfpack add more baseball players?

Last Sunday, Daddy was coming back from Kingsport after helping out Mimi and Poppy do a few things.  In Raleigh, after surviving the winter that won’t end, it was a beautiful day.  After church, the family ate lunch and then went to the NC State baseball game against Youngstown State.  The Pack jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back, easily winning 16-1.  During the game, there were these two players that were walking on the concourse and turning heads.  Are these new players, recruits, prospects, or what?  Jack and Mark had received some baseball gear from Granna and Grandpa and were showing them off.   Look at them here.

Walking the concourse like they own it.

After the game it was time to run the bases again.  This is one of the boys favorite things to do ever.  They had told us that they were going to run the bases and finish with sliding into home.

Waiting in line to run the bases.

Who plays for the Pack?  The big boys or the little boys?

And they are off!

Here comes Mark!

Hey Youngstown State, this is how you run the bases.

A heads first slide!  Just like Brett Austin.

Sliding into home!  Just like Trea Turner.

2 runs just scored by the DeVault boys.

All three boys in front of the dugout.  Wait a minute!  That is a baseball player photo bombing the boys picture.

Mark and Jack with Carlos Rodon.

Birthday party time

A week after Drew’s birthday party, another one of Mark’s friends at Children’s House had a birthday party.  This time it was Cayden.  Like Jack and Mark, Cayden is a twin.  His brother, Jaylen, is in Children’s House B.  This party was held at Pump it Up.   This place is a bounce house that has two sets of blow up bounce houses.  One of them is in the light and the other one is in the dark.  The lighted room had several bounce houses that Mark enjoyed, but then he found a bounce house that had a basketball goal in it.  Mark stayed in it for the next 15-20 minutes.  He really enjoyed shooting and making baskets. 

After a while, the employees gave each kid a glow in the dark bracelet and a glow in the dark necklace.  I wondered why but then I figured it out.  The next room we went in was in the dark.  There were several different bounce houses and mazes the children could play in, but they needed to wear the bracelet and necklace to make sure you could see them.   Mark had a great time in here.  He went through this maze several times.  They also had a bounce house that was like climbing a rock wall, without the pegs.  You would run up the hill and then jump as high as you could.  He loved running up it and sliding down.

Mark had a great time at the party.  It was the end of a long day, with the circus and a baseball game before the party.


Here are a few pictures from the party:

Climbing the wall.  How high can Mark go?

Laughing with Dylan and Cole.  - Mark

Glow in the dark air hockey.  I love it! - Mark

All of the kids before it is time to eat.

Time to eat some pizza!  

Time to blow out the birthday candles!

Mark and the birthday twins - Cayden and Jaylen

Circus is in town

We went to the Barnum and Bailey Circus a couple of Saturdays ago.  We all love the circus.  Once again, the circus did not disappoint.  Luckily, no injuries happened at the circus like last year.  But this year the boys loved that there was a new basketball game that was played while the players were on unicycles.  It was awesome.  They really enjoyed seeing the tigers, elephants, dogs, cats, and horses.  They were beautiful and very impressive.  One of our highlights was the human cannonball.  Daddy got a video of it as shown below.  The human is the youngest female cannonballer in the world.  Look how impressive this is.  We cannot wait until the circus shows up next year.