I.LOVE.PEANUT.BUTTER.

For the last couple of months Peanut Butter has really become my staple.  One morning after a run, I came upstairs and the thought hit me.  "I want a yogurt.  I want a peanut butter yogurt".  You might be thinking gross, go ahead think that.  I took the plain yogurt out of the fridge and stirred in just a little spoonful of peanut butter and.......it was HEAVEN.  I have  made that my after workout snack.  Add it to my peanut butter toast that I eat in the morning and it is all good.  Then last week, I starting putting peanut butter in my oatmeal.  What is up with me? Oh and lets not forget that my bedtime snack is an apple with peanut butter!

Then I was introduced to THIS!  Oh. My. Yummy.  I think I am in trouble.  Check out the site ilovepeanutbutter.com there is a whole selection of yummy.  I can't wait to try them.  But, this is the first that I will be ordering, since, I already know how good it is! Oh, and the best thing? This is all natural peanut butter.  While depending on the flavor you pick, they will be sugar free or flavored with cane juice.  No artificial flavors, preservatives or hydrogenated oil!

Fur Elise Part 2

MyLeigh had a busy week this week.  Softball practices went every night from 5:00 to 6:30 and batting practice on Saturday for 2 more hours.  She had her piano recital Tues night and played beautifully.  While we were at the Piano Gallery, I got her a book of songs that is above her level, that her teacher thought would challenge her.  Well, she has played out of it every spare second she has had.  She is working on Music box Dancer, which was my favorite to play when I was her age.  I  treasure sitting at the piano, watching her play and helping her, or playing a measure or two so she can hear what it is suppose to sound like. 

Games 8 and 9

Games this week were Monday and Thursday night.  On Monday Jaxon's team played withour their best player.  In the game prior, he had gotten picked off 2nd base and got a little upset in the dogout.  His Dad wasn't amused with his actions and told him he was not allowed to play.  Thank goodness, we played alright and managed to win 6-8.  Jaxon even had a beautiful hit over the 2nd baseman's head.  He was pretty pumped. 
Thursday night we played the A's again.  They were the first team we played.  This time we lost 4-15.  Ouch.  In the 1st inning the boys were playing like they were defeated.  They didn't play like they cared.  If would have been nice to see them give it a try and play like a team.  Jaxon played Short stop and 3rd base.  He hasn't ptiched in a couple of games and it is frustrating to me.  From going from pitching every game to not doesn't help in the long run. 

SOFTBALL!!!

Monday night MyLeigh had softball tryouts.  She was so nervous.  I have been practicing with her in the backyard for a couple of weeks and she has improved so much.  When we got to the fields, her friend Taelor, was right behind us.  When we went to check in, the girls happened to be in the same group.  That quickly calmed some nerves and started some goofing off (where needs be). 
MyLeigh had her hopes set on being on Dave's team, who is a friend in the ward.  I was thinking, we know 4 coaches, as long as we get someone we know, we are good.  She had even talked about not playing good for other coaches so that they wouldn't want her.  In the end she decided she would play well for all coaches and play "really, really, good" for the one she wanted. 
So, in her second station, I started to realize that all these coaches are not the same.  So, Alison and I told the girls to mess up a little bit.  Then we saw the coach we really didn't want.  The girls were dropping the ball and throwing all over the place.  All this amusement kept me entertained and my mind off the fact that I was missing Jaxon's baseball game.  The first game I have ever missed.  I felt so torn.  Tryouts ended, and we hurried over to the baseball field to catch the end of Jaxon's game. 
The next night we got the call from the coach.  CRAP. Yep, the coach we didn't want got her.  I got off the phone and couldn't figure out how he drafted her.  He was laying in the grass not paying attention.  How did he get her? We called Dave and he gave a chuckle.  When I told him I already knew, he told me what happened.  He said in the 1st round, coaches were aloud to pick a 8 or 9 year old.  the first 3 coaches picked 9 year olds and then MyLeigh was picked.  She was the 1st 8 year old drafted.  I still didn't get how this coach picked her.  At the parent meeting and first practiced I figured it out.  The assistant coach is the one that grabbed her.  I recognized him and knew that MyLeigh did ok at his station. 
So, trying not to thinking that the Hill Family has been doomed by coaches this year, I think MyLeigh will be ok.  Her coach is VERY different (I will have to post a pic) he seems to know what he is doing.  I am pleased with the assistant, who does most of the practices.  MyLeigh got very shy at practice and we are working on getting to know the girls so that she can relax and have fun!

Baseball Games 6,7 and make up

This week started with games on Monday.  This had to have been the hardest game for me, cause it was the first one I have ever missed, but unfortunately, it isn't going to be the last.  MyLeigh had softball tryouts and we didn't want to leave her there alone.  On the flip side, something that I have forgotten to mention, Nate has been to 5 of Jaxon's games already this season.  Compared to the 2 he has seen in the last 2 years, its been great fun. 
So, I don't have many details for game 6 except that we won 20-6.  Jaxon played short stop and was still waiting for his first hit of the season.  He was getting pretty frustrated with all his walks.  He is just so picky about the ball and has the patience to stand there and wait for the perfect pitch.  At least he is getting on base. 
Game 7, Jaxon was starting pitcher and did well.  He only pitched 2 inning because his arm was hurting.  After that he played short stop and did his normal thing.  He did have a spectacular catch.  A fly ball was hit towards the 3rd baseman and Jax went to cover him.  He realized the kid didn't have the ball and stretched way out across his body to get the ball.  It was a great catch! One I wish was caught on video.  He had some great connects with the ball and even struck out.  (thats ok!) Still he walked 3 times.  we ended up losing 10-4
On Friday we played the make up game from the rain the week before.  Too bad they made us start over instead of picking up where we left off.  The game was awful.  I think our team has forgotten base running fundamentals.  Jaxon had 2 great singles, but 1st base coach would send him on missed balls and he never made it past 2nd base. The kicker in this game was that one of our pitcher was not having the best night.  So, instead of the coach going to the mound, she let the kid's Dad go talk to him. And this Dad was in the dugout talking the the boys.  Huh.  I hope he got his background check done. Never in my life have I seen a parent go to the mound.  Unless they were the Coach. We are beginning to see who the favorites are on this team and it isn't going to help us in the long run. In fact, the Dads that wanted to help and could help the most, well, their boys have been banished to the outfield, when they should definitely be playing infield.  Anyway we lost 6-13.  There is such a difference from losing when everyone is playing good and you know they did their best, to losing because of dumb things that shouldn't be going on. 

Baseball games 4 and 5

This week we had games on Thursday and Friday night.  Thursday night we were in the top of the 2nd inning winning 6-2 and the game was called because of HEAVY rain.  Our boys were hitting the ball really well, I would have stood in the rain all night with the hitting streak we were on. 
Game 5 was a great game.  At the end of 5 innings we were tied 3-3.  In the 6th they scored 4 runs.  Jaxon was brought in to pitch the 7th inning and the 1st batter grounded out to short stop, Jaxon then struck out the next batter.  Batter 3 had a base hit and batter 4 struck out.  In the bottom of the 7th inning we scored 5 runs and won the game 7-8!  It was a great game and the boys played better.  Last week after our game, there were some parents that went to the coach and had quite the talk.  She was bound and determined to not let us help, but we were just as bound and determined.  We all did background checks to be able to help at practice.  After that, she didn't have much more to say.  She has let Dads be there and help.  It is starting to pay off.  We still have work to do though. 
Besides pitching a great inning, where he looked strong, confident and smiling, Jaxon played short stop where he did an amazing job.  He caught a line drive and stopped  the grounders that were hit to him.   Altogether he had 7 outs in the game.  As far as hitting goes, he had some great hard foul ball hits, but is still waiting to get his 1st hit of the season.  He walked twice and struck out, but at least he was swinging! 
The best play of the night was when Joe, the NICEST kid I have ever met, was up to bat.  He is a year older than Jaxon and this is his 1st year playing baseball.  He is competitive as I'll get out and  tries so hard.  I love his heart!  Anyway, he hit a pop up just past the pitcher and they missed the ball!  Joe made it to 1st base and was pumping his fists in the air jumping up and down.  It was his 1st hit EVER! It was awesome to see everyone so excited for him.

It's in the DNA

This morning Jaxon had a field trip with his 5th grade class. They headed down to the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake.  They had to be to the school by 6:15 am.  Last night after his baseball game, he got home and showered and we got his lunch ready.  He headed to bed around 9:00.  Around 10:00 he came upstairs telling us he couldn't sleep.  We sent him back downstairs and he was up again and again.  I told him he goes to sleep better on Christmas Eve! Around midnight he finally brought up his blanket and pillow to sleep on our floor.  It wasn't that he was so excited for the field trip.  His mind started playing the "what if" game.  He got himself all worked up about sleeping in and missing the bus, not getting back in time for his ball game, the bus getting in an accident, the bus driver being too tired, getting lost and the bus driver being drunk.  Then because is was so late and he wasn't going to get much sleep he started worrying about being too tired to play his game.  I think the poor kid was up just after 5 cause he couldn't sleep.  Nate says he was fine as soon as he got to the school, but worried about the drunk bus driver all the way there.
I love to see the different traits that the kids pick up from us.  Some looks they make are so their Dad and they have done them their whole lives.  There are other things that are so me or Nate, it makes me laugh.  Some traits I wish didn't have to be passed on, like this one.  I haven't seen it in Jaxon for a long time.  Jordan on the other hand, deals with it almost daily.  He can go in spurts and when its bad, its bad.  Which I think is why he always does what is comfortable to him and doesn't step out of his comfort zone very often.  Humm, sounds like someone I know. 
 Jaxon ended up having a great time and seeing lots of cool things.  They were an hour ahead of schedule so he was able to be home for a little bit before heading off to play ball.  He was definitely tired and just layed on the couch till it was time to go.

Fur Elise Part 1

Our ward held a dinner and talent show Wednesday night.  A couple of weeks ago the sign up sheet went on the Bishop's door for a spot in the talent show.  It was announced in sacrament meeting and every sunday since then.  That first Sunday MyLeigh came home and informed us at dinner that she was the second person to sign up.  I asked what she was going to do and she replied, "Play Fur Elise".  She said it so matter of fact.  No hesitation.  In my head I was saying, "do you know how many people you have to play in front of'"? " Do you know its going to be in a big gym with lots of people"? "Aren't you nervous, did you really thing this through"? But, trying to be a supportive Mother, I kept all those thoughts to myself.  I really thought she would change her mind as it got closer.  But no, never once did MyLeigh think twice about her decision to play the piano for the ward members.  I will tell you, I got pretty nervous for her that afternoon, just like I do when Jaxon knows he will be pitching in a ball game. 
MyLeigh ended up being the first talent to perform.  She went straight to the piano, sat down and began playing. She did wonderful.  When she was finished, she had the biggest smile on her face.
When she sat down, I remembered MyLeigh's first piano recital about a year ago.  She was very nervous and had only been taking piano lessons for about 4 months. She heard another student play this piece on the piano and she fell in love with the tune.  At her next piano lesson she asked her teacher if she could learn that piece too.  She was told that she could learn it, but it would be after 2-3 years of lessons. Well, a year later, MyLeigh has perfected the piece that she desired to play last year. I am becoming very grateful for the confidence that my children have.  I also realize that I can't take the credit for that.  This is something that their Dad instills in them whenever he is around.  It is by his compliments, his hugs, the way he teaches them and always making them feel they are important.  It may sound funny, but I love when I hear Mady start to argue with MyLeigh about who is Daddy's Princess.  She doesn't get that there can be more than one Princess in this house. She tends to get a bit jealous when she hears her Dad call MyLeigh a  Princess too.  I hope my kids, especially my girls know how lucky they are to have a Dad who loves them so much and builds them up everyday.  My children believe in themselves because they know that their Dad believes in them.  I hope they know I believe in them, because I do with my whole heart.