Under the weather, over the top and covered in ice cream!

On Wednesday, LJ woke up with a little fever and cold.  We spent two days playing in pj's most of the day, trying to fight this one off.  I am shocked it took this long - after daily trips to the YMCA childcare, I thought he'd be sick after week one!  On Thursday, I dressed him up in his baseball attire, (maybe a little over the top with cleats, baseball pants, etc.), but he picked it out.  He got to play in the batting cages with Lance while I drove to Tampa to look for some potential season housing.  It was a win-win - I got to use my entire brain for a day, and Lance and LJ got a father-son playdate.  I hope you are doing well - enjoy the pics!!

Sweet little face - he's holding his "Raymond" doll...trying to get him in love with the Rays a little - he's missing the Oriole bird :)

He still loves baseball, though.

While I was talking to a realtor on the phone, rubbing LJ's head, I look over and he's out cold.  He was so still even Rookie felt safe enough to get close :)

Exhausted.

You can tell, just by those eyes, that he's not feeling 100%

...but he can still play!

I didn't get a smile for this one, but he was all decked out to go to the field and play with Lance!

Ice cream cones before bedtime are becoming a messy tradition.  We had been in and out of the house, barefoot - check out how dirty those feet were!

Englewood Beach

Today we went to Englewood Beach.  It's a beach that's about 20 minutes away from Port Charlotte, and our neighborhood has a "beach club" there where we can park, use chairs, picnic tables, etc.  When Lance got home and LJ woke up from his nap, we headed out.  It was windy, therefore a little chilly for normal beach-time activities like swimming, etc. but we had a blast.  We even stopped and ate on our way out at a little beach restaurant.  What a great day!  LJ has gotten to do so many fun things since being here - swimming in February, playing golf with his dad, going to spring training practice, playing with his friends at the Y, and doing a motion and dance class at Kids Playz - what fun!!!  We are so thankful for these opportunities - hope you enjoy the pictures!

How cute is that knee?!  A little scrape, but we thought it deserved a Darby and Pooh bandaid.

LJ looking for Lance on one of the spring training fields.  There are 5 of them, so it's hard to find him!

To get to the field, LJ and I rode our bike.  Our initial destination was a park, but we got there and we were alone with an older man.  My "red flags" were going up, so I had to come through on my promise another way.  We rode like 5 more miles to go to the ballpark, and I think he preferred that anyway!  :)

Fits of giggles after chasing the seagulls away!

The aforementioned segulls :)

Little hand with a little shell

"LJ"...of course, who else?

Getting brave with a group of pelicans then running like mad away when they got closer!

"racing" with Dad

He always makes me smile.

Freezing little feet.  We played in the surf then ran back yelling , "it's cold!!!", then he'd ask me, "wanna do it again?"  So, we did it like 50 times...

The two most precious people.

Our Golf Outing

Yesterday was a bit cooler, ( high 60's with a little wind), so we took advantage of our landlord's offer to take a golf cart out on the course.  Mike has become our friend, and he's letting us keep it in the garage so we can do this all the time!!  Yay for us!  

LJ loved playing with Lance.  As they played their golf, I stood aside and took some pictures.  I think they turned out great.  I'll upload these and some earlier ones to shutterfly soon.  We miss you!!

This is the view from my seat in the golf cart.  The old, cloudy screen lets me see a sweet, sweet scene :)

Waiting "his turn"...i.e. not getting hit with Lance's club.  If you look closely, you can see he's got a small shiner on his eye from hitting it earlier in the cart :o(

Do I have a lot of pictures of them passing off balls, or what?  Football, baseball, now our latest golf ball addition :)  Look how pretty the sun is!

Yes, even Rookie got to come along!  He was not, however, pleased about being bound to the cart!

One of my favorites yet!!  Look at these sweet boys in the left corner - what a view!!

Hole in one!!

Following Lance's ball...aren't they cute?

Fore!!

ready to tee off

Check out that tongue - now that's full concentration!!  

Kidz Play Class

Today LJ went to a gymboree-type class for 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 year olds.  He's not 2 1/2 yet, but this class suited us best and it worked out well.  Most of the kids were about a year older than him, but he had a blast.  We danced with tambourines, we played with a parachute while singing, "The wheels on the bus go round and round".   It's hard for toddlers to stay on task for a full hour, but I have to brag:  LJ was so well behaved!!  

Free play time was included after the class, so we got our fill.  LJ played with his classmates, (and me), until lunch time, then he and I had a lunch date at Olive Garden.  He had mac-n-cheese, and I had soup and salad.  After ordering, I asked for the check - the waitress asked if I was in a hurry.  I told her lunch alone with a two-year old...I'm starting on borrowed time!  LOL  Anyway, it was great.  

After his SHORT nap, we braved a bike ride to the pool.  It looked close to storming, but LJ didn't understand that, so we headed on. We swam in the wind, and when he told me "I'm told" (cold), we raced home on the bike,freezing and hopped gratefully in the tub.  Because he got to change clothes, I let him choose...He chose his Baseball Country t-shirt, baseball pants and socks with his cleats.  He was so cute.  Kenny would have been proud - Baseball Country had some cute advertisement all the way in Port Charlotte, FL. He was ready, cleats and all, to play in the indoor playground.  There should be a disclaimer on the entrance...it's CHAOS in there - your child will be knocked down hard at least once.  Oh well, LJ loves it.  You have to see it to believe it.  

Lance had a full day - practice, from about 8a.m. - 1 p.m., a parade till 4 p.m., then a team barbecue until about 5:30.  LJ was so excited to see him when he got home! 

This is LJ after class -- he got a balloon and it's now tied to his bed!

This is him playing chef, cooking me pancakes...with ketchup.  Yummy :)

This is his friend Aiden...they are sounding the siren!

Here he is - calling his Daddy to tell him he's having a great time!

They had a "race" during class -- they climbed a little jungle gym, went down the slide, crawled through this hole, then ran to this cool car and rode it down the track.  He LOVED that part, doing it as fast as he could, memorizing the course!

Some more good ones :)

We had a another good day today!  After the Y, an early lunch and another great afternoon at the pool, we came home to play some baseball.  LJ played baseball in the driveway for an hour or so while our dinner, (white beans and rice), cooked.  We ate out on the screened-in porch...here was our view.  I hope you enjoy the other pictures as well!!!  :)

The view from our screened-in porch!  What beauty!

LJ working hard in the driveway :)  It's his spring training, too.

He is, isn't he?  Check out the ball!

Lance's glove, LJ's hand...with the scripture on his right hand :)

The goggles are on!

Looking at each other underwater

Let the swimming begin!!  The weather here in Port Charlotte has been amazing!  LJ and I spend the mornings at the YMCA, playing and waiting for the weather to get into the 70's.  After that, we come home, eat and early lunch and I put him down for an early nap.  The earlier he naps, the earlier we can head out!!  

When he wakes up, we have our sunscreen spray-down and hop on the bikes for our 10 minute ride to the neighborhood pool.  We pass alligators and herons on the way, enjoying the beautiful ride.  We pull out our toy bag, full of toys that we got from the $1 isle in Target.  A boat, a pail, shovel, and, of course, some balls!  We are there until almost 5 p.m. when it gets a little chilly, and we bike home to get ready for dinner.  Lance has even been able to join us some, so it's been awesome!  He wears his little float suit about half the time, then swims assisted without it the rest.

There are some more pictures I'd like to post, but blogger is slow today.  I'll post some more soon.  We hope y'all are great!!!!

arms back, legs kicking!

We made it!!

Well, where do I begin?  We arrived safely yesterday with Lance waiting to pick us up at the airport.  What a great set-up, huh?  He drives, we fly!!  This was our first time doing this, and I have to say, I could make it a tradition!!  :)  Pops helped Lance with the driving, unloading, and they even had some father-son time, so I think it was a win-win.

The condo that we are renting, (mostly we rent things sight unseen), is awesome.  I have to remember when I get nervous that the good Lord sees these places even when I cannot.  I can just picture Jesus saying to Him, " We better make it good because you know she's gonna send this guy a deposit check!"  I just have to say "thank you".  We have just made our 39th move, and I can't complain about a single one - out of all those moves, that has to be God.  

We live in a little town home in a golf community.  I had seen pictures, but it surpassed my expectations.  I knew I was getting a stellar deal, so I expected less.  It's clean and wide open with a screened-in porch, and LJ can go full throttle from the back to the front without breaking stride.  Those of you who know him well, know that he probably does that 2 - 3 times a minute...while kicking or hitting a ball.  Anyway, he is in his glory.  He got to go to the mall today while I was at the doctor.  He played HARD on the indoor playground - a great idea on rainy days, tucking that one away.  We spent the afternon at the pool where he "blasted off", (jumping in the pool, then swimming to the side), over and over.  I'm expecting a great night's sleep tonight...for all of us!  We brought our bikes, so we bike to the pool, bike home, will probably even bike to the field.  :) It's awesome.  When we got home, he took off his helmet, and hopped on his tricycle then played t-ball until dinner.

In the background I can hear him singing, "happy birthday to LJ", so I guess he's eating his little valentine cupcake I got him.  Lance is my true love, but he's ours together...a little of each of us.  I better run so I can finish the song with him.  He loves his "florida home"...Bless this nomadic family!!  I'll send pictures soon! 

Last of home!

Here are some pictures of our last week at home.  Lance leaves Wednesday, and LJ and I on Thursday.  We're fitting in as many special "home moments" like these that we can!

For about a week, it was so cold that if we wanted to play outside, we had to light the chiminea.  Here is LJ "helping" Lance so we can stay warm!

Rookie evidently had an impact on LJ ...he wants to fetch a stick just like him :)  

LJ and Tucker - Tucker is our neighbor's dog, and LJ LOVES him.  

It's funny that he's in shorts and a t-shirt here because just a few days before, we were bundled up burning the chiminea.  It's now 70 degrees here -- go figure!

Who tires out faster - energetic dogs or a two-year-old boy?  LJ kept going long after these two laid down :)

Sweet little boy - he said, "I a soccer player!"

...still tired

This is Maw-Maw's plant - when we planted it, Lance tried to pull it as a weed.  Check it out now - it's taller than LJ and we've had to transplant other bushes just so it would not be crowded!

Just before church this morning :)  We'll miss our home church while we are gone!