Today, LJ and I decided to go for a hike! We live in the foothills, so what better way to spend such a beautiful day? I packed a picnic lunch, a blanket, some water and gatorade, and my camera bag...(I did, indeed, look like a pack mule), and we were off! We didn't even know when we began that we live in the middle of the Sonoran Preserve! Click on that to see the hike. We set out on a beautiful hike, seeing lots of cacti, some bunnies, birds, butterflies, and NO bobcats, etc. Thankful. Anyways, it was beautiful! Lance even joined us at the end of our "lunch hour", and we walked back down together. The trail is a 5.8 mile trail, and we probably did less than half, but we saw some people doing the whole thing with dogs in tow, and even jogging. Super cool! It may be something I can do alone when Lance is home. I hope you enjoy the pictures!!

P.S. On the bottom left, there is a huge nest inside that saguaro -- see the white feather on it's arm? Somebody got too close!

Here are some pics from our day at the ballpark yesterday. We have been to 3 different Arizona Spring ballparks so far, and we're just getting started! Lance pitches every 3 days or so, so we should see many more before the spring is over. This was our first time at the Dodgers home ballpark - LJ, as you can see is in full uniform ;)

This was during the 7th inning stretch. You can see he's saying "3 strikes you're out" in the middle pic ;)

L.J. saw Lance's scoreboard pic the other day and said, "I need a picture of me for the scoreboard". Well, I found the picture of Lance on the internet and tried to duplicate it - the lighting was different outside, and we don't have the cool shirt under the jersey Lance has ;) It'll do for the "small screen" though ;)

At the front of our neighborhood, near the clubhouse and pools, (we live in super fun place), there is a huge playground covered with tarps to keep the heat and sun away. Below the playground down the hill is a HUGE green area, just for playing. Kids roll down the hill, play ball on the flat area, tag - you name it. So far, this is our favorite place to go! It's just down the street, and make a picnic lunch and spend the day! These are pictures from our play afternoon there yesterday :)

The top pic says "LA for today" in the bottom corner. We don't know if Lance will make this team, but we are faithful we will end up where we belong! I have to say, though - LJ and Lance both look great in Dodger blue, and we are throughly enjoying it here in the meantime!

I forgot to mention - as we were cleaning out some stuff for storage before we moved out here, we found an autographed picture of Tommy Lasorda to Lance. I guess Lance met him sometime during his childhood. It had to be 15+ years old, and it said, "To a future Dodger" So cute! I'll find it and take a pic when I can. Enjoy these photos - we had a great time taking them!

Hitting the ball and running the bases. After a good hit, he puts his hand on his heart as he runs...I don't know why, but it's cute ;)

Rookie even got in on the action! There is no shortage of kids who will throw a ball. What a great dog :)

Guess who's 4 SQUARED - 4 years, 4 months tomorrow! He is getting SO big! He is coordinated, full of life, strong-willed, hard-loving and tender hearted. My days are filled with hugs, negotiations, regulations, play times, teaching times, fun and discipline. He regularly tells me of a schedule that would fit his day better, after I tell him what we are going to do. Often, his schedule ideas sound pretty good! If I make a mistake, he's the first to point it out, and if I jam a toe, he's the first to kiss it. He can hit a baseball as hard as any ten year-old, and run circles around you with his energy! I always feel like he's growing because he eats his weight in food and never fits into his clothes for longer than a month. When he laughs hard, his eyes shut, and it fills my heart. His smile could bring me to tears. He's 4, going on 20, and he's ours. I wouldn't trade a minute.

And, we're off!!!! Here's LJ beginning his 5th season with us, with his 4th different team! We have had somewhere around 15 moves since he's been around, probably more, and have lived ever minute! We are so thankful and can't wait to see what this season holds!!

We made it!!

So, in the last 40 hours or so, this has been our life:

Tuesday late afternoon: Lance signs with the Dodgers

Tuesday evening: Packing like crazy and cleaning the house to leave for 8 months.

Tuesday night at 10 p.m. : Lock up and head to Birmingham to spend the night by the airport, (sneak Rookie in through the back ;)

Wednesday 4:50 a.m.: wake up and head to the airport!

Wednesday 6:20 a.m.: in the air! headed to Phoenix!

Wednesday 9:20 a.m.: arrive in Phoenix, get the rental car and head to look for a place to live!

Wednesday 1 p.m.: find a fantastic place to live - God provides! - and move the suitcases in!

Wednesday 4 p.m.: Cars are picked up in Tuscaloosa to be shipped here --- yippee!!!

Wednesday 6 p.m.: Lance returns from the field, #81 on his jersey, not a piece of dodgers gear between us..we will fix that soon!

Wednesday post-dinner: Sushi before, I'm headed to Wal-Mart to STOCK UP! Fruit, muffins, rice, sandwich stuff, popsicles - you know, the necessities...we got it!

Thursday 6:20 a.m.: Lance reports! Lj and I get up, walk Rookie and enjoy a morning at the playground ALL MOVED IN!!!! It's been about 35 hours, and God is good!

We are so thankful for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement! It is nearly impossible to find last-minute (literally) housing out here in Arizona and car shipping --- think again! Only God could pull that off in such an extreme, overly-generous fashion! He knows us and loves us and knocks our socks off at every turn!

We promise to keep you posted!! Lots of love from the Cormier's and the Cacti!

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

~1 Peter 4:11

Is that not the best dad ever??? Such a sweet moment! I thought you'd enjoy some photos of Lance's scrimmage appearance at Bama yesterday. We got out and enjoyed some sunshine for the first time in a while. It was wonderful! We still aren't sure where we're headed. If you can, pray for patience and discernment on our part as we begin to make decisions. We need to leave in just 6 short days, so some decisions have to be made soon!

This boy LOVES some Alabama baseball. I caught him daydreaming here :)

Throwing the ball through the tire - see it going through the right tire?

Watching Lance throw. If you look closely, you can see him about to pitch through the net.

Check out that intensity! I lOVE that face!!! Hahahaha!!

Again with the tongue!! He's going to bite that thing off!

Look at how big he looks here!?

What a great day! Thankful for some sunshine, some time together, and even crazy baseball that both of my boys LOVE.