Baseball in March

Last year, baseball in March looked like this (so little and so Summer-y):



This year, it looked like this (so big and so Spring-y):



But at least it was warm enough that we could get outside.





Luke was really paying attention for the first inning.





With Wally's move up to Varsity this year, I am actually excited to get out to some games.



Although, most of the time, these two kids make it a little difficult to actually watch the game.







(Deep thoughts with Coach Z. at the end of an inning!)



I had many parents come up to me to first comment on how cute Luke and Paige are (and to remind me how quickly time passes) and second to comment on how excited their sons were to have Coach Z. at the varsity level this year.  It is so nice for both Wally and I to hear that.  Baseball is time consuming, but I think we both know that the returns are worth it.

The Thunderbolts came out on top over Marian Catholic (the reigning state champs - they beat LP last year at State) 14-2. 



And as I am putting this post together, I am listening to the Cubs kick off their season - it's baseball time!!!

Deep Thoughts with Luke

(This was a conversation that I want to remember so I wanted to get it written down as quickly as possible while it was still fairly fresh in my head.)


In the car afterschool today:

Luke: We had prayer service today, but it was dark and we looked at pictures. We can go to church on Good Monday (he meant Friday) and look at pictures and when we are done we can kiss the statue of Jesus.

Me: Oh so you looked at the Stations of the Cross in church?

Luke: Yes

(quiet)

Luke: Mommy, will you die?

Me: Yes, I will. Everybody dies, but we will live a long time yet and spend lots of time together.

Luke: You will die?

Me: Yes, but not for a long time when I am very old.

Luke: When you are 100?

Me: Wouldn’t that be cool if I was 100 years old? That would be a pretty great life.

Luke: (laughing)Daddy will die because he is way older than us.

Me: (laughing) Maybe, but he will be around for a long time still.

(pause)

Luke: Will you come back?

Me: No, but I will be in heaven waiting for you.

Luke: I will go to heaven?

Me: You will, but not for a very long time.

Luke: Why won’t you come back?

Me: When you die, you go to heaven to see Jesus and God and the all of the angels and it is so beautiful.

Luke: What is it Mommy? What did you say?

Me: (I repeated myself.)

Luke: Where will we live there?

Me: Oh, I bet they have some pretty neat houses in heaven.
(pause)

Luke: You know the good superheroes get rid of the villains.

Me to myself: I guess our conversation about heaven and dying is over.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I immediately got a terrible feeling in my stomach when Luke asked if I was going to die. I wasn’t expecting this conversation and how sad for a little boy to think about his mommy not being here. But then it made me smile to have this conversation with Luke. I shouldn’t be surprised that he was asking these questions. He is very inquisitive and it is the Easter season. He is learning at school and from Wally & I, through Easter books we have been reading, that Jesus died for us and then came back. I am sure there is some confusion since he knows Jesus died and came back, but then I said I wouldn’t be coming back. I just followed his lead though and did not give him more information than he was asking for or could process.

Hopefully I answered his questions in a way that lets him know I am not going anywhere anytime soon, but when we do die, there is a special place for us (so long as we deserve it, right?).

What I do know for sure, though, is that Wally and I have a very special little boy.

Chocolate Love

As I mentioned in the previous post, we made brownies on Sunday.  The kids like to help stir and of course lick the bowl and spoon.  Everything was cute and sweet and everybody was clothed when we first started!








But then clothes started coming off (don't worry we were the only ones eating these brownies so we shared our germs!). 





































And then clothes had to come off because of chocolate faces like this!



And then things started to get a little crazy! 





Luke decided he was done - either he is a very sweet brother and decided to let his sister have the rest or he had his chocolate fix for the day or he decided it was more fun to watch her than partake anymore himself.

Now is the time in the post where you will be bombarded with chocolate covered Paige pictures - she was having way too much fun I couldn't stop her!  I just kept snapping away.  I only had my phone at first but finally decided I better grab my camera to capture these chocolate-filled memories!  Enjoy!



Oh yes! The foot went in! Wait until you see the video down below!







She even offered to share with me!









I just love this girl so much! 




She loved every second of it! (and so did I!)

The Weekend

We had a good last weekend before baseball season officially kicks off.  Games are supposed to start this week although the weather isn't looking too promising!

Friday night Luke was in the mood to cook and wanted to wear this apron. 



He didn't seem to mind the pink, but we may need to consider getting him his own apron!

I headed out to my first Bunco night in nearly a year and came home a winner - woo woo!

Saturday morning was full of gymnastics for Luke, practice for Wally and a little running around with the kids. After practice, Wally and the team was heading over to Coach DeHaan's house for some brunch so we met them there. Luke thought it was hilarious to have waffles for lunch!

We watched one of the boys do a few card tricks (which Luke tried to replicate tonight!)...

Paige found some Barbies to play with...

And then it was time to dance!

The Zukowski kids are not afraid to dance in front of nearly 25 teenage boys!



There may or may not have been a dance off between the two coaches [but I am not allowed to talk about that ;)].

After the get together, I headed out to a little shopping and we ended the night with some pizza, more dancing, and baths!

Today we headed to church (ugh - church!  My kids and church are not good these days!) and to see the Easter Bunny. We thought maybe Paige had come around on the dressed-up character front, but that was definitely not the case.

Here was her face when she saw the bunny.



She just stared at him for awhile, but then he waved to her...OMG...you would have thought the world ended. She was crying and saying "No, No!". Poor girl!
   
Luke of course went right on up and took a seat. He cracks me up though because he just sits there - he doesn't talk to the bunny, he just sits there kind of awkwardly - ha!






Wally attempted to put Paige on the bunny's lap, but she was not having it and really I don't think we could have peeled her off of Wally if we wanted to. But then it was time go and she was all like, "bye bye" and waving. That was the best part of her bunny visit!







After visiting the bunny we headed home where we celebrated St. Patty's Day a little bit.



I made a reuben bake and we baked some brownies that we added a special little green touch to.

 

The brownie baking started like this:


And ended like this:

An entire post is worthy of a chocolate covered baby!

And now the kids are in bed and I am about 20 minutes away from bedtime myself!

Have a great week!