Fall Baseball...

This was our first year to play fall baseball, and I'm SO glad we did!!!  Cooper had the best coaches, best group of dads willing to help the coaches, and the best teammates.  It was for sure a great experience for all of us...

I use to take my camera to every single game, but then I realized the pictures all look the same week after week and started just taking it to one or two games each season.  Therefore, this post has pictures from several different game days because again...I cannot seem to stay on top of my blogging (sigh).

Cooper is a pretty consistent hitter and 9 times out of time going to get just a good base hit...maybe a double from time to time.

His speed is one thing he for sure has going for him...so...even if he just hits in the infield, he can typically get to first base without getting out.

Matt has no desire to be the head coach, but he is always, always willing to help.  And of course, they find a spot on the field for him...this season he was first base coach.  

Sweet little Cooper has a little bit of "nervous" in him...you will often see him with his fingers in his mouth or rubbing a tag.  Hoping as he matures we can break the finger habit...

Not sure why but something about a little boy in a baseball uniform...and then with Cooper, there are the arm sleeves, gloves, etc.  Sometimes we think he likes the accessories more than the game...ha ha!

Pretty sure he was running in between 1st and 2nd trying to not get tagged out...

He played with the best little group of boys...

One game they were winning pretty big so he got to play catcher...

Picture with Mommy before his last fall baseball game...

Warming up his hands...it was freezing!!!

Not many things better than getting to watch your children do things they love...

Fall season champions...

You would be all smiles too if you were undefeated...

We always think he is #1!!!  And let's not forget Anna Lauren...she stayed in the dugout every single game and kept all the boys in the correct batting order.  

High fives all around for a great season...

We couldn't be more proud of this little baseball loving boy of ours!!!  And now...on to basketball!!!

Meet the Tribe...

At the beginning of November, we went to Birmingham with Anna Lauren for Meet the Tribe.  It's where all the ACE gyms come together and do what I call a dress rehearsal.  It kicks off competition season and gives them a chance to perform as if a competition and see what they need to work on over the next month before they do a "real" competition.

By the 6th year of cheer, you pretty much know all the tricks...where you can go in one day, what rest area is good to stop/get ready, etc.  This is our Birmingham trip rest stop and as we were trying to take a selfie someone offered to take our picture.  Selfie may have been better better, but we'll take it...

Hard to believe she is walking into her 6th competition season, and I'm pretty sure her love for it has only grown.

There are so many things about this child that drive me crazy, but there are so many more things about this child that make me oh so thankful she is ours.  Every day is a new day with her, and we continue to work on being as pretty on the inside as the outside.

Until this year, her three best friends have cheered at another gym.  She is loving every single minute of them being with her this year!!!

She and Bree have been together for several years now...they are so different but still good friends.  And we all know that Bree has the sweetest momma in the world!!!

All smiles as she is getting ready to head to warm-ups...uniform, red lipstick, big smile...in her happy place for sure!!!

The Desperados may just have their own personal "video" guy, and he is typically called Anna Lauren's dad...

This year they did something a little different...before they did their routine, they announced each girl/boy and how long they had cheered at ACE.  So hate this picture is blurry, but I can still see that smile of hers!

Due to her foot injury last year, she now wears a brace.  And you know what the beauty of it is...you can always find her on the floor because she is the only one with a brace.  Score for her parents trying to keep up with her throughout the routine!!!  Yes, we do lose her from time to time...

So maybe I'm a little disappointed I cannot see her face at the beginning of the routine...I could always "read" her face before she even started.  

As you can see, this is NOT looking good.  I'm sure I put my camera down to watch the fall...it didn't end well.  However, they pulled themselves back together.  Hopefully they have gotten it out of their system now...

Stunting may be Anna Lauren's favorite but tumbling is mine...

She is on a big squad this year...29 total girls.  But...if you can hit your routine and all be together, it's so fun to watch a big squad.  Where is she...look for ankle brace.  Telling you...as bad as I hated the injury, I'm loving the brace!

This is the face I don't like...I don't care what happened or how upset you are, I think you should end with a smile.  She is mad because their stunt fell...and...her face shows it.  

Maybe she heard her momma's preaching in her head and decided she better smile...

And here she comes ill as can be because their stunt fell.  We have learned to just let her be...she has to have a little time to process the performance in her head and then she'll snap out of it.  She loves, loves, loves stunting more than anything and just hates it when they fall...

Like I said, she needs a little time to "process" and then she's all smiles again.  We made a stop in Tuscaloosa on the way home for dinner and dessert at places a friend had suggested.  Trying new places while traveling is always fun...

My favorite smiles of the day.  Never ever thought I would have a cheerleader, but I sure do love watching her do something she loves so much!!!  Looking forward to a good, hopefully injury free season with our favorite cheerleader!!!

Trick or Treat...

I use to be SO good at keeping the blog up to date but there are just not enough hours in the day and a month passes so very quickly.  So...here I go posting our November...but first, Halloween!

At the last minute, Anna Lauren invited Nina (the flamingo) over to trick or treat with her (the Pinterest app), Cooper, and his friend.  Since Cooper was having a friend over, she thought it would be more fun if she had a friend too...

We have a big subdivision with lots of houses that participate so the kids are always happy to just stay at home and trick or treat...

Lincoln, the hunter, and Cooper the SWAT cop were ready to go!!!

My kids adore Mr. Rudy, who lives across the street.  However, they are not sure sure about Rudy when he dresses like this, but I convinced them to take a picture with him.

Well, I convinced Anna Lauren to take a picture with Rudy but it took Lincoln convincing Cooper.  Pretty sure Cooper cried himself to sleep last year because Mr. Rudy was so scary...

So much fun going door to door...

And even more fun when the neighbors go all out...

This picture made me laugh...pretty sure poor Lincoln chased Cooper ALL night long.  Cooper is so fast and pretty much runs everywhere he goes...

Just one bag of candy...

The girls trick or treated a little longer but the boys got tired and decided to come back home and pass out candy...

And sort through all their candy because that's just what you do on Halloween night, right?