I am NOT MIA....

...well sorta, but I am still here!! This past weekend and the start to this week has been, what's the word...AAAHHHGGG!!!! Between baseball, school and more baseball I have hardly had to time to breath and when I have had time to breath, I have been checking out MiMi's blog for all her cool giveaways because it is her 1 year Blogoverary, YaY MiMi or I have been praying for little Stellan. But please know that I am reading yours, just not posting on mine!!

So I am not sure when I will be back, BUT I promise you that I will be back and it will be soon! Take care friends!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

Well, basketball season has ended and we hardly had time to breath before baseball season started. This season will be a lot of juggling between the 2 boys as they are on different teams. This means that there are games and practices almost every night of the week, and sometimes the same day, same time, but different places. I am trying to look on the bright side...I would rather be outside in the nice weather than cooped up in the house and I would rather have the boys outside playing than watching TV all afternoon!

This week was the first round of games. Brendan plays for the Cubs which is a kid pitch 9-10 year old team and Colin plays for the Lookouts on a coach pitch 7-8 year old team. They are loving it and having so much fun!

Last Saturday, the city where they play, held Cal Ripken day at the stadium. It is a very exciting day where the players get to walk out onto the field before a major league spring training baseball game begins. Colin got to walk out with his team on 3/21 while everyone was cheering! Brendan's team will be going to his Cal Ripken day tomorrow 3/28. This year there were so many kids signed up in the league that they had to break this special day up between 2 days.

Here is Colin walking on the field with his team. I took this picture from our lawn seats, so I was pretty far away! He is #11 in the red shirt!

Monday was Colin's first game and he did great. He is the biggest kid on the team and is a power hitter. He played first base, had lots of hits and made many outs! Way to go Colin!!

Wednesday was Brendan's first game and he, also, did great! The first time he was up to bat, he actually got hit in the back by the pitcher, so he was able to take his base. His second time up to bat, he hit a 3 run homer! Yea that's right...MY BOY HIT A HOME RUN!! He was so excited! He also made 2 great outs, 1 was a line drive into left field that he caught and the 2nd was a grounder right to him where he tagged the runner out at second!

Yay Brendan!

Here is Brendan playing 2nd base.

This is Brendan getting hit by a pitch! What great form...all learned from daddy!

Brendan hitting his 3 run homer!

At the end of the game, Brendan was named player of the game and received the game ball that was signed and dated by all of his coaches. He was so proud!!

And this is just the beginning...Buy Me Some Peanuts And Cracker Jacks...we have games and practices almost every night from now until May 22!

Root... Root... Root... For The Home Team, Cuz If They Don't Win It's A Shame...

For It's 1...2...3... Strikes You're Out,

At The Ol' Ball Game!!

Where's Mom?! 6/52 Photos Of Me!

Are you a mom? Are you missing from the pictures? Most moms I know are, and now there is a meme that brings us moms out from behind the lens and puts us in front of the camera! I know it can be scary, but it truly is lots of fun! Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans set up this wonderful year long meme that does just that~Brings us out from behind the lens and puts us in the spotlight! And the best part is, is that you can start whenever you jump in. For me, this will be my 6th week!

This was taken on Sunday at Brendan's family birthday dinner. We had lots of fun with family, yummy food, presents and cake! The boys and I are posing with my mom and dad, my sister, Jennifer and my niece, Kennedy. We had a super day!

So join this fun meme...Give someone else the camera, say cheese and join the fun!!

WW~Y.A.H.T.Z.E.E.!!!

Happy Birthday to My Sweet Hubby!!

Today my sweet hubby, Ryan, turns 35! So this post is dedicated to him! We have been married almost 11 years and there are some days I wonder why he puts up with me!!

He is a great dad! He loves being a dad, the kind of dad the gets on the floor and wrestles with a 9 yr old & 7 yr old!!

Posing with Colin at a ball game!

Posing with me at a ball game!

Posing with Brendan on their way to a hockey game!

Happy Birthday Ryan...WE LOVE YOU!!

Not Me! Monday

Monday again and I am still wondering where the time goes! Anywho, this is a fun meme where I get to tell you everything that I did not do this past week. It is very therapeutic and free! What's better than that?! So here we go...

***It was not me who is still limping after crushing me knee and the tray table, for that matter, into the ground. I know better, if it hurts, go to the doctor! I have not been babying it and protecting it from all the kids that bump into it everyday. Geesh, I would know when to see a doctor. Holy hurt Batman!

***It was not me who was so emotional yesterday, that I stood in my kitchen and cried while getting everything ready for Brendan's birthday party. I have much more control over my hormones. I mean for goodness sake, I am not a blubbering idiot!

***It was not me whose heart was HUGE when Brendan called me into his room to lay with him until he fell asleep last night. I did not cherish the fact that he put his arm around me while I was laying next to him and he told me how much he loved me. I did not cry! (OK, maybe I cried a little!)

***It was not me who made Brendan's chocolate birthday cake and forgot to put the oil in. I did not have it already pre-poured in the measuring cup and then just forget put it in! I surely can read a recipe right off of the cake mix box and put all of the ingredients into the bowl. I did not pull the cake out of the oven to put the oil into the batter and then proceed to remix it and put it back into the oven. We all know that I am Julia Childs when it comes to baking!!

***It was not me who lost my voice AGAIN during parent teacher conferences last week. It is not me who has not had a normal voice in, I don't even know how many weeks. And NO I don't sound like a man, thank you very much.

Well, I think that about covers it, or what I can remember anyways! So come on, tell me...what didn't you do this week? For more fun with Not Me! Monday, visit MckMama.

And until next Monday, it wasn't me...I swear!!

Time To Party...

For those of you that remember, Brendan's 9th Birthday was St. Patty's Day, this past Tuesday. On his actual birthday we took him to the restaurant of his choice, Red Robin, for his b-day dinner. After dinner, Ryan and Brendan went to the Coyotes hockey game at Jobing.com arena (this was part of his present from us!).

They had a super fun time and the best part was that the Coyotes were victorious over the San Jose Sharks 4-3!

Today we celebrated with Grandma & Grandpa and Aunt Jen & cousin Kennedy. We had a BBQ with hot dogs and burgers & all the fixin's! After lunch he opened presents and then we all had cake & ice cream.

Look at all this loot!

Michigan pillow from MiMi and her clan! We bleed Maize & Blue!


Thanks to everyone for all this great stuff!

Brendan received lots of great things including lots of Pokemon toys, DS game, Wii game, books, gift cards, money and the dreaded clothes!!


After presents, we sang and enjoyed yummy birthday cake. Brendan requested chocolate cake with white frosting. I am not the best baker in the world, but it's the thought that counts, right?! Ryan was the decorator!!


Here's to another year, 9 year old!

1 Bucket of Suds + 3 Boys = 1 Clean Car!!

Gotta love that the boys still want to have fun doing chores and not wanting anything but the fun for it!

This afternoon, Ryan and the boys washed both of the cars! They were so excited to be playing outside in the water with their daddy and I was so excited to get a clean car out of it!!!

You missed a spot boys!

Thanks boys, you did a great job!

Where's Mom?! 5/52 Photos of Me!

Are you a mom? Are you missing from the pictures? Most moms I know are, and now there is a meme that brings us moms out from behind the lens and puts us in front of the camera! I know it can be scary, but it truly is lots of fun! Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans set up this wonderful year long meme that does just that~Brings us out from behind the lens and puts us in the spotlight! And the best part is, is that you can start whenever you jump in. For me, this will be my 5th week!
This is a picture of me and the boys at the ball park!!

We had really great seats in the party tent, thanks to Gleaners Life Insurance. Every spring, they have a snowbird event and since the coordinator is my college roommate's mom, we get free tickets (Thanks Sherry!). At this game the Cleveland Indians beat the San Diego Padres. It was fun in the beautiful sun!
So join this fun meme...Give someone else the camera, say cheese and join the fun!!

WW~I Found Me Pot O'Gold....SUGAR!!!

Happy Birthday to My First Born....

...Yes...Brendan is a St. Patrick's Day baby! This is his day and his story!!

Ryan and I had been married a year exactly, when I found out that I was pregnant with our first born. We were on vacation at Hilton Head Island and we were both so excited to see those 2 lines on the HPT that I took early one morning!

The doctor told me that he was due on March 11, 2000. A millennium baby, we were so excited! My pregnancy was as normal as any pregnancy could be. I didn't have any weird cravings and I didn't have heartburn or morning sickness...it was the best 9 months and I loved being pregnant. So I went on my maternity leave and I waited and waited and waited! I thought he was never gonna come and that I would be preggy forever! And then finally in the wee, early morning hours of Friday March 17, 2000, I went into labor!

I got to the hospital about 3:00 pm, was put into a room and we waited and waited and finally at about 7 pm I started to push and at 9:45 pm, he was here; all 8lbs, 6 oz of him! The thing I remember the most is, that while I was in labor, the NCAA March Madness was on the TV. Ryan and the nurses kept pulling out their brackets to update them! I remember the big game that night was Florida vs. Butler!!

We always say that he waited for his day; he was already named, with 3 Irish names, so he wanted the most Irish day of the year, and he got it!

I wish I had pics of him that I could post from the day that he was born, but my scanner is not working, so I have chosen these 3 pictures of him from this last week.

He is a sweet, loving, bright, thoughtful, hard-working, athletic son, brother, cousin, grandson, nephew and friend and I could not and would not imagine my life without him. It was 9 years ago that I held this sweet boy in my arms for the first time and fell in love like I could never imagine possible. I can't believe that I am a mom to a 9 year old; time is flying by just way to fast!

Happy 9th Birthday Brendan...we love you!

Monday Already?!

Seriously, where does the week go, I could've sworn I just did this, but here I am again, ready to bare it all, to my bloggy friends. Really, it is the cheapest therapy around and what else is there to do on Monday anyway?! As you read below, please remember that you are at McCrakens x 4 and NOT at He & Me +3! Some of the things that you may read, may sound familiar to MiMi and how she is never hurting herself, but rest asured, you are at McCrakens x 4! So with that said, here are some of the things that I did not do this past week...

It was not me who went into school on my spring break to get ready for this week's conferences. What crazy teacher would actually go into school on a school vacation? Someone crazy, that's for sure and I can tell ya that it wasn't me!

It was not me who tripped over one of the video chairs running for the phone late Friday night. I did not fall on top of tray table that was set up in the den and I did not crush said tray table to bits & pieces. And just so you know, a tray table can hold the weight of a grown woman!

And I of course did not take a picture of said crushed tray table so that I could post it in my Not Me! Monday!

I did not re-injure my knee that I hurt while dancing in college, I did not limp to my room in so much pain that I was seeing stars with tears streaming down my face and I did not pick up the phone to see whose call I had missed!!

I do not have a swollen knee and lots of bruises everywhere else. If anyone asks, I can just say that I was attacked!!

It was not me who bruised my arm while walking out of a bathroom stall at the bowling alley! I am not in that much of a hurry that I can't wait until the door is all the way open. Seriously this IS Stacey and NOT MiMi, I swear!!

It was not me who went to a baseball game on Saturday afternoon with my boys and took my book. I am a HUGE baseball fan and I go to watch the game. I would NEVER pull out my book and begin reading while an exciting game was going on! Really!!

It was not me who was on the phone with MiMi while I was shopping at OLD Navy and I did not say "oh that must have been fun" when she told me that she had spent the morning in the ER. I am a much better listener AND friend than that. Really I am, I AM!!! (and she is OK!)

So that is all I can remember for right now. Hope you all had your laugh!

For more fun with Not Me Monday, check out MckMama.

I'm Gonna Miss This...

...Hanging Out At The Ball Park!
This past week was our spring break, and with Ryan and I both being teachers, we are very fortunate to also be off with the boys. On our first day of our break, we headed to the ball park to take in a spring training game.

In Arizona, they have the Cactus League for major league baseball. This basically is spring training for many of the MLB teams. Not far from us, is the training facility for the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals. This means that these 2 teams are here for spring training and that this is their home field. On the day that we went, Texas was playing the LA Dodgers.

The boys posing with in front of the Texas offices.

We usually get lawn seats when we go, since they are the cheapest and the boys aren't confined to sitting for the entire game! They were tossing around the ball before the game started! One of the ushers came over and gave them a ball that had been hit into the stands during batting practice. They were so excited!

Watching the Dodgers warm up before the opening pitch

I am gonna miss the day when they decide they would rather hang out at the ball park with friends, rather than mom and dad...so for now I will cherish these days and take them out to the ball game whenever we have the chance!

For more You're Gonna Miss This, visit Pam.

Friday Funnies

Two Little Boys

After a hardy rainstorm filled all
the potholes in the streets and alleys,
a young mother watched her two little
boys playing in the puddles through her
kitchen window.

The older of the two,

a five year old lad,

grabbed his sibling by
the back of his head and shoved his face
into the water hole.
As the boy recovered and stood laughing
and dripping,

the mother ran to the yard
in a panic.

'Why on earth did you do that
to your little brother?!'

she asked as she shook the older boy in anger.
'We were just playing 'church' mommy,' he said.
'I was just baptizing him...
in the name of the Father,
and the Son and in...
the hole-he-goes,

Amen.'

Could those 2 boys be my little angels you ask....

Heavens No!! (well...maybe!!)

For more fun with Friday Funnies, visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Where's Mom!? 4/52 Photos of Me!

Are you a mom? Are you missing from the pictures? Most moms I know are, and now there is a meme that brings us moms out from behind the lens and puts us in front of the camera! I know it can be scary, but it truly is lots of fun! Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans set up this wonderful year long meme that does just that~Brings us out from behind the lens and puts us in the spotlight! And the best part is, is that you can start whenever you jump in. For me, this will be my 4th week!

Here is a picture of me and my Colin Boy at his second grade Dr. Seuss night at school. They had lots of fun Dr. Seuss activities to do that included reading, make-n-take crafts, puzzles and so much more! Here we are posing in our Cat in the Hat hats!!

So join this fun meme...Give someone else the camera, say cheese and join the fun!!

WW~Yummy!

For more Wordless Wednesday, check out 5 Minutes for Mom.

Spring Break Girls Day Out!

How lucky am I that I got another girls day out...this time with my friend, and fellow football widow, Dawn. Dawn's husband, Mike, coaches with Ryan; he is the head coach of WCHS and OC (offensive coordinator), while Ryan is the assistant head coach and the DC (defensive coordinator).

Here we are posing before leaving for our kidless outing!

...We ate here...

...before heading here...

...where we saw this...

... and after the movie, we enjoyed this!

We had a great afternoon, with yummy food, good conversation, and great friendship! If you don't have a Pei Wei, it is so yummy. It is the take out version on P.F. Changs which is an Asian Bistro and equally as yummy! The movie, He's Just Not That Into You, was a great chick flick where we laughed and cried and had a great time. After the movie, we headed to The Golden Spoon right next door and had us some yogurt!
What a fun filled, kidless (and husbandless!) afternoon!