The Baker Bunch: August

When August arrives I begin to get a little sad to see summer come to an end. Being in our new home, this summer has been my favorite one of all time. We tried to make the most of our last few days of freedom!

Pool time is the BEST time!

Movie time with the Fishers!

Checking out the fountains!

The two big boys decided they wanted to put some blonde in their hair, so we tried it out! I actually really like it on both of them - I was surprised! They are both really into styling their hair right now! I think they have more hair product than I do!!!

Turning blonde!

Zane would not let me take a photo!

When we went to the Ozarks last month, Bryce had planned to take his binder full of baseball cards. Somewhere, somehow, we lost the binder! He was so distraught. Grandma Keeta felt so bad that she ordered him a new binder and a new box of cards! He was so super excited...just look at this face!

NEW CARDS!!!

It's so hard to believe that Zane is ready for middle school! Where in the world did my baby go?!? Early in August we had his registration, which is where we got his locker number and combination. He got to try unlocking it a few times and also found out where his home base classroom and other classrooms are. What a brand new world for us!

Getting it opened up!

We also got back into practices for baseball and football in August! Bring on fall!

Mason's football practice

Family game night - a mean game of Farkle!

This year Mason's team is old enough for kid-pitch baseball. It is a rough transition year and the coaches knew this so they've been working hard to get the kids ready.

First scrimmage!

Mason is working hard at pitching! He's pretty good if I do say so myself!

On my last night of summer break we were invited to celebrate Blake's birthday at the Royals game! His parents rented a limo so we could all ride together! It was so much fun!

Our ride!

Cheers to Blake!

Love these people!

Blake, Braeden & Mason

The whole gang!

The boys sat in these empty seats for a bit

Long enough for the guy behind them to catch Moose's home run ball and give it to Blake!

And then our phones started blowing up because they were on tv!!!

Grandma Keeta was at our house when we got home from the game. She came to stay with the boys when I returned to work. They had so much fun while she was here!

New haircuts! Ready for school!

Bowling

Bryce getting his school supplies organized at Back to School Night

Wow, he looks so thrilled to be going to kindergarten...

Dad spent the last day of summer break with the boys. They went to Raising Cane's (Dad's favorite)

And got shaved ice

And played mini golf!

How quickly the first day of school seemed to come! I can not believe we have a middle schooler! I was so nervous because this year he is riding the bus to and from school. A big change for us! His bus comes at 7:04 and I am so proud of Zane. He gets himself up at 6:00 every morning, takes his shower and gets ready, gets his breakfast, and is ready to go in plenty of time. He's up and going before me! I think he is really enjoying his 6th grade year so far!

First day of School!!!

Riding the bus!

There goes my baby!

3rd grade!

Kindergarten!!!

Mrs. Hibbs with Mason

Dr. Halverstadt (principal) with the boys

Mrs. Bowser and Bryce

First day of school lunch!

Asleep on the way home!

Since beginning football and baseball practices again, Mason has been complaining about his leg hurting. We had been watching it and wondered if he had pulled a muscle. On the first day of school at football it was really bad. The coach asked me what happened and Mason broke down sobbing. I took him to urgent care that evening. They did x-rays and figured out that he had a thigh sprain. He was to sit out of all sports for 10 days. That was so hard for him. We had to keep reminding him to take it easy and TRULY rest his leg so it wouldn't be a continual issue we would have to deal with. We are hoping the rest will do him good!

First day of school x-rays

After the first week of school we headed to the Iowa State Fair. We didn't have tons of time there but made the most of our time! We hung out with the Bakers, then spent the night at my parents, so got to see all of the grandparents!

Checking out the rabbits!

I couldn't believe Zane enjoyed the crazy rides! Marcy was glad to have a seat partner!

Mom can we get this?

They all had to try one out...

Plaster hands holding a baseball

Zane did one too

We got new shades...

Bryce went down the big slide!

Golfing at Papa's

The big news of August was the Total Solar Eclipse. Many schools in our area cancelled school. Mine did not. I was quite worried about the responsibility I had to keep 22 kids' eyes safe. Luckily for me...it was cloudy that day. But that also meant we weren't able to see the entire thing. It was pretty cool to see it turn dark in the middle of the day though!

Enjoying the eclipse with Bryce!

Darkness at 1:00 in the afternoon!

Braeden and Mason watching the eclipse

I found Bryce asleep on the steps one night!

We decided to make a change for Zane in baseball this year. He tried out for a new team. They had one open spot. He went to their tryout and they called him to come back for a second tryout. After the second one we got a call inviting us to join the team. He was SO excited, and we were so proud of him! He earned this all on his own! He is now part of the KC A's team. This fall his team is only playing tournaments, no league games. So that means we have lots of busy weekends in our future! His first tournament was the last weekend in August. Mason ended up getting sick and having to be home from school on the first day of the tournament, so I missed his first game to be home with Mason. I was so sad to miss it! Their team won, and Zane did well. He hit a fly ball that bounced once, then hit the fence! Matt said if it would have been down the 3rd base line it probably would have been a home run. That was great for him to get in his first game!

New uniform!

I told him to look tough. Apparently this is a tough look...

Sicky boy...

Thankfully Mason was well enough for all of us to go to Zane's tournament on Saturday. I had such a great feeling being with the other families on Zane's team. It made my heart feel so good to see him interacting with the boys, hear them saying "bye Zane" when we left, and just seeing him fitting in with them so well.

Stretching out and getting ready to play!

Swinging for the fences...

They really gave Zane a lot of great opportunities in the first tournament. He played 1st, right, center, left, 3rd, and pitched. He came in to pitch with the bases loaded and no outs. He ended up getting all 3 outs! I was STRESSED OUT and also so proud!