The Latta Family

Did you know that there is a fairly big market of accessories for baseball mom's?  Go to Etsy and type in "baseball mom."  You will see 13,000 items come up.  There are bags, purses, jewelry, shoes, shirts, hair items . . . you name it- it's there.  What in the world?????  Go to a little league baseball game and you will see quite a few of those items.  If you're not into youth sports . . . you're missing out. One of these days Andrew is going to look at us and say he's done playing baseball.  I will be so sad. I love baseball.  People who don't hang out at baseball fields, totally don't get it.  Maybe they think we're weirdos.  Maybe they think we're pressuring our kids and forcing them to play this insane, time consuming sport.  People who do hang out at baseball fields . . . you get it.  You will totally understand this post. One time I posted this picture on Facebook. And my friend said- "No wonder y'all can stay at a fie

This morning, while we were eating breakfast, I announced that I was going to re-paint the cabinets this summer.  Doug looks thoughtful and he says, "You know, what if we took this cabinet out, got a new stove, and then we could put in that new breakfast area, but only if we replace the window.  Let's just redo the kitchen."  I responded, "Only if we hire someone to do all that work." When we first bought our house, we were major DIY-ers.  We did it all.  We've re-done the kitchen, put in all new windows, new flooring, a new deck, and tons of landscaping.  We've done it all.  The last 4 years, we haven't really done hardly anything around the house.  Oh, we talk about it, but nothing ever seems to get done.  We don't seem to ever get a project started, much less completed. Today, I discovered why.  See, when I announced my plan to repaint the cabinets, Doug began the old "Distract and Deflect" maneuver.  I announced a project, and h

I mentioned this on Facebook recently- and I have continued to do it. Alexa has ALWAYS been the pickiest eater- except when she was 6 month until about 12 months and then she'd eat anything.  Then when she was about 18 months old, she went on a food strike that limits her to about 10 different food items and has never really moved past it. I've never really taken up the fight with her on food. I make a few half hearted attempts every now and then, but honestly, it's not worth the fight.  Meals are frequently emotional events for her.  Is it the time of day?  Is it the shared attention?  Is it having to sit and eat food she doesn't like/want/desire/feel in the mood for?  I have no idea.  Meals usually end with her stomping off, crying, or pouting at the table. Since the behavior is such an issue- food is not worth my fight. For Pete's Sake just feed the girl something she'll eat, so that I don't have to add that to the list of possible reasons for an emot

I ran to the grocery store after school today.  I was in some desperate need of a hamburger for dinner. As I was leaving this lovely, older gentleman gestured for me to walk in front of him, and said, "Ladies first!"  I was flattered with his good manners, and said, "Oh! Thank you so much!"  He said, "Well, I need someone to check for land mines."  Oh, that cheeky, stinker. I turned around to give him a hard time and noticed his hat.  He had served in the US Navy. I started chatting with him.  Thanked him for his service.  Asked him what boats he had been on.  He tells me all about how he and his fellow sailors were pretty naughty and had quite a reputation when they finally got off the boat.  Apparently he and his pals got up to some pretty wild antics when they were in Bermuda one time. He tells me all about how he lives in another county, but comes all the way to this grocery store, so he can get his $50 gas card, and his old geezer (his words- not