Backyard "siren song"

On the Friday nights that we're in town we have a little tradition called family movie night.  Family movie night means that dinner is followed by everyone changing into pajamas and popcorn being popped on the stove.  Then we pile onto the couch with our Target dollar spot popcorn boxes to watch either Happy Feet, Madagascar, or Cars.  It's an evening that we all look forward to throughout the week.

But lately there's been another siren song on Friday evenings, with a beckon that overcomes treasured TV time and even the tempting treat of popcorn.

The call of warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and a tub of assorted sport balls, hula hoops, and riding toys have overcome the electricity of the indoors.  In fact, family in the backyard night has caused us to sacrifice an timely bedtime many nights of the week in the past month.  After all, it won't be long before the mosquitoes are out in full force.

I've been really slack with the camera lately, so these pictures were taken the Friday night after Darcy's surgery at the beginning of April.  But trust me that they could have been taken nearly any sunny evening since then...

 Riding up the incline for yet another roll down the hill.  Yeah, is that a sweet brother or what?

And why wasn't Kylie in either of those pictures?  Watch out boys of summer, you've got some competition coming in a few years...

I need to face the ball?

Okay, now I'm ready!

Here it comes...

...and it's good!

Giving a play by play of how hitting had gone.  She's getting pretty consistent.  And batting leftie ~ by choice.

Caleb showing his "taste" is for football and not baseball?

Sometimes the fact that she's finally here and is really my daughter still takes my breath away.

Spring evenings.  My family.  Our backyard.  No place I'd rather be!