The last game... for now

Ty has found his sport. We see a long future of baseball (and probably swimming) for T. He had a wonderful spring playing his first year of t-ball and he can't wait for baseball.
He is really into every game and plays real hard.
The last game was a lot of fun because they pitched to the kids in stead of letting them hit it off the tee. Ty thought that was the coolest thing ever.

And as always, his loyal fans supported him the whole time.
I don't know where Tanner was, probably being bat boy or socializing with some new friend.
After the game we headed to Leatherbys for the end of the year party.
Ty loved loved loved his trophy. Unfortunately it did break 4 minutes after he got it, but super mom here super glued it back together when we got home, and it was good as new.

Tyler loved his coach, and we loved Coach Mandy. She did a great job with the Maidu Twins and the kids on the team.



Eric and I thought Ty did a wonderful job and he really found a sport that he loves for now. I am prepared for many years in the future that have me hanging out at the ball park all day as the boys all play their games, and I can't wait. Thanks for a great season Ty, and I can't wait for more games!!

Cool Down

At the beginning of summer I was dead set on taking it easy. Baby Boog as we called him at the time was giving me a little trouble and we wanted to keep him in as long as we could. But sitting around and watching shows all day really isn't an option either with three very active little boys at home. So I tried to plan adventures that would limit my physical activity and still allow the boys to have some fun.
We actually did have some warm days in the beginning (gratefully for me the rest of the summer was pretty mild-cool) so we wanted to take advantage of the sun. I packed up lunches, towels and sunscreen and headed up to the park in Rocklin that the boys love!
It has water that shoots out of the ground, and is really a perfect way for the boys to cool off. I was so proud of myself too heading out with the boys, the umbrella, the chairs, the lunches... all by myself. Now looking back I am longing for the ease of that day, but I distinctly remember feeling very accomplished as I successfully set up camp at the park that day being 8 months pregnant.As predicted, the boys had a blast, as did I.

Ty got in a bunch of water fights with the other boys there that day.
Austin was cracking me up as he kept trying to get a drink out of the fire hydrant. The water would turn on and off as it cycled around the park, and luck for A it never turned on at the hydrant while his face was inches from the spout. He would have been knocked over if it turned on while he was drinking.
Tanner not being too huge on water did pay for a minute, until he got caught up in a water fight and didn't like that the boys he was spraying actually sprayed him back. He was beside himself with disappointment that the other kids in the park would respect the fact that regardless of who he sprayed, Tanner was not to be touched. Oh the lessons he will have to learn.
Luckily Grandma surprised us all and showed up halfway threw our adventure. She took Tanner and Austin over to the slides and made up for the lack of respect Tanner was being shown at the water. Austin had a great time going down the huge slide, and I bet Grandma did too.
It was a successful family outing and a great summer memory.

Playing catch-up

Oh my goodness that summer went by fast. And during it all, there was just no time to blog apparently. I want to get started blogging about Brodie, but so much happened before him, I want to catch up first before I get too far behind. So ignore the fact that I'll be taking about June and July for a while, and I'll be fast so I can get to the many stories that have happened in the last two weeks.
Looking back at photos, I left off around the end of May/beginning of June when they boys graduated. Tanner from his first year of preschool and Ty from kindergarten. Tanner did a fun graduation ceremony at Mrs. KaRyn's and wore the hat and gown. Eric and I figured Tanner would be his typical outgoing self and sing all the songs and say all the right things.... but we should know by now to always expect the unexpected with Tanner. He didn't sing a thing. When he got up to say his nursery rhyme that he had been saying night and day non-stop in the weeks leading up to then, he said nothing. Not even a try. In fact, the rest of the class had to say it because he wasn't going to talk. And it wasn't even as if he was scared. He just wasn't talking. Oh Tanner, always doing things his own way. It just is who he is. The one thing he did choose to do during the graduation was make faces. Not at anyone in particular, just cause. Here is a taste of what people in the audience saw.


Tanner, Tanner. What we have to look forward to with you.

Ty's graduation was a little less, theatrical, but still fun.
His teacher decided not to do any kind of a program, which was a bummer, but we did go in a little early the last day and do photos and Mrs. Beatty handed them a certificate of completion. Ty was just sooo happy to be moving up to the first grade. He loves school, and so going all day was really and exciting thought to him.
Congrats Ty on passing kindergarten with flying colors. Top group in the class. That is my T!!

After all the celebration Eric and I took the boys to lunch as a treat for them. We rarely do lunch out as a family, so they thought it was a great little treat.
So to sum up their school year, they both had a ton of fun, learned a bunch and just had a great time. Great job T and t on being wonderful students, brothers and kids! You are awesome and I am excited to watch you learn and grow over the years. Love you boys.

And so begins our summer fun.

Broderick James Lawrence

Brodie is here, and we are so excited to have him as apart of our family.

Keeping It Outside

Still taking advantage of the weather, I had my dad cut out some small boards for the boys to have and do some painting. I made them strip down to their underwear, even though the paint is 'waterproof' I don't believe it. They dove right in.

Tanner just went for it, no plan in mind. He enjoyed mixed the colors and seeing what different shapes he could make. Ty was a little more specific on his picture as he started to make a rainbow. Austin even had a board with some paint, but most of the paint just ended up on his legs and he was done within about 2 minutes from when we started. He did however become every interested in what the boys were painting and wanted to a; add to their painting using his own creative eye, which did not sit well with the other artist, or b; step on the boards which cause all sorts of tears and pushing as the older two tried to save their artwork. I didn't want to stop the fun, but didn't know how else to keep Austins attention, so I filled up the pool for the little guy to keep him out of his brothers hair. It worked, kind of. As soon as Austin jumped in the pool, guess who wanted to join him? T & t. Ugh, so much for prolonging the painting experience. I asked the boys if they wanted to finish and they said no, they were done. As the boys jumped around in the pool I didn't want to waste all the paint so I flipped to boards over and started painting myself. I am no artist, unless it is on the computer or behind a camera, so I really had no plan for my art. I just had to use the rest of the paint that was in the bowls.
I was impressed with the results although I have no idea what I am going to do with them. Maybe I'll flip them back over and use the kids original paintings for a fun addition to my walls.

Simple Welcome, Happy Days

I have never been a huge fan of our entry way, cause I have never done anything with it. I love walking up to a persons front door and being in love with their house before ever stepping inside. It doesn't have to be fancy, just welcoming. But I just can never find anything I like, unless it is in the Pottery Barn catalog, in which case I cannot have it because I would rather buy my family groceries for the week rather than buying one welcome mat, let alone the rest of the decor which is so appealing. So I have lived here for 4 years with no decorations and no one to blame but myself. My dad is always great at decorating is porch (and when I say decorate, he's not all Martha Stewart or anything, but he likes to get a wreath or a door hanger.... pre-made mind you, and replace the current one hanging there already.) He always has something new and seasonal adorning his entry way that lets you know you have arrived at the Dicus house. So I had to laugh a few weeks ago as I called him on his cell and he mentioned he was in JoAnn's. 'Ummmm, are you lost Pop? I know you aren't sewing a new set of knickers for yourself, or scrapbooking your latest robot creation, so why are you there?' I was just really confused. Not the normal answer of Home Depot or the auto store that I am use to getting. So when he calmed my fears by letting me know he was grabbing some 4th of July decor I could only smile knowing next time I went to my parents house, there would be new things waiting to greet me.

The following week I was at JoAnn's myself, which isn't as uncommon as my dad's trip, but I was there for some fabric for something I was throwing together, no big thing. But I was there at one of those awkward times where I didn't have enough time to go to another store, but if I went home I would have to turn around in 10 minutes to go pick up Ty. But if I left the store right then I would be about 15 minutes early to pick up Ty and would have to sit in the car. I hate times like that. So I decided to stay and walk around with Tanner and Austin who both seemed content to just look at all the little things in the store. While strolling around the store, looking at nothing in particular, Tanner found this little frog that was going fishing. It was actually really cute, and he just kept talking about it. I asked what he wanted to do with it, and he said put it outside to look at. That was all I needed. The wheels started turning and I was off shopping again. The frogs had these perfect spring/summer colors and every turn I made, there was something else I could use to put together my creation. It came together all to perfectly, and I couldn't have been happier with the results. So now when you come over, it might not be a Pottery Barn entry way, but it is definitely a Lawrence home entry way, and I hope it puts a smile on your face like it does mine every time I come home.


DISCLAIMER: Handsome Man doesn't come with the display and isn't always present, but sure looks hot when he's there.

Eating While In The Air

Why eat inside when you can eat lunch on the swings? There has been a nice change in the weather and the boys are once again living outside. We occasionally have lunch on the trampoline or the patio, but just to keep it exciting (like it is ever boring around here) the boys wanted to eat their sandwiches on the swings the other day. Why not right?


Well, Austin wasn't really swinging as much as just leaning on his swing, but as long as he is with his brothers, he is happy. He just has to be one of the boys.How can you not love that smile?They really did a great job of eating, which isn't always the what happens if they are outside, say on the trampoline which in that case half of the food ends up bouncing around with them.But as long as they are having a good time, everyone is happy, and you just can't beat that.