Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Time For The Fam

We've found a new game to play together at the Starnes casa. Baseball. Or, a weak version of it.

I'm constantly trying to figure out things we can all 5 do together......that makes every kid happy and also doesn't end in Blake and me wanting to pull our hair out. It's not easy.

Swimming pool - check
Zoo - check
Worlds of Fun - check
Summer concerts - check
Union Station museums - check
Charades - check
Nature walks - check

I don't count TV or watching movies because 1.) I try to deter those activities anyway and 2.) We're not interacting. I also prefer to be outside, enjoying the weather and breathing fresh air.

So, baseball is our latest. We have a large side yard shaded with trees and soft grass, which provides a perfect field and room to run.


Carter tries to keep us in line and following the rules. Not easy.


Little punkins batting is fun.





Baby Laine.....she's the goofiest one of all.


Maybe not.


This video is weak, but will give you a brief glimpse into how this all plays out.


Any other ideas?

31 comments:

Coco said...

We are big into baseball right now as well. Also, soccer.

It is warm enough here to bust out the little swimming pool so we have been outside every evening for hours in the little pool. Can y'all do that yet?

Also, we go for rides on our golf cart every evening. Too bad y'all don't have one.

Julie said...

We do boom ball. It's like baseball but with one of those bigger balls and you need no mitts and everyone, even the tiniest can play. We also do soccer a lot, but more like boom ball.
Thank you for sharing. I so love seeing your family, being a family.
Take care and God Bless!!!

starnes family said...

Nope, Coco. Still too chilly here for the pool. In fact, we're headed out to the Farmer's Market now with sweaters on.

Love that idea, though, for later!

And, the golf cart.....yes.....fun!!!!!!

starnes family said...

Nope, Coco. Still too chilly here for the pool. In fact, we're headed out to the Farmer's Market now with sweaters on.

Love that idea, though, for later!

And, the golf cart.....yes.....fun!!!!!!

Kim said...

Great family fun! That is so awesome. The vidoe sums it up well Lainey running everywhere to avoid being tagged yet still getting to base, that is my kind of baseball. You have the sweetest family!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness, that's adorable!

If the shoe FITZ said...

cracking up over here...LC running all over...and that is totally Carter trying to follow the rules and teaching the little ones!
Can't wait to do this with Liam.

Moni said...

Case, are you pitching? I used to love playing softball for the simple fact that we never had to do any fielding if you were pitching!

Momma to the A's said...

Looks like so much fun! I love how Lainey "runs" the bases! So cute. Enjoy your outside time and we will continue to be jealous!

Becca Jane said...

YOu seriously have the best family ever! Such wonderful examples for Nate & to follow as our children get older. Thank you!!

Cameron loves baseball. I think there is something perfect about the combination of being outdoors and being with your entire family. It's my favorite!

Dee Stephens said...

so fun! My Mom was a weirdo when I was growing up. She thought if I wanted to play ball that I would be a tomboy and she wasn't having that!
Kinda sucks ;(

aunt caroline said...

You guys should try wiffle ball. I see the giant red bats and white ball sets all over Target this time of year, and I think they're only a couple bucks. You may already have it? I really liked Allison's butterfly thing she did with her kids. Sooo cool! Totally something you'd do - similar to your basil competition.

ps. My tomato plant is getting huge!

starnes family said...

Caroline....wiffle ball = awesome idea. Thanks!

timmonstimes said...

So cute! It's going to be 90 here this week so we are also going to be busting out the swimming pool!

timmonstimes said...

Oh and I totally want to get a Slip n Slide this year. Do they still make those? I used to love them as kid. Is Corinne to young for that - maybe but we'll try. Scott will have just as much fun as she will :)

Carrie Darney said...

Oh, we have been playing frisbee until the butthole of a dog bit it and it cracked. We also have a little plastic wagon that Hagen LOVES to go on walks and collect things...we do a scavenger hunt type thing. Yellow leaf, acorn, smooth rock, etc.

He even takes that wagon around the yard to pull things with. Ryan and Hagen both play golf too. Ryan has practice balls that don't go far and he practices and then Hagen does so with his plastic club.

T-ball...FINALLY gets this. Puts the ball on and swings.

Sara said...

My nephews LOVED wiffle ball. Very good idea, Caroline!!

Love that picture of Jack and Blake. That's a framer! The video made me laugh. So cute.

FROGGITY! said...

we bought the dreaded baby pool today! i couldn't hold out, had to do it. even though we go to the real pool, it is so nice to have the small one in the b-yard.

sidewalk chalk and bubbles are also our friends... not sure if carter would be interested in that though...

those stills of your hubby and kids look like professional tball photos! so funny and cute!

Coco said...

Crouqette and boce ball. Washers!!

merrilee said...

No ideas beyond what everyone else has already mentioned. Love that picture of Lainey by herself.....she just kills me!

Amy said...

I'm sure you've been to both of these places, but Hattie and I make a trip out weekly to either Deanna Rose or the OP Arboretum. Both lots of fun AND free! Love seeing your family play and can't wait for the summer concerts to start....we'll see you there!!!

starnes family said...

Froggity - I thought the same thing about the tball pics!!!!!

Merry Mack said...

That video is so cute! I am not outdoorsy or sports like AT ALL so I might play a bit like Lainey. I thought did occur, what if you did field day type activities like balancing an egg a spoon or ring toss. We are having field day this Friday so I will take notes.

Lauren W said...

I'm no help. We just do tons and tons of wagon wides and playground time. If I push someone on a swing one more time today, I'm going to cry.

Vincent Family said...

Baseball is also a big hit at our house. Something else fun you might try is freeze tag. My daughter LOVES it but gets upset when the dogs don't stay frozen.

P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog! Your family is super cute!

The Rand's said...

We play soccer and go on lots of walks together.
Cute pics!!

Hattie said...

Too cute! We stopped playing baseball outside. The boys had a pitching contest and broke 16 wooden fence pickets! We stopped playing soccer when the boys decided that there was no out of bonds and playing off the windows was fair play! We stopped playing football outside when the boys got complaints from the neighbors about the ball hitting their cars. Sidewalk chalk is out too (we found them coloring the house and the cars) and no more bubbles b/c Evan and Jaxon think it's so funny to drink them! Weird, I know! So now the only outdoor sports we have are basketball, skateboarding (which this clumsy momma is not good at) and bike riding! Knock on wood, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before we have to ban these too! Ha!!! Boys!

Jodee said...

It sounds like we do the same things here. Cute baseball video!

Brittny said...

Oh my goodness, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous of your grass!!!!! We don't have that here. It's just a bunch of different green stuff that grows in your yard and in a few months those little stickers are going to pop up. I can't wait for a real yard again. I'm also very jealous of all the activities that you have to do in KC. And finally I'm jealous that you and Lauren live in the same town and can hang out. Now, onto something besides how jealous I am... we love playing baseball here too! Sophie is trying to figure it out now and I love it! We need a new tee though b/c our is so broken it won't stand up anymore. But we've had it for over 2 years and is one of those "my first tee" thingies. Think we'll be making a run to walmart today to get one.

The Soladay Family said...

There's no secret we're a total sports family. We love a good game of baseball....actually a game of ANYTHING just to be outside!

Love those pics, and I especially love that Lainey is right there in the mix with the boys!

SASS said...

You guys are seriously just so cute. I love the-whole-family activities. I'd suggest frisbee, but Lainy is just now able to catch it. (Kind of) You might lose some teeth with that one.

Coco has a golf cart? Why am I not surprised.