The Nolden Family » Donovan

Donovan – Spring Baseball 2011

Shayne — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:08:06 +0000

Donovan played Little League baseball this Spring. It is only the second season he has played…he played Fall Ball last year. I guess he did play T-ball once, back when he was 5…but I’m not sure that really counts.

Anyway…it was a really fun season because Frank volunteered as his coach (9/10 League) and I was the team mom. The other kids came to most of the games and cheered us on…so it was a family affair.

During the Fall season last year, Donovan really wanted to be a catcher…and he still enjoys that…but now he really wants to pitch. His pitching skills improved a LOT during the Spring season and he is getting to be quite a good pitcher. He is determined to practice during the summer so that when he enters the 11/12 league in the Fall he will be ready for the big boys.

Here are some pictures of our fun season:

The Team Photo...we were missing 2 players.

Coach Frank

Coach Frank talking to the boys.

Frank helping the boys in the dugout...

Donovan up to bat...

Donovan on his way to 1st base after hitting the ball.

Donovan Pitching

Donovan on 3rd Base and Frank being 3rd base coach...

Coach Frank

Donovan and Frank

Donovan Pitching

Donovan ready to swing at the ball...

Donovan is on deck and Frank is 3rd base coach.

Donovan up to bat. This was in the middle of May and it was freezing!

This is Donovan with our (church) friend, Timothy, who was also on the team...and one of our other pitchers.

Some of Donovan's teammates: Khadry and Timothy

Some of Donovan's teammates: Nico, Brandon & Jeremy

Some of Donovan's teammates: Timothy, Cameron & Khadry

We had a great cheering section: Xan (friend from Church), Betsy (mother of Timothy), Megan, PJ, Liz & Jordan.

Cheering Section again: Jordan, Liz, Megan, & PJ

PJ playing on his iPad...instead of watching the game.

Megan - freezing at one of the mid-May games

Above: Donovan pitching a strike

Above: The team after their first win

Above: Donovan gets a catcher’s mitt. Donovan likes to play pitcher and catcher. He is a lefty though…and it’s hard to find a lefty catcher’s mitt. So, we finally ordered him one online…and this is when he finally saw it for the first time.

Above: Donovan pitching a strike

Above: Donovan throws 2 strikes

First Day of School 2010

Shayne — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:03:54 +0000

School started in late July…CRAZY!! It was nice to get back to a routine, have some peace and quiet in the house…but none of us was ready to start getting up super early again. But love it or hate it, the first day of school always comes around and at least everyone looked Fabulous!

Liz (Senior!), Megan (Sophomore) & Mikayla (Freshman)...they are all attending "Early Morning Seminary" together now too.

Donovan is the last one in Elementary School! I feel old! I actually took this one at the end of the day because I forgot in all the confusion at the beginning of the day.

Donovan playing with Sophie after school...

Ashley started 6th Grade this year...her first year in Middle School! PJ is a "BIG" 7th grader this year. He's almost 6 feet tall already. I took this one at the end of the day as well...mornings are crazy.

This wasn't the first day of school...but soon after. Both PJ and Donovan picked the same shirt this year, so I had to get a picture of my "twins," and a brief moment when they were being nice to one another :-).

Donovan Turns 10!

Shayne — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:43:25 +0000

My baby is 10!?!? Where does the time go?

Donovan, his presents and his "cake." He didn't want a traditional cake this year...he just wanted a cake of donuts...so that's what he got.

The traditional mirror decorating...

Donovan opening presents....

More opening of presents....

Frank and Liz...

Donovan reading a card from Grandparents...

And more presents...(with Ashley)

Liz, Megan and PJ

Mikayla with Donovan

ABOVE: Donovan Turns 10 in 2010 – Opening Presents

This is Donovan opening a pack of toys from the dollar store…I wish they were all still that easy to please .

ABOVE: Donovan Turns 10 in 2010 – Opening Presents 2

…more present opening…

ABOVE: Donovan Turns 10 in 2010 – Opening Presents 3

Donovan got his brothers old iPod for his birthday (PJ bought himself an iTouch). He loves that thing! He mostly plays games on it and listens to David Cook – his favorite singer.

Donovan – Field Trip to Fernbank Museum

Shayne — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:50:57 +0000

I love to go with the kids on their field trips. In May I got to visit the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in downtown Atlanta with Donovan and all of the 4th Grade Classes. Besides the exhibits, we got to see an IMAX movie about natural disasters.

Waiting outside to start our adventure: Donovan, Micah, Ezekiel, Cameron, Tyler & Jordan.

Donovan and Micah

Cameron and Tyler

Micah and Donovan checking out the interactive displays.

This was definitely the coolest room...it was a HUGE atrium room with a HUGE dinosaur. This is where we sat to have lunch.

Micah and Donovan

This is the group that I was in charge of during the field trip.

Ahhhhh.....a T-Rex!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posers...

...and more acting....

Some of the other kids on the field trip...

International Day at School

Shayne — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:50:33 +0000

This year’s International Day was rained out…so it had to be held indoors…not quite the same, but still cool. I think it is a great tradition.

The presenting of the flags.

Ms. Jeje, Donovan's teacher, and her 4th grade class (they were Nigeria).

Donovan in his Nigerian outfit.

This is Ashley with her posse.

Ashley and her friends.

Ashley and Lathan...her best bud...

Ms. Simpson, one of Donovan's teachers and Ashley's favorite teacher from last year. She always goes all out on International Day. She had England.

I don't know who this kid is...but I thought it was a cute picture.

Ms. Simpson and her "English" kids.

Donovan and his good buddy Micah...from Nigeria...

Donovan with Micah and Cameron.

Go USA....

International Day – Elementary School – May 2010 – I thought this was kind of cool. All of a sudden all of the kids in the hallway (because it was raining outside) started chanting, “USA, USA….” They were celebrating the significance of other countries, but showing their loyalty to the good ol’ USA!!

Field Day – Ashley & Donovan

Shayne — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:49:40 +0000

I volunteered this year for both Ashley and Donovan’s Field Days (held on different days). One day was morbidly HOT…we couldn’t get enough water…and the other day was perfectly beautiful…they were only a day apart…hmmmm….

Ashley

Ashley between events.

Ashley with her teacher, Ms. Hurst.

Ashley and classmates getting ready to do relays. She is at the back of that first line.

That is Donovan doing a Jumping-high-five with his buddy Micah.

Donovan and Micah doing the balloon toss.

Can you see the weird rainbow in the sky? It wasn't a rainy day at all...and this wasn't your typical rainbow...it was straight (or slightly curved upward). I'm sure there is a name for this phenomenon...but I don't know what it is.

Donovan is at the end of that line in the blue...they are awaiting the start of the 4-man relay race.

Donovan – Field Day – May 2010 – This is Donovan running an obstacle course with 2 classmates.

Donovan – Field Day 2 – May 2010 - This is Donovan running the obstacle course backward…pretty comical.

Ashley Field Day – Tug of War (5/2010) – Check out how Ashley lets go at the end….right before they lose .

Donovan – Spring Soccer

Shayne — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:29:55 +0000

Donovan has some natural athletic abilities…and he has tried a few things here and there. But mostly he has been too shy and/or self-conscious to do much. But he finally decided he WANTED to do soccer and he has finally started to break out of his shell and be a little bit agressive with it. He is even excited to try baseball next year. I am very excited because I love to watch my kids play sports. He has a great coach this year that has taught him a lot and he is having a lot of fun with it.

Donovan – Spring Soccer from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.

Donovan Botanical Garden Field Trip

Shayne — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:12:46 +0000

I like to chaperone for the kids’ field trips…this time I got to go with Donovan to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. It threatened to rain the whole time and finally did right as we were finishing up our lunches and getting ready to go…

Above: Donovan (far left) and the other kids in the group that I was in charge of: Katie, Najifa, Cameron & Hannah.

Above: Donovan is sooo starting to come out of his shell this year.

Above: Great ears Donovan!

Above: The Botanical Gardens have a kids area where a lot of it is hands-on....it was really neat...and pretty.

Above: Donovan lounging for a photo...

Above: Katie, Hannah, Najifa and Donovan.

Above: Inside this building is a tropical forest (see next photo).

Above: Donovan and Katie in the tropical forest. (NOTE to family: Doesn't Katie look like Barbara Jean when she was a little girl?? It freaked me out at first when I would see her at school)

Above: This was at Piedmont Park where we had lunch...with some of the Atlanta skyline in the background.

Pack Meeting – Donovan becomes a Bear

Shayne — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:37:00 +0000

I’m still a Cub Scout Den Leader (as well as teaching Sunday School to the 14-16 year-olds). This was our latest Pack Meeting…we had it at the home of one of our Scouts…the kids had a great time. Donovan just turned 9 and completed all of the requirements for getting his Wolf badge, so he was awarded that on this night and will now become a Bear.

Above: We have a very small pack…only 4 boys…but it makes it easy to do fun activities. (L to R: Donovan, Nathaniel, Chase & Sam).

Above: Donovan taking a step off the diving board (Sam behind him and Ashley in the water).

Above: Sam taking the plunge.

Above: Rico Suave…I mean, Donovan.

Above: Ashley…

Above: Sam…it’s his pool…he’s so lucky…

Above: Ashley hitting water…literally…

Above: Nathaniel

Above: Chase and his sister Isabelle…

Above: …and Chase’s sister Lilly…

Above: Donovan was enjoying an apple from a tree on their property.

Above: We did our awards after the swimming…and Donovan forgot his shirt…so he looks “not quite done up.” But this is right after he got his Wolf and became a Bear.

Above: I was having a really bad hair day…but this is Donovan and me right after the awards ceremony. Boy…Donovan looks happy…

Donovan Turns 9

Shayne — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:34:00 +0000

Donovan turned 9 in July. My baby is growing up!!

Above: Donovan with his awesome birthday cake made by Megan.

Above: It’s supposed to be a boat…can you tell? We didn’t have blue icing for the water.

Above: Cousin Hannah over for the party.

Above: Donovan, “Give me those presents.”

Above: Cards from Grandparents.

Above: Liz trying to look innocent?

Above: Megan couldn’t wait to taste her creation.

Above: Seth came over for the party too and then stayed for a slumber party.

Above: Donovan got what he wanted…a Rip Stik!!

Above: Trying out the Rip Stik.

Above: PJ, who already has a Rip Stik, showing Donovan how it is done.

Above: PJ gave Donovan his bike for a birthday gift.

Above: Ashley trying out the Rip Stik.

Above: Donovan blowing out the candles, with a little help from Seth.