Um wow . . .

So, Detroit was fun . . .I am exhausted . . . I have been reading all my old journals and feeling sorry for myself . . .and I have a TON of stuff I want to write about and just don't have the time! I might have to schedule 'blogging time' from now on, just to get it done. . .

Miss updating all of you people that never comment on my life . . .hee hee . . .

Tid Bit Tuesday

• I leave for Detroit in the morning.
• I won't be back until Sunday afternoon.
• I am excited to see old friends.
• Garrett is in a baseball tournament.
• We played 2 games on Saturday.
• We played 1 game last night.
• We may play up to 3 games tonight.
• Did I mention that I leave for Detroit in the morning . . .

Until I return (and I will have plenty to post, I am sure) . . .Don't miss me too much!!

slb

Saturday

Well, we got to Oklahoma around 11:30 am . . .it was already pretty hot (with NO shade). Thankfully a friend invited us to sit under their pop up gazebo . . .it was heaven! We are totally going to get one!

The boys were ahead most of the game, but then it was tied. We entered overtime and scored one run . . .they got up to bat and ended up getting 3 runs to beat us by 2 runs. The boys were bummed, but not for long! We had a 15 min. intermission and got them in the shade for a bit and hydrated again . . . and we played game two! We ended up winning that game 12-2, and Garrett had a great ground hit into centerfield (short stop missed it). He was very excited!! Now we play again today at 3:30 pm and if we win that another game at 5!

I did get some sun on my arms and legs and hit the tanning bed after that. I fell asleep in the tanning bed, which is nice, UNTIL you are rudely awakend by the warm light going off and the cold fan still blowing on you. (Not to mention the loud click when the lights turn off!)

Faithful Friday

I have recently started reading several books by CS Lewis (Clive Staples Lewis that is) . . .I am reading "The Essential C.S. Lewis" and "The Great Divorce" (which incidently has NOTHING to do with divorce as we know it). I am enjoying it, as they are forcing me to use my mind which I feel has atrophied a little bit due to lack of use. . . (Let's just keep that little comment to ourselves)

Things have been crazy around here, what with everyone coming and going, but it is such a relief to know who really is in charge! I look forward to sharing more of what I read in the near future!

On a totally different note, here is the newest addition to the family. . .

Marbles

Isn't he adorable? He is a 6 week old blue heeler pup . . .Madison is ate up with him and the boys love how cute he is. If only I could create a drug to keep puppies . . .well, puppies! LOL I would be RICH!!

Here are a few of the pictures I took of an amazing sunset the other night . . .It was storming and it was beautiful!








We have a ball tournament for Garrett all day tomorrow and then a birthday party at the pool. The kids will be worn out! (Thank goodness!) LOL

Tid Bit Tuesday

Couldn't resist this . . .

I just started reading two new blogs and wanted to share them with you guys!

This First One is especially for LeAnn, and any of my other 'crochet friends' . . .I have only read three of his entries, but I am totally HOOKED!!

The Second One is for my fellow book readers . . .It is called Flannelgraph and it is a pretty catchy site! Go to the bottom and read about its origins . . . seems like a pretty great group of folks too, and there aren't like 500 of them or anything (YET) so now is a GREAT time to get on board!

P.S. We now have a new member of the family, a blue heeler that Madison has named "Marbles" . . .He is adorable and I will post pictures tomorrow! ;-)

Sunday . . .Where the time has gone . . .

So, here are a few of the reason that I haven't been blogging as much . . .

Mom and Dad got 44 chicks . . .they were adorable! However, we lost over 20 of them in a three day span due to a raccoon (that met a bitter end, but that is another story in and of itself!). They were grabbing them and pulling them through the chicken wire! It was crazy! They need to be fed morning and night and watered every couple of days. . .


Summit and Grandma took a look the day that we got them!



Harmony bought several puzzles at a yard sale (three to be exact). Here is one of them, but Mom and I ended up putting 3 puzzles together in 4 days! Click on the picture to enlarge it so that you can see just how crazy the pieces are, it was a real doosey! . . .Shhh . . . .don't tell Dad! LOL


Finally, I love to crochet (makes me feel less lazy while watching movies at night after the kids go to bed). Mom needed a few for some upcoming weddings, and I have a few that I did for some friends that just got new houses . . . I think they will like them!

So needless to say, I have been busy! However, I did start a baseball blog today and should have it finished and able to post for tomorrow!! Stay tuned!

My summers then vs. my summer now. . .

I had been managing the Prairie Grove Aquatic Park for 7 years, and my time was pretty much consumed from early April until the beginning of September every year. Last year was my first year to have a 'free summer' and it was nice. I taught private swim lessons for a little money on the side and the kids and I enjoyed just being lazy. (They missed non stop days of going to 'work' with mom, but managed somehow!)

The Good Ole' Days . . .Ethan, Nate and Garrett (back in the day)

This summer was my first foray into the craziness call Ball Season (that most families around here are VERY aware of). It was $50 per kid with a maximum of $100 per family. Since Garrett and Madison were going to play for sure, I thought "What the heck, let's sign up Ethan too, it won't cost any more!" Wow! Every Monday for the last 5 weeks (minus bad weather) all three had games, at three different ball fields, and sometimes in different towns! Thank goodness for grandparents that were willing to step up to the plate! It has been quite a ride, but the kids have had a blast!

Garrett is on a kid pitch baseball team and plays outfield. He just recently connected with the ball for the first time!! He was so excited and has improved by leaps and bounds since that first hit! He loves playing and just being part of the team!

Garrett is in the front row, farthest on the right.

My number 99 (the year he was born).

On 2nd base, getting ready to steal 3rd. Man, does he love sliding into home!! LOL

Madison plays fast pitch softball with some of her cousins and just loves it! She plays right field and 2nd base. . . she aspires to be a picture one day. She is the youngest on the team at age 8, but wants to move up with the girls next year when they move to the 12 and under league. Mark helps assistant coach her team and has really enjoyed it also!

My number 21 . . .(the day she was born!)

Team Photo: Mark is in the back row on the right and Madison is in the front row first one on the right!

Ethan plays tee ball and has played several positions but his favorite is pitcher and short stop. Watching his games is always entertaining as the kids are all over the place!

Look at that form! My number 6 . . .(the day he was born!)

Hitting is one of his strong points . . .

I have a 'ball bag' that is equiped with a first aid kit, bug spray, sun screen, my camera, the 'baseball bible', extra pony tail holders, sunglasses, sunflower seeds (just the regular ones, non of that 'ranch' or 'dill pickle' flavored stuff for me!), and an insulated tote with drinks and snacks.

At Garrett's games, I like to visit with Sharon Martin, she is refreshing, funny and wise. She also homeschools her children and is a valuable resource (with interesting tidbits of information, I might add!)

Mark and Sharon Martin . . .

At Madison's games, I have several people that I enjoy visiting with, but by far my top favorites are LeAnn, Lucy and Angie. LeAnn and I acutally visit and yell together, while Lucy makes fun of me for my ball bag and my sayings . . . ("Chin up young person!") LOL

LeAnn is on the bottom and Lucy is on top! Angie was missing this day . . .

At Ethan's games Crystal is always entertaining, as is Rachel and Dakota (the coaches mom and niece). No pictures of them yet, but I will get some soon!


I have a great time no matter where I am at, but trying to keep 3 sets of rules seperate and trying to remember all the names of the kids on 3 different teams can be taxing! I wouldn't change it for ANYTHING, and even though this is the last week of regular ball, I am already looking forward to next years craziness!!

Yes, I know . . .

I am very behind in my blogging, but it is too late tonight to get into it . . . Ball games have been crazy (future blog about that), I started paper journaling again (future blog about that), and mom and I have been putting puzzles together like crazy (future blog about that too!) Right now I am really looking forward to my trip to Detroit on the 17th! Can't wait to see and catch up with old friends!