Summer Update/Recap

Okay, is it really the last week of summer?  Even though it has been fast and furious, we have had a wonderful summer. We started the summer out with baseball, baseball, and more baseball. Samuel was invited to play on a travel team this year so rather than play All-Stars, we chose this option for a couple of reasons. First, the season would be condensed to one month rather than all summer long and second, more competition. So, he played on a travel team called High Intensity and played 21 games in 4 weekends during the month of June. Wow! Sounded great at the beginning but it was diffucult to keep up.  Even so, we all had a great time.  Wonderful families and great boys!  We traveled a couple of hours away all four weekends and stayed overnight in a hotel 3 of the 4 weekends. For the boys, a big part of the fun of summer baseball is staying in a hotel with their teammates.

As you can see, summer baseball means more than just playing baseball.  There is always time between games to squeeze in some fun.  Go carts, swimming, feeding the ducks at a local park, sno-cones, etc.  Even the little brothers and sisters had a blast. 

Immediately after baseball ended we headed to St. Louis for a long weekend.  We packed in lots of fun activities and enjoyed being away.  While trying to decide what to do that weekend, my only condition was that it didn't involve a ball park.  Well, guess what?  A ball park was involved but a little different than the ones we spent countless hours at earlier in the summer.  While in St. Louis we attended a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium, went to Grant's Farm, the zoo, Union Station, and of course, the Arch, and enjoyed some blueberry picken on the way home.

The St Louis Arch - 4th of July

The St Louis Zoo - Voted among the best in the Nation (and it's FREE)

Grant's Farm - (also Free)

Union Station - Downtown

Blueberry picken on the way home.

After the fourth of July weekend things slowed down a bit for us allowing plenty of pool time and other summer activities.

The Birthday Boy

John Michael turned three years old on Father's Day, June 20th.  Even though we were playing a baseball tournament in Cullman that weekend and actually played 3 ball games on his birthday, he has had a great birthday.  We've been celebrating off and on since that day and he has loved the attention, presents, singing, cupcakes, and his Tumblebus Party.     

We did a Toy Story theme which he loved.  We saw the new Toy Story 3 movie the weekend before his party so he was very excited about all of the decorations, cupcakes, etc.

On his birthday, between ball games, we celebrated with Samuel's baseball team with m&m cookies and the whole team singing Happy Birthday.  He loved the attention!  Afterwards we found a little park where we fed the ducks and fish and rode a train.  Of course he loved all of this!

I can't believe it  has been three years already. 
Happy Birthday John Michael!  We love you!!!

Summer Challenges & Family Updates

My main challenge during the summer months is always laundry.  Between 2 boys changing clothes at least twice a day, pool towels and swimsuits, baseball uniforms, and just the usual everyday laundry that seems to pile up overnight, I can't keep up let along get ahead.  Another challenge for me this summer is to get John Michael potty-trained.  He's doing great,  it's just more of a challenge when we are on the go so much.  He's much to busy to stop what he's doing and tell me he needs to "go" so I have to constantly ask him and make him go and "try".  Just last night Samuel and I were talking about his goals for this summer.  Some of the things he mentioned was to continue his reading, master his multiplication tables, maintain his Bible memory work at church, swim everyday, and continue to improve his baseball skills.  He will have tournaments 4 weekends straight with his travel ball team beginning this weekend.  He will do Sports Camp and Art Camp and possibly attend a pitcher/catcher camp at Shelton State. 

He will be going back to school before we know it!

So far as John Michael's summer plans, he is definitely looking forward to his birthday party this month.  He is talking about it already and knows exactly what he wants for his birthday.... a firetruck with a hose that actually sprays water.  The commercial is on TV ALL the time and he just HAS to have it.  He will be taking swim lessons in July and will continue his weekly visit on the Tumblebus each Wednesday and his computer class on Fridays.  We will continue our Story Time Hour at the library which he thoroughly enjoys and he loves his Wednesday night Bible class at church.  Of course he enjoys the baseball activites as well since there are several other little brothers on the team.  He will play soccer in the Fall which will be a sight to see!  I can't believe he is turning three on June 20th.  Where is the time going?

One of the biggest changes lately for our family is that Joseph has started a new job with a new company which is about 45 minutes from our house.  He is the Controller for the Georgia Pacific plant in Belk, just outside his hometown of Fayette, population of about 500 (just guessing).  He is enjoying his new position with a great company and so many opportunities.  I am so proud of him!  However, with him being out of town now, I sometimes feel like a single mom with having to do all of the transporting of kids to and from activities and chase a busy soon to be 3 year old around at baseball practices all by myself with no relief or help.  Joseph has always helped out with chores, household duties and with the boys so much and now I am realizing just HOW much he did help.  I have taken on doing the lawn-mowing & gardening as well which I enjoy and usually am able to do during nap times or late evening after baseball and Samuel is a great help.  We also planted a small vegetable garden this Spring and recently picked 2 jalepeno peppers from that garden.  The plan was to make homemade salsa with the tomatoes and peppers that we planted but the tomatoes are not ready yet and neither are the bell peppers.  So, what to do with two jalepeno peppers?  

We completed several projects around the yard early in the Spring.

I love our front porch!  It is an extension of our home and we use it a lot throughout the year.  The boys and I love to read out there, I love to have my coffee out there, John Michael loves to play with his playdough out there and we enjoy congregating with the neighbors on long summer nights.  Just this past weekend we made homemade ice cream and enjoyed it with neighbors on our front porch.

Looking forward to many long summer nights ahead!

End of the School Year - Beginning of Summer

So proud of Samuel for having a wonderful 3rd grade year.  He finished the year making the all A Honor Roll for the entire school year & received the reading achievement award.  He worked very hard to maintain all A's and I am so proud of his accomplishment.  Last night his baseball team finished up their season playing in the championship game and coming just short in the final inning for a loss, finishing 2nd out of 9 teams.  Samuel had a great season and is now looking forward to his first practice today with his summer travel ball team - High Intensity.  First tournament is this weekend so here we go!!

Below, receiving his award for all A's for the entire year.  Only two in his class received this award.

Last day of school with his teacher Mrs. Osborn.  We will truly miss her and Mrs. Rummel.

Field Day with his buddy Tate.

Samuel, Aaron, & Tate at Field Day.

So COOL!

For this championship game the moms decided to really get the boys pumped up with balloons, signs, etc. 

First Pool Day of the Summer!

Last week on Tuesday John Michael's ENT doctor told us that he needed to have his tubes put back in his ears and have his adenoids removed.  So we did that on Thursday, two days later.  He's such a little trooper and I hope he feels much better now.  Below is a picture that afternoon after surgery.  He could barely stay awake!

This past Saturday my friend Karen and I went to Sips n Strokes and painted a Monet beach scene.  I think they turned out pretty good and I have mine hanging in our bathroom.  We had so much fun and I just love my dear friend Karen.

It's been a great start to a great summer.