More Ball Games...and a Little Swimming...and Other Things

It's been well over a month again.  I have really good intentions of updating our blog when I start uploading photos, but struggle with getting to the typing part of it.  Since my last post, we have had many more softball and baseball games, dance rehearsals, and end of school year activities.  We have made a couple trips to the lake and enjoyed some evenings outside.  I'm not sure if these are all in chronological order, but I tried to group them together.

Mizzou had the privilege of hosting the SEC Softball Tournament this year.  However, Mizzou did not make it into the tournament.  But we got to watch Florida play.  Gracie was pretty excited to watch so much softball!

And she has played a little of her own softball.

Here she is, pitching in one of their games.  She usually plays catcher or third but enjoys the chance to have command of the pitching circle.

Hold up!  I'm getting ready.

I updated the exterior a little by painting the front door red.

I think it looks pretty good!

Here's a closer look.

I have also filled my pots, but haven't been able to get all the landscaping done yet.  We still need to spread out our dirt pile that is blocking our view out the front.

A beautiful rainbow over our pasture.

Fun at the Lake!

Gracie and Owen enjoying the pool down at the lake.

Mother's Day weekend we were able to get away for a little bit.  Grandma Kate was still in Arizona, but we got to have dinner with Grandpa Tom.

Pretty happy to be in the water!

Owen found some older friends to play catch with

Hanging out with Grandpa Tom

Here we are.  Owen helps me with taking stats sometimes during Gracie's games.  He's such a trooper and usually finds friends to play with at the ballpark.

Owen's turn to play again.

Gracie up to bat

Last Day of School

I can't believe the school year is already done.  Gracie and Owen have both done great things this year in school.  They like Southern Boone and are looking forward to summer school and moving up.  They will be in the same building next year.  Now I have 3rd and 5th graders!  I helped out at each of their field days on the last day.  All of Owen's activities were inside, and I actually never saw him because I had to leave to help out at Gracie's before he got to my station.  Gracie's classes got to go outside for their activities.  It was a fun day and the weather cooperated.

Mrs. Batye's 4th grade class on the last day

Tug of War!

Owen received his award for passing all of his math timed tests. I was concerned earlier this spring that Owen was really struggling with subtraction, but I think he finally gets it.  He has worked pretty hard.  Gracie received several awards in PE for fastest times in her class, farthest reach, etc.  She does not struggle at all in school and still loves going.

Hair malfunction!

One of Gracie's braids came out during one of her games.  Good thing dad is so multi-talented and can fix hair....kind of.

Another win!

Gracie's team won their second tournament earlier in May.  This tournament was in Columbia the first weekend in May.  I can't even remember who they played in the championship.

Gracie's team

Coaches' kids

Gracie, Hayden, and Brynn

Iowa Bound for Memorial Day weekend

We were so happy to go spend the weekend with Annie and Chad in Iowa!  We had dinner one night at the bbq place next door and the next night we met up with Nick's mom and brother for dinner at Annie's.  Deb had just arrived from Florida to start her journey through the midwest.

Mom let us  borrow her Tahoe and we immediately trashed it.

Kaia!!!!

and River!

I went for a run with Traci one of the mornings we were there.  The bugs were so horrible that we had to cut our run short, but she invited all of us over to enjoy her pool later in the afternoon!  After pool time, Jeremy, Cassie, Joslyn, Will, Deb, and Amber all joined us at Annie's to fry some fish that Chad had caught the day before.  It was so good to see everyone there! 

Swimming!

Owen and River enjoying some Cheetos and pool time.

Watch out!  River has a water gun!

They got Traci!

Back to work!

Nick took the following week off to get some work done at home.  We added fencing for more pasture for the horses.  Unfortunately, Gracie was also sick that week, but at least they hadn't started summer school yet.  Gracie was supposed to do both basketball camp and softball camp through Southern Boone, but only got to do 2 days of the softball camp because she was sick.  Owen had three days of football camp and he loved doing that.

Owen found a friend in the garage.  He swears it was his turtle, Michaelangelo, from last summer.

Owen let him go again.

Dance!

It was finally time for dance pictures and recital.  However, the photographer had to cancel on picture day, so mom got to take them.  I'm definitely not a professional, but I got a few decent pictures.

Gracie's ballet

Tap

My favorite.  I caught her at just the right time.

Grandma's room is ready to go

When we went to Iowa, we brought home the sofa and mattress that had been at my Grandma's and Annie and Chad had been storing it for us.  We bought the carpet last fall with the intention of using it in this room eventually.  I think it will work out well.  We will eventually finish it out.

Gracie and Owen have claimed their spots.

More softball and baseball

This is what we do at this time of year.

I think this tournament is up at Moberly.

We placed 2nd if I remember correctly.  The last game was a great game.  We came back from being down by a lot and it went into extra innings.  The girls actually played for almost 2 hours and went 7 innings.  We ended up getting beat by a 2 runs, but they never gave up!

Having fun at softball

Owen is the cutoff.

Made it to third!  Good work Owen!

The kids have started summer school and are winding down the ball season.  They will have summer school through the end of June  We have had Grandma Deb visit, which was great!  We got so much done while she was here.  I will write more about that in my next post.  Gracie performed in her recital and we have seen lots of family in the past week.  Owen has three more weeks of games, Gracie has one more tournament and one more regular night of softball.  I can't believe it's almost over!  I have more pictures that I will add and update soon!