Mid-Summer Shenanigans

I wasn't sure what to title this post, as we have been doing more of the same.  Softball, baseball, work and more work.  We spent Father's Day at the Lake with my parents following a night of backyard camping for the kids.  They were going to stay all by themselves, but Owen lost some confidence after about 10 minutes of being out there with just Gracie.  Nick is such a great dad, and spent the night out there in the tent with them.  I opted for the bed inside the house.

Owen and Gracie camping in the back yard.

Father's Day at Margaritaville in the Ozarks.

This pic is actually at Village Marina, where my dad works.  We stopped there before heading to the other side of the lake to spend the rest of the afternoon.

More swimming in Margaritaville.

Nick and my Dad on father's day.

Nick doing his thing with the kids.  They still love using him as a jungle gym and launch pad.

Gracie's turn.  She's almost too big.

BASEBALL!!!

Owen has had a few more games and will not have to miss any while we are gone.  They have been rescheduled for next week since the park they are supposed to use is still under water.  He has been catching quite a bit and seems to be doing a pretty good job.

Playing 1st base

Nick trying to get a good pic of Owen catching.

At bat

Getting some catching in.

Kansas City Battle of the Bats Tournament

The girls actually did really well at this tournament and were 3-0 the first day.  Unfortunately the 2nd day was rained out, so they didn't get to play the bracketed part of the tournament.  I think they would have done really well and they were seed first going into day 2.  Gracie got to pitch the first game and did well.  

Gracie pitching

Another shot of Gracie pitching

In between games the girls played a little Red Rover.  They had so much fun together!

Danni trying to break through Gracie and Kinley.  I caught her in mid-air.

Such a funny picture. 

 Nick is tying another shoe, Bella is waiting to hit, and I'm not sure Gracie is doing.

Talking it over with Coach.

Diving back to first

Safe!  Just barely.  Gracie told me the first baseman was standing on her hand.

Owen's turn again.

Playing 3rd base

At bat

Catching again

More catching.

This seems like a pretty good view.  I think Gracie took this picture.

Happy Birthday Nick!

This says it all.  I'm so glad Nick was a good sport about everything.

We had several of his closest co-workers out to our house for an evening.

It was a fun night.

We also decorated his office appropriately

At least he's smiling!

I believe his coworkers put up more awesome pictures after I went home.

This was the mess we left inside the office.

End of summer school!

Gracie and Owen both did 4 weeks of summer school again in June.  They seem to still have a lot of fun with it.  Owen and his 4th grade classmates focused on the book "Lemonade Wars."  They did their own lemonade stands during the last week of summer school  Owen and his group chose to donate their proceeds if they won the "war," which was Wounded Warriors Project.  Each group tried to raise the most money and all proceeds went toward the winner's choice.

Poor Owen completely misunderstood what was supposed to happen.  He thought that if their group didn't win his group would get to split their money and keep the profit.  We discussed the purpose of the activity and the goal of raising money to benefit a good cause.  He had put a lot of thought and effort into the lemonade stand and was so disappointed when they didn't win and even more disappointed when he didn't get to keep any of the money.  Hopefully he understands fundraising a little better now.

This is Owen and Zeke at their lemonade stand.  They had two other group members, but they weren't there on the day that they sold lemonade.  Owen's group raised $57 with their sales.  The winners raised over $200 and all proceeds went to help fund the new YMCA in Ashland.  I think the total sales for the 4th graders was well over $1000.

Independence Day 

We didn't have any huge plans again this year for July 4.  We spent the morning hours working outside, which seems about the same as last year.  Nick also took Sonita out for a ride and the kids rode the 4-wheeler for a little bit.  I went for a long run in the morning and we spent the day relaxing at home.  That evening we went over to our neighbor's again and blew up some fire works.  There was a little excitement when one of them started firing out of the side, but other than that scare, things went well.

Gracie and Owen on the 4-wheeler.

Gracie also mowed the grass for the first time and did a great job!

Nick on his ride

He didn't get bucked off this time!

Last tournament of the summer

KC USSSA B State

I really cannot believe that softball is done.  I know we've been doing this since April, but it has flown by and I am so proud of the girls and have loved watching the team get better.  They are such a great group of girls and families!  Luckily, I think several will stay for another year of 12U, but there are some who will move up to 14U this fall.  The improvement since last fall is incredible and the level of confidence has increased so much!  I hope they all know how far they have come in just one year!  I think even more importantly, they have gotten along as a team and have become pretty good friends.  

Bella, Brynn, Gracie, and Nina.

We went out to eat at Chuy's Tex-Mex (2 nights in a row).

The three on the left will still be at the 12U level this fall.

Also...Gracie has her hair down.  This is a rare occasion.

This is the last picture of the whole team, taken right after pool play at the Battle of the Bats.

Front: Casey, Bella, Raegan, Emma Kate, Danni (sub), Nina

Back:  Brynn, Kinley, Gracie, Margot, Annabelle, Hallie

Last Games of the Summer

Our girls held their own against some really good "B" level teams.  We were so close to winning the first game, which would have kept us in the winner's bracket, but fell short in the last 1/2 inning.  We went 2-2 for the weekend and the girls had fun.  Gracie did really well and was nominated for the All-State team, but I'm not sure what that really means.  She was 6 for 8 hitting on the weekend and threw two girls out; one at 2nd and one at 3rd.  She caught all weekend and seems pretty comfortable there.  She still asks to practice pitching almost every night at home, though.

So, I thought this was a good photo opportunity right before the last game started.  She looked like she was thinking about things and focusing.

I asked her later what she was thinking about...

She smiled and giggled "Oh!  I was just writing my name in the dirt while Brynn was stretching."  then she continued...  "I was really bummed when Dad erased it before the game started."

I guess she is still a 10 year old playing in the dirt.

Brynn pitching during the last game.  She did a great job and was nominated twice for All-State. (again, whatever that means)

Gracie's last at-bat

After the game and taking it all in.

She is always so sad when the season is done.  She's already telling me that fall ball will start in a month or so.  That girl...

Next on our agenda is VACATION!!!!!

We will head to the Black Hills tomorrow and we are meeting Trent, Kimi, and their kids in Mitchell, SD tomorrow night.  It is going to be an awesome week!  Can't wait to make more memories!