It's May!!!
Again, I started this a week ago, and didn't finish. We were about to begin our marathon of weekends not spent at home, but that has already started. I'm pretty excited to travel and watch Gracie play, but wow, it's little overwhelming to think about. We spent two weekends at home though. Still lots of things to do, but slept in our own beds. Last weekend was the school choir concert, shopping, bowling, bonfire, mowing, and just practices. The previous weekend was a softball tournament in Columbia, Tim McGraw Concert, Alternative Graduation for Student-Athletes, and a day at the lake for Owen.
Owen doing the ropes/obstacle course at the Malted Monkey at the lake.
Grandma and Grandpa treat him very well when he visits.
Softball!!!
Gracie got to play with a combined team of girls from both her current team and girls she played with last year. It was a pretty fun weekend for all of them. The rain pushed things back quite a bit and they only got to play one pool game. Nick and I ended up not being able to go to that on Saturday because we went to see Tim McGraw again!
Gracie on 3rd after a triple.
They played 1 game Saturday night and then bracket play on Sunday. I got to see two games on Sunday before I had to leave for Mizzou Athletics Alternative Graduation. I missed the championship game, but it sounds like it was a good one.
Few but mighty. What a fun group of girls!
Gracie found other friends at the tournament, as well.
Here she is with Lainie.
Lainie, Gracie, and Nova
Championship rings!
This is a first for Gracie.
Gracie with Cora
Gracie with her ring
We got to get away!
4th Tim McGraw Concert together. Nick was bragging that this was his 5th because he went to one in college before "us."
Thank goodness it was a nice evening and we didn't freeze at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre.
Ready to go! What a fun night!
We couldn't help but check to see how Gracie was doing on gamechanger app, though.
Mizzou Alternative Graduation
The Academics department puts on a graduation ceremony for all the student-athletes who have to compete during Mizzou's big graduation ceremonies. Typically this includes softball, baseball, and track programs that are gone for SEC competitions.
I am currently on the committee to help with things such as this and I think we did a great job making our student-athletes feel special.
In my opinion, last weekend was the best weekend so far for 2022. We spent Friday afternoon/evening going shopping/bowling/eating as a family in Columbia. Gracie needed a dress for her choir concert and 8th grade promotion. While we did that, Nick and Owen found the arcade/bowling alley and we joined them later for pizza. After that we met at home and had a fire in the back yard. It had been so long since we had that type of quality time together! The weather was perfect all weekend!
Owen playing with fire.
He had to have s'mores, of course.
We spend Saturday morning doing chores, laundry, and cleaning before going to Gracie's choir concert in the afternoon. My mom came up to watch that with us. The did one piece from their contest earlier in the semester, a small group song from Frozen 2, and then a mashup of a few pop songs. Gracie had a couple solos that I did not know about and she did pretty well. Their Frozen 2 song was very entertaining as well. Nova was "Sven" and did a great job as the reindeer.
Group of girls all dressed up.
Hayden, Gracie, and Sadie
Oh, Gracie - your dad photo bombed you.
Owen got to start baseball finally!
After being rained out of two games last week, we finally started baseball season. They are off to a great start and beat the opponents 15-3, I think, last night. I had to miss the first 20 minutes of his game, picking up Gracie from basketball practice, but he had a hit, stole, a base, and scored while I was gone. Go figure. I got to see him play first base and he did great.
He has had 2 more games and pitched last Thursday. He did great in his first pitching outing! He threw for three innings, had 9 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, and 0 hits. Not bad.
More pitching
I look at this picture and realize that he doesn't look like a little boy anymore.
Sliding into home
Last night he did a little catching, and almost threw someone out stealing third, but the third baseman dropped the ball when the runner slid into him. He pitched for 2/3 inning but didn't do as well.
They have managed to win all of their games so far! Looking forward to more.
Cape Girardeau
Gracie and I spent the weekend doing the basketball thing. It was a pretty fun weekend and the girls came away with another championship! They lost to one team in pool play, but came back and beat them in bracket play. I'm sure Gracie has way more pictures, but these are the ones that I took.
Resting in between games
Halftime break
I love all the smiles. These girls get along so well!
Stealing the ball
Playing some D
More defense
Post-game powwow.
Fun night out
13 girls. together. getting along. enough said.
Down by the River
Oh, Gracie.
Saturday night was a fun night. We all went down to the river walk and then out to eat together. Then I got to do laundry back at the hotel.
Starting this (last) weekend we will be on the road until mid-summer. Here is the upcoming schedule:
Champions!
Back home
If you look closely, Custer has his paws wrapped around Nutter.
They are so cute.
May 14-15: Cape Girardeau basketball tournament (Just mom and Gracie) ✅
May 21-23: Iowa for Lucas' graduation
May 27-30: St. Louis for softball
June 3-6: Oklahoma for softball
June 10-12: Kansas City for softball
June 15-19: Kansas City for softball
June 22-25: Oklahoma for softball (Just dad and Gracie/National team)
July 1-3: Illinois for softball
July 9-10: St. Louis for softball
July 18-22: Kansas City for softball
There could be one more after that if the Aces team qualifies for a National Invitational Tournament. We'll see how they do at all of these... During the month of June, Gracie will also have league games on Wednesday nights with the Southern Boone High School softball team. We just received the off-season basketball schedule for summer, so that will add to the chaos.
Owen will also have 2 games weekly for baseball through the third week in June. They will both have the opportunity to go to summer workouts at the high school and Owen will have baseball, football, and wrestling camps mixed in.
For school, there are only a couple weeks left. Eighth grade promotion is Thursday May 26, along with softball practice and a baseball game for Owen. Not sure how we will manage that night. Might have to have Owen ride home with a teammate so we can watch Gracie be promoted to a high school student.
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