Where Are We?
Summer has just begun, but it feels like we've already had a month since school ended. We have been to Iowa, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Kansas City during the past three weeks. Gracie has graduated from middle school and Owen can officially play football this fall. I was sick during the last week of school, so I did not attend 8th grade graduation. Therefore, there are very few pictures. Gracie sent me a few, but they were pretty blurry. Nick took one and our neighbor, April, also sent one to me.
Walking across the stage.
A different view.
In the middle school year book, Gracie was voted most likely to "go pro."
And here is Nova!
June is her birthday month. She requested a special picture in my blog. Since she definitely reads it, I thought I would entertain her. These two are pretty inseparable.
Last bus ride as a middle schooler for Gracie. Kind of crazy.
Their bus driver was so patient. They are lucky to have someone like Ms. Diane.
A couple pics from the middle school choir concert that I didn't add in the last post.
Same event.
A trip to Iowa
We spent a weekend in Iowa the weekend prior to school ending at Southern Boone. One night in Muscatine and the next night in Woodward. Lucas graduated from high school this spring and will be attending ISU in the fall. It was a pretty fun weekend to all get together.
All of the cousins who were in attendance. 16 here.
Gracie with Charleigh.
Our family with the guest of honor.
Owen at the party
Riding the golf cart at DuRochers'.
It was a pretty fun weekend. We got to see Lucas play baseball and then help decorate at the Lodge for his brunch the following morning. Gracie and Owen always have fun when they get to see their cousins. The reception party was great and Stephanie did such a good job planning and decorating for it. I might need her assistance in 4 years, except she will also have another one graduating at the same time.
Following Muscatine, we drove over to Woodward to see Annie and her family. Another fun afternoon and evening. I don't have any pictures, but Owen spent a bit of time on the dirt bike with River and Gracie... I don't know what she did. She hung out in the house I think. Anyway, I'm glad we got to see the Wearmouths.
Strawberries! Lloyd's had fresh strawberries a few weeks ago and Owen definitely indulged.
He helped with the picking.
I think this is a morning waiting for the bus.
Gracie during her trip to Cape Girardeau
Lots of softball
This is definitely not in chronological order, but the past 3 weekends have been full of softball. Our first trip was to St. Louis on Memorial Day Weekend. Deb met us over there on her way north from Florida. She stayed there for the weekend and then joined us in Ashland for three more nights. The following weekend was Oklahoma City for three nights, and three days of games; then last weekend was Kansas City for the weekend.
Braums, of course!
This was the last day of the tournament. We found a bar and grill for lunch and they had the college world series game on for us.
in between games.
Bowling and arcade night!
The coach and his side-kick waiting for the next game.
Oklahoma City was fun and I'm so glad that the majority of the team participates in activities outside of games. These are another good group of girls who are fun to be around. We ended up doing fairly well, going 2-2 in pool play and 3-1 in bracket. We were runner-up in our Gold bracket. This meant that we played in the championship game on Monday night, which ended up starting at 9pm. Game was over around 10:15pm, then a long, 7 hour ride home. Everyone was exhausted the next day, but we made it through.
St. Louis - Memorial Day weekend
Gracie batting
Playing short
More short stop action
and a little catching
Made it to third base.
Getting a jump off of first base.
Owen is showing off his tan line around his ankles.
We had time to get Owen a hair cut while we were in St. Louis. I think this was the best cut he has had in a long time. When we are back there in July, I might return to the same place.
Nick and Owen hanging out in the hotel in St. Louis.
A lot of fun was had in the Memorial Day tournament. Gramma Deb met us there and got to watch a lot of games. I think we played 6 or 7 that weekend and came home winning more than we lost I think. We didn't make it quite as far as we wanted, but still played really well and they looked like a team working together. They are getting to be really fun to watch.
When we returned to Ashland, we got to celebrate Deb's birthday with her. We went out to eat at G&D, which was great! We hadn't been there for a long time! then had cheesecake at home.
On the Road Again...this was the trip to Oklahoma. Can't fit much more into the car.
After the first day in Oklahoma, Owen fell asleep around 6:30pm and slept for 2 hours. He woke up for a couple hours and then went back to sleep again. He was so exhausted.
In between roadtrips...
We attend baseball games in Columbia!
Owen is now in his last week of baseball with the little league program. They have tryouts for All-Stars June 25. He has decided that he wants to try out, so here we go... he's a pretty good catcher.
Behind the plate
again.
and more catching.
He has also pitched a few times and plays 1st base. He plays really well defensively.
Here he is, sliding into third. Pretty sure this was on a steal.
Getting a lead.
Caught his swing when he hit a triple.
Kansas City
Last weekend we had another tournament in KC. Just Saturday and Sunday. It was kind of a doozie. We started the weekend with one good pitcher and ended the weekend with Gracie. Needless to say, the other teams hit pretty well off of us. These are pictures of something I never thought I would see again. One of our pitchers had a wedding that had been planned for months and the other pitcher was injured on the last day. We ended up only winning one game over the weekend, and it was in pool play.
I do have to admit, though. Gracie did a heck of a lot better than I thought she would, considering she hasn't pitched since school ball in 7th grade. She threw more strikes than balls, only walked 2 and she didn't hit anyone. Proud of her for stepping up and doing what her team needed her to do. I can't imagine being a 13 year old pitching at this level. There was one hit that I though was going to take her head off, but luckily she reacts really quickly and could get out of the way.
Gracie pitching in the last game on Sunday.
another pitching pic.
Even though she did fine, I'm hoping she doesn't have to do this again. I know she would rather be on the other side.
So, while we were in KC, Owen was sent to Aunt Annie's with my parents. He had such a great time up in Iowa again. Far more fun than sitting and watching his sister play softball, I'm sure. He rode the dirt bike so much that he has blisters on his hands.
All smiles on the bike. He and River have a lot of fun biking, fishing, and being boys.
Other things...
The kids have started school related summer activities. Weights and morning workouts have started for both kids. Gracie has also started playing league softball with her high school Southern Boone team when she can. She played with JV last week, which was mostly girls in her grade. But the pitcher was a sophomore who plays on the St. Louis Aces team. It was interesting. Gracie did great and she hit a single and a triple in her two at-bats. She and one other girls were the only ones to get hits in that game. The varsity (all upper classmen) played in the first game and they won that game.
Gracie can't play with them this week and next week, but should be able to after that. There will be a few more that she can play in with her teammates from SOBOCO.
Then there are basketball workouts and games through June. Gracie was able to go to one last week because there were not softball pool games schedule on Friday. It was a good day and she was exhausted after sitting through 3 JV games and 1 Varsity game. I don't know what that means, but she actually got to go into the varsity game and play. I went to fill up the car thinking she was just going to watch the last game, but returned to here sitting with the team on the bench. I'm guessing it was because Coach Wren knew she wouldn't have any other opportunities for the rest of June, but I was a little confused. Gracie was pretty excited, though.
I highlighted my confusion when I came back into the gym.
She was excited to play for just a few minutes.
Here we are, halfway through June and it feels like over a month since school ended. We have been going nonstop. Today Gracie spent the whole day at a camp in KC. I'm excited to hear how that went. She said that she hit three homeruns in batting practice and Nick told me that she picked someone off of 1st in the scrimmage.
Tomorrow through Sunday is the Team 1 Tournament. Owen has his last game, so I won't be going until at least Friday, if at all. Then next Tuesday, Nick and Gracie leave for Oklahoma again for her to play on the Aces National 14U team. Pretty crazy things. Owen is attending a Mizzou football camp and will continue to have his workouts in the morning at the high school.
This summer is going to go by so fast!
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