Saturday, July 23, 2011

Our little All-Star

We were so proud of Jackson for making the All-Star team this year!  They played 6 games in a week and ended up with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses, 2nd place overall.  They played really hard and we were very proud of them!  They had to play the team that won 1st three times!  We lost the first game, they lost the second, we played hard the third game but just couldn't pull it out.  I'm not going to mention the unfair calls or the high-schooler that was playing shortstop for the other team - okay maybe just once!  It was a great experience for Jackson.  I didn't realize that the last game was Jackson's last time as a "t-baller". *tears*  Onward to bigger and better things - the morning after the tournament ended Jackson had his first machine pitch fall ball practice!  Exciting times in the life of a 7 year old!!!


Handsome Boy!

The obligatory picture with the sibling - Man, we've got some cute kids!


Coming in for a run - I almost caught the moment!

Receiving his trophy...#19 Jackson (long pause) MacCamound - close enough :)
 

Great group of boys and coaches!

They're #1 in our hearts!


Nothing soothes a loss like a cupcake!
 
Yay, Jackson!


And one more with your sister who won't stop talking long enough to take the picture!

Thanks again to Yommy, Papa, Danny, Debbie, Cheryl and Mammers for coming to watch!  Jackson has the best fans on the face of the planet!!!  **kicking self for not having any pictures of Jackson with these amazing people**

Verse of the day - "whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Blessings,
Kelli

Friday, July 22, 2011

Father's Day

We had a great day on Father's Day celebrating with Zach and my dad (Papa or as Kendall calls him Poppy).  We are truly blessed by these two great men!  They are wonderful examples of strength, love and character.  The perfect mixture of strong fortresses and soft places to fall.  I love them both so much and could never repay them for all they've done for us!


Zach and Kendall after church

Loving on their AWESOME dad!

Helping Papa open his presents (wonder who's a camera hog?)
 
My favorite Red Sox fan and the best dad a girl could ever ask for!

These next few are from our session with Kim - I love them so!


My boys!
  
He's wrapped around her little finger!

Such good sports - they hadn't planned on being in the pictures!  I love this one!!!
Verse of the day - "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

Blessings,
Kelli
 

Hot Fun in the Summertime

This summer has been HOT!  A record 30 days (and counting) over 100 degrees hot.  When it hasn't been over 100 it's been a cool 99 or even a chillier 96.  We've done a lot of fun things this summer trying to keep cool and still have fun.  We've read lots of books.  We've gone to the movies (Kung Fu Panda 2, Cars 2, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Zookeeper).  We've gone bowling.  We've gone to VBS and Jackson's been to lots of fun camps.  We've had lots of morning park play dates and McDonald's lunch play dates.  We've done a LOT of swimming (my kids are now beige instead of white:).  It's been a great summer - I am so blessed to be able to spend each second with my love bugs!


Bowling Babe
 
Bowling Bubba

My friend Cheryl and I taught the entering 2nd graders during VBS at church this year.  We had the best group of kids!  And I'm not just saying that - they were darling!  They were so well-behaved during each activity.  Their singing and dancing during gathering time was so cute!  On Monday, we asked them to bring their Bibles with them each day.  I nearly cried the next morning as each of them walked in with their little Bibles, not to mention their offering for our Habitat for Humanity family.  Seriously, we could not have had a more precious group of children!  Thanks again to Cheryl for helping me - I couldn't have done it without her!!!
 
Waiting to play the water relay game on the last day of VBS


Beautiful Taylor finishing up her relay race.  They had to "bat" the exercise ball through an obstacle course using the water noodle.


Big Jack's turn

Enjoying a snow cone (and sitting ever so ladylike) while Bubba finishes up a swimming lesson.

Another day, another snow cone...this time Jacks gets one too!
 Kendall loves the freedom her floaties give her!

Jackson needed some "tough love" swimming lessons this year.  He could doggie paddle and hold his own, but could not really swim.  He went under a few years ago during swimming lessons at another pool.  It scared him A LOT.  I couldn't even talk him into lessons last year.  I chose Seahorse this year because of all the great things I had heard about it.  I'm so glad I did - he's like a different kid in the water!


Graduation Dive - so proud!


My mom found the box with all my old Cabbage Patch Kids in it.  Kendall was so excited!!!  Fun memories!
 
We've had a lot of fun play dates with Kim and her sweet kids.  I should take pictures every time, but I always forget.  I snapped this with my phone.  I couldn't resist how cute Kendall and little brother (a.k.a. her future husband) looked holding hands leaving the park!
Verse of the day - "It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter." Psalm 74:17

Blessings,
Kelli

Beauty is pain

Kendall is a girly girl!  I mean serious GIRL!  She loves clothes, bows, shoes, jewelry, and anything that sparkles.  Well, Kendall's friend Olivia got her ears pierced.  So, guess what my little "monkey see, monkey do" girl wanted to do!  She had mentioned it before, but now she was asking me every hour.  I told her it would hurt.  It didn't sway her.  I told her it would hurt BAD.  Still did not phase her.  "I pierce my ears today?" was the question she went to bed and woke up asking...

So, I talked it over with some mommy friends.  My friend Kim told me some pediatricians pierce ears.  Seriously?  Never, in a million years would that have crossed my mind (Kim's so smart!!!!).  I immediately called our pedi - and yep, they do it!  My mom said that doctors used to be the only ones who pierced ears.  She said an old, male surgeon pierced her ears (that's why they're uneven - her words not mine).  I felt much, much better knowing the pediatrician would pierce her ears.  We made an appointment for that same week and away we went!


Brother came along...Not sure if it was for moral support or to watch the pain!

So excited!

Her little lobe before...


And after! They were out of pink, so she chose blue flowers.

Then we went to show Daddy at work.

And we had to go show Yommy at work! 
Don't let these pictures fool you.  It did hurt and she did cry!!!  After they did the first ear, she said "I don't want earrings!"  Too late sister - we've already done one, we are doing the other!  She cried for about a minute, until - she looked in the mirror and realized how cute she looked!  Beauty lesson #1 my love - sometimes, beauty is pain!
Verse of the day - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

Blessings,
Kelli

Birthday Party + Tummy Bug = Not Fun

We scheduled Jackson's bday party for the Saturday after his birthday.  Kendall got sick on Wednesday of that week, we thought it was an infection induced tummy sickness.  She must have had both an ear infection and the tummy bug because she shared the latter with both me and Jackson.  I got sick on Friday and felt okay by Saturday.  Jackson woke up feeling puny on Saturday.  I thought maybe he was just tired.  Nope!  He had the tummy bug.

It was too late to cancel the party.  So, off we went to Sportsplex with a sick boy.  Please, no parenting lectures!  Believe me, we suffered enough!

Once we got there, he seemed to be doing a little better.  He was really excited and didn't want to miss having the party we had planned.  The gym was HOT.  Like sweating while you stand there hot.  That really didn't help the situation.  Our party host didn't know how to play basketball and one of the games was supposed to be basketball.  Rock climbing was fun except that they had to wait to go one at a time and we were only allowed 30 minutes to get everybody in.  We were supposed to be able to hit in the batting cages, except they were closed.  Our party host changed it to kick ball but Jackson was the first one to kick and slid on the base and hurt his knee (the bases were not meant for that type of floor).  I finally asked the host if we could just skip to the cake and presents section as I looked at my son who had turned white as a ghost.  While a sports party seemed good in theory, we will DEFINITELY not be back to this particular establishment!  We were blessed to have supportive, caring family and friends who came and played and celebrated with us anyway!

7th Birthday Party pictures galore...


Basketball
  
Kendall trying to take charge
 
Lu
 
AnnaBelle


Ryan


Nathan


Caroline

Taylor


Makayla

John


Rocking a new hairstyle (the favorite of the summer!)

Sister


Brother
  
The whole gang!


Gearing up to rock climb


Kim and I - celebrating 22 years of friendship!  Of course, we met in the womb ;)


I wasn't fast enough to catch him on the wall - he had just fallen back down
 
Ann helping John



Caroline needed no help - she's a spider monkey!

Kim helping Brother
 
AnnaBelle and Taylor taking an air-hockey break


Kim helping Sister

 
Brenna's another spider monkey!

 
Blake did awesome, too!


Kendall gave it a try

Nathan can climb up anything!
 
AnnaBelle decided to give it a try.

 
Yummy Baseball Cake

 
Getting ready to blow out the candle!


Starting to feel bad again :(  The boy who can usually finish his and Kendall's cake ate one tiny bite!
 
Opening presents!


 Really feeling bad - Look at that face!
 
Casey, Jessica and Will


Debbie and Yommy


 
Sarah and Lu

Jackson fell asleep on the way home.  If you know my son personally, you know what a rarity it is for him to take a nap!  He slept until 6 that night, got up, drank some water, looked at his presents, laid back down, went back to sleep and woke up the next morning feeling like a champ again!  24 hour tummy bugs - I strongly DISLIKE you!

Verse of the day - "Not only so, but we also glory in our tribulations, because we know that tribulations produce perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5: 3-4

Blessings,
Kelli