Back to School 8.11.11 Brittany 5th grade; Clay 3rd grade

Brittany and Clay on the 1st day of school for the year 2011-2012.  Clay is taller, weighs more, his feet are bigger (even bigger than mine!) than Miss Britt. 

Clay is letting his hair grow so he can spike it! 

This is the longest Brittany's hair has EVER been. 

Brittany starting 5th grade with her friend Bayli!

Saying a Very Hard Goodbye 7.28.11

Mike, Tina, and Connor moved to the state of Wisconsin on 7.29.11. My family was so sad!  We went over the night before they moved to hang out and wish them well.  The kids have become like brothers and sister!

Tina letting Zoe take 1 more dip in their pool!

Tears were shed that night and we all hugged goodbye.  It isn't everyday that you meet a family and have everyone "gel" together. The kids get along so well, the husbands have alot in common and have fun hanging out, and Tina and I became the best of the best friends.  I am not talking in past tense about this family because we will continue this friendship!  Watch out Wisconsin, here we come!

Summer 2011 in Pictures

Our summer flew by!  Here are just a few highlights!  Miss Kennedy is DRIVING the gator! 

Brave Papa is letting Madi and Brittany ride the 4 wheeler all by themselves!

Mr. Lincoln LOVED playing with this watermelon!  He rolled and rolled it around like a ball, a heavy ball at that!  Linc looks more and more like his daddy! 

I took the kids with friends to the Drive In to see Cars 2.   

The 4th of July started with our church's bike parade thru town. 

After lunch we headed to a pool party at Bud and Kara's.  If you notice Clay missing from the water pics it is because we had quite a scare with Clay on July 1st.  Clay had fallen a few days before that and skinned up the palm of his right hand, no biggie, not much blood.  By Friday the sore had swollen up and by the time I got him to the dr. he had red streaks going up his arm!  The sore had turned into a staph infection-2 high powered meds later he was on the mend but with restrictions-no swimming on the 4th of July being 1 of them :( !!! 

Britt and Connor  

Mr. Landry was our fireworks specialist that day.  He not only purchased the fireworks but he lit them for all of us. 

I did let Clay do sparklers!  The boy had to have some fun on the 4th! 

This summer was full of softball and baseball.  Most of the time Chad and I had to divide and conquer.  He went with Clay and I went with Brittany.

One tournament was on Coach Adam's birthday 

Miss Morgan turned 9, complete with hot, hot temperatures and an iCarly cake. 

Clay's team pulled out a victory in the Town & Country Regional tournament to advance to Semi State! 

Brittany's team made it to Town & Country State!  Go girls!

Mr. Sparling, a retired teacher, came to watch Brittany and Baily!  So nice! 

The girls didn't win state but we had 1 more tournament to play.  The girls came in 2nd and took home some hardware! 

This group of girls (and parents) were so much fun.  Everyone got along and it made the summer much more enjoyable! 

We got to have Madi for a weekend!  She came to Britt's softball tournament.  She hung out in the dugout, got her hair braided like the other girls, and made some new friends! 

Of course, summer has to include Papa's fish fry and the Med Evac helicopter!

Summer was extremely HOT and busy, but we had a blast!

A gentle reminder.....

a gentle reminder on the days that Clay and I butt heads and the days that Clay pushes every single button I have!

Brittany and Clay Observations Summer 2011

I honestly am having a good summer.  The kids are healthy, which I count as a HUGE blessing, because there are alot of sick children in this world.  Chad and I are doing well.  We like having our children at the ages of 10 and 8.  They are not babies/toddlers anymore.  They are very active and they are becoming pretty independent. 

Brittany at the ripe ole age of 10 is quite the young lady.  She has a sweet, kind heart.  Brittany is a natural at sports and is pretty competitive, thanks to her father's genes.  Most of the time Brittany is pretty easy going.  She likes having her way and she likes beating her brother at anything they try.  Brittany is petite compared to most of her classmates but I think she likes being small, other than when it limits her sports-wise.  Brittany is really into painting and repainting her nails with little designs.  Brittany wears her hair up in a pony tail with a wide hair band EVERYDAY!  As her mother, I beg for her hair to be worn down on Sundays for church, most of the time she complies with my request!  Brittany does not like most pizza places and does not like popcorn.  Brittany's favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse where she orders steak.  Brittany is very much a pleaser, thanks to her mothers' genes, although Brittany is not the follower I always was.  Brittany is very much into boys and into a certain boy whose 1st name starts with a "B". Brittany has several good friends and is starting to learn what true and real friendship means.  Brittany is very proud of her faith and her baptism.  Brittany loves her sleep.  Brittany will pretend she doesn't hear me when I wake her up in the morning.  Brittany likes to cook.  I am very proud of the young lady growing up right before Chad and my eyes!

Clay is all boy, I think he has been since birth!  Clay is 8 years old and is very, very sporty.  He LOVES football and basketball.  If you asked Clay today what he will be when he grows up, he will say a NFL football player (without batting an eye!).  Clay loves dribbling, throwing, catching any type of ball.  Clay loves learning.  Other than playing the wii, Clay wants to watch Animal Planet.  Clay quotes Animal Planet often.  Clay is an easy-learner.  Math is not a problem for him, Clay doesn't like schoolwork but it is easy for him.  Clay has a very warm, loving heart.  Clay loves to snuggle.  Clay loves to be with his Dad.  Clay will choose to not spend the night with his friends so he can be with his dad.  Clay has several good friends.  Clay got asked to sign another player's game ball last night after the game, just because Clay was that little boy's favorite player (super super sweet!).  Clay says he will not have any girlfriends because he is going to be an athlete (Chad and I want that in writing!).  Clay does NOT like mornings.  Clay does not wake up well.  Clay likes fruit like his mother and chips like his father.  Clay's favorite restaurant is Culver's like his Grandma Sandi and Grandpa Mike.  Clay loves Jesus and learning about God.  Clay is very good with younger children and is very patient with them.  Clay likes to be right and wants to have the last word.  Clay has a contagious smile that Chad and I just love. Clay is a big helper and Chad and I love him to pieces.

All Stars X 2 Summer 2011

This summer we have 2 All Stars in our house!  For the 1st time ever, Clay made baseball All Stars and Brittany is playing All Stars for softball for the 3rd summer.  The kids are excited and have started having practices, I haven't heard how many tournaments they will play or how many tournaments will overlap but we are looking forward to a ball-filled summer!

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Our Memorial Day Weekend was jam packed!  Brittany played softball on Friday night then Saturday we headed to the high school baseball sectional.  We have had so much rain in our neck of the woods that the games kept being rescheduled.  We won the 1st game! Then, on Sunday we headed to church and to 2 cookouts.  First, we went to Bud and Kara's for swimming (it was freezing swimming but the kids loved it!), good company, and good food!

Sunday early evening we headed to Brent and Tonya's for more swimming, more good company, and more good food!

don't the men look sweet sitting together on the love seat???   

smores via the fire pit 

We have had a very, very wet spring.  The farmers have not been happy.  Storms have been strong and destructive.  Something about the setting sun with its beautiful colors suck me in every time and with the wet spring this sunset was a welcome sight!

We are very busy this summer with softball and baseball so it is flying by and it is only the beginning of June!