Weather

While we've finally gotten some drops of rain here and there, for a long time there it would threaten rain and then go around us. But it gave us some really cool skylines...

Another season done

The softball and baseball season is always full of highs and lows for me. Sometimes I'm so happy when it's done, and sometimes it's just fun and I wish it could go on longer. Inevitably, there are great games, and just as inevitably, there are horrible games. Pride and laughter, tears and dejection are all part of each season. Sometimes, they're all a part of each inning!

For Abby, she was thrilled to pitch this year, and to be selected for the All-Star team. She really played great the first half of the season, hitting triples and homeruns on a regular basis, and throwing quite a few strikes (something that's easier said than done at this level!). Unfortunately, starting in the All-Star game, she forgot how to swing her bat. Quite literally. She would watch balls go by, and even though some of them were some iffy calls on strikes, she still struck out watching several times over. It was so frustrating to watch. They played a really close semi-final game, and ended up winning 13-12 in a nail biter. In the final game, Abby started pitching, and in the first inning struck out the first three hitters and in the second inning, she struck out the first, caught the pop fly for the second, and threw the girl out at first for the third. You can't get better than that! (You can't pitch more than two innings at this age.) But what made me even happier is that she started hitting the ball again. Yeah! Her coach yelled at her a couple of times (I told him to) and she at least contacted the ball. Finally, in one of the later innings, she really connected and hit a triple (could have been a homerun but they held her. I guess I'm ok with that!).

 One of the best things about the All-Star team was she got to play with her friends, especially Holly, who caught for her. There weren't a lot of girls on the team this year that Abby was close to.

 

Nolan at bat. He also started strong with the bats and now slowed down a little bit. He's really on two teams, one Dave coaches as part of the rec league and one tournament team. On the tournament team, he's been short stop and rules the field. He's louder than anyone at calling where they play is at, how many outs, etc. Funny, because he mumbles and I can't hear him at all when he's talking to me across the dinner table. Crazy kid. 

This is what the littles do during all the games I drag them to.

Part of the fun of the team? The team when they're not playing! Nolan had two overnight tournaments. How fun to hang in a pool with your friends at a hotel and eat pizza!

After the last tournament, the coach thanked me for letting Dave be the team mom.

First place for the last tournament of the year!

Abby batting. But not hitting, as the case may be. 

 But that is some pitching! I have no idea how you don't hit every girl that comes up to bat.

 Second to last tourney for Nolan... fourth place out of 10. Seven games in two days. The boys were totally wiped. I wasn't able to go to the tourney (hanging out with the other kids while Nolan plays and trying to keep them occupied in 100 degree heat? And having to get two hotel rooms? No thank you!) and when Dave got home, I got the complete play by play. I think it's funny. These boys are EIGHT!! How will it be when they are 16? Or if Nolan plays in college? I can only imagine!

Anyway, another successful but busy season. Usually we have a reprieve until next spring, but Nolan is also going to play fall baseball this year. Should be interesting!!

(P.S. This is my 500th post!!! Yeah!!)

Dark day

Today was really a sad, dark day. It didn't start out that way. In fact, it had the makings of a nice, relaxing day. I started out the day at the nursing home where I take communion. When I got there, nobody was out in the common area. I thought the people working just forgot to tell anyone, but when I found them, it turned out that there aren't that many people left. Within the last 6 weeks, they had 6 people pass on. The brothers who died within days of each other, the husband and the wife, others I knew and saw every month. Instead of a room of 10-12 people, I went room to room, and there were only three people left that I knew. One of them, Sylvester, told me a story about his wife of 74-1/2 years, and how she went home to die, and how she recognized everyone once she was home, even people she hadn't know when they came to the nursing home. He had great stories and I wanted to stay and talk to him all day, but had to move on.

I ran home to pick up the kids and got to church just in time. I was responsible for the petitions this morning which is fine, but one of them was praying for the people who died and were impacted in Colorado. I knew it was coming, but still my voice cracked a little bit. Nolan had heard me talking about it with Dave before, so he knew, but Abby didn't. On the way home we talked about it, and what happened. How do you explain that to a child? How do you not scare them into never going into a movie theater again?

And then I got home, and found out that Joyce, the mom of our neighbor Rocky, was in the hospital. She's had some heart trouble, including open heart surgery in the past, but she gets a stent put in and she's good to go. Unfortunately, not this time. This time, they did surgery and when they were all done, her blood pressure dropped and that was it. It's very strange as she was just here, I was just talking to her on Wednesday, having some random conversation. If anyone was full of spit and vinegar it was her, but she had the biggest heart ever... just like Rocky. The boys called her "Big Grandma" and she was indeed--big heart, big personality, big love of life. A sad day indeed.

Joyce, I'm glad to have known you.

Just add bubbles

Do you know what this is a picture of? Look closely...

You may think it's a pool. Perhaps you may even think it's the pool that I spent all kinds of time in over Fourth of July at Dave's parent's house. But you would be WRONG! That, my friends, was the biggest... bathtub... ever! Dave would say the water wasn't very refreshing, especially given the 100+ degree heat. I would say it was the perfect temperature for lounging and soaking up the sun!

I will likely post more Fourth of July pictures when I get to the ones that reside on my other other computer, But, regardless of water temperature, it never stopped Dave (or any of us!) from having a few drinks and having some fun!

Hotlanta

As I mentioned all too long ago now, I got to go to Atlanta last week (oops, week before now!) for work. The conference my co-worker Sarah and I went to was great... 13,000 HR people, with great speakers like Condoleezza Rice, Tom Brokaw, Malcolm Gladwell, Patrick Lencioni and Jim Collins. I sat through sessions, some great some not so great, had great dinners, great conversation and great drinks. I even got to see Jerry Seinfeld who came to perform for us. I'm really glad I don't travel a lot for work because I feel like I would just miss too much, but I'm also glad, every now and again, when I get to get away!

Be Inspired... I was, I really was!

I wish she would run for president... but she said she really doesn't like elected office.

 Sarah and I were a little late to Jerry and couldn't get good seats... I got a picture of his sign, and saw him WAY at the front, but couldn't get any better pics. :(

 Jim Collins... writes great business books like "Good to Great" and "Built to Last"

 Had to take this picture for Dave. It was on the vendor floor, and Kronos is one of his biggest competitors. Nice booth!

 Trade show paraphernalia... I love everything that you get!

And Tom Brokaw. Great to hear, but man he's getting old!

Of course, it wasn't all work. The weather was gorgeous, warm but not at all humid. Besides nice bars and restaurants, we hung out in Olympic Park for a little bit.

And went to the aquarium. Awwww!

 Alice the shark.

 I just loved all the big fish and the sun shining through. So peaceful!

Next year the conference is in Chicago... hoping to go then, too!

Five!

We've had a whirlwind of activity lately, and within that whirlwind, my little buddy turned 5. I know you'll find this surprising (not!), but I really can hardly believe that. It feels like Nolan just turned 5, and now here's Max, ready to start school in the fall.

We've spent nearly every Fourth of July in Chicago with Dave's parents, and so Max's birthday falls right in with the celebration. The only year we didn't make it on the Fourth itself was the year Max was born. I remember what I had for lunch that day (California Pizza Kitchen!), I remember working a full day and then going to get an ultrasound after work. I remember Dave and I adding up the millimeters of pockets of amnio fluid as the tech did the ultrasound and remarking to each other that the doctor said I needed at least 11, but those pockets only added up to 8. I remember waiting, waiting, waiting for the tech to call the doctor and come back to us, and letting us know that we were heading to the hospital. Funny thing is, I don't remember a whole lot from there! I know Dave's parents came at some point and took the bigs down to their house. I know I had Max at 11:50 pm, while people remarked I should wait until midnight to have him on July 4 (natural birth... no way I'd wait for anything!), but then being happy that he'd always have off the day after his birthday. And I know the doctor ordered me (and all the nurses) food earlier because she knew I'd be hungry and the cafeteria would be closed. I love my doctor! And, while we didn't make the Fourth of July, we did drive down on the Fifth of July, two-day old Max in tow.

This year was a little crazy for his birthday. He wasn't awake when Dave and I left for work, so we let him open his presents and have cake while we weren't there. When we got home from work, we immediately left to head down to Chicago, stopping at Applebee's on the way. Max got a sundae and everyone sung happy birthday, which was nice. We got to Chicago late, all the kids hopped in the pool, and that was pretty much his day! The next day, on the Fourth, he got to open his presents from Dave's parents and sister, then played in the pool all day. At night was fireworks, and after the fireworks, Max turned to me and said, "This was the best birthday ever!" Wow, I felt a little guilty that to me it seemed a little too low key, but if he enjoyed it, I guess that's what counts!

So, to my blond haired, curly headed, taekwondo practicing, Avenger watching, crazy kid... I hope this year is your best year ever!