Girls' Night Out

Lisa, Cyndie, Tina, Missy E., Wendie, Liz, Missy D., Lynette, Tonya, Trisha, Sheri and I all headed out last night for a night on the town! First, most of the gals met at our house for appetizers and wine. We had to drink up some of the yummy wine we've all been buying on our many trips to Hudsonville Winery! :) Then we loaded up and went to 84 East for martini night and more good food. After many, many laughs, some of the group left and others of us went on to the Curraugh for a last round of drinks. It was such a fun night! I laughed several times until tears were pouring down my face! I feel so blessed that I have such great friends!!!!!!

A Huge Long Break????

Well,
I can't decide if I am going to be back to blogging or not. I have taken a huge long break, and with Facebook available for me to share my pictures, I don't know if it is worth keeping up with a blog. We'll see.....
The only reason I am excited to blog today is because I took pictures of the kids on Sunday for my Christmas cards and for individual shots, and they turned out quite good! Don't want to plaster them on FB, or there will be no need to spend money to send out Christmas cards! :) So here are a select few for the select few of you! You know you are pretty special if you got an email telling you to view these! haha

Sissy Buns

Sis taught herself how to swim yesterday. I don't mean dog paddling, I mean full, outright swimming!!!! The child cracks me up. We went to Remicks' pool on Tuesday, and she started jumping off the diving board and swimming to the ladder (with swimmies on her arms) over and over. Then on Wednesday, we went to our pool and she stayed in the pool forever with her swimmies on. About 20 minutes before we were going to leave, she took her swimmies off and started swimming from one end of the steps to the other. She would use breaststroke arms and flutter kick. She was so proud of herself. Yesterday, we went up to the pool late in the afternoon, and girlfriend started swimming for real. She can swim all over with her little underwater swim, and she started swimming freestyle. She has so much fun in the pool, and I guess it has paid off. She is a little fish! Her freestyle is a little sloppy mind you, but she is really swimming!!!! She can jump off the side of the pool and swim back to the edge and/or steps. She can't wait to show her daddy this afternoon. (And I'm sure anyone else who will watch her!!!!!) 3 years old and swimming- at least her stubbornness worked in her favor this time!

Done

Cobe's team is done for the season. They played the Padres tonight in the semi-finals and lost 9-3. They were much closer this game than they had ever been to this team (lost 12-1 and 11-1 in the previous games), so I think they gave it their all. For several innings they were only behind by 2 (0-2, 2-2, and 4-2), so a comeback seemed like a possibility. But in one inning, they made some major mistakes and the Padres scored 5 runs. Oh well- the boys bonded and had tons of fun. You wouldn't know they lost- at the end of the game, they ran around having a water fight and were all smiles. It was great to see such good attitudes. Their end of season party is Friday night at the De Witts' pool (and at Sportsquest if the weather predicted materializes- thunderstorms!), but there are 4 guys/families that can't come. They'll still have fun I'm sure.

And we'll be on to football season before you know it! Football starts the second week in August, so one sport ends, another begins. Cobe loved, loved, loved baseball, but he always loves the sport he happens to be playing at the time. He was approached and asked by the coaches to try out for the Elite travel baseball team in September, but both Ryan and I firmly believe that he is too young to concentrate on one sport year round. We aren't even going to tell him because it is the same travel team that Chase is on, so I can imagine that he would want to do it. He loves soccer and football way too much to only focus on baseball, and he wants to try basketball this winter too- little shrimp that he is! :)
He wants to try football one more season as a 4th grader to see how that goes, and then he may give that up for awhile and focus more on soccer in the fall seasons. I think he truly likes soccer better, but wanted to give football one more try since he would be the "oldest" in the league. Too bad the 3rd graders will outweigh him! He has fun no matter what and that is what matters!

We couldn't convince little Brooksie to give soccer another try. He wants nothing to do with soccer. He said he only wants to play baseball and football when he gets old enough. He doesn't enjoy running and doesn't have as much stamina as Cobe, so I can imagine soccer just whips him! At least he knows his own mind! So I'll need to find something to keep him active all winter until baseball rolls around again in the spring.

Sadie wants to try gymnastics, so I think I'm going to look for a tumbling or gymnastics class for her through the Rec program. I hope something will work out for her on Tuesdays, since she doesn't have school that day. We'll have to see- I don't want it to cost an arm and a leg either- her preschool is expensive enough! I figure this will be the last year I will have to pay for any kind of school, so that will be nice. She'll either go to young 5's or kindergarten the next year. I have no more babies in this house- sad at times, but comes in handy.

Life this summer has been super fun and easy the kids being the ages they are. They have played so well together, and we are able to do whatever we want without worrying about naps, diapers, feeding schedules, etc. They are pretty go-with-the-flow type kids for the most part, and I feel truly blessed to have each of them. Don't get me wrong- Sis can still throw an attitude like you wouldn't believe, but usually it doesn't take much for her to get back on track.

We went to see a horrid movie today. Didn't know it was so weird, or we wouldn't have gone. It actually reminded me of Nightmare before Christmas (my brother Jeff's ALL TIME favorite movie), but it was freakier. It is animated, and I hadn't heard a word about it, so I thought, "Hey- it's a buck, why not?" I think it was worth a buck, but not much more. It was just odd. The kids sat through it fine, but thought it was weird and spooky. Jeff- I recommend it to you, but no one else! :)

Alright, enough time babbling. The kids still need to get to bed. They have friends coming over tomorrow- one of which will be dropped off before my kids even get out of bed in the morning, so I should get them tucked in soon. Adios!

Plans Changed

Well today we were supposed to go to the park and play with the Gulkers- now we are going to the beach instead! Looks like one of the only nice days all weeks- thunderstorms/rain predicted for tomorrow and Thursday, so we are heading to Pier Cove. There is a group going- lots of little kids, so I'm sure it will be fun. Then we'll head home early afternoon to get some rest before Cobe's game tonight.

Yesterday, Sadie had so much fun with Presley. She went to the library, painted a t-shirt, checked out some books, and must have gone to the bakery as well because she came home with a cookie. The boys ended up going over to Zach, Jace, Logan and Luke's all day- they had a blast playing hot box, wiffle ball, swimming, hockey, ripsticking, etc. Zach had his cousin Sam over too- so I am sure it was little boy heaven with all the guys running around. Sadie and I just chilled when she got home from Kristen's- she is at such a great age to just play. She put her bathing suit on, got all her dolls out, put her bathing suits on them, and played for several hours "taking her babies to the pool and shopping." She got in the bathtub at one point and took her water baby swimming, but the rest of the time, she just loaded up her stroller and had fun. I would hear her talking to them constantly- so cute to watch. I always have to be the grandma when she plays with the babies and watch one or two of them while she takes the other ones shopping. She makes me feel rather old! ;-)

I finished another good book yesterday- Mom- hopefully you are saving up a ton for me to bring back. I have been reading up a storm this summer. I think I only have 1 left here that I haven't read yet, so I may have to be hitting the library to keep my trend going until I can get to NC and get some more of my mom's. I have so much time in the mornings between the time I get home from working out and when the kids get up. It is 8:30 and they are still sleeping, and I got home at 6:45 from working out! I already made sandwiches and packed the rest of the food for the beach, so now I am bored. Guess I'll go start on that last book!!!!!

Could I Love Summer Any More?????

NOPE!!!!!

We had such a nice day today! We went to the park, and Ryan and I played tennis. I won the first set 6-3, he won the second set 8-6, and he won the third set 6-1. I was pooped! 30 games of tennis!!!! He was determined to beat me. I have never given him a run for his money like I did today. hee hee I WILL beat him next time!!!! The kids all got racquets this week (Sadie's cost a whopping $1.69!), so they "played" beside us on another court and every once in awhile played on the playground. We came home, had a yummy lunch- the first fresh corn on the cob of the season- then all rested for awhile. We headed back out around 5:00 and biked to Grandma Hains' to say hi, then on to Captain Sundae's for ice cream. It was Brooks' first long bike ride, and he did great! Sadie rode on the tag-a-long bike on the way there, and in the burley on the way home. I think I'll have 3 kids who will sleep well tonight!

The boys got to play Rock Band last night at the Boeve's, so they are WAY into our Guitar Hero now. The whole time we were "resting," they were in the basement jamming to Slow Ride, Mississippi Queen, and the likes. :) They are down there again now rockin it out!

This week brings more fun activities. Tomorrow morning Sadie got invited to go paint t-shirts with Presley. Kristen got the girls plain t-shirts at Children's Place, and they are going to paint them at the library. Then they are going back to their house to play. Cobe has baseball practice tomorrow night to get ready for their first tournament game Tuesday night- against the Pirates. I am pretty ready for baseball to be over. I do hope they win against the Pirates, but I assume they'll play the Padres after that, and I am sure that will be it for the season! They ended up in 2nd place in their league for the regular season, so that is quite an accomplishment (Padres were first by a L-O-N-G shot!). Cobe impressed me more and more as the season progressed. He really became a great hitter which he lacked last year. Ryan and Steve had those boys swinging at everything all season, so those kids didn't do as well at first. They did NOT want those boys to win with walks. Unfortunately, that meant they lost a lot because the other teams walked a ton. But it paid off by the end of the season, every kid on the team has been hitting and hitting big! I guess they knew what they were doing! He has also started catching the last few games and LOVES it- he is going to be a catcher next year, so they wanted to get him started this year.

Brooks is done with his t-ball season- he was quite the little ball player as well! He loved every minute of it. I always ask him how my little t-ball player is doing, and he said last time, "Now you have to ask me how your little coach pitch player is doing!" He is so stinkin' cute to me! His last game was Thursday night in the rain, but now I'm glad they got it done and over with so we don't have a make-up game this week! :)

I digressed away from the week's plans for a minute, didn't I? :) Tuesday we have a playdate/tennis date with the Gulkers planned- our kids played last week- the boys at our house and the girls at their house after we met at the park and played for awhile. Their kids are our kids exact same ages, and all 6 kids get along really well. They are church friends and won't ever be in school together, but enjoy being with each other. The boys had a HUGE game of baseball going at Helder Park- the Kuiper boys and Vredeveld boys joined in so they had quite a game going while Kelli and I played tennis. Lindy and Sadie took turns being ball girls for us and playing on the playground. They then went back with Kelli to play with a neighbor's dog, jump on the tramp, and do what girls do, while the boys came here and fished, played b-ball and more baseball. They also got a game of indoor hockey going too. I am assuming more of the same will be happening this week. Tuesday night is Cobe's baseball game.

Wednesday we will probably hit the beach with some friends during the morning and early afternoon- we haven't had a beach day yet, so I look forward to that. Wed. late afternoon, we'll go to the boys' school for JR Library- their books from 2 weeks ago are due. I guess Cobe may have a game that night as well if they win Tuesday night????? But I'm not sure.

Thursday is another scheduled park day, Friday is open during the day right now, so will most likely be a pool day if the weather cooperates, and Friday night is Cobe's Mets pool party at the DeWitts. Saturday evening is Matt and Kathie's wedding and Sunday is the PWT that we are meeting Brent and Abby at in Wisconsin. Whew! All this makes me tired just writing it! Sunday is Father's Day too, so Ryan is excited to be making a road trip in celebration of his day! I got him a few goodies already too. The kids are super excited to get to see Brent, and Sadie is thrilled to see Abby!!!!!

So, like I started with, I love summer! I love all of the busyness it brings- because it isn't work...it's ALL fun!

Kickin' it up a notch

I have been exercising at least 5 times a week since Nov. 1st. I have either been swimming, running, walking, biking and lifting weights each day. Well....you'd think I"d look different, wouldn't you? :) I am now going to step up my game since it is summer. I have added the game of tennis to my schedule. I LOVE to play tennis! I played last week (just hit balls), and then yesterday, I played an actual match. I am playing again this afternoon, and I can't wait. I forgot how much I loved that sport. I have several friends who play as well, so we are going to try and get some games in each week. Even though the pounds aren't falling off, I do feel so much better about myself- I am probably in the best physical shape I have been in since I was dating Ryan. I was skinny and fit then! Now I'm just fit! haha

Last night was Cobe's last regular season baseball game. The team and Cobe himself had a good night. They won 13-1. A kid on Cobe's team who had never gotten a single hit all season got his first hit last night. It was so exciting for everyone. The kids and the parents all went crazy. He not only hit that time, but also the other 2 times he went up to bat! Such a neat thing to watch! Cobe had some good hits as well; he pitched; and he made a double play in the last inning which got two Braves' players out! He was on fire! The tournament starts this Saturday, but Cobe's team doesn't play again until Monday night b/c they are ranked 2nd, so they don't have to play in the elimination rounds.

I am taking the kids to the Farmer's Market this morning to their educational program. There is a beekeeper who will be there explaining his trade. I think they will enjoy that. Sadie's friend Presley is going with her, so Sadie will be pumped when she wakes up and hears that.

Cobe is off on his cottage/birthday trip for Riley this afternoon. We'll leave around 1:30 to get him to Riley's house after picking up Blake to go as well. They are all excited to get together and hang out at Riley's cottage. And Brooks gets to go to Jacob's party tonight as well.

Well....I showered at the gym this morning after working out, but I didn't dry my hair, so I need to go do that before it is a wavy mess! Until next time... :)