We're moving to Palmdale!?

We spent one day at Mulligans racing cars and miniature golf before the 6:00 game.


Carson and Aiden at Happy Hour with Shirley Temples
Our own personal living room in the lobby.... yes, we were right at home.
Here are a few of the kids who weren't on the team, but whose families were there to support the league.
Just kidding of course! We spent a lot of time in Palmdale this summer because the UFLL 9/10 year old team won the state championship. Although Blake wasn't old enough to play All-Stars, that didn't stop us from driving hours to support our team. We went with a lot of families from the league and stayed at the same hotel as the team. It was a fun experience for our family. Of course I was too busy cheering and clapping and jumping up and down to take any pictures of the team, but we had more fun in the hotel lobby with all of the other families than anywhere else. I can tell you one thing for sure, that hotel staff sure was glad to see all of us go....I can't imagine the hotel lobby has never been so crowded before.

4th of July 2010

A token shot of the two of us just to remember the day
The big boys against the kids.... don't think that they let them win either.....
Justin, Aiden, Garrett and Blake

We're hoping these kids are friends forever!!!

Lexi and Jeramie... .don't you want to take her home? I know we do!
We spent the 4th of July at the pool with our neighbors and had a BBQ later in the afternoon with my dad and Yvette. Later that evening we went over to the Surrell's house and the kids played in the backyard before we headed to Bonita High School for the fireworks show.

Nuevo Vallarta

A rainy dinner at Tacos Break
The view from our lounge chairs
Tough guys at the foot of a 40 foot statue in the lobby
Lounging by the pool
We had an infinity pool on our balcony and they went in about an hour after we landed!
We went to Nuevo Vallarta in July and spent a week at the Grand Mayan. We swam and played on the water slide and went into the wave pool and met some nice people from New York and Seattle while we were there. We stayed on the resort property the entire time and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Mexico.

Allow me to catch up

Making rootbeer!
Cheers!
Rolling out the pretzel dough
Johnson's, Jackson's, Schultz's and Wiersma's at Brewbakers

The new first graders..... kindergarten had just ended weeks before

I am so incredibly behind on this blog... I never posted either one of the boys' birthday parties (in MARCH) or anything from summer or the first day of school for that matter. I will attempt to catch up through pictures of summer and then go back and add written details. We are busy, busy, busy, but having a lot of fun!

Who Inspires You?

I have had several instances this summer where I have been inspired.... by people, occasions, books, even memories..... I must say that it feels good to be inspired. I would have to say that my mom and my memories of her inspire me most. I believe that if she were still here on earth, she would be inspiring me on a daily basis with her love, her kind words, her generous spirit and her faith in God.

Today I am inspired by my husband who finds the good in everyone and everything no matter what the situation and challenges me a lot lately with the words, "This too shall pass." I find myself inspired to be a better friend than I have been before. I am in a season in my life when friendships have begun to change for a variety of reasons and I realize that this will continue to happen. I am enjoying my new friendships and find myself hanging on to the more cultivated friendships as well. I am inspired by my children.... to play and relax and just "be". I don't do that very well.... I am a multi-tasker by nature and have a difficult time slowing down the day to day pace of life.

Six years ago we lost my mom to breast cancer and our family has not been the same since that day. We have gone through so many changes, but each one of us understands that we are going to be okay.

My mom gave me a book after I had Aiden called Mommy's Locked in the Bathroom.... Surviving Your Child's Early Years with Your Sanity and Salvation Intact. It is hilarious and inspiring! My children were only 2 1/2 and 5 months old when my mom died and I had a lot of moments in those early years when I needed a break. My mom recognized that and this book was one of the ways she gently reminded me that I am not the only mom in the world who works part-time with 2 small children and a husband that travels (um... he was gone 2-3 days a week for six months when Aiden was born) Nevertheless, I needed some inspiration and I got it.

One of my favorite chapters is entitled Making a Joyful Noise and begins with Ephesians 5:19-20: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything. "

Sometimes the noise in our home does not stop. We have two very talkative and social children who are the product of two very talkative and social parents. We have our fun moments of sharing as well as our angry outbursts just like any other family. There are days when I wish my name was NOT mom or mommy or mama or MMMOOOOMMMM!!!!! Overall, in our home of organized chaos, we are a family who loves the Lord, each other, and our family and friends unconditionally.

We are all inspired by someone or something today and I'm just wondering.... who inspires you? Are you inspiring someone? I sure hope that I am!

How "SUITE" it is!

The L.A. District: Casey, Michael, Jeramie, Matt and Carlos
Batter up!
My boys!
Blake is in his element here... binoculars and all
Sadie, Aiden and Blake... she is just as precious as she looks!
Jeramie had a District Meeting in a suite at Angel Stadium in May. The great thing about this meeting is that the boys and I were able to meet Jeramie at Angel Stadium that evening and watch the game. I can honestly tell you that I do not know who they played that night.. I did not watch one play during the game. I do know that "watching" a game from a suite is by all means the way to see a game (or just hang out if you prefer). The boys were in HEAVEN! It is always fun to hang out with our Medtronic Family.... the people that Jeramie works with are all really good friends and we always have fun when entire families come together for events.

Farm White Sox

Aiden in his gear ready to PLAY BALL!
Aiden in action during the game
The men behind the Farm White Sox!

Aiden played on the Farm White Sox this year. He played at least one inning at catcher every game. His manager was hesitant at first because this was his first year up from T-ball, but once he saw him play catcher, he put him there all of the time. One of the highlights of the season for me was to coach his team on May 8th. Our Little League had ALL MOMS coach that day in all divisions ( I don't have pictures because I wasn't in the stands) It was so much fun! I think all of the boys and their moms enjoyed that experience and will remember for a long time to come. Here are a couple of pictures to re-cap the season.