Lookin forward to the weekend.

Saige had a game at Osage this week, she came out like this.  I was like what the heck are you doing?  She said she didn't' really like the face mask I bought her, and thought his might work instead.  That idea was quickly abandoned when I punched her in the goggles.   Kidding.  Only kidding.  She did wear the mask though.  

Osage has a girl who is an amazing pitcher.  As a matter of fact, probably the best pitcher I have ever seen in little kid ball.  Mom brag moment - Saige was the only girl on her team who hit off of her.  I am pretty sure she never threw a ball.  Saige did not get a big hit, but any hit off of this girl was an accomplishment.  She throws hard, and accurately.   Saige hit the ball back to her, and was thrown out at first.  They were run ruled.  While it might be easy to say that was a terrible game, I say it wasn't.  Saige saw what practice and more practice can get a pitcher.  She was inspired to learn to throw harder, and to practice more.  They did not pitch the girl the whole game, but Saige got a good view of what amazing fielding looks like.  I think it was eye opening for her, and that is good.  Jim is the one who always tells the kids you can learn a lot by watching someone do something they are good at.  I think in this case, he is absolutely correct.  

Harper's team played a double header against Burlingame.  They won the first game, which was their first win for the season.  This team frustrates me.  When you watch them warm up, or practice they look absolutely amazing.  They play well together, they seem like they are having fun and know what they are doing.  They seem to play well for 1 or maybe 2 innings, and then things go down the toilet.  It frustrates me because I have seen what they can do, but they just don't always do it.  Second mom brag moment, Harper slammed a ball to deep right, knocking in 3 runs.  It was an amazing hit, and I am so proud of how hard she is working!

Saige made herself a pitching practice target.  She has been practicing a lot!  I am proud of her efforts.  Not really happy that she chose to use my expensive painter's tape rather than some cheap stuff, but proud nonetheless.  

Mallory and I took another painting party class.  I love this one!  We had a lot of fun.  I love how we are all given the same exact directions, and yet, every painting is different.  I know that I am not the world's greatest artist, but it is a relaxing thing, and the classes are fun.  As an added bonus, we got to hang out with our old neighbor, Bev.  We love her!  

Obviously, Mallory made it home from Dallas.  Her dogs were so relieved.  They were severely malnourished (according to Daisy Paige), had not had enough time playing (according to Olive), and definitely tired from not being allowed to sleep on the beds.  I think they were all happy to see each other!  I am just glad they survived "roughing it" at our house!  

Every day, I clean our pool filter by back flushing it.  The water that comes out seemed to be making the grass grow, which seemed like a waste to me, so I decided to try an experiment.  I planted some pumpkin and watermelon seeds in the drainage area.  I see zero watermelons, but there are a ton of little pumpkin plants peeking through!  I wasn't sure if they would be ok considering the chlorine, but they are growing nicely and seem to be normal looking!  I may try a different package of watermelon seeds, as I got the ones I had off of a clearance table for 10 cents last year, it may just be bad seed.  It makes me happy to be growing something in the waste area!  I might have to rethink where I have my garden!  

Last night, I asked Saige to unplug the pool for the night.  She did it, but grabbed my phone to use the flashlight.  I got up this morning to a whole new set of amazing photos.  Darn kids!  haha!  

This weekend, we are insanely busy, but it will all be fun stuff that we are looking forward to.  The girls have their final regular season softball games this evening, and then we get a break before tournaments.  I can't believe how fast June has flown by.  Summer never lasts long enough!  

New week. Need new energy source

Mallory is at a teacher's conference in Dallas this week.  That means 2 things.  First, we have inherited 2 dogs.  Two very needy dogs, who think they are babies, who think you have to play fetch with them constantly, who think they should run out the front door and immediately want back in through the back door, who think they should sleep in your bed with you.  They are at the school of grammy - none of those things are happening for them.  I lock them outside for long periods of time trying to make them tired, have a 30 minute maximum fetch attention span, occasionally forget Olive's medications, and already have to share my bed with a hairy creature, no room for them.  And 2 - it means that several times a day, I am asked to send pictures of said dogs so that she knows they are still ok.  They are alive, but if they could talk, I guarantee they would tell you they are not ok!  (spoiled messes).  I did give them treats - that is as good as it gets!  

This weekend we had a few ball games to attend.  Saige had 2, Evie had 1.  Saige's team impresses me.  Not because they win every game, they definitely don't.  I am impressed with how they have improved, how the coach seems to be letting them try stuff, and how they seem to be getting along, and seem to be having fun, which is the main reason to play in my opinion.  Saige has done a good job of pitching, although I do think she let the chanting get in her head Saturday.  I know it isn't easy to stand out there doing your thing and every single thing that happens people are saying stuff to her.  I am proud of her 

for working so hard out there.  

Evie is always happy to see us, which makes my days worth it all.  I love watching her learn!  

We had dinner at Madison and Andrew's house.  I think the original plan was to help them finish some yard work, but we failed, and ended up just visiting and taking the evening easy!  I am happy to send Preston over today to finish what we failed to do!  Luckily for me, he doesn't mind one bit!  :)  We are getting so close to having a new little one to entertain.  Or to keep us entertained. 

This week is the last week of regular season ball.  I enjoy ball season, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't ready for my evenings back!  Of course, we will fill them with something else, but still.  This week looks to be more insane than the others combined, I am not even looking at the calendar more than one day at a time, because I will get overstimulated.  I need to make a note - when making the kids appointments so that they don't have to miss school for an eye exam, make the dang appointments in July!  What was I thinking?  No complaints, I just need to rethink my secretarial skills!  

Where are you?

This week, I was amused when I got a text from Lauren.  She said she hadn't seen any updates on this blog, and wondered if I was ok.  I am ok, but we have definitely not been home lately!  We have been balling.  Lauren, I need you guys to move home so I can have more available people to help drive to ball games.  :) 

This week, the girls wrote their official letters to the Archbishop asking for Confirmation.  This was quite a project, and I had been procrastinating.  When it finally dawned on me that Father Jo wanted the letters tomorrow, it was 10 pm.  One of the parts of the letter has to include who you are having as your confirmation sponsor.  How do you choose after 10 pm?  Well, you choose whoever is awake still!  Thank you Mallory and Quincy for agreeing to take this on!

On Father's day, Jim and Andrew went fishing.  Someone wanted to tag along.  This is the only fish she caught.  If you know Andrew and Jim, you know she was out there for a very long time (like 7 hours).  She was a little sunburned, and a little bug eaten, but they had been to the marina, and she got snacks, so she was just fine!  I am always amazed at how long they can stay out there, and I am equally amazed that she was able to hang with them that long.  She came back to have Father's day dinner with us, and wanted to swim.  She was exhausted, and didn't swim for long before she was taken home to go to bed!  

The main reason I haven't been online much - every evening we have been to the ballpark.  Every single evening.  I had my official first day alone at the liquor store on Wednesday, and thought it was a good day to start because there were no games, but then found out that Saige had practice.  Because who wants a night off?   

Evelyn, Saige and Harper all playing means we are very blessed in not lacking for games to watch.  I always feel like ball season is just insane.  This one has been no different.  The only part I dislike is trying to figure out how to get everyone fed.  Last night, for example, we had to be in Pomona at 5:30 with snacks.  We had to leave our house at 4:30.  Who wants to eat then?  I love summer, but I am starting to grow really tired of lunch meat, sandwiches, wraps and whatever else I can think to eat in the car on the way!  

Also this week, I had my first official (no more training wheels) shift at the liquor store.  It went well.  I was amused as the boy's old football coach came in.  He told me he was getting ready to go have dinner with my bosses.  He told me he was going to tell them I was down there, crying, with people yelling and a giant line out the door.  I told him to do that.  When they came up to help me close, they were laughing.  I was told that they knew he was lying....she said you may have had a line, you might have been yelled at, but we don't think there is a person in town who could make you cry.  I told her not to say that out loud, the locals might take it as a challenge.  

We also took old buses to Bonner Springs and brought back the new busses we are leasing for next school year.  I am thankful that we went early, because the new busses don't have air conditioning like they told us they would.  Now, I am not one who really gets upset over the heat, but I heard a copule of the other drivers fussing about it.  I know how to be hot, and it doesn't bother me that much, but I do feel for these kids.  Some of them just don't spend much time outside or out of the a/c.  I was ecstatic that the new busses have mirror adjustment from your seat.  I hate that I can't reach the mirrors and in the past, I either had to climb something or get someone to help me adjust them!  Who needs a/c if you have mirror adjustors?

It isn't that exciting, but Lauren, now you know where I have been!  

 

They always keep me guessing

This week, we had a lot of stuff to do.  We had ballgames, broken down vehicles, tire issues, meetings, city council and I don’t even know what else we tackled.  When things get crazy, we like to add in one more thing, because who doesn’t want a challenge?  Which is why, when Jim’s coworker offered me a job at her liquor store, I said sure!   Because why not?   I started with training.  I don’t think it will be that bad, their system is straightforward and their inventory is something I am familiar with.  Plus it is only one night per week and some occasional fill-ins.  

I finished training in time to drive Saige over to Harveyville to her game.  This game started out ok, but got a little bit rough.   Jim was getting upset because the umpire wasn’t exactly following rules. He is a rules and safety kind of guy.  If you know Jim at all, you know he spends his life following the rules and protocol, and paying attention to safety, and he expects everyone else to as well. The batters were batting at the front of the box, and stepping out of the front side when they batted.  They should have been out, but they weren’t calling it.  This meant that when they hit the ball, they were at least a foot closer to the pitcher than they should have been, and Saige was the pitcher.  They also hit our catcher when they threw a bat. It wasn’t called.  They also brought in a pitcher who was throwing cannons.  She would have been amazing, if she was accurate, but she was hitting our girls.  The combination of things proved too much for Jim, who then started asking questions.  He was not disrespectful, but umpires never like being talked to.  She gave him a warning and then went on to tell the coach if Jim talked again, she would throw our coach out!   I’ve not seen that before.  

Saige did an amazing job pitching.  She also did good at bat - taking a hard pitch in the knee and another in the ankle.  But she got on and scored, although not in a manner we would prefer. 

Sadly, Jim’s concern over them being closer to the pitcher was warranted.  Saige threw a pitch, the girl smacked it right back to her.  Saige put her glove up, but didn’t have much time!   The ball hit the top of her glove, bounced off and smacked her in the face.  I am thankful she got her hand up there to slow the ball down, as it could have broke her nose.  As it is, she has a pretty nasty amount of swelling, stitch marks on her nose, and a nice shiner!  We have been watching it spread.  She is one tough cookie - she took a few minutes, and then went back in and finished pitching the rest of the game - including extra innings!   She also got the win for them!   I hope we won’t have to play them again this year!  Or if we do, that we get an umpire who is as concerned with safety as Jim is!  

Evie had a T-ball game.  She played the whole game, then ran out to give me a hug and thanked me for coming.  Then asked if I brought money for the concession stand!   Good thing I took that 4th job?!?!?   I love that little gremlin.  I’d give her money any day!  

This weekend is a 3 day weekend.  We are putting the focus on relaxing a little bit.  I was thankful that the car was something that we were able to fix ourselves.  Preston was instrumental in getting it running better than before it broke down.  Preston also spent a bunch of his day off mowing and working on the yard, helping the weekend have less to do  Jim and  Andrew have planned out several fishing excursions - you know - because it’s Father’s Day!   I am not sure where they went or how long they will be gone, but if Jim is gone, we can watch HGTV without anyone asking why the game isn’t  on!   I feel like if I go to the ballpark 4 nights a week, we can relax and watch anything else!   

I always look forward to summer.  I like the weather, I like floating, I love hanging out with the kids and a little bit of a less rigorous schedule.  I always tend to forget how much running, how much car time, and how many more groceries we will need!   I will count my blessings, soak in the sunshine, and do the best we can.  

More summer activities

This girl cracks me up.  Every day she spends some time coloring and practicing writing her letters.  Oh, and making her feet look like chicken feet! 

We enjoyed Cameron’s visit.  He helped us with a lot of stuff, including repairs on the deck from the accidental tree dropping from last fall.  I think Preston enjoyed having someone to force into carrying tools.  

I am glad they won’t be gone long before they will be back to visit again!  It is hard having them so far away.  

Softball.  And a little more softball. Saige has had several games.  They have had some success, and some examples of where they could use improvement.  Harper hasn’t had many games, and her next game was cancelled. She doesn’t seem too worried about it.  

Picked up a barn cat.  The girls named her Clem.  We are all wondering if she is a litter mate to the cat we found in Mallory’s window well this weekend (who we have named Marjory and who has taken up residence in the basement).   They are about the same size, look similar, and have identical yowling meows!   Both cats have been advertised on city Facebook pages, with no claims of ownership.  

We had a little bit better luck with our rabbit project this time around!   Not the best outcome, but at least we ended up with a few making it.   I love this little guy!  (Or possibly girl).  It isn’t correctly marked for a show rabbit, but it is perhaps the cutest little bunny I’ve ever seen!  

I love summer!  So much fun!