Baseball Fever!

We slipped out of town for a few days this past week for our last "summer fling." We took the kids to Chicago to see our beloved Reds play the Cubs at Wrigley! Lucky for us, our 2nd family, The Soucie/Henger Clan were in town to go along and allowed us to stay with them. The kids rode the "L", ate way too many sugary-treats and had a ball. Too bad the Reds lost. But BIG THANKS to Uncle Jon and Aunt Molly for outfitting the kids IN STYLE with new Reds jerseys! Even the Cubs fans thought they all looked too cute!

Baseball Fans

Some of our other family - Carin, Charlie and Momma Shea

Lazy Day at the Pool on Saturday

FRIENDS - with loose teeth that need to COME OUT!

On our way to Yoder we stopped and introduced the kids to Touchdown Jesus at Notre Dame

And Knute Rockne. Jack was enamored with his record!

And once in Yoder, we had the beloved golf cart rides to the crick, truck rides to "check out the area" and headed to our first Ft. Wayne Tin Caps game.

Even Uncle Kenny came along!

My baseball-lovin' boys. Daddy taught Jack how to keep a baseball score sheet!

The girls

We were blessed to have a great summer. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...school and sports!

What We've Been Up To

Trying to stay cool around here. I have been getting "Mom of the Year" nominations left and right for all the smart activities I have planned in this heat.

Exhibit 1:
Take kids on two 1+ mile hikes. To my credit - it was in the morning.

Exhibit 2:
Sign boys up for a golf camp in the middle of July. No, my camera is not broke - it was so hot my camera instantly fogged up.

Exhibit 3:
Daddy has day off work - let's go to the zoo! It's only the hilliest zoo in the country and 97 degrees. What's the big deal?!

My Defense -
Do these people look scarred for life? Happy as little (HOT!) clams!
Have a great weekend!

Hard To Believe - 7/17

This marks the 1st year that my brother, Jayson, has been dead longer than he was alive.
Hard to believe.

We miss you every day, Jay, and wonder what you would be like.
We love you.

So You Think You Can Dance - Or Not

I signed Brooke up for a Dance Movement class for 6 weeks. Basic dancing and tumbling. I danced, I would love for my daughter to dance. Daughter should equal girly, right?

When I told Brooke I signed her up, she said "Ummm, no thanks. I start my baseball and football next week."

I then told her she can't play baseball and football - she is too young (I omitted the "over my dead body"part).

She then said "Ummm, ok. But Daddy is going to be my coach, right?"

Girl - you DO NOT want your Daddy to be your dance instructor. TRUST ME.

But here she is, in all her leotard glory. Never mind I had to buy my 3 year old a 6X leotard. And that she was the 2nd tallest girl in the glass, but 2nd youngest. Oh boy.

That's my girl!

Family for Life

We had our annual Soucie/Sorg Christmas in July at Lake Waveland over the 4th weekend. How blessed we are that our parents hand-picked this incredible family for us to have...and now we get to share this family with our own families. It makes my heart swell and my eyes tear just to think about it!

Our hosts for the weekend

This year - shirts to commemorate the occasion! Thanks, Grandma Lynda!

ALL THE KIDS!

Annual canoe ride on Sugar Creek

Annual hike in Turkey Run State Park

Annual Uncle Jon make the kids laugh on a tube ride

What an awesome weekend! What an awesome FAMILY!

The Birthday Girl

In all her Chuck E Cheese-lovin' Glory!

Happy Birthday Brooke!

3 Years Ago (and about 1 hour, to be exact!) our beautiful Brooklynn Grace came into this world. I looked at her this morning and wondered what I would ever do without this precious girl.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Baby Girl. We love you!