Summer picnics and funny things our kids say

We love picnics and have had at least 4 this week if we can count our crawfish boil that Daddy does for some old friends and their friends and whoever shows up. Willie and Ruby loved having everyone over to their backyard. We had guitar hero (not ours), cowboy golf (Willie loved it), cornhole, jumpies etc. It was regular carnival back there and Jay was sweating with delight as he boiled his crawfish. The most horrifying moment for me was when Ruby was driving one of those chargeable John Deere Gators that her friend Weston brought. She was deep in the backyard and seemingly safe. I look up from one of my conversations to see her hanging over the side of the our little creek bank with the Gator teetering a flip. Somehow, the Gator didn't roll and I made it after what I'd call my best dead sprint in a while.

Then we had a couple of pool picnics this week.....which can't be beat in this heat. Another picnic at Crockett Park for the summer concert series meeting up with church friends. Then a little unexpected picnic at Granny White Park b/c the thunderstorm shut down the pool as we were arriving. We ended up swimming at the Buisson's so we still got refreshed from the heat. Then today...we end up having a summer picnic in our car today (with AC) at Sonic.

On the way to Sonic, I ask Willie if he might want some Tater Tots to go with his cheeseburger. It dawns on me that he might not know what Tater Tots are never remember buying them before. His response...."Mom, it's not my first rodeo with Tater Tots." He's like a little mirror sometimes....

Ruby loves to aggravate Willie and has figured out how to push his buttons. She literally aggravates him to the point of tears (which really doesn't take much once he is fatigued....again so me...). Anyway, he tells me that she is "arguvating" him which is a much better description actually.

Ruby remains head strong and vocal about her opinions. The other day Jay took her to her day school. Jay asked one of the little boys to give him five and the boy shied away and wouldn't participate on this particular morning. Ruby reprimanded him..."You give my daddy five. We love him."

Oh, I almost forgot to let you know it is Jr. Bison (basketball) Camp this week (5-8 year olds). Although he's camped the last couple of years, Willie's officially old enough now. Monday he won the free throw contest out of 86 kids. He locked his place in the finals on Friday so I'll be there hopefully with my camera.

I've got some great pics to get posted of these picnics and summer activities, but I can't find the camera battery. We're making more and more progress around our new house but then I can't remember the perfect place I select for important stuff. It will all come together and my patience in this process is actually amazing me. We are enjoying the place and each other so much that I really don't care when it all gets done. Tonight's big accomplishment was getting some flood lights changed and Jay worked on a big limb that came down in last night's storm.

Summer Camps

Obviously, I'm not a wildlife photgrapher (or any photgrapher for that matter) but wanted you to see our daily visitors.

Willie resumed soccer camp today. Ruby and I went to watch him and he was so pleased to show off some moves for us. After lunch with daddy and coaching staff (who had their own camps ongoing), the kids and I came home to play/rest. While Ruby napped, Willie shot a game of pool (his new favorite pastime), then did his "homework" that he makes up from an assortment of workbooks we've collected, then sorted chex mix. Yes, he loves to sort things. He had sorted all of his coins and next thing I knew he was sorting his chex mix into 6 different bowls. After about 3 hours of entertaining himself, Ruby awakes and we head back to campus for 2nd time of day to eat dinner with Daddy. Willie wears hiking boots with his soccer shorts and a Hello Kitty watch with no shame. Then we return home to play in our backyard and wait on our deer to come visit. As they do every night, they just walk out, graze and grab a few apples from the apple tree. The largest herd was 9 the other night including 2 fawn.




You can barely see his Hello Kitty watch. I think the hiking boots trend came from one of his little league coaches who perfectly pitched every game with his shorts and boots. He was seriously VERY good with each kid.




Good bye ritual as we leave camp tonight.




Night, night!

Baseball done

Post-game team meeting.....

Well, the Marlin's did get us but respectfully so. As Coach Brent said, if we only had one more inning. Anyway, we parents were proud of our little guys. I must mention that my dear brother calls me right before the game worried that I'm hanging on the cyclone fence yelling obscenities I guess. He said his read of my blog suggested that I'm over the top and one of those out of control parents. If you know my brother, you can only imagine how he was giving me a hard time (so loud that everyone around me could hear him---runs in the family). For anyone else that didn't think I could balance my competitive spirit with love and kindness for young children......I'm cool. I never cussed a kid or anything. Just kidding. Tomorrow's our the team pool party and we'll celebrate and great season, new baseball friends, and old friends alike.

Immediately after the game, we celebrated Reid's birthday with cupcakes. Ruby was always up in the team snacks.

Won Again!

We put the Rockets out the tourney tonight! Tomorrow's a toughie--the Marlin's....who I personally do not like their coaching styles or how that one dad comes in to pitch to his own son who needs no help.

Also one of Lipscomb's pitchers was drafted to MLB #34 tonight! More Baseball notes tomorrow night....I just hope it's a happy post.

Tournament Time!

It's our last week of Little League for this season. We play every night this week as long as we win! I know it sounds insane. It's a thrilling week for us and when I thought summer couldn't get any better on a perfect June evening with friends, bat pings, and cheeseburgers grilled at the concession----Willie hit a GRAND SLAM in the first inning! He accompanied his home run with hits every inning, some nice fielding at pitcher and a beautiful throw from third to first!

Now, to keep Willie rested before the late game tomorrow at 7.... He is attending LU's soccer camp in the mornings and resting up in the afternoons. This afternoon he kept score at a basketball team camp for about 3 hours so I guess those legs were okay after all my worries.

During the games, Ruby plays on the playground, enjoys everyone's snacks including her own and usually ends up with half a slush that she splits with her dear friend Anna Belle (pronounced Hannah Belle at our house.) Anna Belle's Gigi comes to the game and is so gracious to include Ruby in their party so we can intensely watch 5 year old baseball.

Memorial Day Weekend

Ruby and Riley on Memorial Day Weekend! Ruby is 2 1/2 months older than Riley. They are sure to be close cousins. Thanks Gran and Granny for hosting a sleepover and taking such good care of Ruby while our family scattered to 3 states!