Baseball is Done...23 Days til' Football Season

These are the real troopers of baseball season. Ty plays baseball but his schedule isn't as strict or as time consuming as Zack's baseball schedule. Isaiah & Ty wake up early, let Zack's baseball consume their social calendars as well as manage to be good helpers with good attitudes throughout the entire season. Friday morning was no different. We arrived in Kent at 8:30. Game time was at 10. We had to leave M-ville by 7:30 to make sure we didn't hit the morning commuters in the middle of i-405. We dropped off Zack at the field and the normal tasks of finding a Starbucks and an ATM (that didn't charge us to get our money) began. We did find both after wasting a couple gallons of gas. Weird lil town Kent is.. Where you'd think they would put a Starbucks they didn't. Hmm.. They passed my test though as they did have one. ...and yes Starbucks coffee does taste different (and better) than the others. I also don't have to worry about my barista's not having enough clothes on when I pull up to the stand.

Zack's baseball team wrapped up the season Friday with their 2nd loss in the Regional tournament. The played a good game. Zack played a full game on Thursday and Friday on his bum ankle. American rules stated that he could not have a courtesy runner or designated hitter so he had to hit and run 'all' of the bases. He did awesome and is glad that he pushed himself now that they are out of the tournament. Now his ankle can finally get some resting time and hopefully heal without any glitches in time for dive season.

Now that baseball season is over ~ we have 23 days until Tyler starts football (wahoo!). We are carefully planning out our down time in between sports to ensure we get the most of the wonderful weather and family time. Next week is Isaiah's first trip to the zoo. Z & T have reminded us that they haven't been to the zoo since they were 6 & 8. LOL.. That was when we thought the zoo was expensive at $4.75 a person. HA~ Now we're all $15.00 a person plus $5. to park. My convenient lil 2 year old is still free though. We have got to take advantage of his age this summer as he'll be the big '3' come October. After the zoo the boys have a day trip to wild waves planned with their aunt/granny. We'll have to squeeze in a few more trips to Jetty island and of course the Peter Kirk pool in Kirkland. I'm not sure what it is about this pool but the boys just love it. I'm pretty sure its just the tradition of going... We'll wrap up the summer with a trip to Silverwood with the Shute family over Labor Day weekend. We also might do a day hike up to the ice caves however the eldest Russell twisted his ankle on the trampoline so between him & Zack we may not make that trip. Time will tell..

Baseball over?.....NOT!!!

We just found out that baseball isn't over yet........ Zack's team has been invited to play in the Regionals. Yay!! They start on Thursday night in Kent. We're praying for a miracle of healing for Zack's ankle as we all know it is no fun to watch your team from the bench!!

As much as my entire family loves having time that isn't jam packed with a baseball schedule we love the game that much more. Even Isaiah...although I think he loves the mom that brings him any flavor of gum that he desires to chew during the game. Amy is her name. Brandon is her boy that plays on the team. They are part of the cool kind of people that we have met through our boys playing ball. At any given time during the game we may not know the score or the inning as we usually chit chat through the entire game. Ron included. He loves the game but loves the families that we've gotten to know over the years too. Nothing better than good times with good peeps. If the Outlaws do really good at Regionals they are locked into a world series in Texas in August. How fun would that be? Expensive...yes!! Hot....yes!! Memories to be made...Hell yeah!!

Baseball season is over..... Summer can start now.

Zack's baseball team got knocked out of the State tournament on Friday night. Final score against O'brien was 11-12. Not too bad considering the boys were down by 8 runs almost the entire game. Zack rolled his ankle half way through the game and had to watch his team from the sidelines. He said that was the worst feeling ever to not be able to help his buddies out. I love his dedication to his friends. It is truly dedication too, as the core of that team has been playing together for the last 6 years. At 16 years old they are all 'good' kids that still 'love' the game.

We love the game too and don't realize it every year until the season is totally over and we wake up the next morning, well rested, and wondering what we should do with out free time. Our first non-baseball day was spent with Ronnie's family that we haven't seen in about 7 years. We had good fun, good food and good conversations. As far as the rest of the summer...time will tell. We want to at least hit the zoo, the locks, the ice caves, the drive in theatre, Jetty island and of course Silverwood. I love baseball season memories with our kids and our friends but I love the times in between baseball season even more.

Outlaws made it to the State tournament!!

Zack's select baseball team placed 9th (out of 25 teams) in the State for the season. This means they made it into the State tournament. The Outlaws won their first game last night against Dow. It was a sweet victory considering 2 of the kids are former Outlaws. The boys won thier 2nd game tonight against the first place Bruins. The score was 8-6. Game 3 will be played tomorrow night at 7pm in Bellevue. If you want to come cheer Zack & the boys on, give me a call for directions. Otherwise you can say a prayer for his team for favor and for lots of hits!!

"GO OUTLAWS!!"

Good looks ~

~ Would you just look at the two of them? I know that every parent thinks their kids are good looking but I just think that God added a lil extra zip to the zang when he was creating these boys' good looks. Our relatives say that they look just like us but I think we only see it in thier personality as we think they look like them and not us.. If that makes sense..

I never thought they would get this big. I still can see them in diapers and talking baby talk. I'm thankful that they are healthy. I'm thankful that they are still each other's best friends. (even though they may not admit it in public...the other one still knows it) I'm thankful that both of them have accepted Isaiah into the brotherhood circle as if he had always been a part of it from the get go. Toddler brothers are harder to deal with than bro's your own age or at least ones born in the same century but when it comes down to it, Zack & Ty get it. They are doing good at it and in the long run I hope God truly allows them to see the big picture of why they got a new brother so late in the game.

Tyler is heading off to camp this week at Warm Beach. I'm hoping he will have alot of fun. Gain alot of Godly words and knowledge and most importantly forget how to act like a grown up for awhile and just cut loose and have some good little boy fun and make some fantastic summer memories. Zack is finishing up his last week of lifeguard classes this week. Technically this is the last week of the rest of his life. tee hee... Well life before the world of work comes into play. After this week its on to a cool job at the Y or at the local pool...wherever he chooses... and then onto the real world of paying for your own car insurance. I'm hoping that Ron & I instill good habits for him from the beginning as far as teaching him how to save, pay bills and to be responsible.....again...I still see them in diapers and talking baby talk....so all of this is very weird to me.

The morning after the 4th of July

There is always a feeling of 'summer is finally here' on the morning of July 5th. It feels like summer this morning but the sun is not out. I have faith that it will show up though.

Last night was fun. Ronnie, Zack & Ty were their normal pyro self's and Isaiah & I sat back and enjoyed the show in our driveway. I realized that no matter how many invites we get for the 4th of July parties, the best one is always at home with family. Isaiah of course doesn't remember last year's 4th and he probably won't remember this one either but he did have a look in his eye that he will remember it for as long as he can. He was a little timid of the noise but felt safe enough in my arms to fall asleep as the fireworks were still going. The Boop & Shute families showed up to help us celebrate. I can honestly say that I love my in-laws! Its always a good time when they show up.