Baseball is the essence of all life in the universe

Who joined the "Boys of Summer" this year? Why, our very own Logan did! That's who!

We signed him up for baseball in the spring and he waited excitedly until practices finally started in June and games in July. He was our ever enthusiastic boy and played the game with his whole heart even when he was still learning. The 6-7 year olds' team that he was on used the pitching machine. Logan used the tee a lot as well, but by the end of the season got a hit or two off the machine which made us all cheer!

He was on the Werner Plumbing and Heating team and was ultra cute in his little uniform. His shirt was enormous (but he was thrilled to get the #1 shirt!) and his hat was too big and made his ears stick out funny (How adorable is the above picture of him?!).

We spent many a Tuesday and Thursday at Ryan Fields. I spent a LOT of time watching my brothers' little league games there as we grew up. It was a treat to get to take my little boy to the same place to play. We loved that he got the experience and can't wait until next year!


Base running


Throwing hard from the outfield


On a night when his team got to go meet the Helena Brewers. He was with #75, who I think, from all my searching online, might have been a player named Ruben Ozuna. We'll go with that.


Running to the outfield with his big Brewer baseball buddy!


Goofing around at Kindrick Legion Field with a teammate.

He was always very proud of himself for making it all the way around the bases as you can see here (Note the thumbs up at the end.):



Love my little ballplayer!

4th of July -- Part Two

(continued from previous post)
We packed up from the lake and headed home. For a whopping $5 we'd purchased a Cars 2 slip-n-slide a few weeks earlier. We were all still in our swimsuits, so why not pull it out now? Yes! That sounds like a great idea.


Logan was so ready to be first to try it out!


Uh, yeah. That'd be me. Tons of fun, but can't believe I'm actually posting this.


Ross got into the fun as well!


Luke was only brave enough to run up and down the slide. Eventually, he'd slide on his tummy, but not that day. It certainly didn't ruin his good time though!

Samantha was busy inside working on a new paint by number picture she'd received for her birthday. Becky and Timothy mostly just played outside and didn't venture into the water. We also got a kick out of using the high speed feature on our camera to take pictures of ourselves shooting down the slide. The kids still love to watch me flip through it in our photo program!


Our 4th of July FEAST! We had barbequed pork sandwiches, hot dogs, corn on the cob, a few other typical Independence Day picnic type items, I think. But no watermelon. I'm not a fan. Wish I was, but I just don't like it! And do you know what I love about this photo? It, without a doubt, would be rejected by Good Housekeeping or Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, but it still feels patriotic to me!


This is our red,white, and blue Key Lime pie. I got the idea off a blog I read. I just used red food coloring for the lime filling. I felt so creative! ;o)

That night we went out to the Zinn Ranch up on MacDonald Pass. We met up with Ryan and Celeste and their kids and had a great time once again at the fireworks show. It's such a beautiful mountain setting!


Luke and Olivia (Logan, Isaac, and Hyrum in the background)


Samantha sitting pretty


My awesome photography (ha ha) of the beautiful fireworks


Baby Timothy and I enjoying the display

And so, dear Independence Day, that was our fun day. Did I do better this year at celebrating the freedom that is ours? I think so! It was a memorable day. Can't wait until next year. See you then!

4th of July 2011 -Part One

Dear Independence Day (aka The Fabulous Fourth of July),

This is a letter of apology. For the past few years, I feel I have let you down. I have not celebrated in a fashion that becomes you. Plans have not been made. Effort has not been put forth. No fun picnics prepared. Just finding some fireworks to watch in the evening and calling it good. (Although, last year you fell on the Sabbath and it rained, so you've got to give me that.) However, this year -- well, this year, I did it! I planned! We partied! It was probably the most memorable day of Summer 2011!
So now, at this moment, I will once again relive the amazing day we had celebrating freedom and family. Come and see. We did so much this will take more than one post!

The weather was beautiful. Clear skies. Warm and very pleasant. And green showing up everywhere thanks to the wet spring we'd had.

I called my brother Ryan and his family to see what they were doing and he invited us to come with them to Clark's Bay on Hauser Lake. My parents were invited too and we spent a lovely late morning there splashing and sunning, picnicking and playing.

Ross as we arrived


Squinting Becky Boo next to the moat that Uncle Ryan built as only Uncle Ryan can. (I think that's Isaac, Olivia, and Luke in the background. And the kid with his hands down his shorts is thankfully not related. Ha Ha!)


Luke and his super muscles


Logan and Isaac and their super muscles


Where do those boys get their super muscles? Apparently from Papa Lay!


Kicking back on the beach


Timothy spending his time relaxing as only a 7 month old baby can!


Samantha and Maryann showing some love


The "Raise your hands in the air!" shot. Ross must not have heard me. (And I promise that even if you can count his ribs in this picture, we do feed Logan.)

This video makes me laugh. Luke is lots of fun!


Coming up: Slip and slide silliness!