Championship {Spencer and his Bridgestone Buddies}

When it comes to baseball, 

we have been so blessed with great coaches and amazing ball players

This year Spencer played for Bridgestone/Bandag

This league was so different than anything I was use to

You couldn't turn your head for a second or these kids were stealing bases

Spencer caught for the majority of the season

He did a little pitching and playing in the field but he would rather be behind the plate

  The team made it to the championship and played a double header against GPC

Spencer got to catch the first ball thrown {by the Mayor - Hoppy Hopkins}

The Bridgestone Boys played hard and took second place 

We are so proud of the team and the coaches

Way to go Bridgestone!

I fell off the blog wagon

I fell off the blog wagon again

I fall off quite often and then something gets me and I think I better get up and get back on

These boys are growing up way to fast and I want to keep the memories alive

We're getting ready for VACATION

We can't wait and I can't remember how long it's been since the hubby took off a whole week

Now that he's done with the National Guard, we get him to ourselves this summer

I'm making a promise to blog at least twice a week for the rest of summer break

Lets see if I can do it

Amelia Pearl {Turning 2}

This sweet baby girl has been part of our family for two years

and we can't imagine a day without her

She has the sweetest personality and we can't help but love all her fluff

She's our baby girl and we are crazy about her

so we think it's only fair to give her a birthday fit for a princess

Pink crown and all

Things she loves:

Sleeping on top of the computer printer

Cheetos

Laying upside down with the ceiling fan blowing on her

Playing hide and seek

Watching Spencer's lizards and the crickets

Being rubbed

Laying on a wet towel the boys have left on the bathroom floor

Kitty Treats

Being in the bathroom every morning while Dad gets ready for work

Things she hates:

Car alarms going off

Crumbs in the bottom of her food bowl

Being brushed

The tornado siren

Going to the vet to get her haircut
A dirty litter box


We'll be celebrating with strawberry cupcakes and she'll be having Cheetos puffs

A week ago {June 24th Tornado}

We watched the storm out the kitchen window not knowing how bad it really was

The sirens never went off

I read posts on face book about all the damage
so I decided we better leave early to get Spencer from orchestra camp

Parker and I couldn't believe all the tree limbs down on Cedar St.

When we got to West Middle School, 

we had to pull limbs to the side of the parking lot just so cars could pull in

We drove up Highway 61 and saw the devastation

5 semis overturned on Highway 61
This picture was taken by the ALLSTEEL building

There is a storage facility to the right of the State Farm office
This camper was thrown and tore to shreds 

The tornado did significant damage to the Krieger's Collison Center
An employee of 30 years lost his life during the storm

Lots of trees splintered at Weed Park

The fence in the back of Menards was damaged
and the glass doors in the front on the store blew out

Calvary church was also damaged by the tornado

The auditorium collapsed and the roof and air conditioning unit were battered
The congregation won't be able to attend church in the building until at least December

There were many homes damaged by falling trees and many were without electricity


We are so thankful it wasn't any worse

We will keep the family and friends of Wayne Haury in our prayers

Just the two of us

I can not tell you how much I loved this week

So many times, I feel like I'm failing as a mom

I want to be their friend yet all I do is direct and discipline

Each time I have my children one on one {which isn't very often},

I tell myself that I need to make it a point to spend more one on one time with them

Something about having them one on one brings out the qualities I love about them

Full blood brothers yet SO DIFFERENT

This week Spencer was gone a lot (Orchestra and Art Camp)

I'm sure Parker was bored out of his mind not having his brother home to pick on him

I loved every second that Parker and I were together, just the two of us

Some qualities I love about Parker 

 Sweet, Caring, Attentive, Helpful, People Pleaser, Good Shoppper

All these qualities are great but being a good shopper came in handy this week

On Tuesday, we ran a million errands
I had a bill to pay at JcPenney's so we ran in and paid it
While I stood in line at the register, Parker checked out the boys clothes
He walked over to me and asked- Do you think I could start getting my clothes from here? {Adorable}
I asked him to show me some things he liked {Everything with the Nike trademark}
I asked if it would be okay if I took a peek at the dresses for an upcoming wedding
You should have heard my boy,  I'm sure the ladies standing around were in awe
Parker: Mom, do you like this one?
This one is pretty
I like this one, do you?
Try it on!
He zipped the back of the dress, said turn around and grinned ear to ear
He even went out and got me a different size
My heart beamed {He's going to make some lady very happy}


On Wednesday we shopped again
Just the two of us
Spencer was at art camp in Davenport and I had several store I needed to hit
Parker helped pick out his cousins birthday presents
He smelled soap at Bath and Body Works and picked his three favorite scents
We did a lot of window shopping
and
just had fun


It hit me that he's growing up and I probably won't get too many of these days

What is this? {Itchy, rashy and miserable}

I'm ready to put our little man in a bubble

Seriously, this boy is allergic to everything

We are planning a trip to the caves and canoeing

and all I can do is cringe at the thought of him being in the "outdoors"

Last year, we battled poison ivy for almost 3 weeks

I finally called his asthma allergy specialist after a week and a half and begged for a miracle drug

Parker woke up last week with what I thought was a bug bite above his lip

A week later and it spread

He's rashy, itchy and miserable 

I've rubbed Calagel on him, we've started steroids, I've washed bedding . . . .

Two days later his skin is pretty clear

After an evening outside in the warm air, he looks like this again

I was lying in bed last night praying for healing
I feel helpless, tired and frustrated yet our little man is so tough

This morning he woke up and things are looking better
We're thankful for rainy days so we can stay cool and itch free


I wonder what this is and  what tomorrow will bring

Photo Dump

I'm lost for words this week 

so I'll let some pictures speak for themselves

Feeding the ducks

We saw these babies the last week of school

Just a few weeks later - They're getting so big

Keeping Cool

I think it's time to set up the pool

Lots of ball games

We come prepared

Pitching practice 

Parker and his coach Hawkeye Style

A visit to the dentist

I mustache you a question - Who's your favorite dentist?

  Father's Day

Parker : I know what I'll be having for breakfast

Beauty in the yard

Praying Mantis on daylillies

Perfect eggs