4th of July

This year we headed to St. Johns for the 4th as is our usual tradition.  I did not take one single picture for which I will always be sad.  We had a great day.  It started off with a pancake breakfast at the park, then a patriotic program a little later, followed by the bbq lunch, snow cones, races, then the kids and Jeremy off to the pool for a swim.  It was the best day, overcast all morning, cool.  The program was wonderful.  My favorite speaker was the daughter,wife and mother of military servicemen.  She gave a beautiful talk on the difference between being a patriot and being patriotic.  I  think I'm the latter.  The races were great.  The kids all ran hard.  Jake took home the only loot - winning first place in the 10 year old boys race, getting a gold dollar.  After the pool, the clouds broke open and it rained all afternoon until right before fireworks.  The fireworks were beautiful.  We watched  from the cemetary - kinda weird, but awesome.   

We loved having Justin and Megan and their kids, and Devon to hang out with too.  Claire was never put down.  Between Michelle, Megan and Cyndi, she was always held.

I'm grateful to be an American to live in the land of the free.  I love our blessed nation and I'm so thankful for our founding fathers.  I know they were inspired.  God Bless America.

Surfing in PV AZ

This is how my girls spent their entire Sunday afternoon:

They Soul Surfed in the kitchen on their pillows.  In blue, you'll see Bethany Hamilton (always Hannah), in pink with the light pink surfboard is Alana Blanchard (Abby) and in pink with the purple surfboard  is Sara Bilatin (Annie - they made up a character because it was the sequel).

What better way to spend a Sunday

PV All-Stars

Jake proudly represented Prescott Valley Little League on his 9-10 year old All-Star team.  He played really well.  His team, not so much.  In one inning in the elimination game, they had roughly 8 errors.  It wasn't pretty.  They played Camp Verde on Friday and lost 11-2 and then Chino Valley on Saturday and lost 22-0.  Had they won either of those games, he would have had to play on Sunday, which he did not like (we signed a contract committing to the entire season - games and practices not knowing there would be games on Sundays) I know it's not about individual stats, but in the 2 games he went 2 for 3 with 2 walks.  His one at bat that he didn't get a hit was his hardest hit ball, but it went right to the ss.  He started at third base both games and made some good defensive plays.  He doesn't like losing and  he's been analyzing the tournament and how he thinks things could have gone differently ever since.  Hopefully these boys get some more practice and they come back next season ready and more competitive.

His team- front row: Titus, Aaron, Javier, Cameron    middle row:  Dylan, Danny, Jake, Tryston, Micah   back row:  Coach Mike, Spencer, Paxton and Coach Larry Prentice

The Twins

Jake played minor's baseball this year.  He wanted to play Majors, but he missed tryouts for a soccer tournament so he didn't have a choice.  He had a great season.  I missed a lot of games because I was coaching Abby's team, but luckily their games were at the same park and I could look over or run over for a peek now and then.  He was his team's ringer. He was their ace pitcher and best fielder.  He was the steadiest hitter too, always hitting up the third base line.  Every once in a while you'd hear the other team's coach yell at his players to shift for the lefty, only they didn't know they were shifting the wrong way.   He made All-Stars and has been practicing hard everyday for the big tourney that starts tomorrow. 

The fearless, frightening duo who took Prescott Valley Little League by storm 

Pausing before the pitch.  Jake pitched a lot of strikes and struck out a lot of batters.  Only about 2/3's of the way through the season did they finally start hitting him. 

Look at that form.  Hitting out in front of him, knob to the pitcher, starting to squish the bug 

One of the best advantages to batting left handed.  Look at his batter's box compared to the right. 

Jake doing his pre-hit routine, thanks to Ronnie Adair.  He laid his bat down across the plate then drew a line for his feet to line up.  As the season went on, I started noticing  more and more kids doing the same.

Jake worked hard and led The Twins to a great, winning season.  He is a good boy who works hard and puts his mind into everything he does.  Good luck PVLL tomorrow.

The Hurricanes

This year Abby played Farm Softball - aka coach pitch, machine pitch, girl pitch.  I was blessed to get to be an assistant coach for half of the season until they kicked Claire out of the dugout, therefore kicking me out too.  Anyway, Abby was AWESOME!  She worked so hard. She wanted to get to games early so I could throw her some batting practice.  She hustled everywhere.  She actually wanted to play the fun positions, unlike some girls who begged to sit the bench.  She loved playing first base, pitcher and catcher.  About half way through the season they started having the girls pitch.  They'd get 3 pitches, and if they were balls then the coach would step in and pitch to the batter.  Abby was one of our top pitchers and got to throw just about every game.  Her speed, strength and control improved every game.  When we were in Utah, she went outside a restaurant while we were waiting for our order and she pitched tennis balls to Jake.  I love that she has an interest in sports and I have loved watching her improve.  And even more, I love that her improvement has come by her determination to get better by practicing so much.

 Look at that intensity and focus

 Quite the catcher. Pitcher and catcher -now that's where the action's at.

 Abby has a good eye.  Most girls in this league swing at anything.  Not Abby, she waits for good pitches and is very patient.

On the mound.   As the season went on, she started bringing the heat - her pitches started making it over the plate.  Her form and accuracy improved.

(Notice our second baseman in the background.  Most times her glove wasn't on, and if it was on, she usually wasn't even looking at the play, she was writing in the dirt with her foot.  She was concerned only about her lipstick and sunflower seeds - very frustrating)

I'm so proud of Abby and her amazing season.  

Way to go Hurricanes!

Our (Boring) trip to Utah

Jeremy signed up for a class in Park City for his CME week, so we decided to tag along and call it a summer vacation.  We spent the first part of the trip in Provo at Aunt Bev's house and the last part of the trip in a condo in Park City.  Last night on our way home from Utah, I asked the kids, "Quick, what was your favorite part of the trip?"  Giving them no time to think.  Here are their answers:

Abby: Staying at Bev's

Hannah:  Sleeping at Bev's

Jake:  Sleeping at Preston's and watching baseball

Annie:  Playing Barbies at Bev's

Now, Aunt Bev is a wonderful host, one of the best, but I would have said something along the lines of...

- Swimming at 7Peaks - huge water park with tons and tons of slides (no pictures). I'll give it to the kids on that one, it was a cool day with the wind blowing, so I can see how that might not make the favorites list, but it was still way fun.

- Hiking to Bridal Veil Falls outside of Provo.  It was a quick half mile hike with a gorgeous waterfall waiting for us at the top.

- The Bean museum - Tons and tons of cool stuffed animals - the biggest elephant I've ever seen.  

- Hanging out in Park City - we did a lot of shopping and each of the kids got a souvenir.

- Miniature golfing in Park City, or riding the carousel (Annie's unmentioned fav)

- The Alpine Slide in Park City - The kids got to go by themselves while Jeremy was in his conference and I had to stay down with Claire and Annie.  Later when Jeremy got out of his conference, he and I were able to take turns going with the kids.    It was super fun and a beautiful lift ride up the mountain. This was my personal favorite. (sorry no pictures of Jeremy or Annie, I'm a little Grandma Taylor-esque in my photography and only got his feet on camera).  On our last night there, we decided to make one last run down the Slide.  It was 8:30 pm,  42 degrees on the lift up plus a powerful wind chill!  Talk about freezing and scary, but the slide down was still a blast.

- Going in to Salt Lake City. We walked around Temple Square, toured the Conference Center - amazing by the way, and went to the Church History Museum.  My kids love the movie 17 Miracles and so all the pioneer stuff was really cool for them.

- Swimming at the hotel pool, then taking baths in our huge chacuzzi (jacuzzi Annie style)

- Playing mean games of baseball outside of our hotel.  They found a stick, had a tennis ball,  used a stump for home plate, and trees for bases all while being played in a small area on a pretty steep hill with every ball going into the parking lot.  They played it forever.

- Stopping at Lake Powell for a swim on the way home from Utah.

Now, one of those things is what I would have picked.  At least they didn't say watching re-runs of Disney Channel shows!

Not really surprised, but smiling

I'm never really surprised anymore at Annie's get-ups.  They are always fun and definitely her own style.  But there are days that amuse me more than others, such as:

 This fabulous selection in sure to catch eyes:  a blue and green floral top with a rhinestone vest, polka dot tights with yellow and white polka dot shorts over them, fashionably completed with black knee high boots and a homemade necklace.

This trendsetting outfit is sure to be found on Disney Channel tweens in no time.  Annie is donning her new Easter swimming suit with knee length pink tights, a pink shrug and her winter boots.

As always, this girl goes out in public in these get-ups.  Someday I'm sure she'll be cursing me for letting her out of the house this way, but, let's be honest, it is very fun to look at.