The Park Where Dreams Are Made

I'm not talking about Disney World. I'm talking about Cooperstown, NY where baseball players' dreams come true! Cade had the opportunity to travel to the park for the annual 12 year old tournament that is hosted for teams from all over the nation throughout the summer. Only Bobby and Cade made the trip because the thought of riding in a car for 18 hours with the rest of everyone else made me feel nauseated. It was some good father/son bonding! 

The MAD Mayhem

One of the big things to do was to collect pins from all of the teams represented. This is Cade and his teammate Blake looking through their wares.

All of the boys and coaches stayed together in dorm style housing. I'm pretty positive that this thrilled Bobby to no end.:)

Cade put the perfect swing on a pitch and rounded the bases for a homer. It was surely one that he'll never forget! 

Grandma and Grandpa made the trip too and they were there to see every swing and pitch. Talk about dedication! 

How cute is this shirt my mom found? I know she sported it proudly! 

There was a little down time too and Cade and Bobby and some of his teammates went to the Baseball Hall of Fame. There was a ton of really cool stuff to look at. I think Bobby was way more into it than Cade since he's had more time to fall in love with baseball and it's greatest players.

Overall the team did really well finishing out 19th of 104 teams. I consider that pretty remarkable. Most of all there were memories made to last a lifetime! 

Thirteenth Year Partypalooza

Cade's annual Partypalooza got a little nutso this year when all day swimming became a washout when a swath of rain the size of Australia rolled in. It didn't stop the swimming totally. There was still wet fun to be had. 

 There's always a jumping picture. For years now. And it's usually the same crowd of boys...the regulars. This year a few more were added in along with the boys that have been friends for as long as my mind can remember. 

 Because Bobby and I are both obviously completely insane, we borrowed our friend Zach to help us transport all of these crazies to downtown Franklin where we went to see The Avengers in the quaint Franklin Theater. We didn't lose anyone so that was good. 

After that we stuffed their faces with pizza from Mellow Mushroom....

and topped it off with birthday Sweet CeCe's.

 Approximately $10,000 later it was time to load up and head back to the house where an intense game of Infection was brewing. (Basically hide and seek tag) 

We are officially into the teen years now and there's no going back. I hope it's not as rough as some folks have made it out to be. If I'm still living and functional I hope to be able to update this blog to let myself know that I am, in fact, living and functional after having a teenager. I do know a few things for sure: I'm super proud of Cade. I'm thankful God has given him 13 healthy, active years. I love these friends that he chooses to spend his time with. And, this thirteenth year has started off with a bang! Happy birthday, Cade! 

Wrapping Up Fifth Grade

Today wrapped up Grant's time at Longview. Bittersweet I tell ya. We've had a great 6 years at this school. While I'm thankful to watch him grow and move on, it's always a bit of a double edged sword. I like the comfort of elementary.... I know it. I know the people. I know the kids. In any case, here we go! Fifth grade graduation was tonight and I was happy  to snag ONE picture of Grant and his best bud Cooper. Grant is so anti picture right now and it drives his picture taking mother insane! 

I grabbed another when it wasn't too embarrassing (which was when we got home but I still got a lot of whining). Grant snagged the President's Award which means straight As all through elementary. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself! 

I did get to snap some pictures on picnic day so I could document who he was spending his fifth grade days with. Eli, Cooper, and Spencer were pretty much his crew. 

Kayli, one of his good girl friends. Two words there. Different from girlfriend:)

Friends.  

Breck. 

Boy and Girl Crew. 

Elaina joined me for these last days of school. This will be her last tag along time since next year she'll be a kindergartener! And, it looks like she's got plenty of people to pay her attention! 

Best Bud Cooper.

Girl bud, Sophia.

Awww. Me and G:)

Fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Moss. Mrs. Kofahl wasn't around to get a picture:(

Fifth grade has been an exceptional year! Middle School here we come! 

Fifth Grade Picnic

Grant finished out 5th grade this week with a class picnic at school. It seems that school always ends with a bunch of nonsense days but when I look back on it, they will be some awesome days that G will always remember. I can remember my own 5th grade end of the year party...it held more significance than Grant's since I was moving to another state and wouldn't really see my elementary friends anymore, I suppose. In any case, we sweated out the day hanging one last day as elementary kids. This was his gang of cronies this year: Eli, Cooper, and Spencer. 

Kaleigh has been a friend to Grant for a few years now and she's also a neighbor down the street. 

I was trying to get Grant to participate in a picture with some of his girl friends...(read that girl (pause, pause) friends...not girlfriends :) ) but he was being ornery and made his boy buds get in the picture AND between the girls and him. Gah. Anyway, Tyson, Reagan, and Olivia. Grant and Reagan "liked" each other for the better part of this school year and last but don't tell anyone that I said that:)

 Grant and his buddy Breck. It is here that I notice that G really need a mowing on that hair. The spikes have grown quite tall. The end of the school year is so busy! Who has time for hair cuts?

Friends. 

Elaina hung with me through several hot picnics and what-not for her brothers. As you can see, she had a terrible time and never got any attention from anyone.

Cooper has been Grant's best bud at school for several years. Cooper is a kid that keeps me laughing. I love that kid! 

I made G's friend Sophia stop for a picture. They did a lot of playground playing and would hang at church together. 

Oh, and here's me. I was at the picnic too:)

Grant loved his teachers this year. Mrs. Moss was his homeroom and he traveled to Mrs. Kofahl's room for math and science. Cade had Mrs. Kofahl too and we loooooved her. I have no idea why I do not have a picture of her because I KNOW I took one:/

Fifth grade has literally flown by. I think this may have been the fastest school year we've had yet. I cannot fathom that kid #2 is headed to the middle school already. I'm thankful though....thankful that God has given me so many healthy years to enjoy them and watch them grow, and thankful that they are maturing and developing into their own people. Fifth grade's just about a wrap. Only the graduation ceremony to go! 

The End of KOTK

I had the privilege of taking the class photos for Kids on the Korner this year. This is Elaina's Pre-K class... her last year of preschool and my last year having a preschooler. I have had a kid at KOTK for the past 11 years. Cade started there when he was 2 years old. It's been a great place for my kids all these years and it has been my sanity! Elaina picked out her own outfit (and she wore a bow!)

Four Years, Three Hundred Sixty Four Days!

Last night as a Four Year Old!!! 

That One Time Cade Played Varsity

Cade got "pulled up" from the JV team to play varsity for the District Tournament. The honor was nice but it was sorta a bummer because well, we knew that that meant he would forgo his starting position on JV to be a bench warmer for Varsity. He did get to play one inning in the outfield and got one ground ball that he threw in to second. Good job Cade!:) Then he spent the next whole game putting on and taking off his helmet to be the pinch runner for the catcher who never got on base:/ Oh well. We wore the uni and rubbed shoulders with the big dogs. Good times:)