I am doing this very quick so I know I will leave a ton of things out, but it has been a very busy summer.Molly came into summer finishing up both travelling soccer and travelling softball. Both started in the middle of February and we didn't realize that softball would only go to the second week in June. We were really looking forward to her being done with both, but then we decided to let her join a city league softball team. She ended up having a ton of fun with that team getting to be the star for the most part. She actually got a couple opportunities to pitch (even though it totally stresses mom out!) with that team and did pretty good. She is done with both now, but is headed to soccer camp tomorrow for 4 days and then when she gets back there are tryouts for next years softball team. Oh! and I forgot to even mention the travelling basketball team that she hardly got to practice with all summer because of how busy we were! We really might need to start reigning this girl in! She continues to handle everything we throw at her with excellence, so it is hard to tell her no to something. :)
Avery finished up travelling soccer this spring and started playing city league softball with myself as the coach. I coached both her and Molly's softball teams last year, but it was very nice to turn over the coaching duties for Mol to someone else and get to focus on Avery's team this year. Avery is one of my best players and her team is undefeated so far. We were supposed to have our last game last night, but it got rained out and they aren't sure they are going to reschedule it. (I will say I am very proud that we haven't lost, but more proud that we haven't lost and I have played every kid at every position. In addtion, the batting order is alphabetical and everyone moves up three spots each game, so I don't just play the best kids all the time and bat them first. We practice every week and work hard and they have gotten so much better since the beginning of the season. That's what I am more proud of!)
Avery is getting ready to start up soccer again and loves her team. They have some very good little players on the team and an outstanding coach. She and I also participated in a parent/junior golf tournament in July. Avery won first place for girls in her age group (she was the only one), but also managed to beat all three boys in her age group as well!
Claire is spoiled rotten and I am not sure I am going to be able to do anything about it! Not really. She is spoiled, but she is sooo much fun. We hang out alot and she loves the summer because big sisters are home to play with her. She took a dance class this past year and did a children's day out preschool once a week. This fall she will take dance again and during the day will go to a twice a week preschool in the morning. She loves school and everything they get to do, so I think it will be very good for her.
Dana and I have finished up the summer family travel for the most part. Early June we went to the Lake of the Ozarks with the Ellners and all the kiddos. Everyone had and absolute blast! We are very fortunate to have such wonderful friends to put up with us! The next week we turned right back around and went to Branson/Silver Dollar City on our way to Dana's mom's family reunion in Shreveport, LA. Had a great time hanging out and finding out that Avery LOVES fried catfish! :)
Back in Manhattan, we had a great 4th of July with friends and we just returned from my brothers house where we gathered for my mom's side of the family to get together. We usually do this in Iowa at my grandma's house but it worked better at PD and Missy's house. They were great host's.
Right now we are excited to add a new nephew to the family as Phil and Arika had Kelby James on Monday, July 19th. And believe it or not Jill and Jeff are adopting a baby boy that is scheduled to be delivered a week from tomorrow!!!!! Crazy!
School is starting a little later than usual this year, but will have to get it in gear as the week after Labor Day Dana and I are headed to Napa again!!!! We are so excited and cannot wait to get back. Same wonderful group of friends that we went with last year and all new activities planned, but same house!
I think this might be enough for now. I better get back to chores and hopefully it won't be 7 months before I update again! :)
