Our Little Stay-cation

Just one little exit north on I-71...Jon wanted to give the kids a little something special before their summer break was effectively over. The youngers have a bit to go...but Sam starts football on Monday.
He said, "Let's do it for the kids."

But, he sure looks like he's having fun doesn't he?

Everyone had fun. Except marley. I'm guessing. A big thanks to the LaFevers for keeping her. I'm certain she was a pain in the arse.

I like this shot...no good reason. They appear to have a similar profile.

Then there's adorable Liam in his goofy goggles.

Big thanks to my wonderful hubby for treating the family!

Love you all!!

Surprise!!

Spur of the moment decision...we brought the kids to Splash Harbor for the night...and I have free high speed wi-fi. I'm not sure who's happier, them in the pool or me on the computer!! I'll let you know how it goes! Love you all!

State Fair or BUST!!

We did it! Today, we went to the state fair!

The had $3 admissions and we had a coupon from Kroger for 1 free admission, so we all got in for $12!! We have a strict routine at the fair...to me the fair is like Christmas, positively DRIPPING in tradition. We go EVERY year ~ without fail, I cannot miss the fair! We tried skipping it once a few years back, but I was SO DEPRESSED the whole time it was going on that Jon took some money out of savings and we went the last night that year. I can't even say it rates just under Christmas...it is possible that if I had to give up one or the other the fair would win out! When we were kids my dad hyped the fair up BIG TIME!! I'm talking serious hype, like driving the perimeter for weeks before opening day to watch the preperations taking place. Consequently, it is one of (if not THE) my favorite times of the year! Thanks to my OCD (haha) I get a bit miffed if they try to steer me in through any door other than the cardinal entrance. That is the entrance I prefer to start at...heading first to the 4-H building, then the arts and crafts. Sadly, the arts and crafts seems to be a dying tradition. There were maybe a dozen quilts this year and only like 4 or 5 doll houses...sad, I think. Also, the train exhibit is gone :(. I usually grab some fried cheese and eat it going through the sheep building, followed by the commercial building, the horse and cow barn and the dairy barn. It had just stopped raining when we got there, the kids were not thrilled with me taking their pic in front of the cardinal...stupid kids! they never respect tradition! lol

Liam was the only one brave enough to milk the cow this year...

Crazy-dairy-lady-say-touch-WHAT??

Okay, if you're SURE!
Maggie rode a pony ride as her consolation...

In the natural resources area they had free kayaking this year, but she wasn't tall enough! She cried, and I felt bad, so I took her to ride the silly pony while the boys waited their turn.

Liam had a lot of trouble with it and even said when he got out that it was harder than it looked, Sam took right to it though!

We had a wonderful family bonding day! Hopefully, my excitement bleeds through to them and one day they will carry on! Love you all!!

Enjoying the LITTLE THINGS!

Today, we are enjoying life in a leisurely fashion. We have been in a whirlwind of baseball for so long! It's super nice to just focus on my house. Have I ever told you I love being a Stay at Home Mom?? I do! Today, I did real exciting stuff...like laundry (hung on the line to dry, of course) and sweeping, a touch of gardening (both flower and vegetable) and a little bathroom scrubbing. My dream day...sigh. I know you think I'm being sarcastic, but it truly was a good day ;)!

Jon brought in some "first fruits". Aren't they yummy looking?? We had to have the tie-rods replaced on the van today :( ...$300, I'm sure you all understand how I feel about spending that kind of money on the van. UUUGGGHHH!!! I HATE it!!

While we were out towards Marengo picking it up though, we popped over to 61 and 229 and got some sweet corn from the Marengo UMC.
It was heavenly!!! $4 / dozen seems a tad high to me, if it were anyone other than the church (proceeds benefit their youth group) I would NOT pay that much...but I digress. If you drive by there stop and get some, it was really truly wonderful!!!

Tomorrow is the first day of the OHIO STATE FAIR!!! We are hoping to go for opening day. They have discounted admissions then, only $3. The cheapest we could get in...the only problem is it's supposed to rain off and on all day:(...So say a prayer for us and I'll let you know how it goes! love you!!!

Happy Birthday Maggie Moo!!

My sweet baby girl is 7 years old!!! She got the princess treatment today, which I suppose makes today like EVERY OTHER DAY!! lol

She wore a tiara all day (yes, she even wore it to Wal-Mart).

Make a wish Princess Poo Poo...

Now blow out those candles!

Isn't she beautiful??

This evening after supper we went over to Aunt Becky and Uncle Dannys ~ her birthday wish was to go swimming!

Like Liam, she'll have gifts coming later this week, so we're dragging it out.

I'll post pics of the stuff y'all sent her as it comes! Love you!!

WOOHOO ~ We're Done!!!! (Oh yeah, and Mag's team took 1st place)

That's it!!! We're DONE!!! WOO HOO!!!! Maggie's team won their game today something like 28-14...

and took 1st place in the Morrow County T-ball Girls Tournament!
Go Red Crush ~ #1!!!

The trophy on the right is hers...the one on the left belongs to the sponsors I believe. She really liked holding it though!

So now, we get a week to unwind and relax before Sam starts football.

My posts may slow down now!

Love you all!

Championship Bound

Maggie's team won again today...they will be in the championship game tomorrow at 3pm...At this point they're gauranteed 1st or 2nd place...I'll let you know!! Not much else going on...just trying to muddle through the finish of baseball season :) !

Two Down, One to Go!

The star of the show... Tonight Liam's team wrapped things up with their second loss. I must admit, I was not sorry to see it end! Maggie is the only one left and most likely she will have 2 more games.
Liam had a great year! He is a wonderful shortstop and a big power hitter!!

It was a good year and it's been a llllooooooonnnnngggggg baseball season!!

Maggie plays tomorrow at noon, the winner of that game goes to the championship game Sunday...I'll keep you posted!

Countdown

Liams team took their first loss last night...actually they got DEMOLISHED!! A humiliating, run-ruled game! So, he plays again tonight and this...could...be...IT!! Mags plays tonight too...but I will bu STUNNED if her team loses...at all...ever. So, I'll keep you posted.

Countdown to the OHIO STATE FAIR...5 days!!!!!!!!!!!

Liams Windfall Week

And the gifts just keep comin'!

Yesterday, Liam received a new nerf gun from Poppy and Grannie Annie...the N-Strike, Vulcan automatic maching gun.

I know what you're thinking ~ JUST what Liam needs huh? LOLYes, he is a terror with it...I'm not sure who's more scared, Maggie or the pets.

This morning he was headed downstairs with it and I heard him calling Scrooge ~ "Scrooge, C'mon boy ~ c'mon!" At which point I yelled, "Hey, what do you need with the cat!?!?"

"Nothing!" He replies innocently with his eyebrows raised...Hmph!

Today, he got a mountain of clothes from Grandma Debby and PaPa James (I was more excited about that than he was!) and some money (he was all excited about that!).

He's gotten to spread his birthday around very nicely...especially considering I happen to know he has one more coming from Poppy and Grannie Annie!!
Just about time for Mag's turn ~ and BOY IS SHE READY! She is right fed up with all the packages being for Liam!! LOL
I love you all!!

Letters From Santa!!

The kids got a wonderful surprise today!! They received birthday greetings from Grandy and Pa, who are currently in Alaska. Unfortunately, those were easily overshadowed by the birthday letters they got from Santa Claus!!!!!!! They have been informed they are on the "good list"...I'm thinkin' Santa and I need to have a talk! He obviously isn't watching closely this time of year! LOL!On the tournament home front...

Liam won his game last night 17-15...he got 2 homeruns!!! He plays again on Wednesday...
Mag's won her game tonight 29-26...she plays again tomorrow.
I'll keep you posted! Love you!!

It's A Celebre-Liam-ation!!!!

Today, we celebrate Liam Murphy! It is his 8th birthday!!

First, here's a picture of a picture of his actual birth day! Wasn't he a cutie?He's totally pumped up about this being his day. For breakfast, he had pancakes and then begged until we let him open his gifts. He got a tiny terrain titan r/c car and ...
This!!

So, I figure that's what he'll be doing today, at least until his game at 6pm!

We love you Liam Murphy!!! You're the greatest 8 yr old boy on the PLANET!!!

A Bittersweet Ending

When I say that we were ready to go all the way today, I do mean...We were READY!! We were as decked out and pumped up as any team has ever been! And we needed to be! Because who do you think we had to play??? You guessed it... the dreaded Marengo Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!

Long story short...we lost, in a good way...not a 24-1 in 4 innings way! Our boys fought hard...and lost by 1 run. They were SO DISAPPOINTED!!

Look at that face, Does he not just look THRILLED!?

Look at them...all hangin' their heads. I'm telling you people, I saw mostly grown boys cry today, quite a few of them!

Whether they have the sense to be proud of themselves or not I sure am PROUD of them!!! This team won 1 GAME all year last year!!! This year they busted their buttocks and worked SO HARD and came in first place in the league and 3rd in their tournaments!!

So , I say GO HIGHLAND BLUE!!! You boys ROCK!!!

Sam did play well today, if you're interested in knowing. He struck out once, hit out once and had base hits twice and he had a great defensive game. I kept having to turn my back on the game so I could have missed something...but I saw him catch or throw 4 outs. He has improved dramatically this year and I'm very proud of him. He was bummed on the way home and told me he's not ready for baseball season to be over.

Liam starts his tournaments tomorrow...on his birthday, but if there was ever a kid who would NOT be put out by that, you know it's Liam!

Maggie starts her tournaments on Monday...I will be shocked if her team doesn't go all the way, they've only lost one game all year and they have played a LOT of games!!

I love you all!!

And She's Off!

Today, Maggie decided it was TIME!!

After a couple rough starts (as you can see, she took her falls like a champ)...She had it!! I guess the advantage to waiting until you're almost 7 is that it comes easier! I seem to recall that I was a late bike rider too...so she's right on schedule to follow in her mothers footsteps (uh-oh)!!
It took her like 15 minutes, literally!
Sam's team won their game this evening, 9-3!! Which means they are guaranteed at LEAST 3rd place in the league...but we're in it for 1st!!! We play tomorrow at noon, then after we win at 3pm...when we win that one we have to come back Sunday and beat that team again...because they are still in the winners bracket and it's double elimination...so...
WISH US LUCK!!!!!!!
I love you all!!!

Lazy Summer Days

If for no other reason you have to love July for the flowers!! The funny hats are cool too!!

Maggie update: She has finished all of her "assigned" reading for the summer as well, so she is free to play for the rest of her break ( which is only another month!). She wants desperately to learn to ride her bike without training wheels, which is great in theory, but not so easy in practice when your choices are grass and gravel. Both of the boys learned on Mom's blacktopped driveway.
Sam, fresh home from a bike ride.

Sam update: Still in tournaments...play again tomorrow night at 6:30pm. They won their game Tuesday 12-2...Sam had a really up and down game. He had at least one error (if not 2) defensively, but he also batted 1000...and got a homerun, who cares if it was because the other teams right fielder was S-L-O-W!! We'll take it anyway!! From here on out, wins are iffy...the rest of the teams they will play are in the top 4 and at least one of them has beaten them before this season, so we'll let you know! He starts football on the 3rd.

Liam fresh back from a bike ride...

Liam update: Liam has a game tonight and one Saturday, then he starts tournaments on Sunday. He also is very close to his birthday and in extremely high spirits about it!! Plus, he's in love!! Please see : Best Friends (in sidebar), lol

Last night we went to the drive in to see the new Harry Potter, I was quite impressed with it, but I think it really helped that it's been years since I read the book. They tend to change things which always irks me...but if they changed stuff this time, I don't remember!! I kinda like it better that way! For the first time I can remember, Maggie stayed awake for the entire movie!

Jon still hasn't passed his stone...he sleeps a lot. I'll keep you posted on that too ~ maybe I'll post a pic of it when it passes (LOL)...then again, maybe I won't (eeew) !

So, from our house to yours,

have a glass of mint tea...

...and some chips and dip. summer style!

And always remember WE LOVE YOU!!!!