Just not meant to be...

For those of you who knew about our impromptu camping trip Friday...operation Wildcat Hollow was abruptly aborted in Utica! Friday morning Jon and I were discussing on the way to the grocery that this weekend was the ONLY weekend for three months in which we have NO ball games. We decided we should really take advantage of the freedom and take the kids camping. There followed several hours of pure excitement...we got the groceries we'd need, hurried home and packed our stuff and the van and picked the kids up early from school at around 12:15 and we were on our way! For about 40 minutes :( ... just before we got to Utica we noticed that we could smell someones brakes. The smell got pretty strong and we stopped to see if it was OUR brakes...well, OF COURSE it was!!!! We have all the luck! SO, the van has an appointment on Tuesday, heaven knows what that will end up costing!!
Needless to say, I was VERY disappointed! So were the kids! It was almost cruel, pulling them out of school, getting them all excited...for nada!
We went back home and later took the car to the drive in...Night at the Museum 2, it was pretty good.

Saturday, we didn't do anything, just cleaning and laundry. Yesterday Kay & Rod came over to visit with the kids. They leave in the RV for Alaska in two weeks. Today, the kids washed the car and the van...I'm not saying they did a great job...
but just about anything is better than they were!!!

Then they enjoyed some light refreshments.

Sam has football camp this week on Tues., Wed. and Thurs. after school. Plus baseball practice tues. and Wed. and his first game (baseball) Thursday. Mag's has a game tomorrow and Liam has a game Wed... That's what I know for now. I'll keep ya posted! Love you all!

Liam Murphy

That's Liam with the ball in his glove...nice catch baby!!

I think these pics speak for themselves. However, I will tell you Liam's team won their game! i think it was 11-10...

Update

Mag's ready to go to the Mother-Daughter Banquet Saturday...

No pics, and not a lot of time, but i keep getting email about Sam's tournament so I'm doing a quick update. Saturday, the boys lost 2 games and won one which put them out of the tournament. The second game they lost was a bit heartbreaking for a couple reasons. One of our star players got ejected from the game for throwing his bat after he struck out in the previous game...which hurt us pretty bad. even so, our boys kept that game tied up for 8 innings before losing by one run. Sam did very well ~ broke the slump! Playing all of 3 games I think he only struck out once all day. He had some good hits and fielded well at 3rd base all day.
Liam had his first game Saturday morning, his team likewise lost. But, again, Liam played VERY well! He knocked the snot out of the ball everytime he went up to bat and did a great job at shortstop. If only the first baseman wasn't scared of the ball when Liam throws it to him!
Maggie had her first game tonight...I didn't get to see it but Jon said she did good. She got on base everytime, all I can say is she's fast! Because that poor child hits the ball RIGHT to the pitcher EVERY TIME!!! Her team won 38 - 19, youch!! Saturday she went to the mother daughter banquet with Helen at the Chesterville Methodist Church and had a wonderful time.
Tonight Sam's team went to a batting cage in Mt Vernon and worked on hitting FAST pitches. They were a bit intimidated by one teams pitcher (who happens to be a friend of theirs) who has a mean fast ball. I think Jason wanted to get in some batting practice while getting them over the fear. All the boys went at least one round in the 65-70 mph cage, which was a little scary to watch. Daggum, that ball smacks the backstop HARD!! Sam went in 3 times...the first time he hit NOTHING!! By the 3rd time he was contacting on some, but I would not call them legitimate hits. He was WAY late!! We'll have to take the boys and go back there some time, it was a real nice place. $1.50 for 20 pitches or $7.50 for 140.
Well, that's about it for now...Liam has another game tomorrow night...Sam has practice tomorrow night and Thursday night...it never ends! I love you all!!

Our Girl...

at her scrimmage this evening. She got to play catcher for an inning ~ all in all she did pretty well. She at least paid attention and got the ball when she ws supposed to which is more than most do in this age group! Put me in coach...here she is in centerfield!!

Her first at bat I got this awesome shot of her hitting the tee, yes, the tee not the ball!! As you can see, it's still hangin' there!

Shake it off Mag's and try again! There you go!

She doesn't do badly, but let's face it...t-ball is funny!

Here she is ready to back up first base...listening to the coach, like a good little t-ball player.

Tomorrow night it's back to Sam's tournament. I'll let you know how that goes! Love to you all!!

A Birth Announcement and More

Guess what? I used my mixer Monday to try my hand at French Bread...CHECK THAT OUT! It tasted as good as it looked too!! Monday night Sam had a game against a rec team in Marion. They won that game 11-3, we didn't get home that night until after 9pm! Bed times are out the window here lately! We were at the ball fields last night until almost 9pm as well. Good thing school is almost out! But, I am getting out of order...
Guess what I decided to grow...

Well, OK, not really my decision! Not real sure WHY she decided to give birth to 5 kittens in the flower pot, but she has her mind made up. I tried moving them and she was not happy with me... Melissa plans on coming sometime this week to take all the cats to her brother and sister in laws barn. Didn't quite come soon enough though! We have 5 MORE NOW!! Ugghh ~ but doggone (no pun intended) they sure are CUTE!!

So far she seems to be a good mommy. Kittens or no she's getting sent to the farm! We may determine the sexes of the kittens and keep one boy when it's all said and done to be our outside cat...but NO GIRLS!! I don't want any more kittens!! The kids are in love though, just like every spring !

Yesterday Sam began a series of pool games for a pre-season tournament this Sunday. Shockingly, they lost their first game. I'm afraid they went into that game a bit cocky ~ it was bound to happen. There are six games in the pool and the top 2 teams advance to Sunday, so they still have time to save their butts! I don't know that they'll be proving they can do it this evening though...

We have some wicked weather incoming! Are those not some funky clouds??

I'll keep you posted about Sam's tourn. progress. Everyone shoot up a little prayer for Sam, he's in the midst of a nasty little batting slump! He struck out 4 times last night!!!! Jon's been pitching to him every day this week in the back yard and he hits them all there??!? But, at the games ... NOTHING! Oh well, we love you all!!