Catching some zzzz's

I think Maddie has had too many late night swim meets and baseball games.  She couldn't take it any longer....she had to take a nap during Peyton and Jack's tennis match.

It's a special quality she has, being able to drop wherever and whenever she might need.

Celebrating 14 years.....

From pimpled faced high schoolers, to college kids living it up at the Phi Delt house, to a party of 5.  14 years of marriage and 20 years together.  Celebrated the milestone by dividing and conquering.  Mike took Peyton to basketball, I went to Maddie's swim meet, and we found Jack a ride to baseball.  Now this is wedded bliss!!!

Peyton finds entertainment at baseball....

Peyton found entertainment in doing my hair at Jack's baseball game.  She then needed to take lots of pictures of it.....she actually did a pretty good job!!

First swim meet

Peyton had a basketball game, so she didn't attend the first meet, but Maddie was NOT going to miss it.  She was so excited.  She swam all 4 strokes and had a smile the entire time.  She loved it!!!

St. Peter Fest

Maddie had the best time ever at St. Peter Fest!!  Mike was at work and the big kids were gone, so Maddie and I headed up for a short bit.  Maddie lucked out, as the first person she saw was Molly.  So the two girls got to ride rides, eat snow cones, and win goldfish!!....I mean, it's not a true carnival unless you come home with a fish, right??
Maddie and Molly wanted to ride the biggest and craziest rides there.  So they did, and they loved them all!!!

They won the fish on our way out....so off to a late night Was-Mart run for a fish bowl.

Peyton went the following night with her friends.  Not to be outdone by her little sister, she too, won a fish.  By the next morning, we had two floaters.....it was short lived......

Those fish made them girls so happy!!

Sound to sleep 1 min after she hit the bed.....the dogs too for that matter....

At this point there was one floater and one really, really slow moving fish.  5 minutes later, there were two floaters.....

T-Ball leadoffs

Well, when you spend many of your summer nights watching your older brother play baseball, you start taking leadoffs yourself at your T-ball game.  There are no umps at this level, so I guess anything goes!!  :-)
This made me laugh....love this kid!!!

Last Day of School....

Well, we officially have a kindergartner, 5th grader, and a 6th grader.  So, tradition at St. Peter is, the middle school kids all walk around downtown Kirkwood on Friday afternoons after school gets out.  The walk and get ice-cream or a snack and then they end up back at St. Peter on the parking lot/playground.  On the last day of school, all of Peyton's friends deciding they wanted to walk around, since they were "officially" middle schoolers now.
A few of the parents were little nervous about it, so we stalked them a few times to make sure they were ok.  And they were OK!!!  HA!!

Field Day 2018

Field Day, 2018 in the books!!  The game I worked this year was relay tic tac toe.  I think the kids all liked it.  Both of the Friedmans won when they were at my station....but who's counting?!?!  ;)

Tough fought, second place finish

Peyton finished the season with her Gallagher team with a second place tournament finish.  The girls played well and fought hard, but came up short.

She's had a ton of fun with this group and loves her coaches!

Want dessert?? Earn it.....

Dessert is a big deal around here.  The kids want dessert after dinner, always!  So Mike told them they've got to start earning it.  Planks, sit ups and push ups.  Here's what it looks like....
Jack and Maddie think it's fine, Peyton HATES it!!

PRE K Graduation.....

We no longer have a pre-schooler in the house.  Life is about to change for us.....

Maddie lead the class out.  I later had a friend text me, and it said, "it seemed TOTALLY appropriate for Maddie to be leading the class out!"  Which, is totally true.  Maddie is the leader of that group most of the time.  Her teacher wrote on her report card, that next year when she needs to miss a day of school, she will just come and find Maddie to be her substitute teacher.  HA!!

The big kids got to come out of class to see the graduation and have some donuts.  After the little reception, the big kids went back to school and Maddie got to pick what we did the rest of the day.  She chose Chuck-E-Cheese (Dad was less than THRILLED!), and Olive Garden for lunch.

Mom's turn....

When the kids started playing tennis a few years ago, the tennis pro talked me into giving it a try too. I've been playing the last couple years and LOVE it!!  SO.MUCH.FUN!!

Westbrough had a tournament and Ann and I entered as doubles partners and happened to win it also....it was a fun day!!!

Mulch Day

Mike had the day off work, so mulch day it was!!!  LOTS and LOTS of mulch.  When to Kirkwood Supply twice....got to big truck loads.  Maddie and the dogs LOVED it!!!  A day outside with nice, fresh air!!!

We wore her out!!!  Labor and fresh air, and she is DONE!

Jack turns 10!!!

How, how, how?!?!?  10?!?!

Double digits for this guy!!!  A fast 10! For his last day as a nine year old, he fell asleep on his mom on the way to his baseball game. This boy loves his mom and I love him!!  
Kind hearted, silly, solid brother, sports loving, chess loving, smart, and has the biggest heart of anyone I know!! Happy birthday to my middle child!!

On his way to school on his birthday.....he might be 10 years old, but he still doesn't care about fixing that hair.....one of the many reasons I love him!!

Farewell Miss Karen

It's been a LONG run.  Miss Karen has had a hand in all three kids early swimming years.  Maddie had her last lesson with her.  She will now move onto swim team and kindergarten......Miss Karen has been amazing and we were so lucky to find her 11 years ago!!!

Mother's Day

Spending the majority of Mother's Day at the ballpark isn't EVERY mother's dream, but it is A-OK in my book.  It was championship Sunday and the Nat's did it.  It was a HOT one too!!

We then came home, sat in the AC for a while and then went to dinner.  Perfect Mother's Day.....