SUMMER!!!

So far summer has gone by waaayyyyy toooo quick!!! Lots has happened and there is still lots to do. To break it down...
Happened: Married Stew on June 25th
All-Stars for Austin (with practices and tournaments)
Honeymoon to Barbados for a week

Still to happen: Summer class the week of the 27th of July
Family vacation to Hilton Head (first real family vacation for us 4)
Possible family time up at Deep Creek Lake

This is all mixed in with friends and family time! Having a blast so far and do NOT want summer to end! Way too much fun :)

Will try to attach some pics soon.

Collin plays catcher for the first time!

SOME PICS OF OPENING DAY

WOW!

I will have pictures later, but what an amazing Opening Day at FLL. Collin moved up to the 7/8 league this year and is adjusting to playing with the "pitching machine", along with new players. He did a great job and worked well with his team. Although, I didn't see too much of the game because Austin was also playing. Stew helped out coaching with Collin's team and before I knew it the game was over. Collin only had 1 at bat (which I was there for) and then the game was pretty much over.

Austin pitched his first game today on Opening Day and did an AWESOME job. Yes, I said pitched. He has never pitched before but really wanted to this year and was just given the opportunity to a few days ago. He did a good job then, so they used him today. Who would have known he would have done so well. I believe he pitched 3 maybe 3 1/2 innings and allowed only 2 hits. Don't know all the stats, but he completely shined today. Received 1 of the two game balls given out at the end of the game and was beaming from ear to ear. The TEAM won 9 to 2 and had a blast!!

Will add some pics later but wanted to share the great news of Opening Day here at Fruitland Little League. Way to go boys :)

THUMP THUMP...THUMP THUMP

This past week has brought quite a new outlook on life. Or I should say, a reminder how quickly things change. I know... due to the loss of my husband and father to Austin and Collin how we shouldn't take a moment for granted. However, we fall back into that sense of security, and think that family will always be there. So when I received a phone call last Tuesday saying my father had a heart attack... my eyes were opened again. Dad is only 59 and since I was little has never had any kind of surgery or medical problems. Guess he was saving it all up for this year with 5 arteries clogged and needing open heart surgery. Can't be easy, right? Mom says, "Don't come down, he'll just have stints put in and should be home by tomorrow." HA! Little did they know that those 5 blockages were not going to be opened with stints and that he needed to have his chest cracked open. Great news is that dad is doing well and is home ( their home in Florida ) recovering. He has MANY restrictions and is being quite a bear to live with... but at least he is still here. Doctors were amazed that he didn't present with any symptoms, and was considered lucky because many people like him would of just had a massive heart attack at some point doing work around the house. Also a lucky man because they just came off a cruise. Imagine if he would have had a heart attack on the cruise. Anyways, I flew down early Wed. morning when the cath was being performed, and once I got off the plane in Fort Myers was told that he would need open heart the following morning. This leads me to my next problem. I tried to catch a flight out of Salisbury Tues. night... but oh no. Last flight was at 5:00. BWI.. 8:45 (not enough time) Philly was similar to BWI. What do we do if we NEED to get out of town that night? Luckily my dad didn't die, but he could have. Flights can come into Salisbury 9:30 / 10:00 ish, but no flights can leave. Don't understand this.

Recovery will be a long road for my dad, but it did remind us all how quickly life can change. Mom and dad were happy to have me there and I didn't want to be anywhere else. We remembered those we have lost and that special bond that comes with being a family. Everybody enjoy your special family and make sure they know that they are loved.

TIME FLYS...

Wow! Looked at the last time I posted and the boys look so healthy.....NOT NOW! Holy cow is all I can say. Enjoyed the holidays this year but we all took our turn at getting sick. Collin decided to get very ill right on his last day of school..which of course was his party day. Woke up with 103.5 and continued for a week with off and on fevers and finally a rash at the end. Passed it right on to mom on Christmas day...luckily I just had a fever and crushing headache and was fine by the next morning. Austin was also blessed with the "virus" on Christmas day and a few days after. Stew eventually picked up something, but don't think it was a virus... just a nasty cold.

So now the house is virus free...right??? Oh no! Not our luck. Even though I have cleaned and used lysol throughout the entire house... Collin still gets another virus. High fever Saturday, puking on mom Sunday, high fevers continue, chills and shakes come...no relief for Collin. Doctor says today that it is another virus. I have taken off today, tomorrow and possibly Wednesday to stay with my little guy, but I am dying to know how he keeps picking this "virus" up. Last year Austin was my one that got very ill and now this year it's Collin.

Spent last night looking at old videos of the boys when they were little. Amazing how quickly time goes by. Today Austin celebrated his 10th birthday. Holy cow again...10 years. I'm sitting in the doctors office today thinking about where the time has gone. Parents make sure you hold your children tight because they just seem to grow like weeds. Happy Birthday Austin and Collin PLEASE get better :)

SWEET EMOTIONS

Wow, the past few months have flown by and so much has happened. With the dreary, rainy day today I finally have time to slow down and update my blog. Austin finished up his football season a few weeks ago:


Took the boys to their first NFL game....SKINS of course.










I could keep going with pictures of the Skins, but I better stop.
Also, got engaged to Stewart at the Renaissance Festival. Crazy emotions here! Have not set any date yet, still blending together as four.





Turned 36... with a surprise party at my house. Knew something was up, so I did my best to have that "surprised" look on my face. Was an absolutely beautiful night.



Few nights later we had Halloween and visited a special family friend.





Can't end the blog without mentioning that Stewart broke his wrist on the 14th of October and just last Monday had to have surgery with a plate and 7 or 8 screws put in. Lots of pain for him and major adjustments for the family.



Signing off for now! Hope everyone is doing well :)

AHHH...LOOKING BACK

Had a chance to glance back at some photos from our Christmas Vacation and realized how relaxed and calm we were. No school, no sports games, no meetings, etc. = No stress. While we can't afford this every year or even every other year, it is so great to look back at our peaceful faces. Trying to plan now a family vacation for the summer so I can have a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

WEIGHT CLASS VS. AGE

Austin had his first football game yesterday and it brought up some issues. One being : should we go by age or weight limit when playing football. Reason I'm asking is because the team they played from Virginia had two players that were well over 200pounds. Parents had their birth certificates with them to prove that they were only 10.
Now... I have grown up on football and have a good understanding of the game. However, it has been a learning experience for me watching Austin go thru practices, putting on football gear (yuck)and dealing with the many strains, swelling, etc.. that go with the game. Contact sport indeed! So... seeing these guys yesterday made me think that we would be in the hospital at some time that day.. but luckily Austin made out o.k.
So the question remains.. should they go by age and have players like yesterday destroy another team? Or go by weight limit? Weight limit would have some players in a higher age group and sometimes these kids don't get to play because they don't have the experience (because they don't get to play). Seems like there should be a happy medium... but it's one or the other. After yesterday I'm leaning more with the weight limit. Even though this most likely would leave out the really skinny kids and the overweight kids. Yes, they can go to a higher age limit but how much play time would they really get? Jeff would be a good person to answer this question with all his experience with football and coaching. I'm thinking there isn't an easy answer.
Luckily, Austin wasn't injured in the game (as many were). The team lost I believe 21 to 0. Although Austin said it was 35 to 0. He could be right as I went to the concession stand for a little bit. But what a mess of a game. Like throwing lambs to the lions. Either it makes you tougher or you get injured trying.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Was watching The Bucket List last night, and it brought out some insightful questions I have been thinking about. Luckily, my oldest was at a sleepover and Collin was half asleep from a busy day, so I could actually watch this alone and laugh and cry when I needed. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman were excellent for the parts and brought forth humor to such a serious issue.

Think about these two questions: 1. Has your life been joyful?
2. Have you brought joy to others?

First question to me is somewhat easy...Yes! For the second, I would like to think that I have brought joy to others (but how do I really know).

Another question: Would you want to know when it's your time to leave this earth?

I thought about that throughout the entire movie. I've been personally touched by loosing my sister and husband "without knowing". Never knew pain so much as those experiences. However, being with a loved one and watching them slowly die has to be horrible too. I guess I have concluded that no matter how it happens...it hurts just as bad.

Movie worth seeing :)

AHH...ANOTHER SUMMER REWIND!!

This will be the last weekend before reality hits again...Ahhh! Can't complain at all about the summer except that it went way too quick. Maybe that old saying is correct,"Time flys when you're having fun." Looking back on the summer we had:

1. Family vacation on the Gulf...awesome time:)
2. Sprained ankle..not so cool and still hurts!
3. Grand Cayman's getaway....ahhh
4. Football camp in Pa....great to spend time with family:)
5. Cookouts, swimming, and relaxing with friends...best people
6. Elk's swimming...Collin going off the diving board :)
7. Trips to O.C. riding rides and pizza....Yum!
8. Many Shorebirds games...:)
9. Montgomery Gentry in concert... a blast!

There are probably more exciting moments that I can't recall right now. What I learn and relearn every summer is how much family means. Can't put a price tag on watching your youngest learn how to swim, watching the sunset with someone you love, enjoying the company of close friends, who may as well be family. I will just need to remember all of this once I'm back at work and look forward to many more wonderful memories. Thanks to everyone who made this summer special for the boys and I!!!!

DROP INS...JUST CURIOUS??

Just wanted to see how many people experience or enjoy drop ins from either family members or friends??? I mean the full no phone call, what's going on this evening, oh..that looks good what your making for dinner, let me stay a few hours and ask million upon million of questions, etc.. See my annoyance or frustration here? Now I have a few (possibly 4 or 5) family/friends that can drop by any time and come right on in with no problems. I don't worry what I look like, how the kids are, what the house looks like, etc.. They don't do this very often, but when it happens it's not a big deal...plus they don't alter my plans!! The occasional drop in by the neighbor who has a piece of your mail, or a quick question...No big deal. The occasional "church people" who drop by to pass out literature...No big deal. Didn't know if I was the only one who got annoyed by this experience. So, does it not bother you? Are you annoyed like me? Does it not happen to you enough to form an opinion?
Oh, I have never been the type to pretend I wasn't home and not answer my door (one friend suggested I do that). I also have never talked to the culprits about this because it happens ever so often...just to annoy me!! AHHHH!!

SHARP DRESSED MAN!!!

Collin was once again in another wedding this past weekend. Did an awesome job, considering we really only knew the parents of the bride. I remember being pretty shy in my younger years and I don't think I could have puled off what he did. Way to go Collin :)

LIVING OUT OF A BEACH BAG!

I can't complain AT ALL about the summer so far. The boys and I are doing exactly what my title says: Living out of a beach bag. Since school ended till now... and then some, we are being beach bums! Don't really care about Manny being traded, Farve coming back to play, or the Pitt twins. It's GREAT to just enjoy the summer with friends and family. From pool parties, more pool parties, football camp (both boys attended), beach days, and just relaxing on evenings with all the boys! The world will change soon enough once school starts up again, but for now I'm just still enjoying the peaceful days of summer. Some more pics of the summer. Check out my "special" parking spot at my friends house...HA!!! What crazy guys!!!!

MORE PICS

Just some more pics from the Cayman's!!!

OH, SO SO SWEET!!!!

What an amazing trip. From July 10th - 14th, Stewart and I had a sweet vacation to the Grand Cayman's. What people had told me about the Cayman's was absolutely true... it was a magical place to be. The locals were very kind and unlike other islands the crime was rare to none. The boys and I have been fortunate to travel some places the past few years, but I must say that this small island was ever so perfect. We rented a car for a day and explored the island and hit some local spots that were recommended. I think that really made the trip. We were able to travel to the tip of the island and walk onto a quiet, serene beach and find bright orange/red starfishes. That had to be the best part for me... so natural, private and beautiful. Something I will never forget. We then traveled to the
other end of the island and did some private snorkeling and saw amazing colored fish. We did take a snorkeling trip on our last day and swam with stingrays (even kissed one :) and then hit two cool spots for snorkeling. I can't say enough how very beautiful and relaxed this vacation was. I'm attaching just some pics from the trip, as I will get more back soon. Keep enjoying the summer :)










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Bump, Set, and.....OUCH THAT HURTS!!!

Yes, I was trying to have fun playing volleyball again. Everything was going great for just about 5 minutes! Then I go up against the net to hit the ball over, and the next minute I'm on my rear end. Not so fun anymore!! I landed on my ankle just the WRONG way because the next hour I'm in the E.R. room with x-rays being taken. Good news is that it isn't broken BUT it is badly sprained. Swelling was terrible and I'm home on crutches. Many instructions were given about how I can't do all the normal day activities like: taking care of the boys, taking a shower, walking, !#!#@@$#$!!! Anyone who knows me knows that this is EXTREMELY hard, as I am stubborn and have always felt that I could take care of myself. So after a few days of bitching and complaining, I'm starting to get around a little better. See an orthopedic doc. on Tuesday and hopefully I will be back to my normal self soon. Go on vacation to the Grand Cayman's with Stew in July, so I am making sure to rest (best that I can) so we can enjoy ourselves. A good friend asked if I wanted to play again, and of course I answered, YES!!!

Sweet Home Alabama..

Vacation on the Gulf Shores of Alabama was GREAT!!! Some highlights:
1. Wedding was beautiful and relaxing
2. Great family time
3. Pools and ocean
4. Coming home nice and tan

Had a great time with lots of family members and enjoyed the peaceful days on the beach. Attached will be some pics!! Keep enjoying your summer :)