Day 3 BGCET

Today was silly sports day so the kids were looking forward to wearing a sports jersey to camp today.  Connor chose to wear his Diamond Jaxx jersey from his select baseball team and Ashley chose to wear Cody’s Troy Aikman #8 jersey.  Yes, I have kept this jersey all these years and it is the same one Cody wore when he was probably 5 or 6.  Ashley thinks it is super cool that it is a) Cody’s and b) the #8, which is also how old she is.  She has no idea who “Aikman” is, so I let Connor do the honors of explaining to her.  That way, in case she was asked, she would know whose jersey she wore.

Yesterday they got to visit the Splash Park, play some outdoor games, and do an art project.  Over a hot dog dinner last night, we determined that Connor enjoyed “octoball” and Ashley enjoyed the art project and both agreed the Splash Park was their favorite thing of the day.  Today, silly sports was a hit - tomatoes instead of baseballs, heads of lettuce instead of footballs, building things out of pretzels, marshmallows, and graham crackers.  It all sounds pretty silly to me!

Poppie and I took a tour of the club today so here are pictures I snapped while we were visiting…

Only two more days of camp, which means two more days until Camp Yearty!  We can’t wait!

1st Annual Camp Yearty

On Friday, after the work week is done and the campers have completed their final day of camp, our family will be heading to Salado for the 1st annual “Camp Yearty”.  My family has been doing “Camp Jasper” for about 10 years now, and Kit and Betty loved the idea of getting everyone together once a year and doing the same.  Unfortunately, with Bethany still in school, the Georgia Yeartys won’t be joining us, but maybe next year!

We have big plans for our long weekend – downtown Austin, the state Capitol, Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, birthday celebrations (we have a lot in July/August), Schlitterbahn Water Park, lots of good food, and I am sure much more!

We are really looking forward to getting away with Cole, Connor and Ashley again.  We did the beach last year with the Jasper clan, then the wedding with just the boys, and in December we have a ski trip to Colorado.  We love our adventures and making memories with them and look forward to many more years of Camp Jasper and Camp Yearty!

Boys and Girls Club Finally

Connor and Ashley were set to attend BGCET the week of 7/15, but because of Little League playoffs lasting a little longer than expected, they were unable to make it that week.  Ashley was already signed up for the week of 7/29 and there were still openings for boys, so we got Connor signed up as well.  We dropped them off at 7:30 this morning at Cumberland Academy for Day #1. 

True to previous camp experiences, they came home hungry, tired, and Ashley had a headache.  Jason was smart enough to pick up some Hot ‘n Ready’s and Crazy Bread before he picked up the campers so we got to visit over dinner about their day.  They both made new friends, enjoyed a day full of activities, and didn’t get enough to eat at lunch (4 nuggets each supposedly).  They are excited about tomorrow because they will get to go to the splash park.  The campers will be showering soon and heading to bed early!  So will Mom and Dad!

Birthday Teen

We had a low-key Saturday night birthday for Cole.  Just me, Jason, Connor and Ashley.  It was perfect though.  Cole was tired from his sleepover the night before so we grilled some burgers, sang happy birthday, blew out some candles, opened some presents and cards, ate some cookie cake, and watched a movie.

Enjoying a burger he helped grill…

Presents…gift card, golf balls and a new wedge…

Blowing out the candles…

The partygoers, divvying up the delicious cookie cake…icing or no icing, that was the question??? :)

Ashley loves a party…

Once again, happy birthday to Cole.  Now, on to the busiest birthday month of the year – August.  We will celebrate me, Kit, Jason, Dad, and Cody.  Whew…I am tired just thinking about it!

Thirteen!

Happy 13th birthday to Cole, our “oldest still living at home”, who is on the threshold of manhood and no longer a little boy.  We are honored to be the ones to help direct and mold him into a man after God’s own heart.  We pray that as he enters this new phase, he remains open and teachable to our advice and wisdom and God’s incredible plan for his life.

My how time flies.  And my how boys change in a year when they become pre-teens and teenagers.  Check out these pictures.

Just a little over one year ago…

And now…

Last night, we had a nice quiet night at home with two of our kiddos, but not the ones you would think.  We have Ashley and Aiden a lot together, but last night we had Aiden and Connor.  Ashley was at a friend’s for her first sleepover (see picture below of her with BFF, Reagan), and Cole was having a birthday party/sleepover at his Mom’s to celebrate his big day.  Tonight we will be celebrating Cole’s birthday with hamburgers and tater tots (his choice when his Dad told him we could cook, grill or go out) and a yummy cookie cake, which I just picked up.  Stay tuned for more pictures of his big day.

Girls’ Weekend

Courtney and I left Flint on Friday around 11 am to head to Missouri City, Texas to spend the weekend with Mama, her BFF, Chris, and Jane E for a girls’ weekend.  We put this weekend on the calendar about a year ago and although our lives have all been busy and crazy this month, we followed through on our plans and enjoyed a wonderful time together eating, drinking, talking, laughing, exercising, planning, sharing, relaxing, and sunning (in between clouds and rain).

My fabulous room…

The backyard pool…

Hanging out on the patio…

Yummy dinner…

A beautiful night…

The three amigos (Chris, Cindy and Mama)…

After a day at the pool, we decided to clean up, dress up, and head to dinner at P.F. Changs…

We have really enjoyed our time together and we still have a few hours tomorrow.  After another morning walk/run, we will try to get in a little more time by the pool before we all head home.  Love you girls!

All Good Things…

…must come to an end.  Even things that drag on forever and started as good and fun and become aggravating and frustrating, must come to an end.  That is how Little League sectionals went for us this year.  The sectionals tournament was to last from Friday until Wednesday (if you kept winning) but somehow I didn’t plan well for the long and drawn out tournament.  It is hard to sit around all day and try to entertain 12 and 13 year old boys and keep them mentally focused on what they are here for.  The crazy and unexpected rain didn’t help either.  The Austin area has been in drought for the last several years and July is one of the driest months, but not in 2013.  There was rain, rain, and more rain.

After winning in the first round and getting beat in the second round, we were set to play College Station again on Monday night.  We had driven home Sunday night after losing, got in a few hours of sleep and work, repacked, and headed back to Elgin.  Game #3 began at 7 pm on Monday night and took over a full day to complete with rain delay #1, postponing until the next night at 6 pm, rain delay #2, rain delay #3, moving to a field 20 miles south to complete 1 1/2 innings, and then losing any way at about 10:30 on Tuesday night.  This meant another night of driving and only a few hours of sleep before work again.  We are exhausted and trying to catch up on much needed sleep and work.  Glad the Little League season is officially over and ready for some select tournaments in the fall.  Right now I think we are all glad for a bit of a break.  Oh, except Jason has to work as a scorekeeper in the state tournament at Faulkner this weekend and then we have been asked to work the concession stand on Monday night.  I am hoping by now that all those slots are filled and I can stay away from the baseball field just a little longer!

Little League Sectionals

We spent the weekend in Elgin with Cole’s RCWLL Majors All-Star team for Little League Sectionals (Section 1, Texas East).  Jason and I, along with Cole, Connor and Ashley, headed out early Friday morning to make the trip down to central Texas, with our first stop being in Round Rock to meet Les, Jane E and the kids for lunch at Little Red Wagon.  Jane E and I plotted last weekend and decided Ashley needed to go to Cedar Park this weekend and spend some time with her cousins instead of “suffering” at the ball park.

After lunch, we said our goodbyes to the Campbell clan and headed on to Elgin to meet the other parents and players at the fields for a quick look around.  We got there early so I took the opportunity to get some pictures (Cole and Connor even humored me a little by posing).

The “All Star”…

Bobby Walker field (it ain’t much)…

Jason and the boys taking some BP…

The game wasn’t until 8, so we headed to the hotel where everyone was staying (except us since we decided to stay with Jason’s parents in Salado) and let the boys rest until returning the the field prior to game time.

The RCWLL Majors All Star Team for 2013…

Warming up…

The coaches…

Jason is so serious….

And Greg and Todd are not… :)

We won the first game 8-1, defeating College Station, which meant we had all day Saturday and Sunday before we played again.  In the meantime, Ashley was enjoying some cousin time in Cedar Park (for the full blog see Xtreme Adventure Summerfest)

Some additional pictures of the fun activities from the weekend…

After all the fun of Saturday and Sunday, we were back at the ball field last night for another game. 

Pre-game…

Cole pitched…

Cole batted…

…And it was not a pretty game.  We went home (all the way back to Flint for me and Jason as we had to both work today) with our tails between our legs after we were 10-run ruled in the 4th inning.  This means we play again tonight at 7, which means we are heading back to Elgin within the hour and then maybe back late tonight if we play like we did last night.  If we win, we are back in it and may be playing the next two nights.  Life is on hold for baseball and we hope they come out ready to play tonight!