Nature and Wildlife

Just a few pictures of some of the nature and wildlife we have experienced lately.

The poor deer who went through our yard and got caught in the commons area. He wanted to go back through our yard, but was too nervous. He finally ran the other way.

Love this shot!

Zach's baseball has been a little rough this year. This quote from the Bad New Bears would have been appropriate a few times thus far.

[after the Bears lose 18-0]

Coach Morris Buttermaker: Come on, fellas. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Ogilvie: Yeah, it took several hundred years.

BUT - the boys NEVER give up! They are a good group of boys and I like how they push on no matter what the circumstances. Tonight, was one of those "not gonna give up nights!" We were getting beat 11 - 5, but we were rallying and it had been one heck of a inning. The end of this game could have been a scene in the Bad News Bears. Just imagine this:

Great inning. . . great hitting, great base running, two outs. Zach is up to bat, men on second and third and the count is full. As he prepares for the final pitch for the walk, hit or strikeout, the ump raises his hands and calls time. He saw lightening. Seriously?!? It appears that the storm we had been waiting on is finally moving in. There ends the game. Zach is just SURE he would have gotten a hit !

Me? I have no idea what that pitch would have brought. But, I have to admit that I was somewhat relieved. The thought of him striking out and ending the game made me want to puke. I could just imagine his frustration with that. But then again, maybe he would have gotten a hit. We will never know.

I do know that this quote from the Bad News Bears is true:

Coach Morris Buttermaker: All I know is when we win a game, it's a team win. When we lose a game, it's a team loss.

Yea, try telling that to the boy who strikes out to lose the game. Or the pitcher who gives up six runs in an inning. Those are tough pills to swallow!

My hope is that now that the team has had a taste of what it feels like to field, hit and run the bases well we will continue with it. They just have to remember this:

Fundamentals are the most valuable tools a player can possess. Bunt the ball into the ground. Hit the cutoff man. Take the extra base. Learn the fundamentals.

Dick Williams

And no, I did NOT take the above picture.

Woo Hoo - School is out!

Tomorrow the kids report to school to pick up their report cards. They only have to stay as long as it takes to get the report card and I am officially done as of 10 am!!!!

Some comparison shots:

The first day of the 2010-2011 school year.

The end of the 2010- 2011 school year.

Lizzie and her friend on the first day of kindergarten.

Lizzie and her bestie on the last day of kindergarten.

Brian and I didn't realize just how much they had changed over the year.

Parenting 101

I missed this class. I count my children as blessings. However, parenting is hard work! It makes Jillian Michaels' workouts seem easy! Well, not quite! And the role of parent is one I will have forever. Every time I think we have something figured out, we move into the next stage of development.

Just curious. . . what are your parenting challenges? What are your suggestions as we tread through the waters of parenting?

Flowers

I think flowers are absolutely beautiful. They can make me smile when I am down. They bring color into a drab day. I am always amazed at how intricate and beautifully made they are. The following picture is a close-up of a clematis. As I look at the details in this flower, I am reminded that God created us to be even more intricately and beautifully made than this beauty. Do you believe that about yourself - you are intricately woven together and wonderfully made? Don't let the world tell you otherwise!

Certain Friend

Ok, if you are a certain friend who used to teach with me in Spencer, Indiana, I need you to message me! I lost your cell and email and would love to talk to you about life and some reading stuff! Yes, you know who you are! You can either message me on here, or email me at my private account!

Sorry to the rest of you. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming!

Puzzles!!

One of the things we enjoy as a family is doing puzzles. Here is one that Lizzie, me and Brian worked on. The boys even chipped in here and there - mainly to aggravate their sister! Then next one up is a 500 piece. That may not seem too bad to some of you. But for Lizzie, it will be quite the challenge!