Summer Baseball

 One of the things I think of when I think of summer is baseball.  We love baseball as a family.  Randy played baseball growing up and we both have always enjoyed watching baseball on television... especially the Atlanta Braves.  And the last couple of years we've enjoyed watching Austin play.  We were impressed with Austin's baseball abilities last year and just as impressed this year.  

 He was definitely most nervous at bat... but he always seemed so calm and collective.  He did a good job of reading the ball and most of the time was able to get on base.  Austin's team won the City Championship in their division.  They also won the State Championship in their division.

 We had another crazy hot summer this year.  During the City Championship, the heat really got to Austin.  He had made it to the final inning, his team was up to bat and the game was tied.  Austin was laying on the grass and could hardly open his eyes because his stomach and head hurt so bad.  They had two outs, bases loaded, and Austin was up to bat.  If he didn't bat, the game would be over because it would be an automatic out.  His coaches asked him if he could just stand up to the plate because most likely he would be walked and they would win.  Not only did Austin gain enough strength to get up to bat, but he hit the ball down the first base line and made it to first base, bringing the runner on third home and winning the City Championship.

He did end up coming home and suffering a small case of heat exhaustion which took 3 days to get over, but it was a day none of us will forget.  I think Randy was almost in tears with pride!  Austin had a great summer season with some great coaches and grew a lot.  Randy was the team manager and hosted (with the help of each of our kids and myself) a couple of great tournaments.  Randy enjoys helping Austin grow as a player and the girls and I enjoy being Austin's biggest fans!  

Fourth of July

We LOVE the fourth of July!  Good ole' American fun in the country where we celebrate with pride the USA!!  And as tradition goes, it always includes the Vaclaw's firework show!

We love going out to the farm to watch the firework show.  

The kids play...

 The women talk (Amanda Vaclaw and I)...

 and the boys blow things up!!

 Once it gets dark, the glow toys come out before the BIG glow toys, aka fireworks, light up the sky!  Ashton and Kate Hubbard waiting patiently for the big show.

 We found some pretty cool glow in the dark items this year!  Austin is sporting some fun glow glasses.

As always, the show was a HUGE success!  The amount of fireworks and the music that goes with it brings my patriotic pride right to the surface and always makes me proud to be an American!  Sharing some fun times with my friend Megan Hubbard.  

Gymnastics!!

The girls begged and begged me to put them into gymnastics this summer, and I caved.  Austin and Avery both did golf camp, and then on top of that Austin had baseball and Avery had soccer- so I needed to have the girls be involved in something and this seemed like a good idea.

 And believe me, it WAS a good idea!  Not only were they good at it, but they loved it!

 We went two times a week, but everyday when they woke up they asked me if it was gymnastic day.

 And ever since summer has been over.... they ask me if they can go back to gymnastics.  I think I'm about to cave again!

I figured this would once again be the last time we did gymnastics.  I had already thought this once before and got rid of all their cute leotards.  So this summer I just bought shorts and tank tops to wear because I didn't want to spend the money on leotards again for just a summer... but we might have to invest in a couple!  I love this picture of Ashton and Sam!  The Christiansen's and the Hubbard's also took this summer which made it fun for me to have friends to talk to too!  So who knows... there might be more gymnastic pictures in years to come!

Happy 4th Birthday, Ashton!

 I think it's hardest to see your youngest grow older because you really know this is the final time for each of these kids to be this age and you just feel older and older!  So our baby turned four years old!  She started her morning with her favorite breakfast... sausage wraps from the local donut shop!

 And it just happened that the little girls' favorite summer activity also fell on Ashton's birthday... so next we headed over to her gymnastics class!

 After gymnastics we headed over to Gum-Gum's house to have a birthday lunch with Gum-Gum, Nana, Uncle Ed and Maria.  Nana let the kids decorate some cookies and then put some candle's in them for Ashton to make a wish.

 The only thing Ashton wanted for her birthday was her ears pierced.  Now, we made Avery wait until she was almost 8 for her to get her ears pierced.  So when Addie wanted hers pierced early, we told her she had to ask Avery because Avery had to wait longer.  Avery allowed Addie to get her ears pierced when she turned 5.  So this time Ashton had to ask Addie if she would allow her to get her ears pierced at 4, because Addie had to wait til she was five.  With Addie's permission, Ashton got her ears pierced. She did such a great job and sat very still for the lady.  I was so proud of her... no tears!

When daddy got home from work, we went out to dinner and then we all went to go watch the Disney movie, Brave, at the theater.  Great flick!  After that we came home and had cake and ice cream!  Happy Birthday, Ashton!!   We hope you always know how special you are and how much we love and adore you!!

Happy Father's Day!

 

 

While we were out taking pictures, we used that opportunity to make a really cute collage for Father's Day.  We combined these four pictures into one big frame for Father's Day that Randy took up to his office and put on his desk.  We also made him a cute jar full of Hershey Kisses with a label that included one of the kids' primary songs.  "Put my arms around his neck, hug him tight like this, pat his cheeks and give him what... a GREAT BIG KISS."  The kids had a fun time making both of these gifts for their dad.  I think they enjoyed it so much because of their great love for him.  Randy is an amazing father and I feel so lucky that my children have him in their life.  As hard as he works at his career and giving back to the community, I see his efforts even more so with the time and love and effort he puts into his children's life.  Thank you, Randy, for being such a loving, fun and involved father!!  We love you!!

Summer Pictures

 Last summer we took family pictures.  I don't think I will ever forget that day.  Everyone was miserable in the 5pm heat.  Sweat was dripping from my back and I was trying to smile while Randy was complaining under his breath about the whole thing.  I promised then and there never to take pictures with my sweet companion in the summer time again!  However, I did go ahead and take pictures of my kids this summer!  We have an old Train Depot in town that now serves as our Chamber of Commerce office.  But I've always wanted to take pictures there so that's where I took the kids for some updated pictures.  Here is my beautiful Avery girl... growing up so fast!  

 I decided to just take these pictures myself just in case they complained as badly as they did last summer with our photographer... but they actually did pretty good!  I'm sure I promised them something after these pictures were taken!  Here's my handsome boy, Austin!

 Unlike their dad, these kids have been in front of the camera from birth!  They have an obsessive mom dying to catch just that right picture.  They don't mind posing, it's in their blood!  I love this picture of Addie!

 And I tell ya what, if this picture doesn't scream Ashton I don't know what does!  This picture totally captured her personality!

 So even though it's not quite a family picture session, I was pretty happy to get some great pictures of the kids this summer.  We continue to love our journey in this life and try to find joy everyday!  And sometimes that means letting daddy sit a couple of sessions out!

We are loving school being out and look forward to a great summer!

Spring Soccer

 Addie still really enjoys playing soccer, and she's still so much fun to watch.  We were on SLC Real again this season with a lot of our close friends so it was quite the social hour for us!

 Here is Addie with a few of her teammates... Lucas, Addie, Evie and Ellie.  And sweet little Jake wanted to be included in this shot! :)

 Austin also had another great season.  He doesn't always have the best players on his team, but he always gives his all when he's out on the field and I'm always so proud of his efforts and how much he grows each season.  His team was named Liverpool.

 He is still very defensive-minded so he enjoys playing back more than forward, but he did score a goal this season!

 Avery is still playing competitive with the FCB '01 girls, which means a lot of travel.  Her team struggled a bit this year but we are still enjoying the great kids and parents that are involved.  Even though we didn't have a winning season, Avery had a great individual season and grew a lot.

She played center defense, and very rarely ever sat out during any game.  I was so proud of her and all the hard work she put into every practice and game.  She has really got a foot on her!  She scored a goal from the halfway mark! :)