Ashley at bat.
We have one more week left of school ball and then sadly, the softball season will be over. We've really enjoyed sitting through all of her games. We couldn't be prouder.
Life never seems to stay very still for us over here. It seems like summer just began and now it's going to be over in 3 weeks when the kids go back to school. I thought with the end of summer sports and summer activities that we would have a breather, but I was fooling myself because I honestly don't know how to not be busy.
Ashley is excited to go back to school and has gone straight from summer ball to school ball. Softball try-outs started this week for the middle school and while she's made the team, we still have yet to find out if she will be on the Varsity or Junior Varsity team. Practices start immediately on Thursday and will be everyday except for Fridays and Sundays. Whew, here we go. Sometimes I feel more like a chauffeur than a parent.
Ryan has scaled down to just swim lessons, with only two more remaining, so things are momentarily calm there. With the start of school comes the whole stress of making sure Ryan gets what is needed with his hearing and learning disabilities. We've given him the summer off from working so hard, but it's time to get cracking again.
In other news, we're adding a new dog to the family. We currently have Daisy (see picture on masthead above) who is 9 or 10 years old. She is the biggest sweetheart and everyone commonly calls her the neighborhood dog. People love her that much and welcome her into their yards.
My aunt has a 4 year old Golden Retriever, named Luke. She's moving and sadly cannot take him with her. We've offered to take him and the kids are really excited and having a hard time waiting the 3 weeks until my aunt can bring him down here. It could have been sooner, but we have our upcoming annual weekend vacation to Grand Bear with Bret's brother and his family and didn't want to upset his adjustment period here.
So, that leads me to a question I've got for all of you. I've found a lot of valuable information in regards to adding another dog to your family online, but I'd love some advice from anyone who's been through this. Daisy has her annual appointment at the vet tomorrow and I'm going loaded with questions for him. Does anyone have any suggestions on making the transition easier on both dogs? I'm pretty sure Daisy will be the dominant dog as Luke is very laid back and easy going while Daisy is pretty laid back herself and very well behaved, but is very protective of her turf. I'd love some feedback!
The heat and sun must have been the cause for this side track during warm ups. Whatever works to keep you motivated.
Ashley's friend almost got rolled over! 
Ryan had to be part of the action, too. He was the only boy up there with them.
Kid almost ran me over here.
Rolling, rolling, rolling....
"Umph," says Ashley as she tries to get up while her head is still rolling. 
Back to business. Ashley is definately one of the best players on both of her teams this year. (And that's not just a proud mom talking.) She must have gotten it from Bret, because I always dreaded when it was time to play softball during gym class in school.
"Just try to get past me!"
Dunlap All Stars - 2008
While Ryan and I were at his game tonight, Ashley and Bret were at her first All Star game. (Yes, for some crazy reason we let her try out for TWO teams. It's insane.) This is a video I took with my digital camera at last night's practice game. It should have been a home run, but the umpire called her out since we were demolishing the other team. They won 28-4. They weren't so lucky tonight, and still have two games tomorrow. Summer is in full swing over here. Last night was Ashley's second Softball game and while they did end up losing (thankfully the game didn't count), Ashley was voted MVP by her team. All three times she was up to bat, she had great hits. She had a double, a triple and then a home run! It got pretty exciting because right after Ash hit her home run, her teammate up after her hit a home run, too. You rarely see any home runs in this age group so that made it all that much sweeter! She was very proud of herself!
She somehow managed to turn into a mini grown up over the past few months. I gave in and let her go to the pool at the Y with just her girlfriends yesterday. I was a nervous wreck, calling her cell phone and checking in on her frequently. I'm just not ready to let go yet, but am finding that I don't have much of a choice. She's growing up and I'm so proud of her.
I trust her, but we may have to rejoin the Y so I can keep track of her and what she's doing - instead of just letting her spend the summer there as a guest of her friends. We'll see, because if I do this I'll have to give up my Gold's Gym membership and work out there instead. I love Gold's and their classes, but let's face it - summer is so busy for us that I'm not sure I'll get to the gym on a regular basis. If I transfer my membership to the Y, then I won't feel so guilty when I can't find the time to get there to work out, because we'll still be using the facility for the pool.
I love Gold's though. Their classes are what keeps me going back and they have the best equipment around. Plus we love the other pool that we usually go to - there's more there for Ryan to do. However, that pool is a bit of a drive and gas is at $4 a gallon. Ugh, I can't decide!
What does the perfect Saturday consist of for you?
For me? It consists of a day that is warm and sunny that starts at my son's baseball practice, where he hits the machine pitched ball and runs to first base with the biggest smile on his face. Then he takes his turn in the outfield and misses catching the ball so badly that he smiles that goofy smile that is distinctly Ryan's. He'll keep trying and will soon enough be able to catch it. To see him so proud makes my heart swell with love.
Then it continues on to my daughter's softball scrimmage game where she hits a double. As soon as her game was over, the field began filling up with a team of 1st & 2nd grade girls and I found myself reflecting on how fast my daughter has grown up, as it only seems like yesterday that she was that small and still learning how to play the game. Now she's got a powerful swing and is one of the best girls on her team.
My perfect Saturday continued on to lunch out with my husband and children, then home where I sat on our deck in a comfy chair with my face offered up to the sun while the sounds of lawnmowers, children playing and neighbors landscaping swirled all around me.
I'm back in the house now and am going to start looking into some ideas we've been throwing around for a family vacation this summer. It won't be anything like last summer's Disney Vacation, but we'll get to spend uninterrupted time together - which is what really matters.
I'm not sure what to do with myself. I've spent the last week getting my PTO binder in order, updating all of the paperwork in it and making sure it's ready to go for next year. There are only a few receipts left to come in and it's looking like our profit is going to be $14,600.00.
I could (and should) spend the day doing laundry and housework, but it's too hard to get serious work done around the house when everyone is home and sitting in front of the TV - makes you want to curl up and take a nap. The downstairs area that the girls spent the night in is a total mess. I should really do something about it, but am pretty much unmotivated at this point.
It's hard to snap back to normal daily life after being so consumed by RTH. There are a million things I need to do now that I've got the time, but I just can't seem to focus. I'm looking forward to Spring when we can get out of the house with the kids and have some fun. I'm getting sick of being cooped up in the house all the time.
I've got our zoo membership application on the counter and ready to be sent in. The Peoria Zoo is undergoing a major renovation right now and by Spring it's suppose to be completed. There is also a huge wooden park with mazes and tunnels next to the zoo that the kids love. Our membership will get us into any zoo all the way from St. Louis to Chicago and more for free. I'm thinking some road trips are going to be in order once the weather gets nice.
So, no more snow and ice. I'm done and over it. I want to see trees and plants bloom and come to life again. I'm ready for Volleyball matches and Baseball and Softball games. Bring me cool spring nights with friends, bonfires and Margaritas. Please, bring it soon!
Ashley's ready over at 3rd base.
Bring it on.
Ashley's first at bat.
And she hits a single!
Anyone need a tanning salon? Get it? Farmington, IL?
Tuesday's games were cancelled due to two huge thunderstorms that came through the Peoria area early in the morning and then more in the evening. At 7:15am the sky was clear and looked like it could be a beautiful day ahead. These pictures were taken at 7:30am. The second storm came in so fast that it instantly went from daytime to looking like nighttime. You can see the edge of the cloud line and a bit of sunny sky that the storm hadn't reached yet. It was really something to see.
Okay, that's it for my weather recap.
Possibly up next: Ashley may appear in the local newspaper tomorrow. At her Junior Chef class this morning, there was a photo journalist there. (Fingers crossed!)
I finally figured out how to work blogger's custom template and changed it all up. I love the picture of Ryan at the top chilling out under the stream of water at the pool, but the poor kid really needs to start eating more. I'm waiting for someone to look at the picture and tell me to give the poor kid some food. He eats all day long, but keeps growing at such a fast rate that it doesn't have time to stick to him. If only we all had that problem!
The family reunion on Sunday was a blast! The weather was extremely HOT and we swam in the pool all day. The kids and I got a lot of sun and are much darker than we were before we left. And then there was a certain other person who didn't listen when I told her she better get some sunscreen on and you can bet she's paying for it now! How's that sunburn feeling, Mom? (Ha!)
On Monday, the plan was to head home to Peoria around lunchtime, but Ashley did us a huge favor and left her swimsuit there, so we had to head back over to Indiana and swim for a couple more hours with our cousins. Darn. Now they'll probably double check our bags for us before we leave next year. LoL. We left Chicago around 4pm and made it back to Peoria at 6:30pm, just 15 minutes before Ashley had to leave for her softball game. Whew!
Her team was playing a great game when it was called due to some wicked lightning and thunder. The score was 8 to 1 so I guess that's a win for us.
Well, I guess I should go make use of the time while both babies are sleeping and get this house back in order. Maybe my mom will email me some of the pictures from the reunion for me to post later.
The game itself did not go as well, though. The other team demolished us and the sad thing is that their runs were only scored by stealing bases. I don't think they ever had a single hit. The game was over after 3 innings. 
I had to buy my daughter a pair of sliding shorts and a sliding leg shield for her softball practice tonight. They're expected to slide into home plate every time they run home. Every time. They're 11 years old. Fifth graders. Shall we guess how many girls are going to be out for the first game due to injuries after tonight? I'm just a wee bit nervous.
Last night was Ashley's last softball game of the season. Don't get too disappointed though, because next week is her tournament. Last night Ashley had one of the very few hits of the night.
"Swing, batter!"
Winding up... 
...and there it goes.
This is what Ryan does at all of the games. 
Ryan in his train conductor's hat. (From Bret's childhood)
Ashley got to pitch the end of her softball game tonight and I missed it! The one time I wasn't there with my camera! Took Ryan home so he could get to bed since we all have to get up so early every day this week because of Ashley going to Girl Scout camp. And I missed it! :-(
Ryan chilling out at the game on his Cubbies blanket...
Ashley right before she cranks one out and runs to 1st base...
And she's safe at 3rd base...
Ashley and Bret as she gets ready to run home and score one for her team!
Ryan at Bicycle Safety Town making a get away as Ashley chased after him!
