Tonight's Fun!

One last night without the boys. I can't wait to see this. Wait for the review!

Bill called at 9:50 this morning.I knew he had practice. I knew Cole's knee was bothering him and the first thing he says I have an emergency. OK heart is pounding, I'm reaching for my keys to drive 3 hours to get to my kid, I can't breath. Then it comes.... We need to know how many pictures your camera takes and how can I tell. WHAT?! Just wait until he gets home. Boys are all fine. Clay won't talk to me. I know he'll be in the car withing 5 minutes or driving in the driveway @ Denise's tomorrow.

Who needs boys?

We had girls night in. It was wonderful. I almost forgot I needed to come back and feed the animals. Tomorrow night I'm going with DW to see Mama Mia. I can't wait. I may never want to hear ABBA again but I may end up getting the sound track. The we could play it and sing along and teach JPR the words. Life is grand one more night of quiet before my tribe returns.

News from camp is Kyle is loosing the fishing tournament. Cole is looking good and the team is really tough. Bill is struggling with kickers so we'll see how he is when he gets home.

What to watch tonight Diane Sawyer or Brewers. I say I can to both.

Also I am thrilled! The creep I work with is resigning and we are getting a PT with a fabulous rep. I can't wait!

SHHHH can you hear it?

It's call quiet! I don't remember the last time I had the house to myself. I can't believe it will be 3 whole days without picking up after someone, giving someone money, or bowing to demands. 3 whole days of total bliss. Tomorrow night is girls night in. We're getting a real chick flick and making homemade pizza. I can't wait.

On the flip side we are officially into football season! Kyle is up to camp with the boys. He's working in the kitchen and fishing and swimming. This is great because as he's doing that Cole's into 2-3 a day practice. Welcome back to reality Cole. Bill has to figure out his kickers. Let me just say the the mean age up a camp is about 16. This includes the coaches sometimes.

Clay is at Denise's so life for him is great. He's 4 wheeling, swimming, playing and not fighting with his brothers. Life is grand for all.

What? No Baseball!?

Well we made it alot further than we ever thought we would. Let's just say getting to the top via the loser's bracket is tough. Thursday we played River Valley and beat them fairly easily. The kids played tough and coaches kept their heads together. The next game Thursday night was against Cross Plaines. This game I almost had a coronary. We were up 9-1 and the field was doing awesome. Our pitcher was doing great. However he was not a coach's son so therefore got pulled and the coach's kid got put in.There was 1 out at this time. 5 runs later we get pitcher #3. 1 more runs later they put back our original pitcher and catcher. Now the kids are freaking. Thank goodness there is at least on coach who has some brains and got the kids to score 3 more and keep their heads in the game. We ended up winning to play Friday @ 4 against Eau Claire. We were up 3-0 right away. Then all hell broke loose and we ended up loosing 8-18. One more run we could have stayed in the game. The kids took 5th in the state. The director of the tourney told us that there are 55 teams in the state and we should be proud to be able to be at state and do as well as we did. The coach of Sturgeon Bay (the first team we played) was very impressed by the boys. Kyle is thrilled to be done and to be able to do nothing for a couple of days.

Kyle played fantastic all season long. His coaches were talking to Bill afterwards and was telling him how impressed they were with him this year. He had the highest batting and on base average. His skills in the field were right on. What really impressed them was how he took to the leadership position on the team and kept everyone pumped. Makes you proud to be his parent.

One of the boys said if they won the two games on Thursday he would shave his head. He held true to his word and the kids shaved his after the game. He had a head of hair like Clay so it took awhile.

Game one of State

OUCH! Let's just say our coaches need to retire. They sent 3 kids and got 3 outs that were not necessary. They also chewed the kids out for it. They left pitchers in to long. Two of the three coaches need to know what their own kids are capable of. For crying out loud we are at the state tourney playing the best we should be playing our best kids in their best positions. The up side is that Kyle played well and was asked to pinch run. This is really funny because he not the fastest kid on the team but the kid he ran for is the slowest. He walked his one time up to bat but crossed home plate when he pinch ran. He played the field well. I have a feeling tomorrow may be it.

Joys of Summer

Let me just say being woken up at 1:30 in the morning by a large 16 year old kid with an ear ache is not a joy. The poor boy has not only the ear infection but a bad case of swimmer's ear. At least he'll get it taken care of before football camp next week and he'll be able to go swimming while he's there.

My real joy is Football Camp. Cole and Bill will be going up to practice, Kyle is going along as kitchen help and Clay is going to camp Herkert for a couple of days! All my dreams coming true. I get to go to the bathroom without someone knocking, I can take a bath without interruption, we are planning a chick flick night, and no messes to clean up but my own for 4 whole days. Happy Mothers day #2 to me. I think they are all just giving me calm before the storm.

Clay and Kyle have football camp tomorrow with Cole as a counselor. This should be fun. Kyle won't participate in the camp Wed or Thurs. because of baseball. Kyle plays in Appleton @ 2 on Wed. If he wins he'll play at 5 on Thurs or loose he'll play @2:30. Let's hope they win to make my work life a little easier. My boss is being great about this. This could be because I offered to work Sat. if needed.

On To State!

Well the boys did it. They won against Mosinee and are going to the state tourney in Appleton this week. It was a close game and we were tied until the bottom of the 6th at 4:4. Kyle came up to bat with bases loaded and 2 out. He hit in the winning 2 runs. He was playing first and Bill and Amy's Dad kept telling him to back up and not to worry about the base because there were runners on 1st and 2nd. It was a good thing because with 2 out the kid hit a line shot to Kyle and he made the game ending catch. We had to wait until the next game was over to either see if we played a tie breaking game with Everest or if Wausau won and we automatically went to state. The game ended in a 3:2 score with Wausau winning. Thank you Wausau! Kyle is floating right now. I hope the boys play well this week at the state tourney.

Hey batter batter!

It was the best of times It was the worst of times

Kyle had district playoffs for traveling team today. We (or he) won the first game in 8 innings with a score of 10/5 against DC Everst. He was 2/2 in this game. We then had a 20 minute break (the temp was 84 by the end of today's game @5:30) then went up against Wausau. We were 1:1 until the 4th and then all hell broke lose. We ended up losing 4:14 in 4 innings. Yikes! Well we play Mosinee tomorrow at 12:30. If they win this it's a good possibility that they will be playing in Appleton next weekend for state. Mosinee thinks we'll cream them. Steve did the stats and Kyle has the highest batting average of the team but is batting 7th. Surprise for the other team when they think they're at the bottom of the order.

Cole's out and about again. He has ambition to work at one of the local gyms. We'll see how far this goes.

Clay, "I want to go home" whine started at the 3rd inning of the first game. We tried to get him to stay home without any luck.

One of the mom's panicked because some guy came by Clay picked him up and was hugging him. I turned around and saw the cowboy hat. Bill Sr. just got home and came to see Kyle play. Kyle put one between center field and 2nd base. Perfect hit at the perfect time.

Happy Birthday Debby!

Well I hope you enjoy the last of your 365 days in your 30's. Just tell yourself that the 40's are the new 30's. I don't have any embarrassing photo's to upload so you're safe. I would like to have found the one with you sun bathing in your knee highs. You have always been our fashion guru. Happy Birthday Debby! Enjoy your day!

Wow what a game!

Kyle had a play off game last night. The Plover teams were all seeded as the top teams and we were the top Stevens Point team. We were ahead 5-1 until the bottom of the 5th. The other team came back to put us down by two. Our boys answered and we ended up going 8 innings. Give the other team credit they really slugged a couple of good ones right in the open areas in the field. We lost by one. The regular season is officially over. One more weekend of travel team and baseball is complete. This however only means football starts.

Speaking of which, Cole played 7 on 7 football last night and they beat SPASH. The best part is we did it with only 6 guys. This was SPASH's A team too.

Clay is just adjusting to being home and the boys are making sure nothing has changed for him. We're going geocaching today since Cole's with friends and Kyle is going to the Dells with friends.

Did I mention how great it is to be on vacation?

Oh this was painful

Kyle had a game last night. First of all the 9 best were not on the field. In two innings we were up 5-0. By the last inning we were 7-17. Let's just say when you coach to promote your kid this is what happens. Every kid on the team had an error. One of the coaches yelled at Kyle because he did what he was told to but by doing so let a run in. The kids looked like zombies by the 4th inning. We got another exciting game at 1 and 5 today. Let's hope things go better. That awful coach won't be there. By the way I'm not just a whining Mom there are parents who are petitioning to have him never coach again. I won't sign it because his son is Kyle's friend.

Bill gave us a report from Iola when he came home this morning. There were 70 mile an hour winds and canopy tents were thrown all over the place. One I guess went through a guys trailer.

Cole had a great time at the Brewer's game even though the lost. We listened to part of it and it sounded loud. I hope everyone who's going tomorrow has a great time.

Excitement from last night: I heard our door open about 1 am thought it was Cole. He didn't stop in our room like he normally does but figured he was just tired. Then this morning I heard movement in the kitchen. The door opened and Bill came in laughing. The neighbors lab had pushed the door open and climbed up the stairs and was sleeping on the landing. Cole was still with Nathan and Kyle was still sleeping downstairs.

One More Day until VACATION!

Can I just say that the only thing better than a Friday before vacation is a payday Friday before vacation. I can't wait. I am so ornery about work I need time away. I get to start my weekend with a ball game tomorrow night. I hope the boys do well. Cole's off to the Brewer game with Nathan. Clay will be switching hotels from Camp Grandma and Grandpa to Camp Hurkert. He's still having a great time because he's to busy to talk to me.

Bill and the boys went to Iola today. Bill says it's a little slower this year but it's only Thursday. His friend sold his truck so it's a good thing Cole and Kyle drove seperately. Cole of course has found 101 things he would like to add to his car including some very loud speakers and really wide tires. Again, if he wants those he should have gotten a job.

Off to eat a Klondike bar before everyone gets home.

Oh to wish for II

Well some people wish for wonderful and facinating things here's my list:

• A magical house that picks up after the boys magically puts things away (especially the bathrooms)
• A great carmel sundae that won't add extra to the butt and thighs.
• A great girls night out (no discussion of kids)
• A back rub without any further expectations
• A kid who just says thank you or I love you for no apparent reason (don't count on this if you have a 16 year old with a car)
• A long hot bath without someone knocking on the door
• A rainy day with a really good tearjerker movie (best if watched with a good friend)

What a friend

How do you know when you're a true friend? I guess it's when you take a guy out on 7 on 7. I guess the boys were playing against SPASH and one of SPASH kids started clawing like a cat. Nathan got huge scratch marks on his neck and down his chest. In the huddle they let Cole devise a play. Nathan drop back and Cole bull rushed and put the kid on his rump and they scored a touchdown. The kid was so shook he stayed out the rest of the game.

Kyle's game got rained out and he was upset because he did want to play after all. He has a game tonight at 8.

Well let me just say it's a sad day when your 8 year old doesn't need or want you anymore. I didn't think this would happen until another 8 years. I called the little devil to see if he was having fun and just because I missed the little fart and he didn't want to talk to me. His dad called him later and he was more than happy to talk to him. Geez! Well at least I know he's having a good time.

Mondays after a holiday

Who invented a Monday after a holiday and who let everyone off at work. I mean I know I'm good but trying to do 3 other jobs and my own yikes. Even the best of us get weak in the knees trying to keep up. Well I'm missing my littlest one but know he's having a great time. Kyle has a game tonight and Cole's playing 7 on 7 football tonight. Busy but fun night. I know Kyle's praying for rain. I think he's wore out from all the fun this weekend.

It's over!!

What a wonderful 4th weekend! The weather and company was perfect. The kids went swimming and caught a ton of fish. Kyle was not happy to come back but sometimes Clay needs to be able to be the big kid.
Bill, Kyle and I did a geocache on the way home at Timm's Hill. We found a geocache sticker where the coordinates said and Bill found an amo box about 50' away in a different tree. We couldn't find a listing for the second one. We need to get moving to catch up to Mom and Jen.

TRIFECTA

Fourth of July Northern

The second catch of the day was eventful. Dad and Grandpa weren't sure if they were going to have to call 911 for Kyle. I guess the poor boy started to hyperventilate and go into shakes when reeling this one is. It didn't help that his Dad tried telling him he thought it was a musky too.

Holy Cow after 42 years!

After 42 years Bill finally caught a muskie. Forget a fish of 1,000 casts let's say a fish of 1 million casts. By the way size doesn't matter.

Happy 4th of July!

Well it's off to Winter tomorrow morning! 3 whole days without work! I can't wait. The only down side is that we will leave Clay there and won't see him for about a week. Stay safe and have fun!

Mom it's right here!

Well Clay is officially back in geocaching mode. He's ready to try and find Grandma's this weekend. The little devil walked right to it. He didn't even try and look around. He figures we should do one a day now.

Kyle played ball last night and tonight. We won't discuss the scores or the games. Let's just say I think our team checked out early this season. We had a terrible ump tonight. A ball in the dirt and above the head are strikes. He stayed at his friends house last night and slept outside. He had a good time.

Cole thinks he should be out every night. We hate to remind him he's 16. Oh well thank goodness for hair dye.