Softball

Softball is officially over!  The girls really improved and are starting to smack that ball......nice!

We had their last game yesterday where they got medals and cute little cupcakes.

Lexi playing catcher



Kendri ready to boot it

The girls are batting as lefties to really improve their chances of making it as professional ball players.  ;)  Our biggest problem this year was the fact that the coach couldn't pitch to them anywhere near the strike zone.  And the other problem was the fact that I consistently missed the important parts of the game.  And when I say important I mean the only parts that I went to watch - my kids.  Typically I'd watch like a hawk for one of the girls to get to bat.  And then Shayli (who was running around like an orphan) would decide to run past her imaginary boundary and not look back.  So I'd run after her knowing at any minute Lexi or Kendri would be up to bat.  And that would be the time they decided to hit the first pitch.  Just as my back is turned.  So I'd get back to the bleachers in time to see them get to first base.  Or maybe Kyson would be at the top of the 20 foot fence he had just climbed and I'd be yelling at him to get down just as Lexi makes a double play. That kind of important.  But don't worry I'm pretty sure I saw every strike out. :) Oh well.  There's always next year!

Shayli

I was going through my pictures and realized I have a ton of pictures of Shayli.  Probably because this age is just so cute!  And the older girls get busy and aren't at home as much as they used to be.....anway, Shayli loves to swing!  She was cracking me up while she was throwing her head back and swinging.  She certainly is fearless.

 

We started potty training.   And then stopped.  She is also stubborn.  She did great the first day.  I think she peed 3 times on the toilet.  The next day she decided she wasn't up for all that work.  She refused to sit on the toilet without kicking and screaming.  Refused.  In fact the only way I got her to stay on the toilet was if I held her there.  And then she'd scoot her little rear to the side so if she did go pee-pee she'd go all over the floor and seat.  Did I mention she's stubborn? I gave it 2 more days and then left for Colorado.  I decided I'd start back up after we move.  Or after her surgery.  We'll see.  The good news is, she has started sitting on the toilet again by herself.  Obviously if I tell her to go sit on the toilet, the answer is NO!

Shayli also likes to be neked! Sometimes I succomb to peer pressure and let her run around without her clothes on.  But usually she's not happy until her diaper is off and then she decides  "why not take a bath?" For like the 4th time in the day.  It's easier to keep her clothed and busy!  Although she would definitely benefit from several baths a day.....

She is the mascot at Kyson's t-ball games.  She insists on sitting in the dugout no matter how hard I try to keep her out.  Luckily Kyson's coach dotes on him and by default likes Shayli too.  These coaches are pretty laid-back.  And as you can see in the picture, they let Shayli run the roost over there in the dugout!

And when she does finally get in the tub, there must be every roll-on soap that we own accompanying her.....scrub-a-dub-dub!

Her hair is finally long enough for pig-tails.  Heaven forbid we actually do her hair.  She gets rid of any hair tie, clip, headband within 30 seconds.  Sigh.  One day she'll look at her mullet hair and wonder why her mother allowed it.  And I'll say because you made me. We love Shayli and all her personalities!

Grandpa Sim

Last month I flew out to Colorado for a quick weekend for my Grandpa Sim's funeral.

My flight was for 6:30 in the morning and is over an hour away.  It was an early morning but I thought I had left plenty of time to get checked in.  Until I realized that the only people in the entire airport were standing in the exact same line that I had to stand in.  It was rather horrible actually.  In fact, they were calling my name over the intercom as I was booking it to my gate.  But I made it and so did my bag!

 

 

This is the day before my grandpa passed away.  He was asking for my grandma.  I thought that was sweet.

 

 

My grandpa was the youngest in his family.  This is his oldest sister Francis talking with my dad.  She turned 98 just a few weeks ago. 

 

 Gramps lived a full life and certainly gave all of us grandkids "Hall Pride"!  Some of my favorite memories of him are: 

state basketball
boxing with his gloves
getting "skeeter" pinches with his broken thumb
the phrase "Let me tell you something..."
granada produce
skip and turn and out the door
laying on the floor to watch tv
peanut brittle
vinegar
his laugh "Hee hee" with the last "hee" going up an octave

There are lots of memories but these are some of the best!  We'll miss you Gramps!

We also had some late nights at the bowling alley.  My brother, Phil, just became owner so we had to break it into the family! This is my dad and his oldest brother, Sim Arthur, reliving their childhood.....

 Meanwhile, the rest of us were setting family bowling records!  Not.  I must say my aim and skills are slowly deteriorating.  Hopefully with the new addition I can work on getting my skills back.  And by that I mean breaking 100. ;)  Here are some of the family that made the trip.....my cousins, sister, and sister-in-law.  It was fun getting together with everyone even though the occasion was sad. 

Lindsay, Amber, Heather, Kellie, Jessica

 

And my sweet family missed me!  They had a surprise waiting for me when I got home!