T-BALL

Here are some pictures of Allie at T-ball today. She didn't cry once! Pretty amazing. She did field the ball...actually ran toward a grounder & caught it under her glove. She didn't know what to do with it after that. The coaches yelled at her to throw it to first...I'm not sure that she even knows which base is first! She did a good job hitting the ball off of the tee and running to each base in the correct order. She made it home without getting out and was very proud of herself.










Here are some pictures of Jake at T-ball today. He has improved SO much since last year. He has is really enthusiatic about EVERYTHING he does during the practice and the games and he goes at everything about 100 MPH! He did a great job fielding the ball today and had a base hit. He made it home without getting out as well.









After t-ball today we stopped by the mall and had BK for lunch. After lunch we went and saw the movie Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties. We were the only ones in the whole theater, which was nice. I didn't feel obligated to SHHHHHHH my kids! We all enjoyed the movie. Now that we are home, I need to finish up a couple of cleaning projects and tomorrow we are hoping for a waterpark day!

CHILLY

It was chilly yesterday all day. It never rained, but was cold enough for capris and a sweatshirt. Definitely NOT waterpark weather. I was able to get the whole house vacuumed and the bathrooms cleaned. I even managed to clean out a couple of cupboards and drawers. The kids were out in the back yard most of the day swinging, kicking a soccer ball around & playing in the sand box. Last night, they rode their bikes and scooters while I messed around in my flower beds. My mom gave me 3 plants that she had divided so I found homes for them.

Today the weather looks to be the same. After t-ball, I am planning to take the kids to see the new Garfield movie at College Square. Then, I'll plan to come on home and tackle a few more cupboards & drawers. Tomorrow the weather forecast is the same so unless that changes, we will be going bowling with some friends. Hopefully by Thursday we'll get some warmer temps and we can be out at the waterpark all day long!

I included a picture of me and the kids taken over this past weekend. I rarely get to be in any pictures because I always take them :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS ABBIE

Allie's best friend Abbie turned 5 on June 24th. We celebrated her birthday at the waterpark with all of our waterpark friends on Friday. The kids were SO happy to play with each other, eat cake & pizza and watch Abbie open her gifts. We started the party around 10:30 and finally hit the road around 3:30!!



FISCHER GET TOGETHER

We had a get together with my Dad's side of the family on Saturday at my mom's house. We had intended to be outside all evening, however just as everyone arrived, it poured. It did clear up later & we were able to get outside and let the kids stomp in some puddles. Here are a few pictures from the Fischer get together on Saturday night.

Here is most of the youngest generation of Fischer's...left to right Ty, McKinzie, Ben, Leo, Jake & Allie (Karlee wanted no part of the picture)



Here are the kids (and a couple of parents)stopping in the middle of the street in Grand Mound to watch a train. left to right Jim Pietruzynski, Leo, McKinzie, Trish, Karlee, Allie, Jake & Ben.



Here are the Fischer girl cousins...left to right Trish, Mandy, Brooke, Abbie, Maggie, Katie.

Here is a picture of all of the great grandkid (and some parents)...it was the only time we could get that group of kids to participate!! left to right...Jim McCulloh, Leo, Trish, Karlee, Jake, Allie, Ty, Ben, Mike Thiel, Abbie, McKinzie.



SCOTT RUNS THE STURGIS FALL HALF MARATHON

Scott ran the Sturgis Falls half marathon this morning. He did well and ran it in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

T-BALL

We had t-ball this morning. On Tuesday, we were rained out so the kids were ready to play ball. Allie is doing pretty well. This is her first year so she's still learning the ropes. Jake is an old pro and getting better each time. His throwing has improved and he is a quick little runner around the bases. He can't decide if he wants to bat left or right handed...he naturally chooses left, but seems to hit the ball better right...we'll see...maybe he can get good at both?!?!? The pictures are of Allie at shortstop, Jake & his buddies before the game (Carter, Dylan, Brock Jake & Ben), Jake at 3rd and the kids together!






WATERPARK

We went to the waterpark today after 2 days of being stuck at home due to the rain. Needless to say the kids were ready to ride the slides!



LAST DAY OF VBS

Tonight was the last night of our Fiesta Bible School. The kids had SO much fun & so did I. I've already committed to leading a crew next summer! The picture is of the kids singing one of the songs that they learned this week at VBS.

DO YOU THINK IT IS HUMID TODAY?????

Poor Allie's hair turns to ringlets when the humidity gets high. She is a frizz ball this afternoon!!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

The kids are in Vacation Bible School this week. They started last night and end on Thursday night. I volunteered to help out and ended up being a "crew leader" for Allie's group. There are 10 preschool aged kids that I have to take from station to station throughout St. Pat's. I have 2 extremely rowdy kids that are going to make me nuts and 2 very clingy/whiny kids...believe it or not Allie isn't one of them! I'm having a ball there with the kids and my kids LOVE it! Each night is full of crafts, songs, games, snacks, Bible study and a short movie. I've attached a picture of the kids tonight with their shirts that they made last night and the sherbert ice cream we got on the way home (those are hand print suns on their shirts...this year's theme is FIESTA!!)

WATERPARK WITH DAD!!!!

Scott was off of work today instead of Friday. He joined us for a day at the waterpark. Not the best day to go because it was only about 83 degrees and there was wind that made it chilly. The water in the pools & slides isn't heated so until about mid-summer and lots of heat/humidity, it is just plain COLD! Scott was a good sport and took Jake down all of the slides that he wanted to go on. He also joined all of us on the wave pool and on the yellow slide. He talked Allie into trying out one of the big slides and she LOVED it. All in all a fun day...especially for the kids!

Tomorrow we have t-ball in the morning and Bible camp in the evening. Maybe we'll spend the afternoon at the waterpark if the rain stays away?!?

MORE LIGHTENING BUGS
We went out earlier last night and were able to catch lightening bugs for the kids. Well, for Allie anyway! Jake did just fine on his own. Allie, on the other hand, would smash them trying to catch them! They ended up with 2 plastic jars full of bugs, which made them happy & reaffirmed for both Scott & I that we CAN catch lightening bugs!


Scott got up yesterday morning and went golfing. He then went running in preparation for Sunday's 1/2 marathon. The kids and I went out to the waterpark for about 4 hours. My friend Sophie took Jake down 2 of the bigger slides (he was reluctant) and he LOVED them. He's too short to go alone so that might mean that I have to actually go on the waterslides this year. I don't love that idea! Scott is off today instead of Friday so he says that he's going to the waterpark with us today and will take Jake on all of the big slides.

The kids start vacation Bible school tonight. It goes for 4 nights and the theme is FIESTA!

LIGHTENING BUGS

Jake has been dying to catch lightening bugs this summer. We went out about 10 days ago and tried to catch some...Jake ended up with one and Allie with none. Our yard seems to repel the lightening bugs. He got to catch some at Nana & Papa's a few days ago and he asked to give it another try tonight. Scott, the kids & I all headed out to try again. There were only a few in the yard, but Scott & I were certain that we could catch some for the kids. We are pretty sure that catching the bugs was MUCH easier as a child. After about 30 minutes outside we caught zero bugs!! It was pitch black out by the time we came inside...maybe we can get some tomorrow night...or maybe we'll just have to go somewhere else to catch them :)

KID'S VISIT THE MISSISSIPPI

On Thursday afternoon, my sister took the kids back to my parent's house with her. Upon their arrival, a heated game of whiffle ball took place. Then a walk to the city park & the ball park. The night ended with the kids catching lightening bugs. While they were doing all of that, I enjoyed a few hours of sidewalk sale shopping, some peace & quiet around the house and finally a beer and an appetizer with my hubby to celebrate our 10 year anniversary!



Yesterday, mom & dad took them to the Mississippi for a picnic and some exploring. Then it was off to the IMAX to see "Bugs" in 3-D. After supper, they all went to the ball park to watch softball game. Michael & Kim were coming to visit too. Mom says that the were pooped. Scott and I went out for lunch at Mr. G's (an old favorite, too rough & smokey to take the kids too), we shopped for a few things that we need and we went out for dinner at a newer restaurant in town (the food was great).

Today, I'm meeting my parent's to get the kids and bring them home. I have really missed them! They might drive me crazy sometimes, but things were just too quiet and dull here without them!

T-BALL STARTS & ANOTHER RAINY DAY

T-Ball started at 9:00 this morning for Miss Allie. She is on the red team with her friend Alex from preschool. Of course she was in tears within the first 30 minutes of practice because well...Allie always cries!! I included a picture of Ashley, Allie & Abbie (Alex refused to have his picture taken with the girls).

Jake played ball at 10:00 and he made it on the Gold team. He was pumped up because his buddies Ben & Brock made his team. He would have loved to see his friends Dylan, Carter & Carter on his team too, but he was o.k. with how things turned out. I've attached a picture of Jake and his friends waiting to get their team assignments (Dylan, Carter, Brock, Jake, Ben & some other kid).

After T-ball, we had planned to go to the waterpark with Mandy & Ben before the left town. It was overcast & about 70 degrees at 11, so we went to Chuck E. Cheese's instead. Ben had never been to Chuck E. Cheese's and he really enjoyed it! He wasn't too sure about Chuckie & would say "HI MOUSE" from afar. I finally was able to get Ben to give him a "5" before we left. I think that Ben might be hooked on Chuck E. Cheese's now!!

RAINED OUT


We had big plans to take Ben & Mandy to the waterpark today. Unfortunately it rained pretty much all day. So, we went to BK for lunch and then to the movie Cars this afternoon. Great movie by the way!! Loved the voice of Mater the tow truck (Larry the Cable Guy). Tomorrow we start t-ball and are hoping to spend a couple of hours at the waterpark before Mandy & Ben head on home.

Last night the kids enjoyed some time on the swingset.

Jake got his first black eye(s)/swollen nose. He fell on the slip & slide at camp yesterday. As the afternoon/evening went on, his nose began to swell and turn black. I've included a picture, which doesn't do the bruising justice!!

SCOUT CAMP



Jake boarded the bus to Camp Ingawanis near Waverly this morning at 8 a.m. He was part of the "red" group which also had his buddy Carter in it. Jake said that they went swimming, played on a slip & slide, went horse back riding, went hiking, ate lunch and a snack, made a kite and had a great time! When the bus dropped him off at 3:30, his first words to me were "THAT WAS AWESOME MOM"!!! I think that camp was a hit!

Mandy & Ben should be arriving anytime now. Tomorrow I'm taking them to the waterpark and Thursday they are going to watch the kid's play t-ball.

(The pictures are of Jake & Brock after camp, Jake getting off of the bus & a picture of Jake with his buddies Carter, Brock & Luke prior to boarding the bus)

NEW BIKES

The kids got new bikes yesterday. They sold their old ones at Saturday garage sale. Both bikes were too small for them so we figured now was the time. We journeyed out on our bike quest stopping at Wal Mart, Toys R Us, Target, KMart & Scheel's, finally, we came home with 2 new bikes. By 10:00 last night they were assembled and the kids were ready for bed!!!

GARAGE SALE DAY

My kids love the annual garage sale at Sophie's house. We typically set up Thursday afternoon/Friday morning. We get up early on Saturday, stop by the gas station for Krispy Kreme donuts, coffee & chocolate milk and are at Sophie's before 7:00 a.m. The kids get to watch cartoons, play in the yard and have a lemonade stand because typically it is HOT outside. This year everything was the same except for the weather. It was STINKIN' cold!! Jake was SOOOOO disappointed that there would be no lemonade stand this year. Both kids sold several items in order to get new bikes and Jake thought that his lemonade stand would help his cause. All in all, it was a good garage sale. I finally said goodbye to some things that I couldn't bear to part with, mostly baby toys and feel good that I cleaned out some stuff.


It was a long week here and both kids on separate nights fell asleep between Allie's bed and the wall...note the pictures! The next several weeks look to be just as busy...next week we have dentist appointments, Scout camp, t-ball starting and family visiting. There should be lots to report next week!

FUNNY PICTURE

This picture makes me laugh. It is of Carter, Brock & Jake coming down the yellow slide at the waterpark. They think that they are big shots because we allow them to ride in the raft with no moms tagging along.

SAMI'S BIRTHDAY PARTY & GIRLS SING GREASE

Allie went to her first birthday party "alone" tonight. Actually, I stayed at Chuck E. Cheese's while she ate & played with her friends. I wasn't quite ready to allow her to stay without me nearby. She was very excited to pick out a "beautiful Cinderella Barbie" (her words) for Sami. She carefully chose a "perfect" pink bag to wrap the gift in (she did it herself). She also wrote "Happy Birthday Sami, Love Allie" in the card and was SO proud of herself. I tried to get all 15 or so party goers together for a group shot & I only managed to keep 4 still long enough for a picture (they are Sami, Abbie, Allie & Lily). Allie loved hanging out with her preschool friends.

We've been at the waterpark every day this week. Jake loves his new found freedom (limited) and has been obeying all of my rules (so far). Tommorrow we'll head to the waterpark for a couple of hours then out to Sophie's to set up for our annual garage sale on Saturday. I hope I get rid of a bunch of crap!!

Last night my friend Kim had a summer kick off girls only party. Sophie brought along her Karaoke machine & a Grease CD...I'm amazed how women (all mothers of Kindergarten or younger aged children) over 30 years old will act when presented with the opportunity to sing Grease songs while having a margarita. There were 8 of us there and we knew all of the words to all of the songs....I've attached a picture of Kim, Sophie & Lynn singing along...they will kill me when they see this!!