T-ball Time

Max loves baseball. He is left handed which gives him an edge with the beginner players. He's been lead off batter every game. He likes to play first base but he'll settle for pitcher. He asked if he could stay home and not go Tankin' because he was going to have to miss a game. He's only 6 years old. Our evenings at the ball park have only just begun.

Nate and I think this picture could be used as an advertisement for Easton: note the perfect placement of the bat.

(These pictures were taken by a photographer at one of his games. If I knew his name I would give him full credit but I don't....)

Tankin' take 2

A portion of the McGooden family. Both of Nate's grandmas joined us this year so it truly was a full, family experience.

Some of the more adventurous souls climbs up the little bluff then jumped or slid down into the water. I was not one of these people.

Grant and Max sure enjoyed it though. Grant couldn't have been happier rolling around in that sand and freezing water.

Float complete. The kids had as much fun jumping on the overturned tanks as they did the whole float. Cutey Natey.
A large portion of the group. Yes, Nate's uncles and cousins are real cowboys. The hats aren't just for show.

I got TANKED on the Middle Loup River

...at least that's what one of the shirts said. We survived our whirlwind weekend. We had a super time but are oh, so tired.

The fun begins. There were 21 of us in all spread out in 3 tanks.

Jack loved throwing the stinky sand into the water. We had several stops along the river to eat, walk in the frigid water and let the kids and Uncle Roger be crazy.

Max laid in the middle of the tank for a while completely covered by a towel for a "little rest".

Grant was giddy the entire time.

Chloe showed the boys how to jump without fear. There were always lots of uncle nearby to "catch" or get dragged down with the plungers.

On the road AGAIN and AGAIN

Yep, tomorrow when Nate gets off work we're hitting the highway again (at least he'll be with us this time!) to head to the great land of Nebraska. We are going on a redneck cruise with 21 (give or take a few) McGoodens. That's right, folks. We're going to load a bunch of McGoo's in a couple of stock tanks and float the Middle Loupe River. Does life get any more grand? We'll be back Sunday... more than 20 h0urs of driving in 4 days... yes, we have officially lost our minds.

Did I mention that 3 days after we return from Nebraska we're heading down to Mississippi for the 4th of July?

Woo hoo! Bring on the road trip fun!

Holy Carp!

I thought the spawning carp deserved their very own post. Don't worry, folks. The carp population seems to be thriving. Too bad they are so nasty.

Why, oh why, didn't I turn on the video camera?!

Highlights- part 4

The canoe ride on Chatfield Lake...
Max and Grant got to use their own special paddles.

Max had his turn at paddling.

Jack and I enjoying the quiet moments before he went absolutely tantrum-throwing nuts and tried jumping out of the canoe.

It was a full load.

We had to pull up on the shore mid-way through so Grant could have his turn paddling.

Highlights- Part 3

Popsicles. A highlight anywhere, anytime for Jack.

Posing at Hudson Garden.

Giddy'up hard, cold, metal horsie.

The perfect thing for the boys- an enormous tree they could all climb in at the same time.

Another perfect addition for the boys- a train set outside.

Highlights- Part 2

Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park...

Taking a break with Nana and Papa.

Moments before petting a (potentially rabid) chipmunk.

A cold Mama and her boys.

Snow in June... it was piled up everywhere.

Such a perfect place to walk (snowshoes would have been nice in some areas) around a crystal clear lake.

Colorado Highlights- Part 1

Visiting Ava on the way out of town.

A roadside pee stop somewhere in Kansas.

Swinging on Nana and Papa's porch.

Looking for frogs and tadpoles.

Trying to cheer Jack up during one of his many cranky spells.

Home again, home again...jiggety jig

Why is it that no matter how long you've been gone as soon as you get back it's as if you never left?

2 minutes after we got home Max was eagerly anticipating t-ball practice by warming up his swing. He popped Jack a good one right below the eye.

Welcome home.

Highlight

All I'm going to say about today is: carps spawning.  Holy smokies it was crazy.  

The rest of the week

There's something kind of nice about not getting on the computer every day.  I went 2 whole days without checking e-mail or blogs... I should do that more often.  

Mom has done a great job of keeping the boys busy.  We've gone to the park several times; went to Hudson Gardens where we saw huge tadpoles, frogs, a train set up outside (which was definitely the highlight for Jack) and the boys were able to run free; went to Wildlife Experience where we watched Sea Monsters- A Prehistoric  Adventure on the IMAX, then explored the exhibits including an indoor miniature golf course(FORE! the environment); Papa took the boys fishing- they didn't catch anything but got to touch worms and play at the park again.  Mom & I even managed to sneak away and get a pedicure:)

Jack has had enough of being away.  The past couple times we've gone anywhere in the car while I was getting him buckled he said,"Go my house?"

Monday, Jackimo, Monday.

(FYI- It takes me too long to download and post pictures on this computer so it'll have to wait until I get home.)

Not Trip Related

I got an e-mail from our lawyer's office yesterday.  New trial date:  September 30.

Lawsuit, take 2.

Go, defendants!

Colorado Crazies

This about sums up how the boys have acted since arriving in Colorado.  Is it the altitude, the lack of Daddy or the excitement?  Whatever it is it is getting to me... and making me crazy!

Just the Beginning

Here's the rundown of our trip to Colorado so far:

THURSDAY- Decided on a whim to go to Broken Arrow.  Quickly finished packing (forgetting socks for Jack) and head out the door at 7:30 pm.  Arrive by 9:30, get the boys in bed upstairs.

FRIDAY- A little after midnight, the Tornado Sirens start to blare.  Bring the boys downstairs, find flashlights, watch the amazing lightening.  We experience nothing but a really heavy thunderstorm.  Learn minutes later from a storm chaser on TV the tornado knocked down electric poles about a block away.  Finally sleep after the excitement.  Leave BA around noon to head to Colorado.  Grant rode with Papa for the majority of the trip.  No stripped tires, no yakimas opening, no tickets... it was a very uneventful trip (minus the one time when I was adjusting the cruise control and all the lights on my dash lit up.  A little alarming to see in the darkness so I didn't use the cruise control for the last 3 hours).  Somewhere along the way decided to drive the whole way.  Arrived in Highlands Ranch about 12:30 am (which I guess is technically Saturday).

SATURDAY- Crazy kids woke up at 6:00 am.  Sent them in to Nana.  Walked the greenbelt searching for frogs.  Played at the park. Boys waded in the run-off to the pond.  Lots of telling Grant to "settle down" and "control yourself".  His crazy button has been stuck in the ON position.

SUNDAY- Drove up to Rocky Mtn. National Park.  Hiked around Bear Lake.  Lots of snow, elk and chipmunks.  Max's final count of animals was elk-32, deer-2 and chipmunks-7.  Grant pet a chipmunk and was crazy excited about it.  Short lecture followed about biting and rabies.  Ate at Culver's on the way back.

MONDAY- Mom & Dad are at work so it's just me and the boys... whatever shall we do?

Blog Amazement

No, I don't have hidden talents that I'm just now deciding to use.  My friend Emily has a friend Allison who has the amazing talents.  I just put them to good use... and donated to Ashley's homecoming in the meantime.  Thank you, Allison!

Oh, David!

Jack's favorite book undoubtedly is Oh, David! by David Shannon. We read it every single night before bed. Tonight he grabbed it and ran in to join the big boys and Nate reading their bedtime story.

Then, he read it to them.

Flower "Knowledge" Abounds

So... as I was saying. I don't know anything about flowers.

Here's an e-mail from my mom:

My sweet daughter
Are you sure your thriving flowers are geraniums? Out here we call them periwinkles... Now I know there are many species of geraniums, so I may be totally incorrect... perhaps that is why they are thriving! However, whatever they are, They are beautiful - and congratulations on their survival!!

mom (I rarely can remember what any of my flowers are, so I really have no room to talk -or correct)

I contacted my flower expert friend, David. Here is his reply:

Hey Sarah,
Nate's mom is wrong and your mom is mostly wrong--they are impatiens (or most of them)! In the pot on the left, in the very back, there does seem to be a periwinkle plant--based on the foliage.

I could have sworn Gloria told me they were geraniums but I'm probably crazy because she knows a lot more about flowers than most people I know. I just wanted to correct myself in case I confused anyone. Regardless, they are still blooming!

Slip 'n Slide

Whoever invented the slip 'n slide is a genius. (I must say, they have greatly improved since the yellow one we had as kids). I bought it yesterday so Max has been anxiously waiting to use it. The first words out of his mouth this morning were, "Thunder? That means I can't get out the slip 'n slide." Many prayers later, the sun came out and so did the boys. A half hour later they were shivering asking for hot chocolate. Rain rain, go away! We want to celebrate Jaime's 3-0!

The boys were being oddly cooperative for this picture. Amazing.

No fighting excitement, just some action.

Alive!

I have self-proclaimed black thumbs. So imagine my excitment....

These geraniums have been alive for weeks now and I must say, are thriving. My first ever truly growing plants. Miracles still happen!

Last Day of School

Max and Baylee, eagerly awaiting the final bell.

Do you think they realize the possibility of being in the same class next year is very small?

I'm not going to break to him.