End of softball 2012

Team & coaches for the older two minus one player. 

#5 was VERY upset he didn't get a trophy too.  I will have to keep this in mind and get him something special the end of the next game season.  After all he does go to all the practices and games-such a trooper!

ps In this picture he is holding a trophy we were taking home to give to the missing player from the older kids team.  Him being able to hold that was such a lifesaver from a complete and total meltdown!!

New summer experiences

#3 getting on the bus for day camp.  He had a blast once he realized he did know other kids going.

 Plus there is that cool fact that he got to ride a bus!  My kids always love an excuse to catch a bus ride:)

 The week really wore him out but he had a great time.  Thankful for all the staff and parents that helped out for the week!

#5 had his first overnight away from Mom & siblings.  #5 and cousin C  had the grandparents to themselves for a few days.  Report back to me was #5 didn't ask about us at all, just enjoyed his stay.  #4 was missing his brother a lot though and couldn't wait for him to come back home!

Staying cool in Missouri

  Involves water play

 At the zoo for #3, before another child ran into the birthday boy and knocked him over.  An outing is never an outing until blood is involved!

 A fun way to cool off after a hike.

Mom, mom, we found a lobster!!  Children, do I need to remind you where we live now? There are no lobsters here.

But there are:

 Crawdads 

I thought he was getting brave enough to pick one up, turns out it was dead!

As you can see everyone else went with the shoe pick up method.  For some reason they were afraid of getting pinched :)

#3's turn

 #3 way back when he was my surfer dude.  Love his blonde locks.  He had a birthday at the beginning of the month and wanted to go to the zoo.

 So we did, with everyone else in the area(or so it seemed!). Walking back to the car the kids played hide and seek in the grass.

Now he is 8! Birthday dessert pick was Strawberry Shortcake.

When he was two.....

 I received a notice that a photo archive was closing and found I had some pictures stashed there.  Was excited to see  these again.

 We are celebrating having #4 in our lives 6 years today!
(when he was 2 he didn't care for cake much)

 He is a handful but so cute and sweet too!  I love his imagination and know he will be a real go-getter in life.

 and this momma loves it when she gets blessed by the random wildflowers(even the not so wild ones) he brings!

Mother's Day of that year.  I was determined to go to the beach and get a picture taken with my babies!

Off to have fun with my birthday boy:)

Summer time

Summer is here and is going by fast!  I think we are out of the house more then in these days.  I'm motivated to get moving this summer so trying to take a good walk at least 3 days a week.  Which usually leads to fun times with hikes or other creative walkways!

 One of our walks last week was at Grant's Farm.

 The kids had fun with the goats.  Good thing they are pretty tough, #5 was very 'loving' to them.

 #2 was excited when she took some pictures of the Bald Eagle and it looked right at her.  They had a few that had been injured and not able to return to the wild.

 The horse did not want his picture taken with #3, turned around right away!  We enjoyed the Clydesdale's anyway:)

 Of course we don't have to go very far to see crazy animals around here.

Right in our own backyard we have ground hogs, rabbits, squirrels, birds, raccoons, black rat snakes and more!

Loss

Something a little different to share today.  I had wrote it not sure if I would post it or just have it written out for personal growth.  But after talking to a friend I felt I needed to share in case it could help someone else.

When you lose a spouse there are going to be  hard days.  Sometimes these days aren't going to be when you  might expect them to be.   I have found that what would have been my anniversary was easier than this past weekend, when we as a country were celebrating the lives of those who gave all for our freedom.
I lost my husband through divorce but when you lose a spouse, whether through divorce or death you (and your children) have to adjust to a different lifestyle.  As a married women part of my identity was not only as a wife but a military wife and that of a military lifestyle.  Being without that community is strange, honoring that community this weekend made me sad and miss that identity that I no longer claim.
Ultimately I know I am where I should be at this time.  I am comforted with signs, blessings and people that care.  I still maintain friendship with many of my military friends and work on creating friendships where I am planted. It is ok to grieve what was, that is normal and to be expected.  You need to keep swimming forward.  For me this is keeping my focus on God.  It is only through His strength that I can face the difficult road so well.  When you are going through hard times surround yourself with wise friends.  When facing the loss of a spouse look for groups like divorce care(they offer groups for children as well), grief share and single and parenting to help you grow through this time.  Read books on the subject you are going through, seek your pastor, seek counseling, journal and pray.  
I encourage you to get out and grow yourself from the circumstance you are going through, don't stay home and hide and hope things get better on their own.  Take that step out in faith, it may seem scary but you can do it!  You are loved, you are worthy.  Share with others, some will pray for you and others will learn from your trial.  Find your Joy in the midst of the storm.