Branson Part 4 - The End

We ended at Branson on Friday.  The girls ended up placing 8th out 14, not bad for their first time to the World Series.  We had a great time getting to know alot of the other parents that we had not spent much time with.  Bailey has a great group of girls on her team and a great group of parents who all get along wonderfully.  We have already heard of teams breaking up because parents and coaches did not get along and I am so happy that she hs some great coaches that she will play with for many years to come.  She has already been with them for 4 years.  Blake did wonderful in Branson!  We were so lucky that we had a cool spell that week and temps were in the 70's!  Blake was 3 months old and was the ham of the ballpark.  He was dishing out smiles left and right!

One of our favorite places to go eat at in Branson is the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks, they have awesome food!  They make everything fresh.  They grow their own vegetables, make thier own milk and process their own meat.

This was the dessert that the girls got with their meals

Sweet girl!

Campbell and daddy at the ballfields.

Bailey age 9 and Campbell age 4.

Hey lady my name is Blake, aka Mr. Ham :)

Branson Part 3-World Series 2014

On Thursday morning we headed back to the fields for more games.  This was the first day of bracket play.  Our first team was a team from New Mexico.  Bailey pitched this game and was throwing AWESOME!!  I have to say I am very proud of this girl.  It is so amazing to see her improve game after game.  She really takes everything in and tries to learn all she can.  Of course she is 9 years old and sometimes tears will set in or she will become upset, but I try to use those moments to teach her to be strong and to push thru, nothing is ever perfect and you can learn from each experience wether its bad or good. 

Here she is #1, always watching the game, love her!

I had both Blake and Campbell with me so taking pictures was kind of a struggle, as it is all the time these days!  Here Bailey is up to bat, she has a very confident presence in the box.

Once again my picture taking was laking but I did snag these of her pitching on their final game.  They fought hard in this game.  They came back from being benind and lost by 2 runs.  They had some terrible umps this game and I think if a few plays were called as they should have been they would have won this final game.

Branson Part 2

On Wednesday the team headed back to Silver Dollar City.  They had the day off from games so they spent the day having fun together.  I so wish I could have been there for this day the girls had a great time!  Plus I will admit that I like the roller coasters!

From what I am told this is the only meltdown moment from Campbell.  She was upset about not getting her way so she was a bit unhappy for a while.  So glad Tim documented this moment for us to look back on one day!  This looks like typical Campbell, arguing until she gets her way!

This is Jay, he is one of Baileys coaches, he is also her basketball coach.  Bailey is actually on the other side of him riding the roller coaster with him.  The coaches were really great, they rode all the rides with the girls, which the girls loved!

Bailey and Lexi :)

And there is good ol Grandma B!  Don't know what we would do without her. She had to ride around the park on a scooter since she will be having a hip replacement in August.  She was a trooper though.  She rode the kiddie coaster with Campbell and Campbell had a blast!

2014 Softball World Series-Branson Part1

In July Bailey and her softball team, Tulsa Elite, played in the 9-under World Series in Branson.  It was their first visit to the World Series and they ended up placing 9th out of 15 teams.  This was a week long experience and the girls had a great time.  Mommy and Blake stayed at home for a few days while Tim, Grandma Becky, Bailey and Campbell headed to Branson together.  These pictures are from opening day at the park.  It was a chance for games, food, and pin trading, something that is very big in the world of softball!

Tim had my camera for 3 days before I got there so I am working with the pictures that he took.  This is Baileys team against a brick wall, not sure what was going on there, but a cute pic!

Opening ceremony was held at Silver Dollar City on Tuesday.  The teams met to sing, dance, and introduce themselves as teams.  Campbell was involved in everything and she loved every minute of it.  When she is with this team she thinks that she a big girl like them and they are all her friends.  Chloe on the right and Addie on the left are two of her favorites.

The team in there matching tanks and hair bows, a girl must always accessorize!

Bailey dancing!

The team up on stage for their introduction.  Please remember Tim took these pictures and it was slim pickings for blogging!

 

 

A Softball Summer

We have been very busy with softball this summer.  I cant imagine how things will be next year when Campbell starts to play, crazy!  Bailey is doing awesome!  She is pitching and loves every minute of it and she also plays outfield.  She loves to catch fly balls, usually kids are scared of them but Bailey loves them and is always asking for someone to throw her fly balls.  She has caught quite a few in games and she just amazes me with all her abilities at just 9 years old.

These pictures were taken at a Tournament in Fayetteville, AR a few weeks ago.  The weather was very nice and we were able to take Blake with us.

This is Campbell and her friend Carson.  Carson's sister Kyliegh also plays basketball with Bailey so we see them all year round.  Carson and Campbell have grown up together at the ball fields.

When she is not playing she is practicing or lifting weights.  Her coach keeps them very busy and Bailey is growing a nice set of arm muscles this summer.

 

Blake is 2 Months Old

On June 10, 2014 Blake turned 2 months old.  This little boy just keeps growing and growing.  He is moving into 6 month clothes and 9 month clothing is not to far off!  He is such a sweet handsome little guy and we just love him to pieces.  I have always said that the girls were easy, but Blake is the King of easy!  He is just very laid back and just goes with the flow.

Campbell and Bailey wanted to go with me to take Blake for his 2 month checkup.  They said that they wanted to be there to make him feel better because they knew he would be getting shots, which he got a total of 4.  He took it like a champ and calmed down very quickly after mommy picked him up.  He had no major side affects from the shots but was very sleepy for the next 2 days.  Blake's measurements at his 2 months check-up are: 

 

Weight -14.3 lbs. (95th percentile)

Length -25 inches ( 97th percentile)

Head - 41.3 cm (80th percentile)

He still likes to sleep in his rock-n-play which is just fine with mommy and daddy.  He started sleeping thru the night at 6 weeks old.  He really likes the cuddly feeling that it provides and it seems to help him sleep longer. 

Blake loves to held and we love holding him.  I guess knowing that this will be our last baby makes it really hard to let some things go.  He is starting to like the bouncer and swing more.  He has fallen asleep in the swing a few times but it is usually for short cat naps.  Blake is a cuddler and we all love to cuddle with him!

Ballgames and Graduation

We have been busy with many ballgames this spring and summer.  Blake has been such an awesome baby at these games.  I have been lucky that I have been off work for all of Bailey's spring season so it has made things a lot less stressful.

Campbell started attending Immanuel Lutheran Preschool in February.  We made the decision to put her in a younger class since she had never been in that kind of environment before.  She has done fantastic!  It is amazing how much she has learned in only a few short months.  Since she was in the younger class she did not actually graduate from preschool but she did attend and sing songs with all the graduates.

This is her teacher Miss Rachael and Campbell just loves her!  I could not have asked for a better teacher and she has made this transition for Campbell such a success.  She has been very patient and understanding when she is upset or crying and just makes her feel very comfortable at school.  Campbell will be starting Pre-K next year at Aspen Creek which is the same school that Bailey attends.  Life will be so much easier with the two of them in the same place.

I love this picture!  Campbell has always had one strong suit and that is that she follows directions really well, or as well as a 4 year old can!  In between songs while all the other kids are being loud and moving around there is Campbell, sitting and being calm waiting for the next song to start.  I just pray she keeps this little trait and it is not lost with age.

Bailey's School Project

The last week of 3rd grade Bailey had to do a project.  They were told to pick an animal and research it.  The teacher gave them some specific information that she wanted them to collect and then put it on a poster board.  Bailey picked a chinchilla, love that she always wants to do something different!

Blake's First Bath

I never realized how different carrying for boy parts was compared to girl parts.  I remember when they took Blake to have his "business fixed" before we left the hospital, I was horrified at how it looked when he returned.  No one had warned me that I was going to care for a wound like that!  So it took a little over 2 weeks until he was able to have his first real bath.  So mommy was pretty excited when this time finally came!

Their were no cries or screams, he really seemed to like it. 

Bailey loved watching!

Mommy got him all soaped up and he was still loving every minute of it!

Bailey didn't miss a minute!

As we were all done he was still a happy camper.

Bath time complete!

Blake 2 Weeks Old

After the excitement of Easter we settled down into week 2.  Daddy had to go back to work so it was just Blake and mommy home together.  Campbell is at preschool and Bailey is finishing up 3rd grade.  We went for our 2 week infant exam on April 25th.  Blake weighed 9lbs 13.5 oz's.  He is growing beautifully and everything checked out great!  At Blake's 4 day appointment he weighed 8lbs 15 oz's, so he had gained almost a pound in 2 weeks.

We had some great nap time together, getting sisters everywhere they need to go is exhausting!

Got some shots of those eyes being open.  We also made a mini trip to Ft. Smith Arkansas for Bailey's softball tournament.  I'm not sure if I was crazy or out of my mind!  Tim stayed home since he had to work so it was just me, Blake, the girls, and Grandma B.  I of course took no pictures because I was always taking care of Blake, Bailey, or Campbell.  We did have a great time and Blake did really well considering he was only 2 weeks old.  Baileys team got 3rd in the tournament!

Easter 2014

Blake had his first Easter at just 10 days old.  This year Campbell was obsessed with eggs.  She loved to put things in them and hide them and she practiced and practiced her egg hunting skills.  The girls had a great Easter with all their Easter goodies, and  Blake even had a basket to.  This year mommy kind of dropped the ball with Easter outfits but we plan to make up for that in the years to come.

Campbell age 4 loved the giant eggs in her basket.

 

Bailey age 9 loves softball and was so excited about her Grand Slam Chocolate Bunny.

 

Blake was thrilled with the new pacifier and formula he received.

After all our morning fun we headed to Okmulgee so Blake and Grandma Pat could meet for the first time.  Grandma Pat had a knee replacement done 10 days before Blake was born so she was unable to be there for his birth.

They immediately bonded and started napping together, along with Rudy the dog!

Family picture time.

Grandma Becky, Grandma Pat, Mom, Campbell, Bailey, and Blake.

Happy Easter 2014