July 2014

July was honestly a baseball whirlwind!

We did manage to celebrate July 4th with a day at the pool and some sparklers at home.







This All Star team was phenomenal.  They breezed through District.

B hit a home run in the District Championship game.

The boys won NC District 2!

Did I mention that the majority of the team bleached their hair?

Then it was time to prepare for States.

The Dash (our local professional baseball team) hosted the boys at a game one night before the state tournament.  Our manager got to throw out the first pitch.  That was a fun experience.





The state tournament was held in Greenville, NC. The first night, they had Opening Ceremonies and a barbecue for the teams.



The state tournament was so stressful.  We weren't really sure how good the team was or how they would do.  Honestly, they blew the first 2 teams out of the water.













The bleached hair really makes me smile.  These boys were so alive on this team.  They worked so hard, and they wanted to win so badly.  They came together as a team, and it was awesome to be a part of.







Winning a state tournament was just so awesome!
















Not too many can say that they have a state title.  We are so proud of these boys.

Summer Update

Every summer my blogging seems to fall away.  We just stay so busy with baseball and work and travel.  Here are some photos from summer vacation so far...

We have had a couple of weekend trips to OKI...

Brendan has been playing baseball seven days a week for 3 weeks now with his 11U All Stars team.  So far the boys have won 2 games and lost one.  Brendan hit two home runs in the second game.  Here is his second home run.









Jackson got to go to the Carolina soccer camp with 4 of his buddies the last week of June.  They were all in the same suite and on the same team.  He had a fantastic time and cannot wait to go back again!







And we celebrated a quiet 4th of July with a baseball cook out...pool time and some fireworks:





Our weather has been so dreary and rainy.  I am hoping for some sunny skies the rest of summer break!

The 4th

I love The 4th of July!

We celebrated all weekend long - starting with baseball on Thursday, June 30th!

After Brendan's game, we headed down to Oak Island for a short beach trip...

We made it home on Sunday just in time for Brendan's baseball game. The boys played hard, but they lost...so our All Stars season is officially over.

On the 4th, we spent the day at our pool - the weather was beautiful!

via

That afternoon we went to a cookout with friends...hotdogs, hamburgers, baked beans and apple pie a la mode! Unfortunately, we had a major afternoon thunderstorm so we decided to stay in and watch fireworks on tv.

We did, however, get to watch the fireworks show on Friday the 1st at Oak Island from our condo.

It doesn't get much more American than that!!!

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

Foto Friday

More shots from our July 4th beach photo session...notice Brendan's hair!!! Since his All Stars team won our District Championship game and we are now preparing for the NC state tournament, I agreed to let him do it!

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA!

~ Lee Greenwood

"We sleep peacefully at night, cradled by the big strong hands of America." ~Val Saintsbury

I have to admit that I am a little sentimental this 4th day of July, 2010!!!

Looking back over the past Independence days that I can remember, July 4th always seemed to mark the absolute PEAK of summer fun! I remember cook outs with homegrown watermelons and homemade vanilla and peach ice cream at my great grandparents' house. I remember spend the nights with my cousin. I remember celebrations at our local pool that always involved awesome games - including diving for money which covered the entire pool floor. And I remember my first real trip to see fireworks with the other summer campers...I thought we stayed out soooo late! As an adult, my favorite Independence Days have been watching the most amazing fireworks show at Camp LeJeune! Those Marines really know how to put on a show celebrating our God-given right as Americans - FREEDOM! This year will also be an Independence Day that I won't forget!

Thank you Mother Russia for giving us Emma!

She will always hold her heritage close to her heart, but Emma is now an American daughter; our little Southern girl!

So we will teach Emma what it means to be an American; how to respect our country's birthday; and most of all how to celebrate her new found FREEDOM!

This is the stuff dreams and memories are made of...

"Star-spangled happiness and banner waves of pride."

~ Cherishe Archer

*Russian Flag from www.flag-zone.com