Pool Time Fun

Last Thursday we enjoyed a few hours at our local pool. No one was really into pictures today, but I did just snap a few just to prove that we were there.

Jay is a little slow to warm up to the craziness of the kiddie pool, but once he is in, he has a blast. We did purchase some diving sticks and rings to play with while we are there, but a little someone hasn't quite learned how to share them yet, so they are often found waiting in our bag.

Gracie sporting her new swimsuit. She is already so tan.

Unfortunately I missed Gracie's big jump off the board, but I did get her climbing out.

She loves the water and apparently she has quite the fan club.

Jerrin getting ready or his cannonball

and the splash!!!!!

As the two were jumping off the board, I caught this little man cheering for them each and every time they would jump. "GO Jerrin GO! GO Gracie GO!!"

It started off with just him and then each time they jumped more fans were added.......

and soon it ended with quite the fan club thanks to a local daycare cheering along.

All in all it was a great day at the pool with friends and fans.

Happy summer to all. We here at our house just wish the sun would stick around a bit longer when it finally comes out to play.

Ponies Softball

After much anticipation and three weeks straight of cancelled practices, Gracie finally had her FIRST, yes FIRST Ponies practice of the summer. The other girls did have two the first week it started, but she was visiting Grandma Karen so she missed them. Today was a day of batting practice, both with a tee and without.

These girls looked at Stephan like he was crazy when he told them they would be hitting off the tee. He got a lot of looks and even a few WHATS?.

I remember the day that my softball coach brought out the tee for us to use at practice. We all thought he was nuts! However our thoughts didn't matter, because we all had to use the tee before we could take our actual batting practice. I must say that even though I thought he was absolutely crazy for making high school girls use a tee, it taught us to keep our swing level and our eye on the ball and all become pretty darn good hitters.

I was very proud of her hitting. She did a great job.

She even hit it out to

these girls that were patiently waiting for the ball.

(Yes,they really did look this excited)

We too need to work on the excitement part of the game. All in all she did a great job and even had some fun. Gracie Rae, I can not wait to watch you improve each and every time, juststick with it and all of these "silly" hours of practice will pay off.

Watching her play really brings back some awesome memories and the itch to be playing myself. I may just have to dig out my glove again and see how I can help out next summer with these young girls. I think helping them would be a lot of fun and wonderful time spent with my daughter.

It is Official, they did it!!!!!!

IT IS OFFICIAL.......THEY WON!!!!

A couple of weeks back we finally heard officially that Joel and Jerrin were State Champions!! They bowled together in the Parent/Youth Bowling State Tournament that was held at Paragon Lanes, in Dickinson last March and they are now Texas bound.

The two will compete in Euless, Texas July 28th-August 1st in the International Parent/Youth Bowling Tournament. Besides earning a berth into this prestigious tournament they also won quite the prize package, which includes all their meals, motel rooms, and money to cover the gas to get them to Texas.

Jerrin is so excited to compete with his dad again, and to travel so far, but he is super excited to visit Six Flags Over Texas while he is there. Tickets to the theme park were also included in the prize package. Check out this site if you would like to read the interview that the Casselton Reporter did about the two. Look Here it will be on B4.

(On this section of the paper you will also be bale to read about other people in our family and what they are active in. John-Legion, Mom-Optimist)

Flamingo Fun

"What the Heck" are the words that came out of Jaylen's mouth when we took a drive past his favorite neighborhood, which includes one of his favorite places to be.....DAWN"S HOUSE!!!

It seems that this flock of flamingos got lost and flew into Dawnie's yard sometime during the late night hours and decided they too enjoyed the neighborhood.

Dawn was not home when wedrove past, so Jay was a bit disappointed, but he still

thought these birds were so cool, that he just had to take a photo with the famous flock.

I wonder if they will ever come back to visit when school starts and all of his daycare friends are back at Dawnie's house.

Early Father's Day Fun

Today was a fun day at the lake with Grandma and Grandpa. Mom and us kids went to Bryce and Casie's wedding last night and now today we are going to enjoy the lake and an early Father's Day with Grandma, Grandpa, Gaven, and Gabi.

Mom and Gracie were proud of the pedicures that they did all by themselves for the wedding, did they ever look pretty in their flip flops.

Jaylen wanted in the action too of course so he was sporting his stylin' Scooby Doo water shoes. He loved them, but after daddy sees this grandma just may have to go and purchase some new ones. These are the only shoes that fit out of the pile, so just look past the girliness.

Now this girl is not afraid of anything! She was bringing this worm to

Jerrin to put on his pole. She must make her daddy proud!

Before we got on the road to go back home, we were able to do

some fun things with Grandma and Grandpa.

Grandpa took us all fishing, but not without taking turns.

He took the older boys first...

while us younger ones hung with Grandma. Grandpa did end up going out on the water three different times to make sure that we all went fishing with him. Thank you Grandpa!

We always have fun at the lake, with lots of smiles.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a fun day. Grandpa we hope that you had a wonderful early Father's Day, because we all had fun celebrating with you and grandma a little early.

Bryce and Casie - Take 1

This is the "first" wedding of my cousin Bryce Carlson and his soon to be bride, Casie Hawkinson. I say first wedding, because of some very sad news they received a few days prior. Bryce's dad has been fighting cancer for the past year and was soon to lose the fight. My cousins were told that he would not make it more than a few more weeks.

At that time, Bryce and Casie and the family chose to have a very simple, private ceremony with just their family to mark this special day and to make sure Uncle Cliff was there to share in the day.He wanted nothing more than to see Bryce and Casie become husband and wife.

This was the last family photo taken of the Clifford Carlson family as he died just a few days later.The lady on the right of the photo, with her hand on Cliff's shoulder, is a very special friend of his. She was his rock and supporter through his entire fight.

Rest in Peace Uncle Cliff. You and your huge smile will be missed.

May you continue your life amongst the stars without any hurt, sickness, or disappointment. Your life may be done here on earth, but you have many years ahead of you to watch over your growing family. You raised two amazing children that will always have a part of you, in them.

Playball Pee Wee's

This year Jerrin has graduated up to the Pee Wee's League in baseball here in Casselton. He was pretty excited for this first game and to be a Red, but was still willing to pose for a quick photo.

First at bat of the season.

Jaylen enjoying a bubble and sand toys break.

Yeah! Jerrin's first at bat landed him on first with a single. Here he was able to walk to third after other teammates moved him around the bases.

The biggest excitement of the game came when he was put in as catcher. Yes, he really did want to be the catcher. He is always telling us how he wants to follow in John's footsteps so this may be a good start. We have a whole family of past catchers....Dad was a catcher when he played baseball, Mom was a catcher in her early days of softball and John too started out as a Pee Wee and Rookies catcher.

It took a little bit to get use to having the balls thrown right at you (on purpose) and his head was often seen turning the opposite way before the ball came to him, but he is improving every game and really seems to enjoy is new position.

He has even had some faithful fans that have been able to watch a few of his games.

Best of luck Jerrin on the rest of your season. We can not wait to watch you improve each and every game. Keep working hard and you will certainly be where your big brother is some day.