Twin River Softball Champs

 
What a fun way to end the season. We were suppose to start the tourney Friday night. Gene had the girls almost to Milo before the game was called due to rain. We got the message later in the evening that we would play 11 Sat morning. The girls and I ended up highlighting our hair Friday night. After Tara and I made cupcakes to share with her team. She did a great job of going to bed on time and set an alarm clock to get herself up.
By 11 I thought the fields would be alot dryer, but it misted on the way to the game. Tara's first game was with MstM's Gold, we won 14-3. It was 3pm when they played their next game against MstM's Blue. It was a tough game, but we did it 4-1. We came home and tried to mow some yard, but it was still plenty wet.
It was a long day today. We started the morning playing I-35 White. There wasn't a lot of action, but I-35 Red won. Riley had a good hit. She probably wouldn't have got past first, but they over threw and she made it home. Just to be called out at home. The Ump said she needed to slide. The odd thing was there was no one else close to the plate. He just said it was a rule. One father stated his feeling (nothing obnoxious) and was told to leave the park. (he only said what we were all thinking) We forgot to share our cupcakes Saturday, so pulled them out now. They really hit the spot (glad it wasn't hot yesterday).
The next game I-35 White had to play MstM's Blue and we would play the winner of that game. If it was MstM's and we lost we would have to play them again. We cheered on the other I-35 White team, but they lost again and were done taking 3rd place. MstM's is an equal team to us and it could have went either way, we parents were glad we didn't have to play that last game. I-35 Red won 5-1. The team received a big trophy and each player received a smaller trophy. The girls enjoyed dumping the cooler of ice on Coach Brian and he was a good sport with the girls. He told the girls he had been dreaming of this day since his daughter Riley was in the 2nd grade. Glad they were able to make it a reality. Great Season Girls!! (Tara's first ever) A thank you to big sis Tia for going along and being part of the cheer team. Tara is so much like all her sibs. None of them like listening to their mom to give them advice on how to play the game. heavy sigh.

The Week Of Softball

 
Tia's night for pics at St Mary's
  Tia on 3rd base and was first point of the evening;
 
Tia plays 3rd base


Tuesday night we were in Churchville. I had the afternoon off and thought I would be able to mow yard. Gene had a leak in the truck fuel tank, so I picked him up at the repair garage. It rained on us the way home. Ugh!! The girls game did not get cancelled. It was a cool afternoon and evening. Tara's team won 8-0 and Tia's team won 11-0. Wednesday was a makeup game for Tia in Lacona. She didn't think they would win, MY WORDS...STAY POSITIVE!! I emailed Grma and she met us there. Gene had to take Tia to Lacona, I couldn't leave work early enough. Tara was dressed for tumbling and didn't change, duh Dad?? I emailed Sue earlier in the day to let her know we couldn't make it. (I like these practices, it is fun listening to the kids tell about their experience at competition) By the way Tia's team beat Lacona White 6-5 in the last inning. Thursday we were in St Mary's. I did leave work early, told the girls to be ready and waiting. I would pull in and won't get out of the car. There is road construction and it takes extra time. We took gravel roads and made it just right. Tara's team lost their first game, what a struggle 1-2. The St Mary's coach had a problem with our pitcher (who takes pitching lessons and is very good for her age) He was trying to find fault with her and it threw her game in the beginning, which got us off to a bad start. Tia's team got off to a good start and ended with a win of 16-8. They had a good hitting game and pushed everything to the limit...and sometimes passed. Friday starts Tara's tournament in Milo. Gene has to have Tara and Bailey Haggard there at 4:30. I will be flying low to make this one on time.

AAU State Meet inWaterloo

 
 
 
 


A good Trip!! Since competition was in Waterloo (originally Cedar Falls) I signed Tara up for state competition. If you participate at State you are eligible for The Iowa Games in August. The bad news about that is we take a family vacation out of state that week. We have a new camper (new to us) so we took it and stayed at George Wythe State Park. Tara's first competition was on the trampoline at 2:45. We watched other teammates preform, things were running a little behind. Watching Tara practice for many weeks, she had a good competition pass. She just needs to get some height. She placed 9th. We didn't have to wait too long for Double Mini. Tara doesn't have alot of strength in her legs yet, so this won't be the best she will do. She placed 5th. We need to build her muscles :-) We met Jeff after work at Hy-Vee and went to his place for an hour. Back at the camper I played Tara a quick game of Triomino's. Gene checked out the TV. On the way to Waterloo it was rough and the tv bounced out of it's spot. (it still works, whewww)
Sunday during breakfast again I sat off the fire alarm making bacon. The battery in now in the drawer. We took our time getting around and headed to Waterloo East High for tumbling at 11. Tara was to be there at 11:30, things were running pretty much on time. She watched the other girls and seen what she needed to do. She got 3rd place with Courtney Titus from our team getting first. Way too go girls, good job!! We again headed to Jeff's for an hour before heading home.
Tia stayed with Mattie, Mattie was having a b-day party. Mattie got her a little longer than planned, but it is a very long drive to Cedar Falls/Waterloo.

Goodbye May

What a beautiful weekend!! Grandma and Grandpa went to Britt for the weekend and Tia is doing the chores. She has taken it seriously and done such a great job. She fed the bottle calf (I had to help with the nipple on the bottle), feed chickens=gather eggs, feed the cats and dog. By getting up early to get the chores done our day started early and we got alot of everything done. The garden didn't grow on an earlier planting, so now we have 4 new rows of green beans, one row of broccoli, one row of cabbage, 12 tomato plants and cucumbers. We still have a little more to do, but I am praying it grows this time. Gene also planted sweet corn and squash by the barn.
Tara stayed alnight with one of her classmates, she acts like she had a great time. I had no phone calls in the middle of the night, so it must have been fine. I have to admit I am a little sad at her independence. We had a screaming match Saturday morning. The morning had been going well right up to her telling me what she was and wasn't doing to help around the house. I ask her to load a few dishes in the dishwasher and after she said NO...she started throwing them in the dishwasher. Momma not happy and when mamma's not happy...nobodies happy! I heard the comment I do nothing, what is Tia doing (she doesn't have to help), Dad doesn't do anything. These are Tia's favorite words. I have tried to explain the mechanics of a family, but I guess it is still a work in progress. Hopefully we came to an understanding, time will tell. It may be a long summer. I did get her into the kitchen after lunch and helped her mixup a batch of chocolate chip cookies. She didn't want to read the directions, but I will keep working on her. She says she can't, but she would have to try first. :-)

The Last Day of School

I haven't put in a regular full day of work for a couple of months, it has been great. Today was it for me...a regular 8 hrs. I did punch out 15 minutes early to get Tara to tumbling on time.

Tia called me at 7:30 and was asking for breakfast ideas when I heard "oh crap". The bus was early today. Tara got to have the wonderful menses film today. Hopefully she understands what she was told. I tried to get the conversation going, but she wasn't in the mood to talk. We will try again another day. We had a good tumbling practice.

Tuesday

Memorial weekend is over and time to get back to business. We are still shortening our days by 4 hrs a week at work. I chose today for my half day this week. Fourth grade was suppose to have a track and field day, but we awoke again today to rain. Gene has an appt to get his truck tires aligned in Indianola. He leaves it overnite, so needs a ride home. We met on my way home. I needed to pick the girls up from school, but it was too early. I didn't have enough time at home to get a chore started. I filled out paperwork for early registration for Tia to go to 7th grade. Oh that makes me feel old...Ugh! Tara has an appt in Osceola at the Public Health Nurse to update her shots. She had Measles Mumps & Rubella, Hepatitis B, Chickenpox and Polio. What a trooper, she didn't cry until after the very last one. I was cringing thru it. I told Tara she could have the treat of ice cream or Chinese. She chose Chinese, it was an early supper. But we got the restaurant pretty much to ourselves. I heard on the way home that America is stupid and she wanted to go back to China. Can't blame her on this one, but she did say at school they would have to line up and get shots... Only she said she didn't have to, hum. The girls like to recycle pop cans because they get the money, we tried but the machine was out of order. We got the message after shots that tonights game was cancelled (it was still pouring rain). It was a quiet evening before the last day of school.

Memorial Weekend

Well I didn't do what is the norm for the weekend, so I owe a day of memory. I met my mom and cousin Doris to garage sale in Indianola Sat morning. I asked the girls Friday night if they wanted to go. I had a suspicion that Tara wouldn't make it out of bed and wondered about Tia. They both declined. I Tia would have found alot, but maybe next time. I found an Iowa State shirt for Tia and the Toy Story movie for Tara. I stopped and picked up groceries for camping. Gene needed to spend an hour and a half planting corn, but we could go to thunderhead when he was done. He got just the hour and a half and it started pouring rain. It made it easier for him to quit, it had been a gorgeous day. We drove in and out of rain the whole way. Thunderhead never got any of the rain. Yeah! We took the new Cobalt for an evening cruise, it's been quite a day. It was a bit cool Sunday morning, but led into a beautiful day. We had a great breakfast and was on the water by 11. The sun screens on, Tara didn't even throw a fit. She didn't want to start on the tube, but watched Kasey, Kelsey and Allie. After about 45 min the girls took a break. When they went back out Tia and Tara were ready. Tara wanted to ride with Allie, but she didn't want to double up. So Tara climbed on with Kasey. They all had a lot of fun and got quite a bit of sun. If only it didn't have to end. We stopped at Leon for Dairy Queen and arrived home around 7.

I got a lot done Monday. If I could only have one more day of cleaning.