It's Been a Great Year :)

We had a busy evening last night. Tia had Amber stay Sunday evening. When Gene got up he took all the girls to Ambers to swim. I stopped on the way home to pick them up. They were tired from swimming and I could tell Tia was a little grouchy, moody whatever. Gene had picked most of a gallon of raspberries, so Tara and I rinsed them and got them bagged for the freezer. It was fun watching her eat them as she cleaned them. I jumped on the mower and then Tara and I weeded the garden. Tara picked the first meal of green beans. She disappeared to the stove to prepare them. I was trying to find her softball pics and we started reminiscing over pics of our meeting one year ago. I still haven't got that "I love you" or the heart warming hug, but I know the bond is there. Would I do it all over again...you bet!!

Sunday she asked me to put her hair in a ponytail...I did. She went and looked in the mirror and came back to me pointed to her head and said "what the heck", I thought I was going to crack up. I never said it would be perfect and I couldn't see whatever she was seeing.

Tonight was another first. I took the girls raspberry picking. Tara doesn't pick very fast, but she stuck with me. While Tia was being ate alive by mosquito's and took off back to the car. Tia had more gooseberries and mulberries than raspberries:)

4th Place in the Loosers Bracket

 

It wasn't the way most of Tia's team had expected the season to end, but the last team we played that had a really lousy season came to play...and play they did. We had a variety of weather. We started with sun burning hot to cloudy, misting and chilly. Grandma Chandler got to see the first game and Tia's team won. We had close to 2 hours between games and ran home to cut Grandma's hair. Tia had me throw her a few balls to practice hitting. We got a kick out of watching her try to do this feat on her own. Since it had been so hot Grandma decided she better not attend the next game (we may have lost our good luck charm), we lost it (we had a few quiet tears, Tia hates being the last out at the end of the game)and had to play again in which we won. Aunt Kathy appeared to watch and I forgot it was my turn for concession stand duty. We had to play at 10AM Sunday and made it a quiet evening. Sunday morning was our last game, they gave MstM's the 5 run rule to start off the game lousy. The 4th inning was our turn for the 5 run rule, but they had given up some other points. They rallied, but it was too late. I had concession duty again at 3, so we stuck around and watched the rest of the games. Tia and her team that stuck around kept the score board. They were excited to be paid with a free pop, chocolate and jolly ranchers from the team playing. On Saturday Tia was introduced to a coach from a travel team. They will be loosing some of their girls and was looking to recruit Tia. Sunday she was invited to practice with them. I'm not sure she wants to play fallball??? I'm glad she had the chance to try the team on for size. Tara is a trooper thru all of this. She loves watching the game and is an excellent fan. She knows the score and can tell you what the girls did. She also likes to tease the coaches. We had the opportunity while Tia was practicing Sunday to play catch with 3rd to first. We've decided she needs weight lifting, her little arms just can't quite make the needed throw. Pitcher is next on Tara's list and she can get a few where they need to go, but needs to be able to keep going.

Tia Softball Tournament 2009

 

Going to 5th Grade

Doing things alittle different this year. Really neat idea :) We had an appointment with the principal and teacher Tara will have for 5th grade starting Aug 2009. We were originally suppose to meet at our house and Tia ended up having a makeup game. It was then rescheduled for this week and Tia was again in Truro for practice, so we met them at the school. It worked out well, Tara couldn't be distracted and we got a tour. There is no set plan for her to catch up on her English/reading, but they sound like they will do whatever is necessary to keep her moving forward in positive motions. Tara's biggest concern was recess of coarse. She took everything pretty much in stride and seemed to feel comfortable with her new environment. Phys ed in middle school the kids change clothes and take showers, she wasn't crazy over this idea. We'll see :)

Possibly the Last Wk of 2009 Softball

Jeff helped Gene mow hay Monday. I think Jeff has been missing the farm. He sure would like Grandpa Chandler's air conditioned tractor. That was the only complaint I heard. It is very hot and humidity was tipping the needle to ridiculous. Jeff had to work Tuesday, so took off for CF at noon. Gene worked on the hay and was almost late for work finishing baling. Plus he finished just in time for more...you guessed it rain. Ugh! I wanted to weed the garden and Tia's game (last regular season) was rained out. Now to make it up?? We have to watch driving the pavement the roads are starting to buckle. As I was coming home from work there was a thunder storm running parallel with me. It was weird! The temps dropped 20 degrees in minutes...what a relief, but now the storm. Tara has had a note on the frig since the end of April first of May. An invite to a bday part on June 23. We had a name and address, but no phone number. So I stopped on my way home from work and ask if they were doing something today. I think it was already over, but they said Tara could come play for a couple of hours. I think she had a good time, but was ready to come home. Happy Bday Kyleigh!

Happy Father's Day

And Father's Day it was. I had to have the sleepover girls home early Sunday to spend with their fathers. I made lunch and invited Gene's folks. After lunch the girls let Gene take a short nap and then it was softball, swimming and games. What a good and busy dad. I loved it! Jeff came home for a couple of days and my yard looks great! Curt called, he is remodeling still and leaves Monday for Germany. Hopefully a short stay and then home to Iowa for a visit. I am not holding my breath. But maybe crossing my fingers.

A Busy Week

The week of June 15-19 was busy. Monday we finished mowing and laundry from the weekend. Tuesday Tia played ball against MstM Blue, I had concession duty so didn't see much of the game. Tia's team won. Tuesday was against the other I-35 team. Tia's team won. Thursday we traveled to Norwalk for an early game at 5:15. Coach Jim gave Tia and Tara a ride to Norwalk. It was the hottest day of the summer and the girls looked wiped. Tia's team won again, but it didn't come easy. We hung around after the game and watched the other Norwalk team play the SEW team. At this point we (Tia's team) had first place, SEW had second and Norwalk had third. Tia is suppose to play one more game in Truro next week, one practice and then tournaments (with home field advantage). Didn't work two years ago, let's cross our fingers we can do better. I had an early out at work Friday and went home to get Gene. The car was being worked on in Indianola and we needed to pick it up. It rained like a son of a gun...I mean torrential. I had thought I would catch some garage sales, but didn't want to fight the rain. So I got up Saturday and met my mom and Doris. We didn't find alot, but enough to make it fun. Tia had Hailey spend the night Friday and I picked up Brooklyn Saturday to stay with Tara. We went to Tara and Brook's first Cubs game. I think they had fun :)