Hooray for Summer!

HOORAY FOR SUMMER!  We are so happy you are finally here!

Hudson finished off the year great on Honor Roll.  He earned two ribbons and several certificates.  Next year he will move to a new school.  We will miss Blaney so much!

Hudson attended baseball camp at the high school and is at Gamecock Baseball Camp this week.

Harlyn also finished off well.  Making a B on her research report about Australia.  She even ended with an overall B in Math.  I must say this is quiet the accomplishment.  I am so proud of her hard work this year.  Her reward for her first ever B in math...Luke Bryan!

Yes, it rained, it poured but her date was okay with it.

Softball is over after 14 games.  We hosted the end of season party.  Harlyn and the girls really enjoyed swimming and the slumber party.  I can't believe I forgot to take pictures!

Cousins Weekend was a huge success!  We had a blast!

Looking forward to our Cape San Blas vacation!  

25 DAYS TO GO!

Hudson's Awesome Room

Last week Hudson turned 10!  10 I tell you!  To celebrate his birthday he and Rick planned a camping trip down the river.  Hudson is the only one that is really 'outdoorsy' in his friend group.  So all of his best grown up friends went with them.

While they were gone Harlyn, my mom and me worked like crazy to make over his bedroom.  We had promised as soon as our old house sold his room would be the first to get a face lift.  Ever since we moved in his room has just been a weird modpodge of disorganization.

I know it is an awful terrible mess!  I am embarrassed!

First, we emptied the room, threw away half of what was in there and started removing wallpaper.  I must say the person that invented wallpaper was an idiot.  That was the worst part of the entire weekend.

After most of the wallpaper was removed and sanded we started painting the room this weird moss color.

Someone went a little crazy with the paint!

Sunday morning we put the room back together and decorated.  He wanted a hunting room.

 We took the posters from the Sportsman's Classic and framed them.  The headboard is made of saw grass that is used to cover hunting blinds.  His night stand is two stumps.  For the curtains I used canvas drop clothes from the painting section.  I think it turned out really nice.  Not too little boyish and not too grown up.

National Archery Tournament

After placing 2nd in the state competition, Hudson's school was headed to the national tournament in Louisville, Kentucky.  We had such a good time.  The teachers that planned the activities did such a good job.  Everything was interactive and interesting.  There wasn't a lot of free time which worked out so well.

Thursday:  We drove to Kentucky.  Hudson rode the bus with the team.  Rick drove me.

After the kids were settle into their rooms with their 'Big' we held a parent meeting in the lounge to watch the draft.

Friday:  We visited the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.  The tour of the factory was really interesting but they didn't allow you to take photos.

After Louisville Slugger, we had lunch at TGI Fridays in the city center.  Once back at the hotel, we headed off to Churchill Downs.  This was fun!  We saw two races and Rick bet on one.  We were NOT big winners!

Dinner for the kids was pizza in the park.

Rick and I opted for something a little quieter and went to the Spaghetti Factory.  It was super yummy!

We went and settled into the room early Friday night. Thursday was a late night ;(  We had an awesome view from our room on the 23rd floor of the Galt House Hotel.  It was so beautiful after the evening rain shower.

Saturday:  Tournament Day!  After breakfast we headed straight to the fairgrounds.  The team had their picture made and then it was time for them to line up and shoot.

Hudson did really well the first 10 meter round.  When he moved back to 15 meters something happened and he lost it.  He was shooting crazy and became very upset.  Once all the drama was over and he was back to normal we went to see the booths and he and Rick played some games.

The team loaded the buses and headed back home.  We kept Hudson with us and headed to Cincinnati.  Ricks cousin Jon and his wife Wendi were so gracious to host us in their home.  Hudson was glad to see his cousins.  Rick and I both commented that even though they only see each other once a year it is amazing how it is like no time was lost.  Cousins!  We took the boys to the Reds game that night.  We ate, cheered on the Reds and left in the 6th because they were getting hammered!

(How do you get good photos of kids that move constantly?)

Sunday:  Mother's Day.  At 7:30 we woke up and slid Hudson into the car and started back towards South Carolina.  Its fun to go away but great to come home.

May Goals

May is such a fun month.  The weather is nice, everything is growing, baseball, softball, pool time, school programs and the beginning of summer.  Since so much is going on, I thought i would create a goal for myself and one for the family.

1:  10,000 steps per day

























I have charged up the FitBit and I'm ready to get going. (update:  I did really well almost reaching 10,000 steps each day so far.  I have to figure out some ways to get more steps in my day.  Working from home doesn't make it easy.)

2:  Complete the 'honey we gotta do' list

























Wowzers!  Yep it is a LONG list.  I would love it if we could finish it up this month.  (update:  this weekend we finished the dog fence and they are loving it.  Rick also fixed the sprinkler head in the front yard.  We were pretty productive!)

What We've Been Up To

Begging for Spring

It has been a LONG winter.  We are so ready to get outside more.

Easter

After church we went to visit family.  Lots of family photos.  I loved seeing all of our family on this special day.

Softball

Harlyn has 14 softball games!  She is doing so great.  I love that she and Rick share this time together.

Baseball

Hudson's travel team is going strong with every other weekend tournaments.  They are getting better every weekend.  They placed 3rd overall in the Spring Fling Global Qualifier this past weekend.

School

Harlyn and I went to Charleston last week with her school.  We had such a great time.  Saving this for it's own post.

Work

I spent three days in Charlotte over spring break receiving my ITIL Foundation certification.  It was nice to be alone for a few days but I was so glad to get back home.

Looking Forward to:
National Archery Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky
Summer
Laying by the pool
Hosting a Cousins Weekend
Beach Trips
Mountain Trips

A Scrappy Weekend

Last weekend "me and my gang" ( i think that's a song ) went to our favorite scrapbook store in Spartanburg, Scrapbook Creations.  This store is AMAZING, HUGE, AWESOME!!  Not only is the store enormous, they have a great area for cropping and their OWN restaurant.

We try to go a few times a year.  It is great to get away for a few days and focus on catching up on our scrapping.  Kellie was so sweet and made us matching t-shirts.  Thanks 10009!  Don't we look cute!

I completed almost 20 pages and tried some new techniques.  I am pretty happy with that.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

I even made my first ever pocket page!

KC Ambush - 12th Annual Spring Kickoff Tournament

This weekend was the first tournament for KC Ambush.  The boys have been so tired of practicing and were ready to play a game.  They started out the weekend with a W.  They played amazing!  Even turning a triple play!!  The second game didn't go so well and they lost to the JETS.  Sundays game started out great but after a couple bad plays the boys fell apart.  They lost this game which meant they had to play again for second place in their bracket.  The second game was much better.  Their attitudes had changed for the better and they were able to play as a team.  The pulled it out and won to the mercy rule in the 4th inning.

They even won RINGS!!  I don't know the significance but apparently it is huge to a 9 year old boy.

Here's to an awesome start to our travel ball life.