Ball...

One of our favorite seasons... baseball and softball! We had a great time watching all three kids play this year. Although we had many nights where two were off to different games and practices, we enjoyed watching them improve and have so much fun. Sean's highlight was hitting a double. Lauryn's highlight was hitting a triple. And Zach's highlight was his home run and many triples. All kids did very well!

Here is Sean, getting ready to run in to home from third base.

Lauryn, playing 3rd base. She had a great catch right before this picture!

Zach, winding up to pitch the ball...

Lauryn's 11th Birthday!

Wow, I just can not believe that Lauryn has turned 11 years old already! She is turning in to quite the little lady. This year she was excited to have a birthday party in the pool! The girls all had a great time.

All the party girls:

Lauryn chose to have Ice Cream Sundae's instead of cake. Here she is enjoying hers:

How Sweet!

Well, isn't this surprising? I have NO idea how Sean finagled his way in to this one? Jim is usually such a stickler about not letting the kids sleep in our bed. So, when I walked in late one night to find this:I couldn't help but thinking, "HOW SWEET!"

Last Day of School 2009

Boy, I am really off on my blogging. I completely missed the kids last day of school, on June 4th. Here they are the morning of:

This year was pretty exciting because both the boys received the Principles Award! Each class chooses one boy & one girl to be honored with this award... Well, Zach got it in Mrs. Even's 3rd Grade and Sean got it in Mrs. White's Kindergarten. They were both very excited, as this was a surprise and they did not know about it until their names were called. Jim & I were very proud of them!

Hard to believe that next year Lauryn will be in SIXTH grade, Zach in FOURTH grade, and Sean in FIRST! Where does time go?

Happy Birthday, Libby!

Libby turned 1 year on June 7th! We celebrated by taking her to the pet store & buying her some new toys and a birthday treat. We wanted to take her to the dog park, but it was so wet & muddy. So, she had to do with a walk near home. We had a good laugh though because Lauryn had spent some time making Libby a birthday card, and Libby enjoyed it by chewing it up!

Lauryn's card to Libby:

The Birthday Girl:

Tour de Cure

One of our great family friends was diagnosed with diabetes a few years back. This year Jim & I biked with her and some other friends to help the diabetes cause. Together we raised $3055.00! Although the bike ride ended a little wet, we had a beautiful scenic ride and a great time!

Tiffeny, Jim, Me, Mary, Jen, Diana

Home from Colorado

We had a wonderful time in Colorado; visiting family, site seeing, hiking, relaxing, hot tubing, enjoying the fire pit out back, playing baseball, taking the dogs to the dog park... What more could we ask for in a vacation? The weather was gorgeous - 80's & higher all week. It sure gets even hotter in the Rockie Mountains. Yet, we always love the cool evenings that CO has. We have to ask ourselves every time we leave, why we don't just move there?

Jim was asked to be his nephew's Confirmation sponsor. What an honor. So we celebrated Jason's Confirmation as well while we were there.

Here are some pictures:

Red Rocks Park: Zach, Jim, Lauryn, & Sean

One of our hiking trips: Lauryn, Zach, Sean, Me, Liberty, & Jim

The Collins gang that were able to make it for Jason's Confirmation (this is only about half the family)

And... can't forget the dogs... who became fast friends: Libby & Max!

What's new...

Gee, as the school year ends and the summer approaches, I am finding less and less time to get online and keep things up to date. Unfortunately, I have a sick Sean home with me, giving me the time to get things caught up.

I had an amazing Mother's Day. My wonderful family made it lots of fun. Saturday Jim made dinner reservations for just the five of us at my favorite restaurant. Once we got home, the whole family gave me an hour long body massage. It was wonderful to have 8 hands working on me all at one time! Then we hung out and watched a movie. Sunday morning we went to mass together and then drove up to St. Cloud to have lunch with my family. It was nice to see everyone. Then Sunday night we invited Jim's Mom over for dinner and grilled out. The kids gave me some wonderful gifts as well; the home-made ones being the most special of them all.

Last weekend Jim & I ran the Maple Grove half TOGETHER! I have been finding it just as rewarding to run together than I do beating my own personal records. Considering we were going off of only 4 hours of sleep from the night before, we didn't really train for this, the weather was terribly cold & windy, the course hills, etc..., Jim did an amazing job... And no knee issues the next couple days either! Now I start my Twin Cities training this week. It's tiring to see how quickly those miles will start increasing. Thankfully I have such wonderful friends & family that make running so much more enjoyable!

Jim & I had another chance to get some use out of our running shirts!

After the run; Jim & I, Carol & Todd

Update

Boy, it has been awhile since I have written... And now I have so much to post! I can tell the weather is getting nice, the kids are back to sports, & we're just not home as much. I love this time of year, so I am trying to gracefully welcome the busy schedule.

First, a few weeks ago, Jim ran the St. Cloud half marathon. I have given up trying to figure out whether Jim is a runner or not? After every race he tells me that is it, & he is retiring those running shoes... and yet, he runs again??? Oh yes, we both are even registered for another half marathon in 2 weeks (Maple Grove) and then we both also registered for Twin Cities FULL marathon the beginning of October AND the FULL Marine Corp. Marathon (in Washington, D.C.) three weeks later! Always looking for that new challenge:)

Jim finishing the St. Cloud half

Jim, my sister's friend, Pat & Cori (my sister), Kyle (my brother) & Kelly, & Mike (my brother's friend)

Todd & Carol, & Jim

Then, Zach also had his last basketball tournament game. They finished with the season with their first win! They really had a tough time playing against the other traveling teams. It was obvious these other teams had been playing together for many years, where as this was our first year this team was together. But, we saw lots of improvement in Zach and he really did a great job. Now, Zach's FAVORITE sport has started up, baseball!!! Sean is also playing his first year of baseball this year. And Lauryn is back to softball. They all had their first games this week and played really well. It will be a fun season.

Zach's traveling basketball team - through Champlin/Dayton

Last night Jim & I enjoyed dinner out, drinks, & the Elton John & Billy Joel concert with some friends. What a great show! Unfortunately, today has been a long day, trying to recover from a late night out. But well worth it.

Kevin & Sharon, Me & Jim, Carol & Todd