Katie...Gracie...Ellie!

Softball season was great this year.  Chris coached again, and this year they were the Eagles and played on a REAL field with a REAL dugout!  Very cool!  They had a great year and celebrated with a great party last week.  She is looking forward to playing again next season and has also decided she would like to try basketball next year!  We're looking forward to that!

Daddy helping her get in the right stance!

Made it HOME!

Going from 1st to 2nd!

She had a great season!

What a great daddy for being her coach!

I enjoyed attending Gracie's Junior High Awards Night a couple of weeks ago.  Ellie's end of the year Preschool Program was the same night, so Chris went to that with her.  Katie also had Open House that night, but something had to give so no one went to that one.  Poor middle child!  :(

We were proud that Gracie received all A's for the year!  So far, she's kept all A's from Kinder-6th grade.  Quite the accomplishment!  She also received an award for Highest Average in Social Studies!  There was more than 1 student who received that one, so I'm guessing there was a tie.  With as many students as they have, I'm sure that could be the case.  We are very proud of our Junior High girl!  :)

Daddy is proud of his girl!

Our sweet Gracie!

Always more fun to do this sort of thing with a friend.

Waiting with some friends for the program to begin.

Gracie & I enjoyed sharing Tacos Al Carbon after the program...yum...what a way to celebrate! 

Since I was going to miss Ellie's program due to Gracie's program being the same night, I watched part of the dress rehearsal.  It was toooo cute!

Little Miss Ellie loved Mrs. Melody & Mrs. Sandra this year!  They were great teachers for her!

Their little program was so cute; grass skirt & all!  

 

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow," Hawaiian style!

My sweet little Hawaiian girl!

Hot Springs, AR

We had SUCH a great weekend in Hot Springs, AR this past weekend.  My handsome, sweet cousin, Austin, graduated from high school.  While we didn't actually go to the graduation ceremony, we had a great time visiting with family throughout the rest of the weekend.  It had been about 2 1/2 years since we'd seen lots of this part of the family, so seeing them was wonderful!  Hot Springs was only about 8 hours from us, so the trip wasn't even that hard to make.  We were able to take the girls out of school early Friday, putting us there about a little after 6:00.  Monday, we left around 9:30 and got home well before dark. The girls have to go to school tomorrow and half a day Thursday, then 2nd grade & 6th grade are HISTORY.  Hard to believe!

The whole weekend was a blessing, and I hope we get to do it again before another 2 1/2 years go by!

Blogger is giving me fits, so hopefully these pictures will somewhat go where I want them to go!

The cousins together again!!!!!!

Ellie loves her Tickle Monster, a.k.a. Uncle Josh!

2 little girls happy to be having breakfast with their Pappy

The girls got a little bean snapping lesson from Grammer & Bigmother!

Katie was thrilled with Uncle Tony gave her baseball cards....1,080 of them!

Katie, our cuddle bug, enjoyed snuggling with Grammer!

Ann Elise & Gracie hanging out with Uncle Joe

Ellie in front of Uncle Tony's garden.  He had 40 tomato plants, beans, & corn.  Yum!

I loved seeing Aunt Jeannie's vintage linens hanging on the line!

My sweet, big girl!

I loved Aunt Jeannie's kitchen cabinet!  Talented woman!

Pappy hanging out with Ellie during her milk break!

Ellie & her 2nd cousin, Aiden, getting acquainted.

I wonder what they're talking about?

Katie discovered that Hot Springs is the birthplace of Spring Baseball!

Walking through downtown Hot Springs

Taking a lunch break

The Hot Springs bathhouses are pretty...not sure I'd enjoy having one though.  I've heard they're 'interesting.'

Bigmother with 7 of her great grandchildren.  We're missing 2 boys & 2 girls from this picture.

Grammer & Pappy with all 5 of their granddaughters!

I remember being a sophomore in college and getting the surprise news that one of my aunts was having a baby!  Hard to believe Austin (on the left) has now graduated from high school and is headed to college.  Seems he was quite the football star in high school...and cute & sweet as well!  :)

I loved seeing my grandmother!

Bigmother with her only 2 granddaughters.  Her other 6 grandchildren were all boys!

I'm sure Ellie is telling Grammer something important!

Driving a tractor/lawnmower is sure fun with a cousin!

Of course, it's easier if only 1 is in charge!  LOL

Is Ellie talking Bigmother into letting her escape or is it the other way around?

The lawnmower was quite the attraction!

Once it was time for Grammer & Pappy to leave, Katie got sad.  She always has a hard time saying good bye!

The cousins & spouses went out together Sunday night while Uncle Tony & Aunt Jeannie stayed with the kids.  What a treat!  We had a great time!

Chris loved being a kid in the go-kart with the other guys.

Guys against girls in Putt Putt.  They won...but barely!