Softball, Flowers and A Special Day

Lydia has started her softball season - this is her first year and she LOVES it. One of her favorite things about it - no Boys!!!!

We have "beautiful" weeds that we are blessed to see each and every Spring - and let's face it - I do not have the desire to go tramp around through damp grass spreading and spreading weed

killer - so I have begun to accept them for what they are. But the do make for some great picture opportunities. Joshua also is growing like a weed.


Lydia - Lydia - Lydia: she is the only person that I know that gets so excited for her birthday. The boys enjoy their special day, but Lydia - she breathes in each and every moment of her birthday with pure delight. She jumps, she bounces, she shreeks with excitement - she LOVES her birthday. She loves to be sung to in the morning by her mommy, she loves to have that extra attention, she loves to have a PARTY - and she does party. She loves the presents, the family, the friends (that she invites on her own). Lydia loves her birthday. And she had a wonderful party again this year. I can't believe that she is six.

Here is the story of the extra friends this year. On Thursday evening she asked me if one of her friends at school could borrow one of her stuffed animals. I said that she better just keep it home because school is almost over and when would she get it back? Her response was "when she comes to my birthday party." I say "Oh Lydi, we didn't invite your friends from school." "Oh yes I did - I promised Gina and Breanna and Samantha that they could come." - Well me being the "cool" mom that I am got on the horn and invited Gina, Breanna and Samantha to Lydi's party and even with the short notice (Her party was on Sunday) they were all able to make it - and even brought her a gift. That was one more part of Lydia's special day - extra friends. I wasn't sure how the day would go - I didn't want anyone left out - but I think that it went better than expected and the kids all seemed to have a great time.

Now we are on the final last week countdown of school - 3 1/2 days left! Then summer begins!

Another Catch of the Day

Lydia caught the 4th place fish on Mothers Day at the Sportsmens club (of course only 3rd place got a prize). It was 18 3/4 inches long!!! She was so proud and excited !!!

Big Catch

Jack caught this fish all by himself! (I think he may have had a bit of help, though) Troy took Jack and Jay fishing last night at the Sportsmens.... they came home with their limits! Looks like we might be having a fish fry this year!

Lydia had her first softball practice last night - she LOVED it and can't wait for the next practice to come! She did extremely well for her first time. I saw her stop a couple of balls that were hit her way and she was very energetic in chasing after the others. She made a couple of hits, too. Her two coaches seem like they are going to be great for the kids. Lydi also has one of her "bestest" friends on the team with her - I am so excited for her. You should have just seen her gleaming with joy and happiness. And one of her favorite parts is that the team is all girls and no boys!

Spring has Sprung

We had such a wonderful weekend. The weather was awesome to say the least. Hot and Sunny - who can complain? Troy and I took the kids to the Sportsman's fishing on Friday night - I enjoyed the trek in the woods more so than the standing by the almost nonexistant creek waiting for nonexistant fish to bite - they didn't by the way, but Jay did catch a crab.

Then we ventured home to scrub our hands and jump into the van to go get supper at Whistles (it is a roadside order and eat in your car or on a picnic table - seasonal operation only). So we ate our food at the picnic table and enjoyed the "summer" air. It was a very pleasant night - we didn't even need our jackets.

Saturday morning rose with the sun shining and the temperature warm. The kids and I went for a walk to Sara's house to see the new paint job that Dad did over the past couple of days (it looks great) and then we walked to Mom and Dad's house to get Mom (aka Gramma) and we went for our long walk through the woods and down the highway to our driveway. The big boys took the shortcut through the woods - they think they are pretty neat since they are allowed to do that.

The day unfolded more with the sun shining and the sweat running as I finished the power washing job that I started on Friday. I got it all done and came in the house to make a Texas Sheet cake - had a craving. Lydia got invited to a friend's house. We had steak on the grill with potatoes and baked beans and cake for dessert. Then it was time for some baseball practice in the yard. Lydia came home and played some more. Then we were all exhausted so we got scrubbed in the tub and went to bed. It was such a nice day spent together as a family. I felt so relaxed when the day was over and kind of sad to see it go - we had an awesome day together with our kids.

Sunday rose like Saturday - hot and sunny and did I say hot? Troy took Jay and Jack to the barn to play in cow poop or do whatever it is that they do there and I took Lydia and Joshua to Walmart (yeah), then we came home and went for our walk with Gramma and then drove to Gramma and Grandpa's for hamburgs on the grill and macaroni salad and baked beans - it was yummy. We hung out there for a while until Mom had to get ready for work then we got home and Joshua took a much needed rest and I wrote my blog and Lydia watched TV and Troy and the boys, well they are still at the barn....

I loved this weekend so much - it was full of work, fun, and relaxation - and above all I got to spend time with Troy and the kids without any plans and without anything that had to be done. Love it!

The Wedding

Well - all the planning and waiting and.... it's all over. Sara and Anthony got hitched on Saturday, April 18, 2009. They were both stunning in their attire. The weather was gorgeous and the ceremony went off without a flub - the reception - I sure had myself a great time. We partied all night long - I climbed into the bath at 11:55 pm (it was a long day that went way too fast).

I don't have many pictures yet, seems I was too busy to take any, so I am waiting for some to be sent to me. Here are some that I have already.

Rene (Mother of the Bride), Sara (The New Mrs. Pistner) and Angie (Sister and Matron of Honor)

Jack - one of the Ring Bearers who wondered "do I have to wear this Dr. Phil thing?" - meaning the tie.

Jay - the other Ring Bearer - who cooperated all day!

Joshua - woke up with a fever - but trooped through.

The Flower Girls (aren't they gorgeous?!) Lydia, Kennedy, and Karli

Cake, Eggs, and Wheels

This is what Joshua thought we should do with Jack's left-over birthday cake. At least it didn't all go to waste.

The kids and I colored Easter Eggs this morning....

And.... Troy and I decided to buy the kids two four wheelers. Jack rides his new PowerWheel and Lydia and Jay have enjoyed tooling around on their new wheels.

And there's Josh - he likes to pretend.

My Girlies

Here are the Girls that are most often referred to as "My Girlies". Aren't they just the cutest little girls you have ever seen?! Lydia, Karli and Kennedy enjoyed playing at Gr. Grandma Iris Caskey's 80th Birthday Party. They love to play with all the kids and it was nice that they were able to get up and run around with all of them.

Lydia made a new friend - Jackson! or did Jackson make a new friend?

The Girls got to see their sister - Maleya. They loved chasing around her and doting on her! They said that they had a ton of fun. Maleya has hit the stage where she doesn't want her picture taken....