The Love of the Game

We are currently juggling 3 sports for 1 monkey right now. But I must admit, baseball is still my favorite. You just cannot beat the smack of a ball on the bat. The snap of the ball hitting the catcher's mitt. Or the cheer of the crowd when my boy has two outs, and he throws the last strike. I LOVE Baseball! Except when it's raining.

We did lots of waiting around last weekend. Rain delay after rain delay. On Saturday we didn't play our FIRST game until 9:45 P.M. Folks, that's crazy!!! But the time our second game was finished, it was 1:00 A.M..

My young man. (who towers over me and talks in a deep voice and seems to attract all the young ladies)

My two Blake's, Blake C.

and Blake Y.

The Northland Yankees is the cutest team in baseball. Hands down!!!!!!

With all the running, we have very little free time right now. So when we get a moment with no driving to practice, sitting in the car waiting, or washing uniforms, we take time to be together. This was Rick's idea. Bust out the 4-wheelers and go for a ride. Rick and I like to sandwich the kiddos. So, he takes up the front while I hold the rear!

While we were riding I found two cows in a very deep creek. When I drove over the bridge, they looked up at me. I continued driving however, it nagged at me. I began thinking, "Those cows are stuck in that creek!", "What if no one knows they are there and they die of starvation?" then, "Should I find out whose cows those are?" So on the way back I made everyone stop and look with me. (that way I wouldn't be carrying all the guilt on my shoulders) They were gone!!! I don't know how the beasts got out? Nonetheless, they did.

Moral of the story: Mandy thinks of too many things to worry about!!!

Now that I have tortured you with loads of nothing-ness. I thought I would leave you with pretty roses. Roses from my garden. Roses that the pesky bugs keep biting the tops off of. Arrrg!!

I know this isn't a rose. It is an alien. Doesn't it look like an alien to you? I have an overactive imagination.

H2O.... Aqua..... Water

Please note the irony in this post................

Yesterday I wrote about filling 200 WATER balloons.

Today, we have no WATER!!!!

Along with 5,000 of our neighbors.

We have experienced much flooding this Spring and it has taken it's toll on some of our large water pipes. Last Tuesday the Grand River spilled over it's banks, broke a levy and busted an 8" pipe. This pipe supplied water to two different water districts. Ours was one of them. In the meantime we have been ordered to boil the water we have, until it sadly.......... runs out. This morning Rick took a shower in a trickle of water. This afternoon, it's barely dripping.

We are anxiously waiting for the flood waters to recede so they can make repairs. In the meantime, we are drinking lots of bottled water. Taking advantage of our very gracious Grandma and Grandpa, and PRAYING!!!!!

I can't use these................

this...............

this.................. (not good)

or this............ (really not good)

I have to used bottled water for flowers, our pets, cleaning and dishes.

The monkeys are reduced to eating their morning cereal in disposable cups. Paper towels and Clorox wet wipes are my friend. And I have never craved a nice long bath so much in my life.

Water Balloons

This is what we have been doing so far this summer.................

water balloons!!!!

We filled over 200 last weekend.

They lasted less than 15 minutes. Geez wilikers!

Gracie was a complete lady and used her heels to pop them. Well, that lasted less than 15 minutes also. She was drenched before it was all over. (and mighty excited about it)!

Ian and Lane are pelting each other. I'm a little concerned for my camera, so I keep my distance.

Besides, I do not like getting wet unwillingly. Just ask Rick!!! (ahem) He has had a couple near-death experiences for getting me wet against my will.

Happy Birthday Gus!!

Guess who has a birthday today???????

Need a hint?

He has an underbite.

He has horrible gas 89% of the time.

He will only run for treats and water.

Yup, you guessed it.

Happy Birthday Gus Bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He has officially entered the terrible two's. I'm so excited to have that to look forward to!!!

In honor of his birthday, we are having a small family party. This is what Gus wanted for his birthday this year. Normally he opts for REAL cheeseburgers, but he settled for the squeaky one.

He also got a brand new green collar. Treats ALL DAY LONG!!! Then, to top it off, cake tonight. Possibly a sausage and egg flavored cake?

While we prepare, he will be mangling the squeaker out of the cheeseburger.

Enjoy being spoiled rotten.

loved and adored by his family.

My Master Chefs

"Discover the real excitement of baking!"

That is the slogan for the "Easy Bake Oven". Gracie has over the years whipped up some mighty fine creations.

Her and Ian decided to show off their master chef skills yesterday for me. However, before I show off their creation, I thought you might like to see the photos of the packaging. Perfect brownies, cakes and cookies. Two happy little girls working so well together. Ahhh, a peaceful day in the kitchen.

Whip up some scrumptious treats with these easy-to-prepare mixes! With the help of your EASY-BAKE oven (sold separately), you’ll mix up and bake absolutely yummy chocolate brownies. When they’re done, all that’s left is to eat them and enjoy! Kit includes four chocolate brownie mixes and instruction

Chase away a rainy afternoon with yummy frosted cake that you make yourself with these refill mixes that bake up in your EASY BAKE Oven or REAL MEAL Oven (each sold separately)! Stir up the devil’s food or yellow cake mix – or both! While they’re baking in your oven, stir up the vanilla and pink frosting mixes and decorate your cooled cake with the gooey goodness! Sprinkle flower-shaped confetti on your baked creations and turn those grey skies blue! Includes 1 devil’s food cake mix, 1 yellow cake mix, 1 vanilla frosting mix, 1 pink frosting mix, 1 flower confetti packet, 1 swirl design comb and instructions. Adult supervision required. Ages 8 and up.

Whip up some scrumptious treats with these easy-to-prepare mixes! With the help of your EASY-BAKE oven (sold separately), you’ll bake golden sugar cookies, frost them with yummy vanilla frosting and top them off with pretty pink sprinkles. All that’s left is to eat them and enjoy! Kit includes two sugar cookie mixes, one vanilla frosting mix, one packet of pink sugar crystal sprinkles and instructions.

Whether you’re in the mood for salty or sweet, these pretzel mixes let you stir up some fun with and satisfy your taste buds with your EASY BAKE Oven (sold separately)! Choose your pretzel mix and let the baking begin! Stir up the dough and roll out pretzels to bake in your oven! Whether you decide to frost your creations or dip them in nacho cheese dip, you’ll have everything you need to make a tasty treat. Includes 1 pretzel dough mix, 1 creamy frosting mix, 1 cinnamon pretzel mix, 1 nacho cheese dip mix, 1 coarse salt packet, 1 pretzel glaze mix and instructions. Adult supervision required. Ages 8 and up.

Refill mix lets you bake tasty flower-shaped sugar cookies that you can decorate yourself with sweet-tasting frosting and colorful sprinkles! Includes 2 sugar cookie mixes, 2 purple frosting mixes, 1 colored nonpareils packet and instructions. For use in your EASY-BAKE Oven or REAL MEAL" Oven (each sold separately). Adult supervision required.

Refill mixes let you bake tasty sugar or chocolate cookies and come with a heart-shaped cutter for creating extra-special treats! Includes 2 sugar cookie mixes, 2 chocolate cookie mixes, heart-shaped cookie cutter and instructions. For use in your EASY-BAKE Oven or REAL MEAL"

This, is their creation!!!!!!! Hummm!!!! I think it's a cake. Strawberry on the bottom, vanilla on top. Then slathered with icing and what appears to be Kool-aid crystals.

They generously divided it into 3 portions. One for Ian, one for Gracie, and yup, one for me.

I ohhhh & ahhhhh. Then take a bite. YUMMY!

Trying to fish

It's sure hard to fish when this tub-o-lard tags along.

Needless to say, we didn't catch much!!!!!!

Another Carrot Eater

Before we had the luggage out of the car from our vacation, Gracie was checking on Cookie. PaPa and Grandma Charlotte did the babysitting while we were gone.

I might add...........

They taught her a trick,

put a fan on her so she wouldn't get hot,

and moved her in to the garage every evening.

They deserve a bunny babysitter award!!!!!!!

I'm so proud of how well Gracie takes care of her pet.

It's pouring down rain here this morning. She came to me not five minutes ago and asked if she could go check on her pet. She mentioned that yesterday they ate alot and she is afraid that they will be out of food.

You may have noticed the plurals in the above paragraph. "They"................ read on.

While we were gone, two little elves did some searching and found another bunny.

I held my tongue the entire vacation.

I had my camera ready when we got home to capture the surprise on her face.

She found her!!!!!!!

And she can hardly control herself.

I introduce to you our newest addition to the family......... Cocoa!!!

Cocoa is soft and furry. She almost reminds me of a stuffed teddy bear. I love her color. It's almost as if someone dipped her in a tub of baking cocoa.

Isn't this precious?

Yup, Cocoa is a hit!!!

Now Cocoa formally is introduced to Cookie.

Cookie says, "Are you a carrot eater"?

Cocoa says, "Why........yes I am".