Boys' Baseball Schedule-Summer 2008

The boys have started playing baseball again through the YMCA and I thought I would post their schedule in case anyone wants to come see them play some time this summer.

They had their first practice yesterday and did really well. Their are 17 kids on their team, so I don't know if they will get to play as much as they did last year, but I'm sure they will still have a good time. Next year they will play on a more competitive league with a longer season and they are already really excited about it. Hope to see you this summer!

Saturday, June 28 @ 10:30 am - Founders Park Field #1
Saturday, July 12 @ 3:30 pm- Westhoff Park Field #5
Saturday, July 19 @ 1:00 pm- Westhoff Park Field # 5
Saturday, July 26 @ 1:15 pm- Founders Park Field #1
Saturday, August 2 @ 11:45 am- Founders Park Field #1
Saturday, August 9 @ 1:15 pm- Founders Park Field #1

Family Camping Expo 2008

Two weekends ago we took all the kids camping. The County hosted a Family Camping Expo at Klondike Park and since I'm a county employee I got a discount. It was only for one night, was close to home, and was geared toward families with kids, so Brian and I decided it would be a good introduction to camping for the children. It started on Saturday at 10am, we arrived at the park, set up our tent, and met all the park rangers who would be our guides for the weekend. One ranger gave us a lesson in dutch oven/campfire cooking, complete with taste tests. I honestly had no idea so many things could be cooked on a campfire. We even prepared our own dinner packets and cooked them on the fire and everything turned out really tasty. The rangers also gave us a lesson on knot tying and took us on a guided nature walk through some of the wooded trails that run throughout the park. There was even a fishing derby at the lake and all of us caught at least one fish! After dark, the astronomy club set up high powered telescopes and we got to see Saturn, Mars, and the space shuttle which happened to be flying over that evening! When we were finished star gazing we headed back to camp and roasted some marshmallows on the fire and headed off to bed. I was a little rough getting everyone to settle down and go to sleep in the tent, but once they did it didn't take long to fall asleep since we had such an eventful day. The next morning (Sunday), we got up, ate breakfast, hiked up to the top of the bluffs that overlook the river and then headed home. It was a great experience and everyone learned a lot. I hope the county does it again next year and we will definitely go again!

Butterfly House

A few weekends ago I took the kids to the Butterfly House in Chesterfield. We all really enjoyed seeing all the beautiful butterflies and I got a lot of great pictures too. We also took a ride on the old carousel in Faust Park. After we got home, Alena was playing outside in the yard when she came inside and announced:

"Momma I want to be a butterfly, I need my wings." To which she immediately ran into her room and retrieved her fairy wings. I helped her put them on and off she went back outside.

About 15 minutes later...

Alena: "Momma my wings are broken."

Me: "They look okay to me."

Alena: "But I can't fly!"

Me: "Well honey, you just have to pretend."

Alena with a heartbroken look on her face: "I don't want my wings on anymore."

And she took them off.