South Lakes Summer Slam Tournament

After winning the Rec State Tournament, we decided to see how well we could compete at a competitive league tournament.  The tournament was at South Lakes, which is close to our house.  The first four games on Friday (7/12) evening and Saturday were to determine the seeding of the teams.  Sunday was the actual tournament.

Game #1 - 6:00 Friday, July 12th

We found out quickly that the competitive teams were better than the teams we faced at the State tournament, but we also found that we could compete with them.

It was hot, but Sarah did a good job of keeping hydrated, and she played well.

We lost the first game 6-1.

Game #2 - 7:20

Sarah pitched the second game and did pretty well.

Sarah and her friend, Brooke, do a good job of encouraging each other.

We lost this game 6-3.

Game #3 - Friday 10:00

We had a delay with the start of the game waiting for the umpires to finish another game.  Our girls and the other team's girls were out in the field having an impromptu dance off.  Most of our fans found this pretty entertaining.

We may have won the dance off, but we were dominated in this softball game.  We lost 0-8.

Game #4 - Saturday 11:00 Saturday, July 13th

We again were dominated 0-10.

Game #5 - Sunday 9:30 Sunday, July 14th

After competing in the first two games and taking our beating the last two games.  We were ready to start the tournament.  Our first game was against a team from Oklahoma.

We came out and played well.  We won 8-6.

Game #6 - Sunday 3:30

After a long break, we played our second tournament game in the heat of the day (and it was hot).

We played well and almost overcame bad calls by the ump that gave the other team 3 runs (I was so mad I thought I might get kicked out of the game).  We lost the game 5-3.

The pitching was considerably faster and more accurate at this tournament than what we saw throughout the year.  Our girls had to go up looking to hit, not walk.  I was happy with their aggressiveness and their level of success.  Sarah had a number of strikeouts in the first couple games, but also had some nice hits in the last half of the games, and showed she could play on a competitive league team.  In the field she is always focused and fierce.

Some think it was a tough way to end the year going 1-5 but I look at if differently.  I saw a rec league team that could compete (and even win) with the competitive league teams.  Great year Heat!

June Fun

The first Saturday in June all three of our kids played in their piano recital.  They had been preparing there songs for the last 5 to 6 months and were very ready for the performance.

Silas played 'From A Wigwam" and "Alouette".

Sarah played "The Entertainer" and "Amazing Grace"  She taught herself to play Amazing Grace all on the black keys.

And, Phoebe played Shirley Temple's " On the Good Ship Lollipop".  They all played their songs well.

We enjoyed lots of good times with friends at our kids softball and baseball games this summer.

Above Eric and David, below, Mandy and me.  We love these friends and the good times we have together.

Below, our girls all attended Emporia State University's Lady Hornet basketball camp in June.  We all stayed at Mom and Dad's house together and had a lot of fun.  The girls liked the camp except that boys were allowed to attend this "LADY" Hornet camp, which was odd and something that we felt should be kept to just girls.

They practiced a lot of ball handling and shooting.

Meanwhile at Popee and Nanee's house in the afternoon and evenings, we had fun at the park, playing the Frisbee game, and eating yummy food....

Below left to right, Sarah, Phoebe, Shawna, and Abigail.

Coach Toby Wynn had fun shooting with the girls.

One of the mornings while the girls were at Hornet Basket ball camp, Dad, Silas, Mandy and I went fishing out in a friend's farm pond.  We had a friendly competition to see who could catch more fish... Boys or Girls...  The girls were in the lead until literally the final seconds when Silas reeled in a big Crappie for the tie.

Sarah got her top braces on and will get the bottom braces on in Augusts or September.  She will have to wear them for approximately two years.

We enjoyed a visit to Tanganyika Wildlife Park.  The kids each had a couple animal encounters.

We have a few Mulberry trees around our land.  One afternoon we had the kids and some friends help us pick Mulberries.

We used a tarp to catch all the Mulberries that Eric would shake from the limbs.  Then we would pour them into buckets.  Eric and Phoebe cleaned and washed them all.  Then Eric froze some of them to use later and made the rest into Mulberry jam.

Sarah attended the WSU Lady Shocker Elite Basketball Camp again this summer.  This year her friend, Kenna, attended too.

Sarah worked hard, hustled, and played hard.  She was selected by the WSU players and coaching staff, for the second year in a row, as one of the top ten middle school aged girls at the camp.  Way to go Sarah!  Hard work pays off!  Below, Sarah with head Coach Keitha Adams.  And, notice how much Sarah is growing??? She is taller than Coach Adams!

The kids had fun bowling a couple times this summer with friends. Below, Sarah, Felicity, Abigail, Shawna, Phoebe, and Silas.

Eric wanted us to help him cut down and remove trees on Father's Day this year.  So, after church and a quick lunch, we worked outside, as he cut trees down, we had to haul them out and pile them up.  It was a hot sweaty job, and there were a few complainers.  Happy Father's Day to this amazing Dad though.  We love him and his hardworking style.

Popee and Nanee, and our friends Dan and Debbie had fun coming to watch the girls and Silas play softball and baseball this summer.  We are always glad to have them here with us and the kids love to have them watching and cheering for them.

Phoebe and three friends attended the WSU Lady Mini Shocker Basketball Camp in June.  They worked a lot on ball handling and shooting.

Siblings hung out during camp and played some together.  Below, Silas, Gavin, and Felicity.

Below, with Coach Keitha Adams, Abigail, Shawna, Haylee, and Phoebe.

Silas and Phoebe attended our church's week long VBS in June.  The theme this year was "Polar Blast"  At the end of the week they did a short program for the parents followed by an ice cream social.

My besties and I had fun doing some pre-Colorado shopping at Hobby Lobby.  We went there looking for some hats, but couldn't resist this photo op with these signs!  Of course or pre-Colorado talks included talks of bears and what they eat, and how to escape them, and how cool it would be to see one.... (The sign says "What doesn't kill you will make you STRONGER.  Except Bears.  Bears will definitely kill you!")

And, who doesn't agree with this... "The Mountains are calling and I must go!"

We also did a little pre-Colorado tye dye one evening too.  We wanted everyone on our Colorado trip to have matching 4th of July (red, white, and blue) t-shirts to wear on the 4th.

Silas's baseball team gathered at Braum's one afternoon for an end of the season ice cream party and awards.

Below, Coach Mike, Coach Kyle, Silas, and Coach Eric (Daddy).

Go Thunder!

Phoebe's team had an end of season swimming softball party.  It was a lot of fun...swimming, dinner, and awards.  Phoebe was awarded a trophy and the "SKOR" (a SKOR candy bar) award.  She was awarded this for being a good hitter for her team and helping to score a lot of runs.