Shocker Softball...Summer '09

Kylie played on a ASA 14U softball team this summer...they were the Quad City Shockers. We played many local tournaments and traveled a bit as well. The team won one tournament and took second at another. We had a lot of fun with Kylie's team, too. The team becomes like another family. The top picture shows Kylie with Britta and Kelsey-two of her teammates who are students at Moline High School. Keep having fun Kylie! I know I Do!

Patrick #24

Patrick played on the Orion Baseball U9 team this summer. They played in the Mississippi Valley Baseball league which meant about 2 games a week. The team also entered several tournaments throughout the summer. Most were local tournaments, but we did travel to Waukesha, Wisconsin for one tournament. We had a great summer of baseball with the team and families. I will miss the team next year as some of the boys move up to 10u and some stay down another year. Thanks for the fun!

1st day of School

Kylie's 1st of day at Orion High School and Patrick's 4th grade year at CR Hanna. Kylie was excited about high school...she was quite certain she was not nervous...even though everyone seemed to keep asking her if she was! Patrick would be in the fourth grade. Summer has been lots of fun, but it is always nice to get back into the routine of school. Good luck Kylie and Patrick.

BackPack Night!

Patrick got Mrs. McConaghy for his fourth grade teacher at CR Hanna Elementary School this year. We went into class one evening for backpack night to find a desk and unload his backpack. After unloading into his new desk...we were visiting with Mrs. McConaghy when I tried to snap a pic of him on the desk...this is what I got!

8th Grade Promotion

Kylie and Papa Jim after promotion. Papa had hugs for Kylie in the commons of the high school where promotion for Orion Middle School was held. Kylie was in the top ten percent of the class...way to go Kylie. Keep up the good work and never let anything get in the way of achieving all that you want. You can go far and I know that you will. I am proud of you.

Kylie and her firefighter dad

Okay-this is not the most recent picture of Kylie--but it is one of my favorites of her and her dad. Coal Valley Fire was having a training burn and Doug was able to be a part of it. This was taken in January of 1998. Doug pretty much hates to have his picture taken-so this is one of the few I have.

This is Patrick. He is my 8 year boy...who loves to play. He will play in the snow of Winter, he will play in the leaves of Fall, the raindrops of Spring and the heat of Summer. Here he is with the start of his snow fort. The temps have been cold enough that the fort has not melted-last week it was 27 degrees below zero. He bundles himself up and will play as long as I let him!

Here is Kylie. She and a friend had baked a Caramel Apple Pie for the Fall Festival Pie Baking contest; Labor Day 2008. I think she surprised herself with the pie turning out. Papa Jim bought the pie for a mere $275. She said she will gladly bake him another anytime!

This is me...in one of my favorite places to play when I was learning to get from here to there. My mom and dad both consider this to be one of their favorite pics. It was taken in our apartment in Orion, I was on a utility cart in the kitchen. I was just past one...so that makes this picture to be taken summer 1972.