Take Me out to the Ball game

 Well, we are off.  Nate played in his first tournament this weekend and they won!!! It was Battle of the Borders and they lined up with three other teams from Nebraska and 4 teams from Iowa.  It is a really cool tournament because it makes our Nebraska teams cheer on each other, when normally they are against each other. Nate had a great outing this weekend.  His at bats were very successful.  We are very proud of our team. They played exceptional ball.

Elaina had her first softball practice this weekend and so did Brandon. They were both excited to put their gloves on and get out there and play catch.  We have baseball and soccer on the brain right now.  If the weekends keep staying like this it's going to get really hard to keep their interest in school:)

Nate will play three games this week and then we will be off to the Kick Off Classic where we hope to play the type of ball that we did this weekend.

Here's a picture of Ella at the Great Wolf Lodge when we went with the Lundquist's family for a getaway weekend.She loves to swim.

Have a blessed week and check back soon!

So much to do so little time

 We are just getting into baseball season for all three of the older ones.  It's a great time of year because we are outside more and we seem to cherish down time and respect it.  A lot has taken place over the last couple of months so I think I'll just give it a world wind summary.  In February Brad and I went to the Big Island of Hawaii...for our 15 year anniversary.  It was an amazing time and we were able to share it with our closest friends.  We laughed harder than we have laughed in a long time. It was paradise and we will vacation there again.  Nate is busy with baseball. His first big tournament is this weekend and we are ready.  Brandon is playing both soccer and baseball and he is so lucky because his Uncle Ry Ry is his soccer coach.  That guy has skills in coaching those little guys.  Elaina has decided that she will continue to take ice skating and hope to get to the point of competitions.  We are excited for her, not to mention sewing classes and guitar lessons. She is also starting softball this Saturday.  Talk about a busy van for the mom to drive.  I wouldn't have it any other way...in some ways I dread the idea of my van sitting in my garage someday or maybe not even being a van anymore:(

Ella is just a delight these days.  She did have to have her two front teeth pulled because they had taken a hard hit or something but they had abscessed.  That was not a fun surgery for her or her mother.  She is changing ever so fast.  We took down her crib and turned it into a toddler bed.  I was pretty sad to see the crib go down for the last time.  I remember vividly putting that crib up almost 13 years ago for the first time with such excitement and wonder.  Wonder of what was to come...boy who would have known that that crib would see 4 babies sleep in it.  Well, I'm off to take Elaina to a girlfriends house.

Have a blessed weekend and look back because I will start to give updates on more regular basis.

Blessings!

Crazy

It's been way to long since I last posted.  We've had so much going on and little time for me to sit down at my computer.  Our Christmas was wonderful. We spent most of the week with family in Corning.  It was nice to just slow down a bit and just be.  I loved watching my kids interact with their grandparents and cousins.  I loved watching Ella's eyes light up when she figured out that the presents under the tree were for her too!!

We began the new year out with friends and Nate got his first real job babysitting our kids.  He did great and Elaina helped him out.  We took them to dinner the next night and a movie.  We saw the movie Blindside. Wow, was that inspirational.  It sure made me want to make a difference in the life of someone.

Nate's baseball schedule went up a notch as in 4 days a week on top of basketball.  He's such a great kid and he again made superior honor roll in the IB program and Millard North Middle.  As always, just a little to grown up for Brad and I's liking.  So serious about so many things.

Elaina started ice skating and volleyball this month. She is such a natural.  She is so beautiful inside and out.  She is soft spoken and such a little helper.  She also got straight A's this semester....we couldn't be more proud.

Brandon was in the UNO holiday wrestling tournament a couple of weeks ago and got 2nd. place. He was so proud of his medal.  Not to bad considering his dad just started working with him and it was the 3rd time he had ever wrestled.  He continues to make us laugh.  He's quite the comedian and he is also a good student. 

Ella has surgery in the morning to fix a few of her teeth.  I'm a little anxious but I know all will turn out fine.  She is changing so much...a little feisty at times but she's becoming and how can you not help but stop and watch.

Today, Brad left on his first snowmobiling adventure with our good friend Dave.  It will be good for him to get away from his job and the kids but it seems it's always hard to leave.

Next Thursday Brad and I will be married 15 years.  I can't believe it.  It seems like yesterday but we've added so much depth to who we are since then.  I LOVE being married to this man.  He completes me in so many ways.  We work well together even though we've had our times.  He's always my biggest fan as I am of him.  He is my rock...when I am in need of one, yet he let's me discover new things about myself without hindering me with his every word.

Have a blessed weekend and I'll get pics posted of the kids soon!!!

Marci

Finally

Well the streets are finally cleared.  It's bitter cold here and there's a foot of snow on the ground, it's beautiful.  The kids had three days of school off this week and now it's crunch time so that I get all presents bought so that I can enjoy the rest of the season.  Yesterday Elaina chopped off her hair...she looks absolutely beautiful and i can't wait to post pics tomorrow after I get them uploaded.  My parents are on their way home from Australia as I write this. I am so excited to see them and hear of all of their adventures.  My kids are missing them something terrible. 

Brandon had his first wrestling tournament this past weekend.  He had only practiced twice and he got third place.  He really did well considering little experience at all.  We were so proud of him. His cousin Teagan came out to wrestle as well and he took home a 2nd place trophy.  They both were coached by Brad.  He does such a great job coaching them..which didn't surprise me since he's such a patient daddy.  He's the best daddy in my book.

Brandon James 6yrs. old

Enjoy the true meaning of Christmas and have a blessed day!!!

I'm Thankful for.........

It's been awhile since I last posted.  We have been so busy with the kids sports and getting ready for Thanksgiving.  We had family in from Tuesday to Saturday of the week of Thanksgiving.  On Tuesday the Hoch family arrived and the Nelson clan came over for my Grandpa Hasley's spaghetti and meatballs. My mom knows just how to make them. We laughed and the kids played out in our building.  Then on Wednesday the festivities began.  We ate grandpa's famous mulligan stew and Ann brought grandma's homemade bread...we drank lots of wine and had great conversation.  Thursday's dinner started with a song sung by my aunt Kate and cousin Sarah..Surely the presence of the lord is in this place"...there were a few tears shed in memory of our grandparents and then Elaina said grace...Grandpa and Grandma would have been so proud...her mommy sure was. Every year we build a little on our new tradition...it was hard letting go of the old one but we tweaked it and now it's better than ever. Mom and dad left for New Zealand and Australia for their big adventure of the year...everyone can't wait for the pictures and the stories.  Friday night which was our last night together...ended with going out to Hiro for some sushi and Japanese cuisine.  After dinner we went to Mic's karaoke bar and Sarah's rendition of " I will Survive" had us all dancing.  It was a great end to a wonderful week. Our kids can't wait for next year and neither can we.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful people that blessed our home, even if some could only stay for a short time we felt blessed to have you.

These are the best days

Today is such a beautiful day here.  It's 72 degrees and the sun is so great to see.  Nate started doing a little baseball this morning and he was so excited to see his buddies.  Elaina has a couple of her girlfriends over and B is in hog heaven hanging with his daddy.  Ella is taking a nap so I am taking advantage of the quiet and working in my office.  In the pictures above Ella decided to try on my boots.  She was so funny trying to walk in them.  I wanted to post another pic or two of Elaina's costume...she loved being Cleopatra!!!  Have a blessed Saturday.