It's a Manic Monday

Well I thought I would actually do some blogging before Saturday's game then it hit me, I don't have anything interesting to say. Today was a very hectic day, we had TAKS testing and then the Fitnessgram. While the TAKS testing was going on this morning the athletic secretary and I were getting all the supplies ready for the gram. We ended up gram testing from 1:30-3:30, then we had to pick up and all that fun stuff. I didn't actually get to leave work until 4:40, then it was pick the boys up, rush home, get the house somewhat picked up (I hadn't been home, nobody had since we left at 7:50 this morning), listen to Kaleb's drum lesson, cook supper, eat said supper, walk with a friend of mine (felt good but whew!), play with the boys, administer a practice TAKS test to Kaleb, ref a chess tournament, put the boys to bed, change 3 light bulbs, check on my Facebook page (something new for me...peer pressure), try to come up with something interesting for the blog, and type all this out. WOW!!! Totally nothing going on today! Oh well tomorrow promises to be more of the same. Yippee! Well here's the pictures for today...or at least the ones I posted today!

Kaleb at the pool in San Antonio this past summer. Don't you love his goggles?!Jakob at the pool in San Antonio. I must tell you, I don't lose my kids long in the pool. They are VERY easy to spot with their goggles!My baby and me. I believe Kaleb took this picture one weekend when we were just hanging out enjoying ourselves.

Another Saturday, another game

Well we had Jakob's 4th game today, only 3 more left this season. Once again the wind was blowing a lot, we would love to get to play 1 game without 20 mile-an-hour winds! We lost 11-6 but Jakob hit the ball both times he was up to bat and also scored 2 runs for his team. He played catcher the whole game. I am not sure if he is going to play catcher for the rest of the season but he loves the position so he would be happy if he got to. Enjoy the pictures!

Kaleb was the photographer today so he felt it only necessary to take a picture of himself. I guess this was to prove he was there.

The Astros' catcher - #8 Jakob "Tornado" Rankin! (or as one of our parents loves to yell...WYLEE!!!)

This is after his 2nd hit. He got a double both times at bat. Cool!!!

He is always happy when he is playing and I love that. This is after he scored the 2nd time and he looks pleased with himself.

I got to work the dugout today since our usual dugout person wasn't there. It isn't that bad working the dugout but I SO prefer sitting in the stands and watching from there...you get to see more of the game and don't have to spend the game trying to get kids in line.

We have our own "Pudge" behind the plate. (For those that don't know Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez has returned to Texas this time playing for the Astros...that's what I meant by that!)

Tuesday Night

Well tonight we had 2 softball games and 1 baseball game at home, and I must say, it was a great night for the Steer (Lady Steer) ball clubs. Both varsity teams won!!! What all this does is make the softball team have a playoff playoff (yes I did mean to say that twice) on Friday in Lubbock. Baseball has 1 more regular season game on Friday and right now are in...it just depends on how everything with everyone in the district pans out to see which seed we are. YIPPEE!!! Gotta love these cliffhangers. Anyway, I don't have any pictures from today, well I did take pictures of "something" today but with an ongoing investigation I cannot post them. Long story, so not worth embellishing on here. I do naturally have a few pictures to share though. I know, hard to believe.

This was us after the welcome reception at SWATA (Andy's convention) this past summer. The convention had the welcome reception on the USS Lexington and that was great because it saved us over $50 in tour fees since we already knew we were definitely going there.

Kaleb took this picture of Andy and I while on the USS Lexington. It was a little windy that day, but the humidity wasn't too bad which was great. I decided to also post a video, the first one I have every done. Honestly I can't believe I did this...I really shouldn't have. It's mean. In fact had it not been for the award for the funniest video ever I would not have done it. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!) I got to laughing so hard that I honestly doubled over in pain. I must say Andy is a trooper though, I didn't dare brave the hills, someone had to work the camera. Hope you enjoy the video.

Jakob's 3rd Game

Well today Jakob had his 3rd game. Although it started out great, the team was RIGHT on, it didn't end all that great. They ended up losing 4-8 in 4 innings and the bottom of the 3rd inning was the one that the other team really got their game on. Jakob scored 2 of the 4 runs his team scored and helped bring home some of his other teammates. Hope you all enjoy the pictures, I was trying to operate 2 cameras at the same time and hoping that the good shots of Jakob ended up on my camera. This was Jakob's 1st at bat.Jakob made it to 1st and got a hi-five from his dad!HE SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!2nd at bat.HE SLIDES HOME AND HE IS SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!His teammates were so proud of him that they tackled him when he made it back to the dug out. Fortunately his elbow was fine and he didn't miss any playing time!Jakob played catcher for the last inning and did a GREAT job! We were very proud of him, although mom was nervous. He kept the position in the family since his Gammy and his uncle Pat both had played the position in their careers!

Our Easter Week

I know it has been a while since I updated my blog but let me just say we have been busy. Hard to believe huh!? Well this past week we had ball games, practices, school, work, Easter party at Jakob's school, dentist appointments (thankfully NOT mine!), and most importantly a great trip! We decided to take Easter and go see Uncle Kevin, Aunt Alma, Ashley, and Morgan. We had an awesome time and got to take in some sites that we were not allowed to visit in November when we had an overnight fast trip thanks to our playoff football game. Some of the fun stuff we got to do was go to Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands in New Mexico. It was a ton of fun and White Sands is beautiful! The only down fall all day was that it was cool (on the verge of down right cold) and the wind was up while we were at White Sands.
Kaleb and Jakob with the F-15 on display at Holloman AFB.Jakob, Kaleb, and Kevin at the F-117...this is my one of my favorite planes and it pains me that they have retired it...WHAT WERE THEY THINKING???

Ashley and Morgan enjoying sliding on the hills at White Sands. Did I mention how much fun it was? Jakob sliding, Kevin watching, and Kaleb enjoying the time!

Like I said it was windy. Kaleb was trying not to get a face full of sand and Jakob was trying to walk while holding his disk that they used to slide. Problem was that when the wind gusted, Jakob didn't weigh enough to not get blown back a little.

Jakob naturally was ALL grins! Isn't that the best smile!!??!!
Andy looks like he is going going gone doesn't he. I promise we didn't lose him there!!! Stay tune later this week for me to post some more pictures from our relaxing weekend!!!

Jakob's 2nd Game

Well today was Jakob's 2nd game. He did great. His team lost 0-7 but Jakob hit the ball and did great at 1st base again. This was a hard week for the team because we only got to practice on Monday and Tuesday so by the time the game rolled around, we weren't mentally ready as well as last week. Oh well, that's just part of the game.

Jakob is awesome at cheering on his teammates. He really gets into the game and always seems like he is having a great time.

Jakob's first at bat he hit a double. We were cheering and his smile was the best.
Jakob's second at bat he hit pretty well, unfortunately this hit resulted in a foul ball so he had to go back and bat again but hey it's both Jakob and dad...what more could I ask for!?

Where have I been?

So it's been a LONG time since I have updated our blog. Real quick (yeah right) I will try to sum up our week. Monday was work and Jakob's baseball practice...nothing too exciting. Tuesday was work, Jakob's baseball practice, and a Steer varsity baseball game. Now for Andy it was work, Jakob's baseball practice, 2 Lady Steer softball games, and 2 Steer baseball games. Wednesday was the only "down day" we had. It was work and then I went to a friends house for girls night while Andy took the boys out for boys night out. Kaleb LOVES boys night out and it is awesome for him, as well as Andy and Jakob...Kaleb is fixing to reach that point of not wanting to spend time with us so we are eating it up while he still "likes" us. Thursday was a long day, we had work then hosted a junior high track meet...AGAIN! We had one on March 5th and you would have thought they all got enough of it but apparently not because we had to have another. Andy of course was running the training room and I was running the results/awards room. Basically what I do is after the race/field events get done, the sheet with the times, distances gets brought to me and I figure out the athletes places, enter all the necessary info into the computer program I wrote a few years ago and from there I get team point totals and a "results page" for the schools with who got what place and what their time/distance was. I then put their medals and/or ribbons (depending on where they placed) in their packet for the coaches after the meet. I love doing it and 12 years ago when I started in the tally room there were 8 of us and we hand-wrote everything. Now with my computer program I am the only one needed. I do always get a couple close friends to work in the room with me so we can have some fun. Mission accomplished! Friday (today) was busy because we had work, Andy covered the 2 Howard College baseball games for the trainer at Howard (Howard is ranked #1 in the nation right now) and then he had 2 Lady Steer softball games. I cooked mom and dad a birthday dinner today since yesterday was their birthday (121 combined age) and then there was cleaning up the mess at mom's house from us all eating and cleaning up the mess here from cooking. Oh well it was worth it...they seemed to really enjoy it! Tomorrow Jakob has his baseball game at 9:30 (YUCK!) so we have to be there at 9...this is A.M. people...I am NOT a morning person!!! Then we have 2 Steer baseball games starting at 4:30...yippee! I will hopefully get some great pictures and will be able to get them posted...notice I said hopefully. Well that's our week...now on to some random pictures.

The boys last year at the airshow in San Angelo. We got to see the Thunderbirds fly...it was awesome. It was their 1st airshow of the season...unfortunately we are not going to be able to see them or the Blue Angels this year, neither one is coming close.The boys watching the airshow. Since the jet engines are so loud the boys needed ear protection. This way they didn't have to spend the whole time sticking their fingers in their ears!