Sean

I don't get many pictures of Sean (teen boys don't appreciate having their picture taken!), but I managed to get one of him while he was concentrating on hitting his golf ball at Congo River last night. All five of us went, and we had a blast. Here is my big boy.

A visit with the ducks

Erin and Russ (the duck man)

This is Susan

There are 12 siblings...they have been here since they were born (mama was right behind)

Going for a stroll along the sidewalk

Finished with the school year

Sean and Bren are officially finished with school for the year. Today was the last day, and they both completed another year with honor roll. I'm so proud of my boys. Sean is really excited for 8th grade next year, and Bren is anxious, excited, and a bit scared about middle school (6th grade). He'll be just fine, because he'll have his big brother there with him.

To celebrate their accomplishments for the year we went out for ice cream tonight after I got home from school at about 9:30pm! It was a late, but nice treat.

So in just a couple more months all three of my kiddos will officially be in "real" school. Erin is absolutely ecstatic about kindergarten. The girl is reading like an absolute pro now, doing addition and subtraction like crazy...just completely ready to go. We aren't even able to spell words in front of her to keep her from knowing what we are saying any more, because most of the time she ends of figuring out what we spelled! She's a trip.

Sean and Bren will be flying up to their dad's in a few weeks, and I know that they are anxious to see all of their family there (including you Aunt Jodie!). I miss them like crazy for the couple of weeks that they are gone, but I know that they have a blast while they are there. They may also be going back out to Oregon this summer, so we'll have to see what the summer has in store for them!

Baseball party

The River Cats had their end of season party today.

One of Bren's teammates (Jacob) stayed over last night after their last game, and Brian took them to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball game (they won!). Then they were up until almost 3am this morning playing Xbox 360. They got up today, and went right outside to play until it was time to go to the party.

The party was great. The boys on the team presented the head coach, Dave, with a card that they had all signed (and a gift card), and he completely broke down when he read it. There was a lot of food, swimming, and playing all day (1:30-7:00pm). Each of the boys got a baseball with the team name and year on it so that they could have the coaches and their teammates sign it. It was a nice gift from the coach.

Brendan and Jacob (pitcher and catcher)

Sean watching a jellyfish (yes, his hair is curlier than Erin's)

Last game of the season

Today was the last game of the spring baseball season. Bren had a great game. When his coach brought him out to pitch I overheard the coach of the other team say, "Oh, bringing out the big guns now!" I had to giggle when I heard that. He didn't give up any runs during his pitching.

Afterwards the teams got league trophies, and tomorrow we are having the team party. It's been a great season for Bren, and he met the goal that he established at the beginning of the year. He has a couple of months off for the summer now before the fall season starts up. He deserves the break.

Look at the way his arm bends back when he pitches!

Way too bright because of the sunlight, but still a cute picture of the team

Brendan and his coach

Brendan's elementary school graduation

As of this past Friday Brendan is officially a graduate of elementary school! He had his "moving on ceremony" on Friday, and he got several great awards, including the outstanding technology and physical education awards. I wasn't a bit surprised by either one of these with the amount of knowledge he has of Apple computers (that is what they use in the school districts here, and what we use at home), and his athletic abilities.

So in a couple of months he will be in the middle school, and he and Sean will be there together for one year before Sean moves on to the high school. Wow.

Just playing around

Just a nice relaxing day today. When Brian came home from golfing we took the kites out, and Sean flew kites while Bren and Erin rode their bikes. We had a nice steady breeze so it was a perfect day for the kites. At one point Sean had one of them so high that we couldn't even see the tail on it.

Erin watching the kite get higher 

Brian watering his new bushes while we were outside.

Blast from the past

We were all looking through old pictures tonight, and we found this video of Brendan. It is one that I've always loved despite the fact that it's blurry (I had a horrible digital camera back then). Brendan was five years old, and was preparing for his pre-k graduation (summer 2002). He wanted to sing the song, but didn't want me to be in the room while he did it. Of course he didn't know at the time that I was standing right outside of the door listening the entire time. I laughed with him tonight that he couldn't sit still through the song, and he still cannot sit still!

My favorite part is the little dance he does in between the song and Pledge of Allegiance.

Best beach in America

Right here in our "back yard". Caladesi is one of our favorite kayaking spots, and I'm not a bit surprised that it was rated the #1 beach in America. It is beautiful. All of the beaches here are beautiful. I have to say that I'm not at all surprised that it beat the beaches in Hawaii. Having been to Hawaii myself I can say that some of the beaches here are much more beautiful than those that I visited there.

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=501440&GT1=41000

Erin in the double kayak (Winter 2006).  Caladesi in the distance (our destination)

THE Record!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HE DID IT!  Tonight Brendan broke his own record, AND the entire league record for the least pitches in an inning.  He pitched an eight pitch inning, and he was so excited when he did it.  At the beginning of the season he said that his goal was to break the record, and he did it.  My baby boy did it.  Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brendan

Just a few more from his game yesterday. Another great day of pitching and hitting.

Erin

Just a cute shot that I took of Erin tonight at the baseball field while Bren was playing.

A record for Bren

Bren broke his own 'pitches per inning' record, and now also holds the second highest record in the league! He pitched an 11 count inning, and it was awesome. Even the parents on the opposing team were in awe. Overall it was a great game for him as he also hit a triple with two RBI's in the second inning.

It's proving to be a great season so far. He has three games this week (Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday) so it's a busy week for him. They normally only have two games and one practice each week, but the team has one make-up game this week so it's a little more hectic. Bren's up for the challenge!

Here are a few from tonight.

Walking back to the mound after a pitch

I was standing behind home plate, taking this through the fence

Florida cockroaches

I know that most people here think of seagulls as pests, and they are commonly referred to here as "Forida cockroaches", but I really do love them. I love that when I go shopping they are flying around in the parking lots. It's reassurance to me that I'm near the water, and it's a good feeling. Only once in my life did I live "inland" (NJ), and it was a very claustrophobic feeling. It's something that someone that hasn't lived near the water their whole life can't understand, but those of us that have can. These seagulls being around all of the time are my constant reminder that I'm near the water. Very near. And I love it.

After graduation...

We had to leave Erin's graduation to go immediately to Brendan's game. While we were there Erin played with the bubbles that she got at the celebration, and that kept her busy the entire time. She had a great time blowing the bubbles, and a group of other kids at the park were chasing them around every time she blew them. Oh the joy of being little.

On the way out of the park we saw one of the Florida natives laying alongside the little lake at the field.

I took this through the fence 

Erin's graduation

My baby graduated from preschool today. She did so well at her ceremony today, and we managed to get through it with only a few tears. I think I had more of them than anyone. Every time my eyes would get teary she would look at me and sign OK to tell me that everything was ok. It was so sweet. I could tell that she was holding back a few times, too.

So she'll start kindergarten in the fall. She's definitely ready. She's actually very excited to be going to the elementary school that Sean and Brendan attended. Unfortunately she won't have either of her big brothers there with her since Bren moves on to the middle school next year!

Anyway, here are a few pictures of Erin on her big day. Daddy brought her roses, and she was so excited to get them, but then before she left she actually gave them to her favorite teacher.

Erin (back) and her "boyfriend" Lars

Erin signing along to one of the songs (signing ABOVE)

More signing while she's singing (signing SWEET)

Going up to get her diploma

Checking out her diploma

After daddy gave her the flowers