Sunday

As usual when I tried to take Sean's picture I got the standard reaction.

After dinner we decided to head out for a treat.

And if you can't decide on just ONE...

Yes, they were both hers, and she ate most of both of them. Bren and Brian finished what she didn't.

Sweet goodies

While I was baking tonight Erin and Brian made their own goodies.  Pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate.  Then some of them were sprinkled with chocolate sprinkles, too!  These were done completely by Erin (Brian just melted the chocolate for her).

Game #2

Despite not feeling well Bren played game #2 today.  One arm (thankfully his right) was swollen from being bit by a wasp yesterday, and he has a terrible cough and sore throat.  But he decided that he wanted to play anyway.  And not only did he play, but he scored the ONLY run of the game for his team, and pitched a 14 pitch inning.  

And while Brendan was playing Erin was playing with her friends.  She brought an entire suitcase full of arts and crafts supplies to share with them, and they had a blast.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have made it to the playoffs, and they are officially the division champions as of last night.  To celebrate the City of Tampa had a huge (36 foot) tv put up in downtown Tampa in a local park along the Hillsborough River for the fans to watch the game last night.  There were thousands of fans sitting in the park to watch the game, cheering them on.  It's a first for the Rays. They have been in last place every year of their existence, and now not only are they first in their division, but they have one of the best records in the major leagues (3rd).  I've said it before, but this town really is sports-centered.  We have nearly every major sport (with the exception of basketball, and who cares about that????), and there is always some major sporting event going on throughout the year.  It's exciting.

A ray of sunshine

Amidst the chaos that is my every day (by choice) there is a ray of sunshine that will come peeking through on November 7th...

PAM!!!!!!

She's coming to visit me for the weekend, and I cannot wait to see this smile again!

Sunday at Nana's house

We spent the day at Nana's house on Sunday. Loved seeing my baby brother, and my two nephews (and the rest of the family, of course). The kiddos had a blast playing outside with the old cap guns (the exact same kind that were around when I was a kid-with the circular orange caps!), and the wooden swing in the back yard. The weather was perfect, and the company was even better.

My baby brother, Tony.

Tony and his oldest son, Zaye.


He's going up...

...and then he's down!

My youngest (of 5) nephew, Maddox.

This boy loves his fire truck!

Every time Sean shot the cap gun Maddox got SO excited.

Maddox was playing with a wooden airplane from Papa. You can see him mouthing the noise of the plane.



Zaye and Bren weren't still very long, but they both stopped long enough for me to get one picture of each of them.


Erin loves the tree swing, too!

Back to ball

First game of the fall ball season. They've been practicing for a few weeks, but this was the first official game of the season. Back to the fun! Bren has been counting down the days. He doesn't play for two months out of the year, and it drives him crazy when he isn't playing.

They won their first game, 11-9. Bren's first pitched inning of the season was a 9 pitch inning! Way to get right back in there, eh?

This was an excellent double!

Happy birthday, Tyler

My oldest nephew is 18 today.  I miss him, and I wish I could be with him today to give him a big hug and tell him how proud I am of him (he lives in Oregon).  He was my "baby" before I had my own, and he'll always have a very special place in my heart...no matter how far apart we are.  

Happy birthday, Ty.  I love you.

These are a couple of pictures I have always kept of me and Ty from when he was just a baby. 

Me (left) and my best friend from high school (right) with Ty

Almost there...

It's been an interesting week school-wise.  My professors ganged up on me, and four of the five decided to give an exam this week (coincidental, of course...but STILL).  All four were within three days of one another.  I've finished three of them, and I have the last one in about 30 minutes.  I'm sitting in the study lounge at the university now, and I'm exhausted.  When I get home tonight I am going to crash HARD!

Really I love this.  I do.

Howard Park

I took a break from studying this evening, and we headed out to Howard Park to watch the sun set. It's always so beautiful out there, and I needed the breather. I have FOUR exams in the next three days (yes, I said four!) so I have been reading and studying pretty much around the clock. I needed the fresh air, and some play time with the kiddos.

Here are a few shots, including one of a horseshoe crab that Brian rescued (he/she was stuck upside down in a crack).

Lunch at school

I asked Erin if Brian and I could come have lunch with her today at school.  She said no, and when I asked why she said that lunch time is her time to "chat" with her friends, and if we are there then she would have to pay attention to us. Hmm.  

I guess we won't interfere with her social time.

Labor Day

It was so nice to have the extra day off. The only one that was disappointed was Erin. She wanted to go to school instead.

Later in the day when Bren was getting tired, and he didn't want his picture taken this is what he would do whenever he saw me (I was giving him a hard time).