SOFTBALL !!!

It is Felicia's favorite time of the year -- softball season ! Mom loves it too. We've played about 7 games so far and our Bulldog 10U Fastpitch team is undefeated ! We have really great girls on the team who love the game and have fun out on the field together. Our pitcher became injured last weekend, so this week Felicia has pitched in the last two games. Tonight she struck 3 girls out in one inning ! She is new to fast-pitching, so needs to practice if she wants to improve, but I was so proud of her out there tonight, never afraid to try something new !!

Derby Party

Getting ready to head out to the Derby Party, in honor of The Kentucky Derby, on May 1st, 2010.We had a great time with friends at this very creative party. I was blown away by the amazing attention to detail given in planning this party. It was a treat to attend this event !
When we arrived, we were given name tags and directed to the betting board, placing bets on the actual race.Steve places his $$ on Devil May Care.
There was great food, fabulous decor with horse themed items and roses everywhere ! They even had official Kentucky Derby merchandise door prizes. Steve walked away with a T-shirt !
The hosts had hired a casino company to come to their home and they brought horses on stands, a racetrack, a wagering booth and funny money and chips to play with. It was quite entertaining, since after the first race moving the horses, people decided to stand in place of the horses !! All of the horses we bet on were actually "ourselves" since we were given a nametag upon entering the party with our real name and an original "horse name". Our very clever hosts had given us our names. Mine was "Kimpossible" !
Steve places his bets.
getting ready to watch the big race !
A photo taken of Churchill Downs on the big screen Tv.
There was a hat contest, too ! My hat was purchased at a thrift shop, then adorned with flowers and ribbon bought at Michael's craft store using my trusty hot glue gun !
Here was the last race, with everyone "jockeying" for position -- I know, bad pun, but i just couldn't resist.

The big winner of the night was my friend Kathy, who scored $100.00 wagering on Super Saver, who placed first at Churchill Downs !

Itty Bitty Worm Snake

When we arrived home from a softball game on Saturday, Sam and Steve were out in the yard. Sam told us he had caught a worm snake. He asked Ellie if she wanted to see it and she said yes. Then, after he showed it to her, he said "Do you want to hold it?" To my surprise, she said yes ! Not only did she hold it, she ended up "hugging" it ! She's a funny girl. Here she is, hamming it up for the camera...
wow, he's a quick little bugger !
love this one !


This is the girl that screams at the sight of an ant !!! Go figure...

Maymont Park

We Richmonders love our Maymont Park and yesterday Steve, Ellie and I took Grandma Rose there for a picnic. It was a great day, blue skies, sunshine and no humidity! We ate our lunch in one of the gazebos near the Italian Gardens, then strolled through the park.
Our beautiful girl, Ellie, loves to pose for Mommy's camera.Even though her allergies were bothering her, she had a smile on her face all day long!
Ellie and Daddy
The Italian Gardens are in full bloom right now.
Steve and I in the Japenese Gardens
I loved the colors of these tulips.

Tired after all the walking, Ellie stops to take a rest with her walking stick.

Easter

This year we drove down to Florida for Spring Break week to spend Easter with Grandma Rose and Poppy. We left on Good Friday and returned the following Friday.
We paint our Easter eggs every year, usually the day before Easter.
Even Hollister was festive ! He also received an Easter basket with new tennis balls and doggie treats.
Eating chocolate for breakfast is the best part of Easter morning for the kids !

Felicia and Ellie were able to participate in the church's egg hunt after services and they collected lots of eggs and prizes there. Grandma also had an egg hunt for the kids at her house in the afternoon.

Blessings

We are rewarded daily with so many blessings and during certain times of the year, we take special consideration to say Thank You to God. This spring, as we prepare to travel for the Spring Break holiday, I am reminded of my many blessings. I am thankful that my children are great long distance travelers, as our ride to Grandma and Poppy's house is a little further than over the river and through the woods ! I am grateful that we have family to visit and we'll be sharing time with them and grateful for the wonderful food we'll be eating.I am grateful that we are all healthy and have the freedom to travel when and where we choose to go.I am grateful for the childish delight that my children will have as they receive an Easter basket and participate in an egg hunt. I am especially grateful to teach my children about the new life we find in this Spring season, through the rebirth of mother nature and through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Happy Easter ! I look forward to sharing our holiday photos upon our return next week.

Hippity Hoppity

My crafty and clever girl Ellie saw an empty egg carton in the kitchen last week and said, "Mama, can I use this?" I said "Sure" and within 20 minutes she had transformed that egg carton into a bunny Easter basket ! She drew the bunny face and a handle (which has already fallen off) and attatched them to the carton, then drew and colored some paper eggs, which she put inside. What a great recycler I have ! Keep that imagination coming, girl!