Soccer!

FINALLY we had a nice day for soccer. Poor Kyle only associates cold and rain with soccer, because that's pretty much all he's ever know. He had a good time, but I don't know that he's interested in it enough to stick with it.

An exercise in teamwork?? :)

10 years

It was ten years ago today that Mike and I went out on our first date. We went to The Pump House in St. Joseph to eat, and then we went to see the thriller Along Came a Spider. The date, obviously, went well! Here we are ten years later, having tied the knot and brought two children into the world. Who knew ten years ago? Although I think maybe we both did. :)

Here's the first picture taken of us together. It was about a month later, and we were at a going away party for good friends Cathy and Gary Lane. While I was so sad to see them move all the way to California, Mike and I have had some fabulous, fun trips out to see them. And I've pre-dated this post to post while we are out. I have secretly gotten a babysitter so we can go out on a date night to celebrate!

It takes a village

We often say this in my group of friends, because we help each other out so much. I made a decision several years ago that has changed my life. I was new to the stay-at-home mom scene, having quit working at Bronson early in the summer of 2007. When September rolled around the play and learn group sponsored by the school system was starting up again. I had never seen myself as a "play group kind of mom," but felt it was important to provide social opportunities for Kyle since he lost them when I took him out of day care. So, for Kyle's benefit, I went to the play group. I knew no one there, but there we trudged every Thursday.

Kyle had a blast playing, dancing, singing and crafting each week. And I got to know people; I got to have adult discussions with other moms. And friendships grew. I have three play group sessions left, and then it will be summer vacation, and then Erin will begin preschool. I'm ready for that next stage, but mainly because my friendships are so steadfast that we go far beyond play group.

Beyond our kids, my group gets together regularly without -- gasp -- kids. We call it book club. This joke began when I asked a few other moms if they would be interested in creating a book club. The response I got was, "I don't have time to read, but I'll come for the eating and drinking." So our "book club" consists of just the eating and drinking, and we love it that way! Several are scrapbookers, and we scrapbook together.

I can't imagine my life without these fabulous friends. Simply put, I love them. I know without a doubt that they will be there if I need them, as will I for them. I know they offer and accept shoulders I can cry on, smiles and laughter to share, and just the comfort of hanging out.

Life has had it's challenges lately, and my friends have stepped in a lot. Monday I was stuck in St. Joe helping my dad and realized I might not make it back in time to pick Kyle up from school. A phone call later it was taken care of, he would go home with a friend. This morning a friend had a doctor appointment for one child, and I took the other and then dropped him off at preschool. While I did this I was able to leave Erin with another friend, so Erin wouldn't have to miss out on a party with her friends; that friend dropped her off at home. A friend is bringing Kyle home from his after-school program today. I drop my nephew Jack off at school each day. The list is endless. We help each other out in a heartbeat, and we all love doing it.

I often say I don't know how single parents manage. How they swing it alone when there is so much that raising children entails. Well, not only would I have trouble as a single parent, but I don't know what I would be without my village. To each and every one of you, and you know who you are, I thank you and I love you!!

Ayyy batter batter! Ayyy batter batter!

Kyle officially began baseball today with his first ever t-ball game. He did great! It was so fun to watch him, watch all the other kids his age, and watch Mike help coach. Five-year-olds learning an organized sport is a hoot. Here are some of my favorite things:

• How many times I heard a mom say, "Do you have to pee?"


• Watching EVERY boy in the field try to get the ball... no matter position.


• Tears over things like hats. (They were all tired by then!)


• Hearing coach comments like, "When you get to home plate you have to let the players running bases in front of you cross first."


• Seeing Bos Concrete on all their shirts! :)

Even Erin had her friend Gracie to play with!

Country Living

After a long search, looking for land, not finding any and looking at houses, not finding one and going back to looking at land, we found it!! Exactly what we were looking for!! In early March we became the proud owners of 15 acres of land!

The land is just four miles from the downtown and beach, and a straight shot out of town. Easy access to everything, yet we have our piece of quiet country living. The land is flat and wooded. We will clear enough to plop our house down in the middle.

We hope to build next spring, and are looking at ranch plans. Erin has already insisted on a purple room, which is just fine with me. When she suggested a purple house I said she probably wasn't going to win that one. ;-)

Our budding artist!

South Haven has a great art center just on the east side of the downtown. The kids have enjoyed craft days there during such city events as the Icebreaker Festival.We were thrilled to get a letter that Kyle had created a piece of art that would be displayed in the elementary art show. Go Kyle!! Here he is with the ribbon he was presented with.And here is the clay heart that he made that earned him his spot in the show. Way to go, Kyle! We're proud of you!!

31 in 31

No, not a reference to my days of old at Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors. In an attempt to jumpstart my blogging, I am challenging myself to 31 posts in 31 days. Bring on May! I would venture to say that many of these posts will be short and sweet, usually with a picture or two. I have some catching up to do!

Early in January a friend started doing 365 Project and I thought it looked so cool. I knew, though, in the craziness of my life at the moment that I would set myself up to fail. I knew I wouldn't manage to post each day. Also, I knew I wanted to stretch my photography outside of the random day to day pictures I take and post "cool" pictures. So I settled on that being a goal for next year. This might help me get some of those shots taken, too, though.

So here is a May Day post and picture to begin the month. Bring it on!!! :)