Day 181

I finally got to see Brendan hit a home run during a game today!  He actually hit two home runs back to back!!!  I'm so proud of him!

This is from his second at bat...second home run:

B loads up:

B swings:

Home Run:

I pretty much lost all sense of photography after that...pardon the blur!

Team waits at home plate:

and he jumps on home plate with a big ol' grin:

We were the visiting team today so we played 4 complete innings.  We won 15-3!

Day 180

Today was Brendan's first All Stars game.  They won 18-0 in just 3.5 innings!

Way to go guys!  Let's do it again tomorrow!

Day 179

New running shoes for me!  :)

ISO 320  f/4  SS 1/100

Day 178

ISO 320  f/2.8  SS 1/800

Day 177

This afternoon I dropped Jackson off for an overnight intensive soccer camp!  He was beyond excited! There are five boys who are sharing a suite!  They all live in our neighborhood!

I know these boys are creating memories that will last a lifetime!  Hopefully they will learn a little soccer as well!

Day 176

All Stars Scrimmage...

Day 175

ISO 250  f/3.2  SS 1/5000

Day 174

Alone I Will Not Be

"My comfort will come from the sea. 

The stillness of calm waves will Gently drift by
I will be as one with the sea. 
When the sun sets on the ocean blue, remember me as I will always remember you.

As the sun rises…go live life as full as can be 

Apart…you and me…but be at peace for I am free."

~ Capt. Chad Theesfeld

It was one of the highest honors of my life to participate in and photograph this sacred ceremony.

Day 173

ISO 250  f/3.2  SS 1/2000

Day 172

Weekend trip to OKI with Emma and a good friend and her daughter!

For dinner we drove over to Southport for dinner.  Since we had a wait, we all walked down to the waterfront!  It was a great night!

Day 171

Brendan made the 11U All Stars Team! This will be his 5th summer playing All Stars for our League! We could not be prouder of our guy!

Day 170

Dancing on Sunshine...

Day 169

The Southport Waterfront

Day 168

Brendan's first All Stars practice is tonight.  His dad surprised him with new cleats tonight.

Since it has been rainy here today, this will be the only time these cleats look this good!

Day 167

Happy Father's Day

This is my fifth Father's Day since my dad passed away...I miss him so much it hurts.

I am so grateful to have married JC...I feel like I picked the most perfect man to be the father to our children.  He is our rock!

We LOVE you J!

Day 166

A busy day...up at 5:30 to run. Lunch at one of our favorite places and an afternoon on the beach! The weather has been perfect this weekend.

Day 165

Today we went over to Southport to eat but took a detour to the lighthouse first.

Day 164

Today is Emma's last day of preschool!  She was very excited this morning, but I think she is a little nervous as well.  She kept asking if we can go back and visit them sometime.

Emma's class just happened to plan a field trip to a butterfly farm today.  I think that is a fabulous way to end her preschool career!  It's hard to believe she will be starting kindergarten in 2.5 months!

Day 163

A night at the pool...

Day 162

I'd love to know what is going through their heads right here...Jackson about to make his move:

Day 161

No pictures taken today so I thought I would share another photo taken in the Conservatory at the Bellagio:

Day 160

Brendan's travel ball team played in a tournament this weekend.

On Saturday while JC and I were sitting at our gate in the Las Vegas airport, Brendan hit a walk off home run to win their first game in the 7th inning (regulation is 6 innings at this age).  We missed it AGAIN!  The team played a second game yesterday and won 17-2.  They called the game in the third inning.

Today they played again.  B's team won both games, and both games were called early.

My shutter speed was 1/500 here.  It should have been higher to freeze the baseball.

It was nice to come home to see B's team win their tournament!

One day maybe we will get to see Brendan hit a home run!

Day 159

Home Again...

Day 158

Last day...

Spent by the pool! It was only 106 here today!!!

Day 157

a few pics from last night and this morning...

Day 156

A room with a view...

Day 155

Just checked in...

Day 154

ISO 3200  f/2.8  SS 1/125

Day 153

There are so many beautiful plants in our yard...it is just about too much for us to even take care of.

One of my favorites is an Oak Leaf Hydrangea.  We have one of these giant beauties at the front left corner of our house, and it is just starting to bloom.

ISO 500  f/3.2  SS 1/800

Day 152

Brendan's great grandparents made it to his game today.

It was sunny and 85 degrees!  Thankfully they brought their umbrellas.

The game went to seven innings, and after being down the entire game, we were able to come back and win 12-11!!!

Day 151

No big camera pics today.

JC and I did get to try a new restaurant that just opened Wednesday though! It was really good! Great atmosphere!