Friends forever

Monday night was an extra special treat! I got to have dinner with two of my very best friends, Stephanie and Amber!

This is a picture of us from one of my wedding showers *grins*

I love these girls more than words can say. We have been the three musketeers ever since first grade! They are such special friends. We have SO much in common and share so many of the same values and ideals.

Looking back through my childhood and teenage years I am so thankful God placed them in my life. I know there are times that we encouraged each other, prayed for each other and really carried each other through life *smiles*

We went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant called Moe's Southwest Grill. It was really yummy! Stephanie was sweet enough to drive us all and drop us off at home again.

Can you believe we spent OVER two hours at that restaurant talking and catching up!?! The waiters probably thought we were crazy. The time just flew by. Obviously we need to get together more often *laughs*

Thank you girls for a fabulous evening, I can't wait to do it again!!

Festival of The Arts

Kenny and I had a fun little outing on Saturday morning. We went downtown to see the Festival of The Arts!

This is such a neat little exhibition of all sorts of artists. They have tents set up and displays with all kinds of amazing works of art, photography, sculpture, woodworking etc. I can't believe all of these talented people!

They also had a great stage set up with all different musical artist performing throughout the day! *grins*

Look at these pretty girls with their colorful skirts!I was pretty intrigued with the kinetic sculptures. This one was bronze and green glass and it spun in the wind and sent the sunlight dancing off the cut glass! So pretty!

It was only $1,400.00, don't you think we should put it out by the pool! *laughs*

We really had fun walking around down town. There were all kinds of flowers blooming all around. It felt like we were in central park or something!

At one spot there was a steep hill all covered with green grass that some little kids were having THE time of their life rolling down. I was so tempted to go join them!

These pictures don't do it justice, it just looks like people dropping like flies, but they really were having a blast and giggling up a storm!

What a fun way to spend a morning out with my honey!

Awesome signs!

HERE are those awesome signs that Julie and Lori made to cheer Kenny and I on at our Soccer game! Aren't they adorable and SO creative *grins*Now wouldn't THOSE make you want to score some goals! :) Thanks girls!

For it's one, two, three strikes you're out....

Yesterday was Kenny's last official baseball game of the season. *sniff, sniff* I'm really going to miss it! They have the championship tournament next week and I'm excited that they have a great chance of winning!! Unfortunately the weatherman is predicting a lot of rain next week, so they may not get to play at all, but we'll see *winks*

It was SooOOOOooooo windy yesterday, I'm sure I looked like Medusa for most of the game *laughs* This was one of my better moments...

This game was at John Marshall High School, a brand new school up on the North side. It was another really nice new field *smiles*

I don't know what the deal is with me and chain link fences, but I did notice that this field only has a shorty four foot fence around it. Most of the other baseball fields are completely encased in fifteen foot chain link, which is very safe, but hard to see through *laughs*

I only realised this about the shorty fence today when I was looking at my pictures...."hmmm it's so easy to see everyone". Looking back I'm glad I didn't get klunked in the head with a baseball *laughs*

See the shorty fence out there!

My little friend Abraham (from Soccer season) took this cute picture of "Coach Schell" *grins* Whew, they had another awesome game! There is a run rule that they can't score more than six runs per inning, and they were scoring six EVERY time! Great job guys!!

Look at this guy, talk about eye on the ball! He jumped back just in time to miss getting hit! Whew!
One neat-o thing that I noticed that Kenny's taught them is to really communicate when they're out there on the field. This is how they pass the word around that there are two outs (meaning they only need one more to end the inning!)
I was pretty excited to learn this little tid bit *winks*

I'm going to miss seeing these happy guys in the dug out!

Soccer, Cake and Family, what more could a girl want??

Some of Kenny's soccer players and students from this year and last year also play soccer for club teams. They were so sweet and asked Kenny if he'd come out and watch them play on Saturday morning. So, bright and early we hopped out of bed (well, crawled out groggily) and drove up to Dolese park to watch some soccer.

I was trying to slyly take Kenny's picture...don't think it worked ;)

I couldn't believe how many of the players I recognized as former Titans! Wow, Kenny has coached a bunch of boys! It was so cool to spot them out there on the field..."oh look, there's so in so" "Wow, look how big he's gotten" "Hey, remember that guy!" So.Much.Fun!!!

I thought it was extra special of Kenny to come out on a Saturday morning just to watch his guys! I know it really meant a lot to the players. You could just see their eyes light up when they saw "Coach Schell" over on the side lines! They were waving to him WHILE they were playing! So cute! *grins*

We weren't sure which side to cheer for, we knew players on each team *winks* We just tried to cheer when either side made a good play!

After the soccer game Kenny and I went over to Mom and Dad's house to have cake and presents for Julie's Birthday! She got some really cute things *grins* Kenny and I got her a lovely "compilation" package full of all kinds of goodies....mascara, lipgloss, eye shadow, body lotion, Fun Stuff!! I hope she had a great time! Isn't she cute!!

My Aunt Neva and Cousin Carrie also got to come up for the day. It has been WAY too long since the last time we'd seen them. I love those two sweet gals! They are just a joy to be around and I'm so glad that they're a part of my family!

The Rockin' Rockets!

Kenny and I (and The Rockets) had another fabulous indoor soccer match on Friday night! My Dad, Mom, Julie and Lori all came out to be our sweet cheerleaders *grins* They made some of the cutest encouraging signs cheering us on. Julie and Lori are SO creative!!
This was the very first soccer game Lori had ever seen! How fun! I of course was under a lot of pressure to be amazing *laughs* Kenny on the other hand didn't even have to try, he scored a goal in THE FIRST minute of the game! Wow-O-wow!!
I was running all over that soccer field, up and down, back and forth, darting too and fro! I tried to give my family a thumbs up as I was sailing by *laughs* I sure hope they saw it. I got body slammed, knocked to my knees, and jostled all about, but I was loving every moment!
I felt so sorry for the other team. They barely had enough players to form a whole team and absolutely NO substitutes! Man I would die out there if I didn't get a break every so often. Well, they played hard and a few more people showed up to help them out later on.
We were up eight to two towards the end of the second half. Kenny was encouraging me to press up close to the goal and score!!!

"Move up real close, you can do it!!"

Well, I didn't quite score, but OUR goal keeper came all the way up from the other end of the field and scored the final point! Woo Hoo! THAT was exciting! So, we continue "undefeated"!
After the game I went to Mom and Dads and had Ice Cream and a girls movie night with Mom, Julie and Lori! We watched a cute little old movie called The Major and The Minor.
The perfect ending to a great day!

Johnny Carino's

Look at THESE gorgeous girls I got to share lunch with on Friday!

Since Julie was down visiting us from Missouri, we had a celebratory Birthday lunch with her at Johnny Carino's (her very favorite restaurant)! Julie's birthday was actually a month earlier but this was the first time we were together to celebrate.

I was cheering when the hostess seated us in a booth *grins* Booths always just seem more comfortable and private than the table and chairs way out there in the middle *laughs*

We had a fun time laughing and "celebrating"!

At one point a cute little blond headed boy, probably about two years old peeped his head over the bench behind Julie and Lori and was just peering over at us. It was too funny! Julie and Lori could tell someone was staring at the back of their heads, but just giggled, glanced at each other and tried to ignore it.

I was having a hard time concentrating on what they were saying, all I could focus on was two cute little eyes looking all around and a head full of blond white hair! What an entertaining lunch!

Baseball at the High School stadium!

Kenny's baseball team had another glorious game last night! This time the team played at US Grant High School stadium. Boy, let me tell you what! This field was the nicest one I've seen. It felt like a professional baseball field. The bases looked brand new and the dugouts and benches were all clean and fresh, I'm so glad those guys had a chance to play on such a nice field *grins*

Kenny used his tried and true 8th grade pitcher and he did a great job! They won ten to five! Each time they step up to bat I just pray and pray that the boys will have confidence and courage and they SURE did! There were a couple of REALLY strong hits w-a--a-a----yy out there in the outfield! So fun!

They are also really good at stealing bases! I get so nervous when I see them take off running, but it almost always turns out great!

A sweet older lady had to explain one play to me, *laughs* One of Kenny's players hit the ball way out past second base into the outfield. At which time the guy ON second base took off running towards third base. Well, turns out the ball that was hit WAY out was CAUGHT! Immediately everyone started yelling at the runner to "go BACK, GO BACK!" (go back to second base)

I didn't get it at all. I thought if the ball was hit, you take off running and SCORE! This older lady sweetly told me that if the ball is caught you have to go back to the base you were on, and if they tag the base and you're not on it, you're out TOO! No fair! (again, my poor sons someday are going to have to explain everything to momma)

The Titans were supposed to have another game tonight, but the storm clouds are rolling in and the forecasters are predicting quite a downpour. In fact, you can see in some of the pictures from yesterday the sky was already starting to cloud up!

Just two more games, next week, and the baseball season will be over! *sniff, sniff*
Julie came down from Missouri last night, so after the baseball game I went over to Mom and Dad's and got to hang out with Julie and Bryce, who was tent camping in the living room at Grandma and Grandpa's. We had a FUN time! Bryce had a huge air mattress in his tent and we were all three bouncing around in there and tickling *smiles*

Ten month-a-versary!

Woo Hoo! Kenny and I celebrated ten months of wedded bliss yesterday! *grins* I can't believe we're getting so very close to one year! Wow! Before we know it, it will be ten years, then twenty-five, then fifty! Whew! Slow down you ticking time you.....

This is one of my favorite pictures from our wedding day because you can just see all the things that Kenny is thinking about *grins* I sure hope all of his expectations and dreams from that day are coming true!

And, since I shared one of him, I'll share one of me. This picture is extra special too! Kenny and I left the wedding reception for just a bit to wander out in the garden with our photographer and get some additional pictures of just the two of us.

While we were strolling and chatting I mentioned to our photographer, Lenard Brakebill, what a talented photographer Kenny is. Lenard instantly stopped what he was doing and actually handed over his huge, probably several thousand dollar camera to Kenny. "Here, photograph your bride" he said. It was so special and amazing. I could literally feel my smile and demeanor transform knowing it was Kenny, my new husband, on the other side of the lens. And here's the result....

What a special day!

Easter weekend

OH what a glorious weekend we've had! I am feeling SO MUCH better! So glad to be back to my "normal" self *grins*

Saturday was one of the MOST beautiful days we've had in quite a while. It was sunny and warm and no wind at all, the perfect time to be outside.

When we had Kenny's car in to have the wheels aligned, Woody suggested that we replace the front shocks, one of them was leaking. He said he'd do it for about $180. Well, we declined for the moment and wanted to see if it was something we could do ourselves, with the help of my Dad, the expert of all things (especially cars) *smiles*

Dad said it would be an easy fix to replace the shocks, so Kenny and I bought two new front shocks and Dad and Kenny set to work replacing them. It was so fast, probably less than thirty minutes! Those boys are GOOD! I barely had time to take any pictures *grins*

Total cost, $41.62! That means we saved $140! Good for us! :)

After we got the shocks done Kenny and I stayed over at Dad and Mom's and relaxed and chatted with them out on their pretty deck, enjoying the flowers and sunshine, such fun! I even got to see our sweet friend Kay (from Kansas) who was down visiting Dad and Mom's neighbor, Aunt Lee. Kay is so fun, she's always excited to see us and hear all the "news" :) I want to be like that!

Saturday night The Rockets (our indoor soccer team) had another game. Do you know what!?! We won thirteen to one! Woo Hoo! It was the funnest game I've ever played in! They had me playing mid field this time which means a LOT of running around! Some of the highlights included Kenny scoring a great goal, and I did a fancy pass behind my back RIGHT TO Kenny.

Once again, dork that I am, I threw my hands in the air and squealed for joy right there in the middle of the field! *laughs* I haven't scored a goal yet, but I might just cartwheel off the field if that ever happens ;) I just LOVE the way the whole team cheers for each other and high fives and is so positive, it's really encouraging, especially to a newbie like me! Kenny's so cute too, bragging on me and calling me Soccer Star *blushes*

Sunday my family all got together at Dad and Moms for our Easter dinner. Uh Oh! Lori called at noon and THE BUG had hit her. Poor thing was sick! I sure hope she's feeling better by today!

It was cloudy, cool and rainy all day on Sunday, so Brycey had an indoor egg hunt in the living room. It was so fun to watch him, I was his official basket holder *grins* EVERY single time he spotted an egg he'd inhale with glee "aaahhhhh look at that!!!" Lisa thought he was going to hyperventilate *laughs*
Bryce and Kenny were buds for the day too! Kenny got to help him hunt some eggs and be a great flash card partner! Won't he be a GREAT Dad someday!
We had a yummy dinner of Roast, chicken, corn, rolls, and I brought deviled eggs and a brand new potato recipe that was pretty tasty! Then Lisa fixed us Brownie Fudge Sundaes for dessert!!

After dinner we had an awesome video conference with Neil and Julie all the way from Springfield! They have a video camera on their new laptop and Neil's Mom and Dad shared one with our Mom and Dad so we got to talk with them and see their sweet faces. What a neat Easter treat :)