Sweet Summertime

Adam and the kids wading in the Spring River.

Jack's team banner.

Drake turns 13!

Happy Fourth of July!

I have already mentioned that Summer is my favorite time of the year. I love spending lazy days with the kids; going to the pool and playing and doing all the fun things that Summer holds.
July has been no exception this year. Although I'm not to sure how "lazy" the days have been. Here are the highlights.

We started July with a bang! The Fourth is one of our favorite holidays. We love getting together with our families to swim, eat and shoot fireworks. The kids had a blast at Adam's dad's house shooting their fireworks and making smores on the third. Then we spent the fourth with mom and dad and aunts, uncles, and cousins. We had a great time and ended the night with a big fireworks show at the fairgrounds.

Drake's birthday was the next big celebration. It was a big one this year with him turning 13! I can hardly believe I have a teenager. It really does go by so quickly. When he was born and I held him for the first time I thought that I couldn't possibly love him more than I did at that moment. I was very wrong. He is one of the greatest people I know. I am so proud to be his mom.

Right after Drake's birthday, we packed up and headed to Northwest Arkansas to a little town called Pea Ridge. Jack's team played in the 7-8 year old state tournament. We didn't win, but the kids had a great time. Jack plays catcher for the team and I absolutly love watching him.

He played hard and he made us proud.

It has been a busy July, but we have loved every sweet minute of it!

Summertime and baseball!

Jack loves to catch! Drake playing center field.

Drake at bat.

Jack at bat.

Emma and daddy enjoying the game.

It's hard to believe that we have finished another year of baseball. The boys finished their league play last week, but Jack is still playing on a tournament team, so we have about a month of traveling with him. No worries though. We actually really love watching them, so I am glad he is continuing on. Drake decided not to play any tournamnet ball, and is concentrating on golf. I really love baseball season. I am one of those moms that is sad when it ends. Baseball goes with summer and we love them both!!

Angela's engagement party

Adam and Janice at the party

Adam with his sister Angela

Angela and Justin with the kids

Adam's sister Angela is getting married, and we are so happy for her! My kids love their Aunt Angie, and her fiance, Justin. We went to their engagement party a couple of weeks ago, and we had a very nice time.

Emma's Dance Recital

Emma with Daddy and Mommy after the show.
Emma and Caroline with Grandma and Grandpa.

Getting flowers.

Our sweet ballerina.

Today was Emma's first ballet recital. It was quite an experience for a family who is used to baseball and soccer fields. Lots of little girls in sweet little outfits. It was very cute. She did a great job, and we really enjoyed watching her perfom.

Take Me Out to the Ballpark!

Well Spring has arrived and it is back to the ballpark for the Fletcher boys. Drake is playing league play this year and Jack is playing on a league team as well as a tournament team on weekends. I can't tell you how much I enjoy watching my boys play baseball. I grew up at the ballpark with my brothers both playing baseball, and my sister and I playing some softball. So, I can't wait for baseball season every year.
Drake is the center-fielder for his team, and he really likes that position. It is where he asks to play. He has his first game tonight.
Jack plays catcher, and he LOVES it! He played in a tournament last weekend and his team got third place. They did very well for their first tournament. He also won his first league game last night.
We love the game, the excitement and the fun! (Emma, of course, loves the concession stand.)
So we are ready to PLAY BALL!

Emma is four years old!

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

Her first "big girl" bike!

She loves her new "video game" from grandma and grandpa.

Emma with her Ariel cake.

We started the day with birthday pancakes.

Emma turned four years old yesterday. She woke us up at 7:45 and said, "it's my birthday!" She was so excited. We made pancakes for breakfast and sang to her while she blew out her candles.

We celebrated with a big family party that night. She loved all her presents! She got her first "big girl" bike and she was so happy!

A little note from mom...

It gets a little harder for me with each birthday we celebrate. I spent some time watching the videos of the day Emma was born and her first birthdays yesterday, and it makes me realize how quickly she is growing up. I think because she is our third child, we are so busy that I don't sit and just enjoy her as often as I did with the boys. I feel like everytime I blink she has changed and is doing something she couldn't do before. She had an Ariel party this year and it was funny because the week before her birthday she learned to say Ariel. She has always said Air-a-ler. I still miss hearing the way she said it, but it's just another sign that she is getting bigger.

We love you Em, and we are so happy that you are "Part of our World".

Cotillian

Drake with Dad Drake teaching mom his moves!

Drake with mom

Saturday night was Drake's Valentine's Cotillian Dance. The parents were invited at the end to "dip into dancing". The girls danced with their daddys and the moms danced with their boys. It was really sweet. Drake taught me the fox trot (to Ice, Ice Baby no less) and the cha cha to Prince's song Rasberry Beret. As the director said, she chose some songs from "our generation". I tried not to embarrass Drake to much, but I do love to dance! I may have put a little to much into my cha cha for him. He kept saying "Mom"! It is wonderful to see him growing into such a great young man. We are very proud of him.

Adam and I also got a chance to dance together during the parent dance. It was nice, and I laughed when a friend of mine told us that she could tell we still really like each other.