Happy Birthday Rachy-lou!

Today Rach is 6.....we were telling her last night of the busy day we had right before I went into labor with her. It was a Sunday, we had been to church, Zach's baseball game, Wyandot Lake (a waterpark)....didn't get home until sometime after 8pm, tucked kids in bed, was heading to bed myself around 10pm and then they started....I knew I did NOT want to do this tonight. I was too tired and she wasn't due for another week or so. No bags were packed no arrangements made for the other kids, my mom wasn't coming over until the next week.....not tonight! I tried to relax, took some Tylenol, hoping the contractions would subside.....but they intensified and out of bed I came....Kev started packing bags, I started making phone calls and we headed for the hospital around 11:30pm. They held off breaking my water until my mom arrived (4 hr drive from Kokomo), so she was born around 6am. I just remember how tired I was .......but happy that she was here, healthy in my arms!

She is a very giggly girl...a bit whiny too, but we can deal with that. She loves Dora still (that's kind of a secret), but enjoys being with the family, she always likes us all together. She loves to clean....windex, fold laundry, sweep and the Green Machine is her favorite to use. I love to hear her read, laugh and sing. She loves God, the church and having friends over is always on her mind!

She is here waiting for me to finish this blog, so we can go get a donut from Tim Porton's to start her day....she's having a couple friends over for lunch and we have planned to go to Zafoli's (that's Fazoli's)for dinner.....we love the breadsticks!!!

Happy Birthday Rachy-lou-bear! I love you!

Busy Summer, Busy Life

Wow, June is flying by with games almost everynight, work for the business still pouring in....and then there are all those summer activities that we have to do....for instance, when the neighbors call and say, "Our Bonzai Water Park is open!", we drop everything grab the suits, suncreen, towels and snacks and head for the Finzers (thanks so much for all the fun) and then there is the Library reading club.....Z and J are flying through books so we are making a trip there at least once a week, the girls visited a VBS for a couple of days, we have babysat for a neighbor who had a week that she needed childcare, homeschool picnics and lots of "backyard" camping......but no pool time yet! Horrible, I know....since Abby spends most days in a bathing suit just asking her dad if today is the day that we put up the pool (by 10am her clothes are off and "baby soup" is on, even tonight when we came home from a game and were supposed to be getting a snack, she disappears only to show up a few minutes later in a "baby soup")......we have this wonderful pool just waiting to be set up and enjoyed, but we have found no time to put it up, or I should say that Kevin has found no time to put it up. He works all weekend unless he is at a game or doing yardwork. The joys of owning your own business huh? We have some hopes for this weekend though, we'll see, it's Father's Day and Monday we are taking a trip to Cleveland for church conference ....since Kevin is the new Children's and Youth Pastor at Redeemer's now.....have I said that before? Could we be any busier? I'm sure we could and at least we are still young, right? Sleep is over rated too!

Baseball updates:

• our favorite time of year (baseball season) is almost over.....bummer!
• Jordy made a TRIPLE play, yes a TRIPLE play.....with runners on first and second, she caught the ball, (batter - 1 out), the runner on 1st had ran to 2nd without tagging up first so Jordy ran to first tagged the base ( 2outs), the runner on 2nd had taken off to 3rd, not paying attention to what had just happened and was happily standing on 3rd base, when coaches start yelling @ the girl to head back to 2nd, Jordy took off toward 2nd base, beat the girl there for the 3rd out and the inning was over! I don't even think her teammates even realized what was happening or were paying that close attention so J just handled it all herself.
• Rachel has been hitting the coach-pitched balls and rarely ever needs a T now! She is still quite aloof in the outfield and likes to play in the dirt, but she's having fun. She also doesn't like to run fast, she says it makes her tired!
• Zach is doing well, still wearing a splint but is hitting his fair share of singles and doubles and he is a great fielder. He has made many nice infield plays and even has done some pitching.
• Kevin and I enjoy watching the games and getting away from home and office....
• We DON'T like the "porc-a-potty's" and Abby always has to go because she's a drinkaholic! (one game she went 4x - one poop and 3 potty's....K and I are always saying, "it's your turn!")

Other summer plans:

• HNI Conference in Cleveland ( pray business goes well without us)
• Kokomo for the 4th and I'm bringing my mom home with me....
• King's Island...that's where my dad will take my mom back......
• Tournament games for Z
• Rach, Zach and Jordy's Birthdays (King's Island trip is their present)
• Boating and Camping weekends ARE planned
• VBS...1st of August
• Most importantly....GET THE POOL UP and RUNNING!

Sorry to family and friends for being slow to blog......we are enjoying summer and it seems I can hardly sit down long enough to update! Hope you are all having a great summer!

Pop-up campers & Softball games

A friend of mine "gave" us this pop-up camper, the kids are loving it! We are trying to make plans to take it out and camp, but the weekends are already so booked!


The girls have been enjoying the Softball season so far....although we have gotten caught in the rain quite a few times recently.....making a run for the shelter of trees and the van.

Rachel hit her first coach-pitched ball, instead of off the tee, as you watch the video you will see that she was surprised too and we were yelling, "RUN, RUN".....we have 2 games tonight (Fri), 2 games tomorrow (Sat) and one late game Sunday! Zach has lost his last 2 games, but he has hit a double, a few singles and made some great catches and plays during those games despite still wearing a splint.

The main office computer crashed on us......so lots of chaos for the business that we are still trying to get in order. We had a good week of "water fun" on a neighbor's HUGE waterslide, a trip to the library, and cheerleading camp for Rach and Jord and of course lots of playing in the pop-up camper. We did manage to get in 2 days of school as well.

Have a good weekend,
Love,
Stacy

Enjoy the videos!

Memorial Day

These Monday holidays always throw me off....I keep thinking it's a Saturday and tomorrow will not seem like a Tuesday.....anyways I am thankful for all those who have served and are serving for my freedom and today we pray for them, their safety and protection

Had a great weekend with "Nana & Pappy"........ we enjoyed a soccer game, shopping, playhouse fixing, cookout w/family, Tim Hawkins DVD, fire pit, church, "the barrel", movies & mini "talent" shows. Today we relax, clean-up, put bedrooms back the way they were & get ready for another school & work week.

Playhouse fixing included: a door, a flower box under window and porch railing......Pappy ROCK's!

A week off?

Who am I kidding, but it felt good to say that. We do have a week off from........baseball games.

Had a game Mon, Tues & Wed. The holiday weekend has given us a week off.....to enjoy some family time. My parents are coming in for the weekend. My dad is putting a door on the playhouse, flower boxes and post on the porch...I'll have to post some pictures.

The weather here is beautiful. We went to a park today, then to get icees @ Speedway, on to Target, Bob Evans & then Jordy's softball game. She is a good little player, she is always paying attention and tries to run her fastest everytime! If you know Jord then you know that she has a very competitive side as well as a compassionate side.........God has put alot into her!

So, everyone have a great Memorial weekend and enjoy the extra day off.....if you are one of those who gets days off.......there's never enough time is there? God help us be good stewards of our time, spending it with those we love and helping those who need Your love!

Blessed

We just all left our homeschool end-of-year picnic ~ windblown and wet! The forcasted rain held off all day, even for our morning soccer game and baseball game, but just as soon as we arrived @ the picnic located the wind picked up and the dark clouds rolled in. Oh well, we did manage to find some caterpillars that the kids believe will turn into beautiful butterflies!
I just have a few updates:

• Kevin is now the Children's & Youth Pastor @ Redeemer's Church Westerville
• He is doing the message this Sunday so as you can imagine he's studying hard
• We are adding Cleveland territory to the business this week with 2 appraisers
• Looking forward to a Memorial Day visit with my mom & dad.....my dad has a door & flower boxes to add to the playhouse. We love to have them here ~ they are a great Nana & Pappy!
• I have lost my momentum with school ~ need to get back on the ball. Just hasn't been the same since our RV trip.

Realizing once again how truly blessed I am to have a husband that loves me and always wants to be with me, kids that love the Lord and are healthy, smart and talented (even if it is a comedy act!) family that supports us and loves to spend time with us and the kids, friends that are amazing(they may all move away but they are still amazing), a house that we fit in, barely but we fit, 2 vehicles that work ~ most of the time but they get us where we need to go. A business that keeps growing and a church that has welcomed us in to their family where we can serve. May I always remember the joy that the Lord has brought to my life.... Just feeling blessed today!

Baseball Fever

Baseball Fever hits us 'bout this time every year. We love to watch baseball games, especially when our kids are playing. It is more fun to watch the older ones play....the games go a little faster. Tonight was Z's first game. It started @ 8pm and didn't get over until 10pm (Good thing Abby had a nap).

We stopped @ Subway, brought chips and drinks and headed to the ballfield. Z did a great job considering he hasn't really had any batting practice.....he wore his splint tonight. He says it's a little uncomfortable to hold the bat, but he is in no pain while swinging or throwing. He made some really nice infield plays and hit a single, walked a couple times and then hit a grounder to 2nd where the runner was tagged out and the inning was over.
The girl's softball games start next week....this is when we have something happening every night of the week! Rachel's first year, so her games will be the long ones for us, but still so fun to watch them play. Crazy, I know to run my family around this way, but we look forward to baseball season every year.

I also need to mention that Rach scored a goal @ her soccer game on Saturday. This girl has gone from night to day as far as soccer is concerned. Last year she really didn't care about where the ball was or that she should even try to kick it. One time the ball rolled right up to her feet and she moved to the side and motioned for one of her teammates to come and kick the ball instead.....complete change this year. We have had so much fun watching her!

Now just in case you are wondering.....we do not make our kids play any sport....it is always a choice for them. At this point we have time and $$ for about 2 sports/year & this is what they chose:
Z : Basketball & Baseball
J : Basketball & Softball
R: Soccer & Softball
A: Thank the Lord she isn't old enough yet to play any, although she is always asking, "Is it my pwactice now?"

Well, it's late and tomorrow is a busy day getting ready for our homeschool's Academic Fair....we still have poster's to finish. Just wanted to let all of you know that Baseball season has officially started @ the Brown house.
Oh yeah....Z's team won 13 - 4! Go Mudcats!