Fayetteville Kids Tri

Well the kids participated in the 1st of 3 Triathlons they will do this summer...we traveled all the way to Fayetteville, caught a Naturals game and got ready for the BIG day.  The kids and I have sort of been training for the Tris...they participated in swim camp this summer, and are doing AWESOME in the swim these days, we've been riding bikes pretty faithfully, and Daddy makes us (all of us) run... sometimes short, sometimes long, but always fast! :)  I can now say I am officially old...everyone in my family can beat me sprinting...sigh :)

This particular Tri had different ages do different distances in each event.  7-8 year olds had to swim 50 yards, bike 1 mile, and run 1/2 mile.  9-10 year olds had to swim 100 yards, bike 2 miles, and run 1/2 mile...Laynie's thoughts were that these people seriously did NOT give 7 year old boys enough credit...she thinks Jones should have to do exactly what she does...he could have to with maybe the exception of the swim.  We coached Laynie to go slow & steady in the swim, and that's just what she did.  It took her a little less than 3 minutes to finish & that was great!  After the Tri I swam for 3 minutes & I thought I was going to DIE...do you hear me, DIE...swimming is HARD WORK!

Well we do Tris so the kids can win awards stay active & healthy...seriously we do workout for their health, but who doesn't want to do their best at the competition?  Well that's just what they did, their BEST.  Laynie WON her age group & Jones got 2nd in his!  We were proud of them! :)

 Before the swimming...swim caps were new for us this time...makes them look like professionals!

 Getting ready for group photo...Jones is in the plaid suit & Laynie is in the left kind of hidden.

 1st 9 year old female to finish...Whoo Hooo!

 Having some free ice cream after finishing up...he could have raced more...that boy doesn't get tired.

 One super excited little gril--Go Laynie!

 Proud of Jones for being 2nd--he did GREAT! The boy that beat him is basically a Triathlon machine...his time beat the 8 & 9 year olds as well...Cooper is one tough cookie.

One happy Triathlon family!  I'm just glad it's them competing & NOT me!

Our Diamond Doll

Well here we are again with a ball field post...this time it's softball.  Our girl has become a softball playing machine.  She LOVES everything about it, from catching to hitting to throwing to cheering in the dugout.  To her softball & being at the ballpark = FUN!  These are a few pictures from the year.  The Diamond Dolls came in 2nd in the pre-season tournament and ended up 1st in League play.  Laynie was selected as one of three All-Stars from the Diamond Dolls to play in the Mayor's Cup against a rival town.  Our 8U girls won 2 games & their division.  They played great!  Laynie's Daddy is one of her coaches & she enjoys having him in the dugout...I've even gotten to coach 1st base a couple of games when Daddy had to be with the Baseball team.  The girls wanted to know if Coach Trey taught me what to do when coaching the bases! If they only knew! :)

WARNING--there is a very loud person cheering for Laynie (it's not me at least I think it's not me)!  In our defense...it was one of the better teams we would play, and we REALLY wanted to beat them!

Sliders Baseball

This could very well be MY favorite baseball team to watch!

We were at the ballpark ALOT during the Spring between the Diamond Dolls & the Sliders, but it was FUN!  Jones played lots of different positions--2nd base, short stop, catcher, & out field.  He hit the ball pretty good, and he could definitely RUN the bases!  He wanted to try & steal a base so bad, but he can't try that until 10U  Baseball! :)

I can see a major improvement in his baseball skills, he really understands the game & we can actually play catch without him missing the majority of the balls!  This season has shown me once again that the more you practice something, the easier it gets & the better you become!  Jones had to work hard for his Daddy Coach, & they both had a pretty good year! :)

2012 Sliders Baseball

Running those bases!

Hit that ball!

Super cute catcher!

My boys!

#1's Biggest Fan!

Best Buddies--Short Stop & 2nd Baseman

GO SLIDERS!

My FAVORITE baseball player in the World!

Ranger FANS!!!

Yay!  The Hogs won the Regional! I'm sure it was because we acted like we were in the ballpark eating nachos, popcorn, and calling the HOGS!  Hopefully we can win the Super Regional & head on over to Omaha!!!

Our other favorite team, well maybe Laynie's absolute favorite is the TEXAS RANGERS.   Our first time to see the RANGERS play in person was last July...it was super fun & super HOT!!!  Thanks to our Daddy & StubHub, we had GREAT seats a couple of rows up right on 3rd baseline!

For Laynie's birthday trip, she had a choice between the Cotton Bowl or FanFest, and Laynie picked FanFest this past January in Arlington. She LOVED every minute of it!  She was only disappointed that Michael Young, her FAVORITE player was not there the day we were able to attend. All in all it was a good day for our little RANGER fans!!!  There were lots of free activities for the kids to participate in--hitting, pitching, stealing home base, acting like a sports anchor, hitting & pitching clinics, and more.  We also signed up to be JR Rangers & were able to get a couple of autographs as well!  She said the only thing better will be next year when she gets to go all 3 days...I don't know about all that, but I'm pretty sure she would pick this again and again for her birthday trip!  (Warning...LOTS of pictures)

 

 

Razorback Baseball

In honor of the HOGS winning their 1st College World Series game yesterday, and playing again tonight.  For our Saturday night family fun, we are hooking the computer up to the TV, having ballpark food--nachos & popcorn, wearing our Hogs clothing & watching the HOGS (hopefully) win AGAIN tonight!

The kids fell in love with baseball last summer so our trip this past Spring was super fun...here are a few more pics of the HOGS & us at the Houston Classic!

T Almost ready to Call the HOGS!

The Razorbacks! 

 Coach VanHorn

 Jones with his baseball from DJ!

 Jones & DJ

 Laynie & Bo (2 great 2nd basemen) :)

 Making a play at 1st!

So fun to be at the ballpark cheering on our favorite team!

GO HOGS GO!

Our Softball & Piano Playing Girl!

Don't fall over (Meredith) yes I am blogging again--2 days in a row!!! Since none of my faithful readers...wait I'm sure I don't have faithful readers since I never blog anymore...are expecting me to blog on anything in particular, I am choosing to skip around. 

Today is all about Miss Laynie, our sweet little girl...I can't believe she's 9.  (Randon thought--We found a lady in town that makes beautiful, I'm talking could seriously enter a contest on the food network & win, beautiful cakes!  Laynie LOVES watching people make cakes on TV, Ace of Cakes, Cupcake Wars, Food Network Challenge, etc. One would think if you put a little effort into it, anyone could decorate a cake, well I have decided that if FALSE!!!! Anyone cannot just pick up a bowl of icing & make a masterpiece.  Anyway while looking at all of Wendy's cake Laynie said, "Mom she HAS to make my next birthday cake!"  I say, "Of course your next birthday is a big one, you'll be 10! Oh my goodness you'll be 10!"  And she just laughed, "MOM!"  She'll be 10--please tell me how my little baby girl can be entering 4th grade & turning 10 in a few months--yikes!  Seems crazy to me, but I LOVE getting to watch everything little thing our girl is doing & has done over these 9 1/2 years. 

Here are a few things she's done this Spring--get ready kind of make me tired just typing it!

She LOVES to drive Go-Carts...

She talked the boys into running The Chase Race with her & Jessie Belle...in the race you had to run with your pet, & you could even dress your pet up...of course we did, Jessie was SuperGirl! 

Love that Laynie doesn't mind exercising (too much)! Triathlon training has now begun too!

She participated in the TOAD Races at the Elementary...notice the black gloves...she doesn't touch TOADS!  LOL

 

 

Can you say SOFTBALL?  She has totally & completely fallen in LOVE with SOFTBALL this year.  Her team the Diamond Dolls has done sooooooo good.  They have been 1st Runner Up in both tournaments, been beaten only once in league play & as of last week, they WON our league...off to district we go.  Laynie is #10 (b/c of Michael Young, she still LOVES the Rangers!), plays 2nd base & bats clean-up.  She can catch, scoop, throw, & hit that ball! Of course that's probably because she's got great coaches (her Daddy is one of them)! 

Go Diamond Dolls Go!!!!

Laynie has also become a pretty good piano player!  She takes lessons once a week from a sweet lady, then has to practice at home with a mean Mommy!  She puts up with me, but at times DOES NOT like the fact that I can play & make her use a metronome, but she's doing great! :)

Ahhhhh now it's summer...time for Laynie to rest & relax right? Yeah, right! We are still softballing, started Warrior Swim Camp (getting ready for Triathlons & possibly a swim team), got 2 VBSes to attend, a basketball camp, visit the grandparents, get to be in Leah & Billy's wedding (whooo hooo), go to Wild River Country ALOT and we still have to squeeze in a trip to see the Rangers, not to mention lemonade stands, picnics, painting nails, and sleepovers. 

So glad I get to be her Mommy & see her have fun in all she does! 

She ALWAYS has a smile on her beautiful face! :)