Summer Vacation Here We Come!

Summer Vacation Here We Come!! I think I've been more excited for school to be over this year than the kids...just a lot of commitments, projects, end of the year events, etc. So this is our first official week of summer vacation. Unfortunately, we still have a lot of deadlines this week, but after this hopefully there will be some rest for the weary! This is the last week of 4 nights/week of baseball, we have 2 dance rehearsals & 2 dance recitals this week...Anyway, here are some pictures of the end of the year events, and I'm sure I will have much more to share with you in a few days!

Collin with his 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Jidas (notice she's wearing Premier Jewelry)!

My neighbor, Mary Ann invited us over for a fun water day on the last day of school. Cameron loved the little spray pool & spent most of the afternoon sitting here!

Halley on the slip & slide!

Collin had his friend Nick over for the afternoon.

Collin reading his part in Reader's Theatre at his awards ceremony. Each kid had a part in a "play". Collin did very well...all except for the fact that he kept blowing into the microphone--those of you who follow my blog frequently will get a laugh out of this I'm sure because Collin seems to always find something to embarrass us while he's on stage...gotta love 8 year old boys!

Collin with hiss 2nd grade achievement award.

Halley with her preschool teacher, Miss Colleen--the last day of preschool was spent at Lakeside Park--we had a huge picnic and were visited by the local fire department.

Halley with her other teacher, Miss Lesa.

Halley with her friends Emily & Renee-up on the "big rig"

Spring Happenings

Well, there have been lots of activities, road trips, and just general chaos in our household lately. So, I decided to post some pictures to summarize all of the action around here! So in between all of these activities, I am staying busy with my jewelry business. Kevin went back to work yesterday, and we are waiting to hear if he will be layed off again, so I will update about that when I know more.

Yep, Halley's still playing t-ball. There must have been something really interesting in the grass!

Just looking around... =) Needless to say, a 5 year old doesn't always have baseball on their minds!

Collin's music concert was last week...we've decided that we will have some kind of story to tell after this child is on stage. I think he forgets that he is in front of lots of people...in kindergarten he was trying to fix his shirt, so he had his hands down his pants during half of the concert. Last year he was playing with his eyes...this year, he yawned during the entire concert. I even had a past teacher come up & ask if he stayed up all night. Funny stuff let me tell you!


We went to Ohio for Memorial Day Weekend & visited my friend Kristina & her family. I had some pictures of all of our kids together, but I'll have to post them later. For some reason they just got deleted.

Halley had a fun water day last week at preschool. She had so much fun washing cars, playing with shaving cream, "fishing", eating popsicles. This is Halley & Emily (the little girl I've been babysitting this year).

Halley washing the sidewalks.

Mother's Day weekend was spent in Ohio with my parents. Here is Cameron watching tv with his monkey head phones (Thank God for tv in the car!!)

Fun at the park while Kevin, Collin, & my dad were golfing.

Look at that tongue!

Collin loves my mom & dad's dog, Maddy. She is a retired grey hound, and just loves attention.

Thank you for checking in. I know this has been a long update...there will be more to come soon. Only one more week of school left, but lots more activities!

Picasso Returns

Well, I thought I would be adding pictures from Memorial Day weekend, but apparently my little Picasso has returned. I never understood those parents that said "I just left the room for a minute..." Well, as you can see below, I just left the room for a minute and Cameron found one of Halley's painting crafts...the rest tells the story...

"Uh-oh, Mommy!"

The colors don't stand out quite as much as they did seeing it in person =)

Yes, it's on the floor, his face, and the door! It was only a minute!

Bates Little Leaguers

Collin & Halley are both playing baseball this year-Collin coach pitch and Halley t-ball. We are going to be busy until the end of June--4 nights a week at the ball fields! I was a little surprised that Halley wanted to play baseball because she's such a "girly girl", but she sure makes a cute baseball player!

Collin playing 1st base--yep that's Kevin in the background. He's one of Collin's coaches this year. Collin was pretty proud of himself. He didn't strike out, he got some runs, and he got 4 outs! (Yes, he was definitely keeping track of his stats!)

I had to miss Halley's first game last night (which was hard on my mama's heart), but Kevin took lots of pictures for me. She's in her "ready position" to catch the ball.

What a cute little catcher! Kevin said she couldn't find the ball because the mask was so big on her. Halley is pretty tiny, so all the baseball gear (glove, shoes, etc) was hard to find for her (especially because she NEEDED pink!)

Sorry the picture is sideways...if you click on it, you can see the big smile on her face.

Kevin pitching to Collin

Collin hits the ball!

Running to 1st base

My Little Wrestler

This is Collin's 2nd year wrestling, and he did really well this year. He improved a lot and came home with a few medals. I have to say that as a mom, it is not easy to watch your little boy in all those wrestling moves. The momma bear in me wants to go thump the kid that he's wrestling! There's a video below that will give you a taste of what I mean. (Collin is the one in burgundy)

Collin waiting to wrestle at Regionals

Spring is in the Air...Michigan Style

Well, it's 7 days into spring...and the snow is back!! It had finally melted away, and after a very long Michigan winter (the snowiest I've ever seen), I thought spring was finally on it's way. As you can see by the pictures below, I was sadly mistaken. The last I heard, this was the 10th snowiest winter in Michigan ever!! Well, I know soon enough spring will be here, but for now, I guess the snow will have to do! Well, stay tuned for some update pictures from Easter...

Halley Turns 5!

I can't believe my baby girl just turned 5!! Halley turned 5 on March 4th. Where does the time go?? We had a family party for her, and then we also let her have her first "friends" party. She wanted a Tinkerbell tea party theme, so that's what we did! I have to admit it's fun having a "girly-girl". Halley loves to get dressed up, loves jewelry, make-up..the whole thing.

Halley & baby Lucy wearing their new party dresses.

Kevin got Halley flowers and balloons for her birthday--she was sooo excited to have her very own flowers. She felt so grown up!

Halley & her friends enjoying their tea party. She had to make sure everyone knew the proper way to hold a real tea cup =)

A Field Trip and Valentine's Pictures

Halley had her first field trip a couple of weeks ago (on my birthday). We went to the Flint Children's Museum with her preschool. Papa Bates watched Cameron, so that we could have some much needed "mommy/daughter" time. We had a great time playing in the grocery store, fire truck, making snow, and so many other fun activities. Sometimes it's great to get away from the distractions of home, and really spend some time with the kids.

Halley & I posing in front of and old stage coach

Halley & Emily had so much fun being firefighters!

Halley & Emily (the neighbor that I babysit) happened to wear matching shirts on Valentine's Day. They were sooo excited to be "twins" for a day!

Ahhh--a rare moment where Cameron is loving on Halley--he loves to give hugs, but only when he decides it is time!

Guess Who Just turned 30??

Yep, I just turned 30 on February 12th. We had lots of celebrating & I ended up with 3 cakes (which kind of became a joke) Kevin surprised me by inviting some of our neighbors over on the Saturday before my b-day & arranged for the kids to go with Grammy & Papa for the evening. We had a good time, but unfortunatley, I forgot to take pictures (we ate cake #1)! Then, the next day we had dinner with Kevin's family & ate cake that the kids had made. On my actual birthday, we celebrated at home with the kids--they gave me a few presents, and I was surprised once again with cake--my mom bought a cake from DQ--my favorite! It was nice to be thought of by so many friends & family. I hate to admit it, but turning 30 was a little difficult for me =)

Halley & Collin making my cake!

Dinner out with Kevin's family

Papa & the boys (Eric, my nephew, Cameron, & Collin)

Halley with her cousin Megan

January 16, 2008

Most of you who used to check in probably have given up on me ever updating! Sorry for the long delay. November & December were quite busy as I worked to get my jewelry business started! Then came Christmas...we had a great time with family. Then right after Christmas, I filled my time with some traveling. First, I headed to Ohio to surprise my mom for her 60th birthday--she had no idea that we had planned a girls' day out for her! After a great visit with my mom & friends, I came home thinking I could finally relax & do NOTHING! Then...Kevin surprised me with an early birthday present--a trip to FLORIDA to visit my friend Jenna. I had a great time relaxing on the beach in 80 degree weather, shopping, and having "girl time". Well, back to reality--the cold & snowy Michigan winters!

The Family on Christmas day.

Can you believe that Florida sunset??

The kids playing in the snow. Cameron wasn't happy for long--he didn't like how deep the snow was, so this was the only picture of him smiling.