An Unfortunate Event

Last week I was tending my sister's kids for her while she went to an appointment.  She came back to pick them up, and we were just sitting there visiting while the kids continued to play outside.  Suddenly we heard a POP, and her 8 yr old son Zach started crying.  He was so upset he could barely talk, but he seemed okay, so that was a relief.  He had been playing with a large beach ball in the front yard and it got stuck in my apple tree.  He was throwing rocks at it, trying to get it down, and one of the rocks hit the back window of my car.  The rock was fairly small, but it must have hit that hot window just right, because the whole thing immediately shattered.  It stayed mostly in tact at first, except for the place where the rock fell through, but as soon as I started to back out of my driveway the whole window gave way and we had little pieces of glass everywhere!!!

The point of contact and the hole from the rock

The shattered back window

So, what do you do when something like this happens?  Zach was so upset, he hadn't meant to, and yet, there it was . . . and I would need a new window for my car.  I gave him a hug and thanked him for being honest and admitting his mistake.  I knew he hadn't meant to, but he still felt awful.  Of course Candice and Josh told him that he would need to give all the money he had to help pay for the new window, but what 8 yr old kid has that much money?  Kenny actually came up with the idea, maybe we could pay Zach to mow our lawn each week for the rest of the summer, and he could use that money to pay for the window.  He was more than willing.

So I have been driving my car around town with a piece of clear plastic taped over the back window.  Not safe, I know, but what choice do I have?  We are supposed to get the new window put in on Saturday - yay!  And the good news . . . I don't have to mow my lawn for the rest of the summer!  Thank you Zach, I think we have all learned something from this unfortunate event!

Happy Father's Day!

I know I am a little late, but wanted to post these cute pictures anyway.

My kids and I are super lucky to have such amazing men in our lives.  How wonderful it is to have a day set aside to let them know how much we love and appreciate each of them!!!

Stetson and Lucy with their daddy on Father's Day

Me and my daddy

Stetson, Lucy, and Grandpa Grover

We didn't get a picture with Grandpa Black because he is currently in Palmyra, New York, serving a temple mission there.  The good news is that we did get to talk to him and Grandma on the computer on Father's Day, and we are going over to see them next month!  (We will be sure and get a picture then).

I love you guys so much!!!  Thank you so much for all you do and all you are!  I am so grateful you all are a part of my life!  Happy Father's Day!!!

Elsie Jonette Grover

Toward the end of April we had a baby shower for my sister-in-law Tamra.  We ate dinner and got crafty . . . everyone made a quilt block or two that will be pieced together for the baby.

Sara, Cierra, Sheila, Tamra, Elena (Tamra's sister), Jolene (Tamra's mom)

 Since we knew it was a girl, the colors were pink and brown.

The Gift Table

My mom made this cute diaper cake for Tamra and the baby

 I had to put this picture in as this was my contribution to the party - the treats!  Little brownie muffins with pink strawberry icing and little strawberry cupcakes with brown chocolate icing, cute huh?  It looks like we had a healthy eating crowd, because the strawberries were the first thing to go.

Dessert!

 And then, just a month and a half later - she's here!

Elsie Jonette arrived on June 15 at about 7 PM, weighing 6 lbs. 8 oz.  She has tons of black hair and beautiful olive skin, just like her daddy.  Both mom and baby are doing great!

Elsie Jo

Uncle Kenny holding Elsie

Elsie and Aunt Amber

 The kids were super excited to see their new cousin.  They each got to hold her (twice), and they both did very well, Lucy even gave her a kiss!

Stetson holding cousin Elsie

Elsie Jo and Lucy Mae - too cute!

Congratulations to the proud parents, J.J. and Tamra Grover.  You guys are awesome and will make amazing parents.  We love you guys!  Best Wishes!

T-Ball is like . . . Baseball!

At the beginning of April my sister Candice and I signed our boys up for T-Ball.  They were so excited, and started getting ready right away.  We found them working out with Uncle Jens, doing push-ups and sit-ups, and all that other "manly" stuff.  When we asked them what they were doing, J.D. said, "we are getting ready for T-Ball."  I must have had a confused look on my face because Stetson tried to explain further, "we have to work hard because, mom, T-Ball is like . . . BASEBALL!"  "No Way!" I said with a little chuckle.  J.D. took me seriously because he came back with, "it is, Jens even said."  Too funny!  These boys IDOLIZE their uncle Jens, so whatever he says is the gospel truth.  The excitement had worn off a little by the time the T-Ball season FINALLY started the beginning of May.

Stetson's team wore Royal Blue shirts, and called themselves the Kokopellis.  His coach, Tony Done, did a great job with the kids, and we all had fun making new friends.

My little T-Ball star

 The best thing about T-Ball is that everyone is just learning, and there is really no pressure.  The kids just learn the basics:

Catching,

Throwing,

Batting,

Which direction to run,

and most important . . . 

. . . sliding into home!

Some of the members of Stetson's team, along with their coach, playing in the outfield

 Stetson didn't get to be on the same team as his cousin J.D., but they did get to play each other.  The other good thing about T-Ball is that everyone wins, so we didn't have any sad boys after the game!  It was kind of funny that they both ended up on a "blue" team though.

Serious business . . . 

. . . but lots of fun too!

 Lucy is not one to get left out, especially when it comes to playing sports.  She knew exactly what she needed to do to be able to play . . . 

She got herself a helmet,

then headed out to the bases.

 The thing I enjoyed the most about this T-Ball season was watching the kids improve.  At the first game they were all kind of standing there in a daze, but by the last game they knew exactly where to run, and that if the ball came close to them they should catch it and then throw it to first - it's simple, right?  I think Stetson's biggest hang up was that he was determined to say right where his coach put him in the outfield, it looked like his feet were glued to the ground.  If the ball did happen to come close to him, he would reach down and pick it up then try to throw it without moving his feet, it was hilarious!  By the last game he was running after the ball and actually throwing it instead of launching it with his feet right together.  We also convinced him that he didn't need to visit with each kid that came by on the bases (he still took the opportunity to give high fives to his friends when they came around).

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Good Job Stetson!  We really enjoyed watching you play!