Flooding, Friends, and Camp Drop-off

This morning was terrible.  We had a big storm, and our basement flooded with about 8 inches of water.  The water heater was under water, and part of the furnace too.  Things were floating around, and I was freaking out.  I called Jeremy in a panic, and he offered to come home from work and start the big trash pump, which empties the basement of water in 5-10 minutes.  I didn't want him to have to come home, so I told him I wanted to try to take care of it.  3 hours, 13 phone calls, and 21 texts later, I still didn't have it running.  I was running back and forth between the basement, outside, the garage, and sobbing, whining and panting.  Hysterics did me no good, so I texted a couple friends to ask them to pray for me to calm down.  I also think I frightened our children.  I felt so stupid that I couldn't figure out how to hook up any of our pumps.  Jeremy always takes care of it, and even though he had shown me and tried to help over the phone, I just couldn't get any of them going right.

I had to have the girls finish helping Caeden pack for camp.  Finally, after a few hours, a neighbor stopped by and helped me get the trash pump going.  Minutes later, Jeremy came home on lunch.  I just sobbed and apologized.  I felt awful.  I left a little pump going, and took the girls to Dawn's.  I don't know what I would do without her.  She is such a wonderful friend.

The girls played with Addie and Reece until Jeremy came to pick them up.  They watched Tarzan and made a project out of a big cardboard box and duct tape.

Caeden and I went into Normal to meet Pastor Todd and his kids.  He drove us down to Carlinville to drop of Caeden and Sammy for NWIL Kids Camp!  This is Caeden's first time going to camp, and he could not have been more excited!!  After we got them situated in their cabin, Caeden asked me to "vacate the premises" so the fun could begin.  I'm glad he was so excited.  One boy in his cabin was crying because he already missed his mom.  Caeden told me last week, "No offense, Mom, but I probably won't even have time to miss you because I'll be having so much fun!"  I sure hope so.  Praying these buddies grow closer to Jesus this week...

Pastor Todd gave the final pep-talk, and I prayed over the boys before we left.

Todd, Adam, Jillian, and I stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home; yum!  It was so nice to have the day with them to chat and enjoy friendship.  

Wow, the Lord has really blessed us with wonderful friends.  I'm so grateful!!

Baseball Tournament

Baseball tournament weekend!  Friday night, Caed's team had their first game of the tournament.  They lost, but it was double elimination.  They won their game Saturday, so played another this afternoon. This last one was a tough one, and they didn't win.  Baseball is done for this year.

 Caeden really loves baseball.  I think he may have a more realistic view of it after this season.  For the last couple years, he has maintained that he wants to be a professional baseball player when he grows up.  Today, Sylvia told me that Caeden told her he decided he doesn't want to anymore; he will just play baseball as a hobby.  A dozen or more times of an inning ending while you're on 3rd base waiting to go home, hours and hours of standing in the outfield waiting for a ball to come your way, never getting the chance to try pitching to someone else or putting on catcher's gear, or play the infield for even one inning in a game will give a kid a nice dose of reality, I suppose.

We are proud of him, because he has continued to learn more about the game, he has improved in batting (no more fear, thank the Lord!), catching, and throwing.  He has developed good relationships with his teammates.  He has learned more about why he needs to have a positive attitude and good sportsmanship.  That is a successful season to his parents.

Nice hair, Sylv.

Sylvia made up a new hairstyle today, and was strangely proud of it.

Grandma Ninja

Caeden brought all of his Legos downstairs so he could play with them in the cooler part of the house, and the kids have been playing with them all day, building a town.

Annah made this funny stop motion LEGO video called Grandma Ninja.  (The sounds are very soft; turn volume up all the way to watch it.)

Washing Machine Rules

Yesterday, Sylvia asked me if she could make a chart that would help her to do laundry without having to ask me what settings every load needs.  She wrote it all up as I told her, then made this chart to keep on the washer.  She said she wants to help do laundry because she feels bad that I am always rushing around doing laundry.  I thought she did a pretty good job on her chart too.

This morning, all the kids got up, went straight to the living room and read for over an hour.  Caeden is reading Where the Red Fern Grows, Annah is reading The Book Thief, and Sylvia is reading From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

We played a game of Mousetrap this afternoon.  

As you can see, my mouse is way across the board, while the kids' mice are at the end.  I lost miserably.  Well, actually, Caeden lost because he got trapped by Sylvia.  Fun times though.

Vocal Jazz and Friends

Today, Annah and I were able to watch the new high school vocal jazz ensemble during a clinic with Mike Malloy.  It was awesome to watch them begin to learn and understand the privilege they've been given with this group.  Annah said she loved getting to sit in, and felt like she learned a lot.  

In the meantime, Sylvia and Caeden were hanging out with Reece and Savannah and Dawn.  They had a picnic at the park!

And went swimming at the Colfax pool for the first time ever.

10U Baseball Team

Ridgeview 10U Baseball Team 2014

They won their last game of the regular season tonight! 

Home Game

Caeden's baseball team had a home game today, and I took lots of photos.  I shared a big album with parents on Facebook, but these are mostly the ones with Caeden in them.

Coaches waching the game

coming in from the field

Jeremy helped in the dugout, keeping the kids in line--both in batting order, and in attitude!

Caeden and his buddy Kyle getting ready to bat

Caed on deck

foul ball

Strike.

That one about burned his little buns!

Sa-wing, Battah!

Back out to the outfield...

Mom, MUST you keep taking pictures?!

Making a play

It was a good, tough game, and they lost by a little.  One more regular season game to go.

Legos and VBS

Caeden spent the afternoon with Reece again today, and they got in some Lego time before going to VBS in Saybrook.  

I'm so thankful for this friendship.  So thankful.

Tuesday Treats

I wanted to let the girls sleep in this morning, after their long day and late night.  But, Sylvia had an orthodontist appointment at 10:10.  She has outgrown her retainer now, and will go without any orthodontic anything for the next 6 months.  Time to lose the last couple baby teeth and let adult teeth come in for a while.

After the orthodontist appointment, we stopped at the dollar store. When Reece came for the water fight yesterday, we realized we didn't have decent water weapons!  So, we stocked up on some good ones today, and the kids tested them out this afternoon when it got hot.

Lovin' the summertime!