Michael was an All-Star!

Michael was chosen with two
other boys from his team to
be in the All-Stars for the
spring baseball club.

The Franklin league had over
400 5-6 year olds play this
spring. They picked a little over
80 to be in the All-Stars.

Here is Michael running
to homeplate while being
introduced over the
microphone.

They had 3 competitions
before the games started.
This is from the running
competition. It was purely
a timed event around the
bases. I thought Michael
was pretty quick....turns out..
not so much.

Gone around 3 bases and
I'm headed for home!
Michael had a big time
competing in the throwing
competition for the
All-Stars. They had to
throw from 2nd base to
home and get it through
the cones. It could roll
through, bounce through,
to be thrown through.
They got 5 chances to do this
and I think Michael got
2 or 3 out of the 5.

Here is another good throw!
Here is Michael during
the hitting contest. His
best friend, Frankie,
actually won the hitting
contest for our field and
was in the hit-off with the
3 other boys who won
their fields. Frankie
finished 2nd overall!

I've been tagged....

Megan tagged me, so here we go:

I love the smell of – Michael after a shower, chocolate and roses

People would say that I - am really organized....(I just put on a good show)

I don’t understand why – we have got such problems as a nation, but the government turns a blind eye to them.

When I wake up in the morning – I am on the go!

I lost my willpower to – clean the house. (Megan's answer couldn't be better!)

Life is – toooooooo busy!

My past made my - blood run orange!

I get annoyed when I – am around people who think there is no one else in the world but them.

Parties are not a good time to – parties? who gets to go to parties?

Trust me.Dogs are – a necessary part of my life.

Cats are – to help you get your "motor" running.

Tomorrow is – first day of summer break....Yeah!

I have low tolerance for – misbehaving children (mine or others). (Again, Megan hit it right on the head)

I’m totally terrified of - snakes.....ick!

I wonder why I thought my life would be – relaxing.

I always knew I would – love to travel.

Never in my life have I – seen "Casablanca".

High school was – first two years were just o.k., but the last two years were phenonmenal!

When I’m nervous - my breathing gets short.

One time at a family gathering – I almost caught a small shark off the bridge at the cottage in Florida.

Take my advice – always follow through with your threats of punishment with your kids.

Making my bed - used to happen, now I'm happy if I can get my kids to make theirs.

I'm almost always – on the phone.

I’m addicted to – my kids, diet Dr. Pepper (my new fave), UT football and skiing

I want someone to – come and cut my 7.5 acres of grass, weed my flower beds, clean my house, paint the fences, water my plants, paint the house, clean out my closets and garage, fix Kenneth's old Mustang, give me more time in the day, I can go on and on and on and on and on.

Michael's Trial Gymnastics Class

Michael went to a trial
gymnastics class last
Friday. Little did I know
that it was the last class
of the session and they
had Fun Friday to
celebrate. Michael
had a ball, but didn't
do to much gymnastics.

Smiling up at Mom!

Geronimo! He landed 8
feet below into a big
pit of foam squares.
He looks to be enjoying
himself!

They were playing
trampoline basketball.
Michael wasn't very
good, but had a ball!

A little more of Emily

These are a couple of
pictures taken at Emily's
Mother's Day Tea in
her 3rd grade class.

She had a big time
reading her information
about me. She guessed
my weight, clothing and
shoe size. I was thrilled
to say she was way off!

A couple of pictures from
Emily's Gymnastics
performance. Here is her
class before they went on.

Emily is getting more
flexible. To bad the girl
doing the handstand
roll-down is all blurry.

More Gymnastics Photos

I got some more pictures
of Emily at her Gymnastics
class on Monday and thought
I'd share them.

Getting ready to do
a handstand.

Said handstand.

Wish I was half this

flexible.....

Look at that pointed
toe. Can see the
years of dance experience...
all 5 1/2 years of it.

One handed cartwheel...
About the best I've ever
seen her do.

Working on a back
handspring....still
getting help from
Ms. Stacy, but it is
coming on.

Emily is moving up to the
next level gymnastics class
in two weeks. She has
waited a long time for this...
she is the oldest in her class
by a couple of years and has
seen all her classmates move
up. We all go at different
speeds and I'm glad she has
reached this milestone.

Mile Run for school

Last week the kids
went to their semi-
annual mile run at
Pinkerton Park.

The kids did great!
Emily ran the whole
thing and never walked.
I was so proud of her.

She finished her time
in 9.5 minutes and
Michael finished
exactly as he did in
the fall...8 minutes
and 42 seconds.

Getting ready for the big run!

Glad to see that smile...
tears to come later!

Halfway....and about to

start crying. Oh the

emotion!

Cruising along.

Emily is cruising to the

finish line!

Coming to the wire with
Daddy. Sprint to the finish
Michael!

After the mile with
classmate Brenda!

Michael hanging out
with the dudes.

Warrior's Walk

A Special Place To Visit

A Memorial to the Fallen

Have you ever visited a place that has just melted your heart, Where everything is so beautiful, but yet so sad? Have you ever experienced a feeling that you are privileged for being allowed to such a special place?

Many people have those feelings in Washington D.C. as they visit the different memorials...especially the Vietnam Wall or if they visit the Traveling Wall. Well, there are probably many more places that exist that bring on those feelings of pride, love, and sadness all at once and I would like to tell you about one of them.

In Georgia, at Fort Stewart, there is an area they have set aside to honor those that have fallen while at war since 2003 from that installation. The name of this place is Warriors Walk. As you enter this area it is breathtaking to just be near it. The site can be overwhelming when you understand what it all means.

A bit of history on how this memorial was started:

In March 2003, during the installation's CDMP Award Phase, Mr. Gary M. Holloway, owner of GMH Military Housing, L.L.C. learned of 3rd Infantry Division casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom through the local media. He was so moved by the tremendous courage and ultimate sacrifice of the fallen heroes and genuinely concerned for their families that he felt a need to determine the most appropriate way he could help. The idea to create a living memorial, a walk way between living trees representing the fallen soldiers emerged from a committee. Mr. Chet Schratzmeier, then Deputy Director of Public Works is credited with suggesting the name "Warriors Walk".

A private fund to pay for the design, as well as construction of the walk way, trees, lights and year round maintenance was established. This memorial walkway is dedicated to the soldiers and attached units of the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Eastern Redbud Tree was selected for use to represent the life of each fallen hero as these trees bloom each April in Georgia, approximately the same time as the first casualties were reported from the Division's theater of operations. The initial dedication of the living memorial was held on the 29th of April, 2003. Thirty-four trees were dedicated in remembrance of the first 3rd Infantry Division soldiers killed in action. A formal entrance to Warriors Walk is in the design and planning stages. The expression "Where Warriors Walk" is anticipated to be inscribed on a bronze plaque and placed near the entrance. Those stationed at the installation have marched here prior to going to battle and this is where they are welcomed when they return home from battle. It is this field where warriors walk.

A place that families and friends and comrades come to remember… to reflect… to pay respects. It is a place that provides comfort… and for some, peace.

By January 2007, there were 317 trees planted at Warrior's Walk. By March 2008 there were a total of 393 trees.

God Bless Them and God Bless the United States of America.

ANOTHER TREE PLANTED

There is a place, That I must go

And speak to soldiers, That I don't know

I go there often, Just to talk

On this sacred ground, Called Warrior's Walk

Another tree planted, Means another life gone

And another family, Tries to move on

Planted in honor, Of the brave

To thank these soldiers, For the life they gave

Fort Stewart, Georgia, Is where you can see

The love and pride, Around these trees

We take for granted, So very much

Like reaching out, Being able to touch

So I go there, My thanks to give

I'm grateful to them, For the life I live

And if ever I think, What a hard life I lead

My heart will find perspective, Among those trees

by Reese Bishop

It's That Time Of Year Again.....

It's baseball time. Michael is
in love with playing the game.

This is the first practice of
his spring team. He was
all decked out in his uniform
from the previous year.

Michael uses a bat that
is the longest on the team.
Probably isn't the best
for him, but he loves it!

On first and ready to move
to second. Could he be
stretched out anymore?

Ready to field the ball
at third base. To bad
this attention to the game
isn't there 100% of the
time. Sometimes I look
out and he's playing in
the dirt.

The 2008 Franklin
Baseball Clubs 5-6
Tigers with their
coach...Tommy Rose.
He's a great guy...
even if he did play
baseball at Florida.

Welcome Home Jason....Our Hero!

My cousin, Jason, came home
from his second tour in Iraq
on March 29th. We were all
very thankful he arrived home
safe and sound.

Here are some pictures
commemorating that
wonderful event!

You'd never know that
Michael had been hitting
people while waving the
flag. We had to be on
alert all the time to make
sure he was aware of
his surroundings.

While in Florida on Spring
Break we made welcome
home signs. My cousin,
Aaron, is holding a sign
along with Mom and Emily.
They were a great addition
to the welcome home festivities.

Jason is the third soldier
from the right. I didn't
realize I got him in the
picture until I downloaded
it on my computer.

My Uncle Randy welcoming
home his oldest son. Words
can't express all the joy we
felt getting to hug him and
welcome him home.

This is the whole gang who
gathered to welcome Jason
home.

Jason with my parents.

Michael was so excited
to see Jason. This was
a fun moment for the
both of them.

Emily and Michael with
their hero!

Soldier Boy. ..Welcome Home!

A Couple of Days at the Beach!

We had a great time in
Florida over spring break.

Of course a trip to the
beach is on the itinerary,
my kids would never
forgive me for not including
this adventure.

Here are some photos of
their happy time!

Mimi is the sandcastle
queen when it comes to
her grandchildren. This
was the one built on our
first day on the remains
of a previous sandcastle.

Talk about body expression.
Is it Brrr? Is it surprise?
It is definitely something.

Emily was so excited
because I let her wear
a two-piece swimsuit.

2nd sandcastle....this one
built with our cool new
sandcastle making equipment.

Ohh....I love how Emily
is holding onto Michael's
arm. How sweet!

Going for lunch! Got em!

I know...Lots of pictures.

We had a great time!