Blastball - a first for Grant!

Grant had his first blastball game last week. For those that aren't aware, blastball is like beginner T-ball. The kids hit the ball off of a T and run to first base (the base makes a honking noise). They also take turns fielding and are supposed to hold the ball up and yell, "BLAST" when they get it. It didn't quite go like that...but that is the idea :)

Blastball is organized by Winterset Park and Rec. They play 4 Wednesdays, from 11-11:45. Our second week was already postponed due to weather...but now, maybe Lee can see the rest of his "games."

We had been practicing in the yard and thought he was doing quite well. Once he got there, I guess he forgot most of what we taught him...it was a little chaotic, but fun :)

Sitting on the bench, waiting for instructions.

A little nervous now because he and Sam weren't on the same team.

So, he just left his team and went to Sam's team;
no one seemed to notice, so I didn't say anything :)

Ooops, there goes the T!

After the big game!

Alden High School Class of 1995!!!

AHS CLASS of '95 ROCKS!!!

We had our FIFTEENTH class reunion on Saturday night!!!!

It was SO much fun to hang out with everyone again, I forgot what a great class we had. It was kind of strange being back in Alden, where everyone knows you, but fun anyway!

The reunion was held at the Deer Shack and was BYOB, how "Alden" is that :) Anyway, we had a great turn out and had a great time. I was sad that Lee didn't get to come and meet everyone, but I'm not sure he would have thought it was quite as fun as I did. How do you explain listening to Vanilla Ice and Baby Got Back!?!?! It's an Alden (or old) thing, I guess :)

Why is it that guys look pretty much the same (well, maybe a little less hair) and all of the girls have put on about 30 lbs??? NOT FAIR!!!

Denver

For those of you that don't know, Lee and I spent last weekend in Denver.

I bought Lee tickets to see U2 (his ALL TIME FAVORITE) in Denver, for his Christmas gift. I bought the tickets in September/October and kept it a surprise until Christmas...barely! Jon and Heather, another Army couple, and Lee's old college buddy were all in and ALL bought tickets as well. I was planning THE BEST Christmas present ever!!!
Well, LONG story short...nothing went as planned! The lead singer for U2 (Bono) hurt his back, had emergency surgery, and they postponed the show! We already had flights and hotel booked, so we went anyway. The Army couple ended up not being able to go because of an Army conflict and the college buddy cancelled...Jon and Heather made it (barely)!!!!
Our flight on Thursday out of Omaha was about 30 minutes delayed because of thunderstorms in Denver (not much to complain about considering Jon and Heather's flight arrived about 5 hours later then scheduled on Friday night)! We had a good afternoon/evening on Thursday, walking around the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, eating dinner (without having to cut up anyone's food), and sampling some beer at a local brewery. Good start to a weekend vacation.

This is us, in front of the State Capitol, exactly ONE MILE above sea level.

Friday, started out great. We ate breakfast at a trendy little place, called Snooze. It was fabulous...gourmet pancakes, anyone??? YUM!!!! Did lots of walking around downtown, went to The Tattered Cover bookstore in the LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood, very cool! Saw Coors Field, and bought tickets for that night's baseball game, GO ROCKIES! Visited REI; it could almost make me get "into" the outdoors :) And I think we even got a nap in...something that NEVER happens with two kids and a house to keep up with. Friday night, we headed to the ballpark. We arrived early, had great seats and were ready for a fun night of baseball. They took the tarp off and began preparing the field...and then they put the tarp back on...and then came the rain.and hail.and wind.and DROP in temperature! The game was delayed for almost TWO hours...we FROZE watching 5 innings of baseball before saying, enough! We ran (to warm up) back to the hotel, and watched the last 2 innings (yes, they called the game at 7 innings) on TV. Jon and Heather, who were supposed to arrive a little after 7:00pm, didn't get to the hotel until after midnight (maybe later???)...needless to say, us old people were already in bed

.Snooze!

REI

Coors Field

Before the game (and the rain, and the hail, and the wind).

Lovely...and Denver has over 300 days of sunshine/year. NOT on this trip!


Saturday morning we woke up to rain and 40 degree temperatures. This was our day to go Whitewater Rafting!!! I was ready to chicken out before leaving the hotel because of this story. Anyway, we made the 40 minute trip to Idaho Falls, CO and found our rafting company, Arkansas Valley Adventures. We did the beginner trip on Clear Creek at FLOOD STAGE! Our guide said it was the highest water in at least 6 years. We had to lie down flat on the raft just to get UNDER some of the bridges!!! Anyway, I totally would have chickened out, but Lee, Jon, and Heather, were going, no matter what...so I was in. I HAD A BLAST!!!! I think that was the coldest I have ever been, but would go on at least the intermediate trip next time (assuming the river is not at flood stage)!

In our wetsuits (gotta love wet, cold, spandex in public)!


Lee, me, our guide - Mark, Jon, Heather...after the trip.

After we thawed out, we had lunch, walked around downtown a little more and then took another NAP!!! Awesome!!!! We discovered a really cool little restaurant for dinner called Osterio Marco, in Larimer Square. I think Jon is ready to move his family there if they offer him a job :)

Lee and I outside Osterio Marco,
YES we spent almost the entire weekend in our jackets...in JUNE!


Heather and Jon after dinner...this was the highlight of the trip for Jon
(he is a chef for those that aren't aware).

Sunday was the trip back, which for the most part, was uneventful (except the mile long line at United's check in counter), oh and Jon and Heather being told they didn't have seats on the flight they booked months ago...anyway, we made it home and had a WONDERFUL (and memorable) trip...even though it didn't go as planned :)

A big THANK YOU to Grandma Paula, Grandma Cathy, and Great Grandma Audrey for taking great care of our kids so we could enjoy our weekend away!!!

Fishing!

Lee took Grant fishing on June 4. They took the old truck (for those that don't know, we "inherited" a 1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale (?) pick up truck, apple green) down to the bridge, put lawn chairs in the back, drank Pepsi (Lee) and milk (Grant) and ate granola bars (Grant) and pickled eggs (Lee). Lee had chicken liver on a catfish pole and Grant had a worm on a Lightning McQueen fishing pole.

GRANT CAUGHT A FISH!

He was reeling and reeling (they were fishing from the bridge, so it took awhile to bring it up) and finally it came up over the side of the bridge, and Grant freaked out and dropped the pole (in the back of the truck), but he recovered and thought it was SUPER COOL! They called me on the phone and Grant was SO excited!!!

Grant was also very empathetic toward Lee. He kept saying, "It's okay, Daddy, you'll catch one." Sweet!

Umm, yes, it's in my kitchen!

Lee filleted it and fried it,
Grant never did eat it even though he said he wanted to.

Memorial Day

After all the fun at the farm, we ended the long weekend with lunch at Matt and Tiffany's. We grilled some great pork loin and steaks that Dad had brought down. We didn't get to stay very long because our kids were exhausted and were a bit unruly, but we had fun anyway.

Dad cleaning Brynna's face and hands before letting her in the truck. She is the MESSIEST baby on the planet! She had been playing in the rocks and kept putting them (dirt and all) in her mouth...GROSS!

Grant with a stick, and Owen. Grant probably wanted to take that stick home to Riley...he does that, as if we don't have enough sticks at our house!!!

Who knew a carpet cleaner and a paper plate would be so interesting???

Memorial Day Weekend at the Farm

Memorial Day Weekend at the Vandewater Farm has become a tradition. Hay rack rides, four wheelers, food, and fireworks were all a part of the fun!!!

Abby, Grant, and Maddy on the chair lift.

Going over the crick...Grant was scared at first, but must have thought he better do it since the girls did :)

Brynna must have thought we were "camping" again.

Brynna and Eddie playing in the Gator.

Cheese!!!

Abby, Maddy and Grant chasing the parachutes from the fireworks.

Sparklers!!!

Waiting for fireworks.
I didn't get a picture of Brynna during fireworks, but she didn't seem to mind them. She had two glow in the dark bracelets and was too busy taking those on and off her wrists and her sippy cup to be afraid. She would jump a little when a loud one went off, but then she'd go back to her bracelets. They were up until about 11:00/11:30 Saturday night...they were a total mess the next morning. I knew there was a reason I try so hard to keep us on schedule!

It was a wonderful weekend!

"Camping" trip

We (well, Lee and Grant) decided to go camping on the Friday night of Memorial Day Weekend. It's times like these that I am SO thankful we live on 6 acres in the country. We have the most perfect camping spot, withing walking distance to our own beds, showers, toilets, and kitchen!!!

We had a great set up, thanks Lee!

Daddy and Grant in front of their sleeping quarters :)
(Grant's tent that he got for Christmas from Grandpa and Grandma V.)

Cooking out

The water jug made for some great entertainment for the kids.

Brynna would climb up into this chair and attempt to lie down. It was like she knew we were supposed to sleep outside :)

In reality, once it was bedtime, Brynna and I went inside and slept in our own beds. Lee and Grant slept the entire night out in the tent. They read magazines with flashlights and had a fantastic time!

I am praising God for all of the memories we are making before the deployment!