Thank you coach Dave. You made the season worth playing!

World Series - Orange Beach, AL

We had a baseball filled summer again. We played in several tournaments and this year we were the winners of most of them! I couldn't be happier for the decision to let Tyler play for the Spring Hill Shock!! It was a Cinderella season that was filled with magic! We loved absolutely every minute of it and can't wait until next season!

To end the season we went down to Orange Beach, AL to play in the SYSA Global World Series. It was an experience like no other!



We got to play some really good teams and got to show them how this team from a small town in Tennessee plays ball. Several coaches from higher level teams complimented our boys and said they were one of the best AA teams they have ever played!






Part of the World Series experience is pin trading. We were told what to expect but it didn't compare to the actual experience of it! It was so neat to be trading pins with other teams, put them on our towel and then have that to keep as a souvenir of our wonderful season. The only bad thing was it was HOT! It was the hottest day of the entire week and the boys remembered that the most! They all ended up with a towel full of pins and memories to last a lifetime.



The best part of going to play in the world series was that we got to hang out with some really good friends. It was Tyler's first time at the beach and we had to tear him away to go play baseball! We had the best time just sitting, relaxing and watching the kids play. It was a perfect end to a perfect season.

Organinzing Utility Tote

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Large Utility Tote

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Champions!!!

So this season has started better than we ever could have expected. We have a group of boys that absolutely loves the game of baseball! What is really nice is how these boys have just gelled so quickly and are very supportive of each other. I really give the credit to the coaches for this! They are always making sure that each and every player gives and gets the encouragement they need. There is NEVER a time when I hear them being anything but encouraging......what a change from last year!

So far we have played in three tournaments and have placed in each one. This last tournament we finised as the Champions and I know Tyler has waited a very long time for this. He was floating on air for days! He loves the game again and for a while I didn't think he would ever step out on the field.

Shock!!!

Already started out great! We are so excited to be part of an amazing team of players, coaches and parents!

Dr. Seuss Day

This week is Read across America week with Dr. Seuss. Our school always does this week up in a big way by inviting special readers for each class. This year was no exception! Tyler was able to invite his Papa to come and read "Happy Birthday to You" by Dr. Seuss - it also happened to be ON Dr. Seuss' birthday! Papa was such a hit that one of his classmates commented that "he had never seen a Grandpa with so much energy!"

It's days like this that make me cherish the memories that Tyler is making with his Papa. He loves him with all that he is and each day is a gift.

Thank you Papa for taking the time to go and make a one little boy very happy....we love you!

Pre-Season with the Shock

New Business

Look what I'm doing! I am so excited about this new business!

I have had a friend selling this for some time and I fell in love with the products. They are so great they basically sell themselves! Of course it does involve getting in front of people and talking so not so sure that part is going to work out so well - especially after tonight. I had my first show and lets just say it can only get better! Luckily they were close friends and were very supportive.

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Change is good

If you have been reading this blog for long you know that Tyler's sport is baseball. He picked up a bat and ball when he was 3 and seemed to have a natural gift to play. We nurtured that gift and eventually felt that going to play for a more competitive team would be to his benefit. It was great at first - the competition, the traveling from town to town, the excitement of winning, making new friends.

Then it happened.

His coach just seemed to forget he was on the team. He saw the bench a lot more than he saw the field. His passion for the game slowly faded. He hated going to practice and hated going to games even more. He felt like a failure.

This for any parent just won't do.

So we made a change.

Change was scary. Change was unfamiliar. Change was right in front of us.

We found a local team that is based out of our own town and called the coach.

He told him to come down and he would take a look at him.

So one night we did.

There were several boys trying out and the coach said he didn't have any spots open right now but he would take a look at all of them and consider them for his spring team next year.

Out of all the boys that tried out Tyler was the only one he said he wanted - not just for next year but for RIGHT NOW!!!

He did that good.

So now he plays for the

Spring Hill Shock

and he LOVES it!

He is hitting again.....

Pitching again.....

allowed to steal again.......

playing positions he never played again........

Change is what we prayed for.....

Thank you Lord for answering that prayer.

Memorial Day 2010

Getting together with family is always a good time....today we went over to little sisters to swim and enjoy some great food.

Tyler has been waiting for today to come because he couldn't wait to jump in!!

I finally got him to take those orange goggles off....I think this is the first picture of him swimming without them!

Charlie just chillaxin.....
This picture makes Tyler look 9 to me.
I haven't seen him as 9 until this picture....my baby is growing up.

Our private chef did a great job on some burgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob!

Thanks Corey!!!

The funny part about today was the weather. It had been a little overcast all morning but looking at the radar it seemed we would be ok to continue our cookout outside. As soon as the food was ready the rain began to fall. It wasn't a heavy rain so we decided to just huddle up and all eat under the umbrella. Right after we all finished eating - the rain stopped.

One way for a family to get closer!!!!

Tournament Baseball

Tyler got a chance to play first base.....he loved it and did well!!!

Being an infielder for a tournament team is very stressful!

Tyler looking to steal.....

Pitching is definitely his thing.....he LOVES it and is good at it.

He is one of the top on the team and has gotten them out of more than one jam.

Tyler has been playing in several tournaments over the last few months. Honestly it is not going as well as we had hoped. We don't have a stellar record and it is frustrating to watch the games sometimes. I know the boys are trying their best but for one reason or another they just haven't been able to bring it all together yet. Hopefully soon it will all come together and they will get a few more wins under their belts.

Pennsylvania or bust......

We got to take a long needed break from baseball, school and work and headed out to my sister's house in Pennsylvania. My nephew was playing a part in the high school musical and we wanted to see it. He has done this for several years but for one reason or another we couldn't make it. This year I was determined to see him because he was playing Henry in Finean's Rainbow. I am so glad we made it because it was amazing!! Randy did a great job as Henry and didn't even mind all the makeup to get him into character!
It took a lot of hard work and we were so proud of him!
Great job Randy!!!

Right down the road there is a small amusement park.......but it's big enough for the kids to have some fun.

Anyone who knows Tyler knows he takes after his dad in the fear of heights area. The older, bigger cousins were going on this drop fast and leave your stomach at the top ride so he was going to brave it too......that will be the last time you see him in this seat.

This one he loved.....I think they rode it 4 times.

It is about all the roller coaster fun he can stand.

This was the even higher version of the first leave your stomach at the top. Tyler learned from his first mistake of going on the other one so he sat this one out. The cousins tried it and this is probably the last time you will see Jared (on the far right) sitting in this seat.

The srambler scrambled them good!

Tyler chose to ride with Randy on the bumper cars....not sure why he didn't want one of his own?

At least it is a safe way to get some aggression out!

Now this ride was the biggest mistake Tyler made all day. It's the big boat that sways from side to side really, really high. Remember my statement earlier about the fear of heights thing? Umm yeah - usually if he sees what a ride does he will decide if it is something he can or will do. He didn't see what this one did and before I could warn him it was moving. He rode the ride with his head down and about peed his pants.

After this he was a lot more aware of what a ride did before he just jumped on!!

Poor thing!

Didn't spoil his appetite for an ice cream cone to top off a great day at the park with the cousins.

The Suesical Musical

Every year at school they perform some sort of musical. This year it was the Suesical Musical and it was awesome! Tyler isn't one to do the motions so when he made this one and only move I snapped the shot! He has been singing these songs around the house for months so it was nice to see it all come together.

Great job 3rd graders!

Mothers Day

Guess where I spent my mothers day?

Yup - watching my favorite boy play my favorite game and making it to the Championship game!

Happy mothers day to me!

Nine is Fine...

Tyler had a great birthday.....and so did we because all he wanted was....

a yoyo

and Diary of a Wimpy Kid the movie book.

Easiest requests to date!

I usually opt for parties away from the house but this year since his gift requests were so simple we decided to make the party just as simple.

We had the party at the house and had a great time.

He was allowed to have one friend spend the night and he chose his buddy Logan. They are on the same baseball team and have really bonded over the last few months. They didn't get to do the whole stay up late thing because they had to get up early for church then off to a baseball game but they had fun all the same.

I can't believe we have a 9 year old.

Tyler you are truly a blessing that I cannot put into words. You amaze me with your generous heart and you frustrate me with your obsessiveness. I love every part of who you are and what you will become. I am so proud to be your mother and I love you more than you will ever know.

David

I am not going to put any pictures on here but I will tell the story.

Charlie and I had been praying about opening up just a little on our criteria for getting another child. We said if we don't step out in faith then we never will know what we are missing. Faith isn't sticking your neck out for something you know will happen it's sticking your neck out and waiting to see what God has in store. So that is just what we did.

It was Friday afternoon at 3:30 and I got a call from the placement agency. An 18 month old boy that had been in custody for 2 months needed to be placed into a foster home. He had been taken from his mother for reasons I won't go into here and placed in a foster home originally. Grandma stepped in and tried to care for him but it just didn't work so he was needing a new home - so they called us. After a lot of questions back and forth we agreed to take him in. Knowing his background I knew in my heart that it was just temporary. Everyone kept telling me that I was just protecting myself but it was a feeling I just couldn't shake.

David rocked our world. Our schedule changed, our routine changed, our lives changed. Charlie and I were in baby heaven but Tyler was struggling - a lot. He slowly started to spend less time with us, he really hated it when David cried, he was a mess. This was not a change I was expecting. Tyler was the one reason we were being so picky about what child we took in. Tyler wasn't adjusting to the changes well at all.

I had to do something but I just didn't know what. Then just as quickly as he arrived David was gone. Moved to another home. My gut feeling about it not being forever was right and it was OK. I was sad and relieved all at the same time. I know that he would eventually be reunited with his mother and that is where every child should be.

So we made another decision - the Rivers 3 it will be. We are not going to pursue adoption. We are done with it. We are happy with our stage of life and now can't imagine it with more than just Tyler.

We are finally at peace.......thanks to David.

Easter

Happy Easter!!!

We had a great Easter as usual. Tyler got his goodies and the Easter bunny brought him his new Mario Brothers game that he was just dying to have. He literally played it non stop....literally. I had to ban it so he would do something else. It's nice to know you gave them something they love but geesh!


This is what I got for his Easter photo shoot. I tried to get other shots but not one of them came out....not one. So this is our 2010 Easter picture.....great isn't it?

With all the extra goodies and egg hunting and new games we still take time to focus on what Easter truly means. It isn't about all of that stuff - it's about the One who gave His life for us because of a love so great that we can't even imagine it. I know He has risen and one day I will bow at His feet and worship Him - what a glorious day that will be!