a look back and forward

5 years ago i had butterflies in my stomach as i walked out into the courtyard at St. Thomas. With my family and friends' faces pressed against the glass, Matt and I saw each other for the first time that day. We have lived in 3 states and have made some great friends. We have 2 great kids who make me crazy, good or bad, every day! 1 dog that Matt tells quite often he "is going to break her neck!" This is our life. I would have never guessed how it would play out(living 2 miles from the ID border?) We love being back near our family and friends. WA friends we miss you! So here's to you Der, I love you! I can't wait to see happens next!

I am happy to keep:

swinging and dancing on the beach

enjoying our busy meals

This didn't scare you away, i don't think anything will


Watching the sunset

And I love you even though you can't dance!

Hard to believe this was 5 years ago.

I love you Der!

Home again, home again

Kara sitting on 3rd base
Helping carry the helmet

Another day, another nap

Fountain in The Plaza

Cheesecake for lunch, oh so good!

Throwing in pennies

My mom's old house

Their other house, just a couple blocks over

Central IL Vipers (their name is so much better then some others...The Sparklers?)

Sisters!

Swing batter

Nap time

Endless hours of fun

Back home again after a little trip to Kansas. My sisters played in the ASA National tournament there last week. They did awesome! 5th place!!! I think there were about 41 teams. The kids and I made the trek with my mom, sisters, and another mom and daughter on the team. The Burbon 5 was full. I had my usual spot, row 3 seat C. We got to hang out with Summer a couple times but were pretty much at the ballpark all day everyday. They were super nice and the weather was just about perfect. My kids played with Maddie and Blake (other siblings that were there) and thank goodness for them, I actually go to watch the games. We managed to eat late just about every night (late even for the Hartnetts!) PF Changs reservations at 9:45 pm (it took us about 25 minutes to get there from our hotel) and grilling ribs, potatoes, and corn in the park saturday night (i think we ate around 11pm). Needless to say Dane was sound asleep on my lap those meals. Mia was a trooper though or maybe she was just really hungry. We went by my mom's old houses and her old school. It was pretty neat to see where she grew up. So now Mia is going to VBS all week and we are trying to get back into the swing of things. No more vacations planned but Kara does start school softball this weekend. It is a never-ending cycle. Keeps us busy and I love it!

(sorry the pics are out of order, sometimes that's just life)