Ponte Vedra Beach - Day #2

We have had a great day so far ... beach time in the morning ... and yes, I am on this trip. Noticed that yesterday not one picture of mommy!! We were not successful shark tooth hunting this morning, but had fun trying. The big kids and Sean had a beach volleyball game, the little ones made sandcastles and we did lots of pool time. We are off to a Minor league baseball game tonight ... should be fun (but late).

Just finished breakfast ... on our way to the beach!!

Ponte Vedra Beach - Day #1

Daddy and his kiddos at the lock in our old neighborhood, Queen's Harbor. We LOVE this neighborhood ... the water, the trees, and the amazing houses!!! Can we move back here???

Quick picture of the kids by the water in Queen's Harbor.

Hanging out at the beach with the Walkers (and of course Al's Pizza!). We had so much fun hanging out with them ... we found 28 sharks teeth!!! Well ... Kylie and Jordan found most of them. We will try again today to see if we can find more.

Not the best beach pictures ... I was just snapping away (mostly into the sun .. duh!!). I hope to do some real beach pictures this weekend .. but, ssh .. don't tell the kids!)

500th Post ... Happy Andrew

This is my 500th post!!!! I have officially been blogging for 2 year and 500 posts. Wow ... blogging has replaced my scrap booking altogether!! I started blogging right before William was born !!

Got to see a picture of Andrew at camp today. He went with his friend Tyler and Tyler's parents took the kids lunch today and snapped a picture. Talked to Andrew tonight and he is having a blast and working hard!!! We miss him so much (everyone at one time or another has said they miss him ... especially Miss Jules!). Can't wait to see him on Wednesday.

Finally at the Beach ...

We spent this weekend with the Stellwags at their beach condo!! We had a great time (although we missed Andrew!!). We spent today at the beach fishing, jumping waves, building sandcastles and of course a variety of games involving balls ... beach volleyball, football, and a few paddle balls games. It was pretty hard for me to walk on the beach so we migrated to the pool later in the day!! We ended the day with a birthday party for William. Deb and Chris are Will's godparents .... they got a super cute construction cake for him and his own set of Black and Decker tools!!! This was a great trip to whet our appetite for our beach trip this week to Ponte Vedra ... and Andrew will done with camp!! BTW ... I was at this beach trip .. just behind the camera!!!

Date Night with Matthew

Trying to make an effort to have more one on one time with the kids.  Nothing beats just being able to focus on each one without everyone else trying to jump in with their two cents!!  Last night, Sean and I helped score keep a game at the Little league sectionals in St. Cloud.  Matthew came along and he ran the scoreboard.  He was so happy to just have our undivided attention and he rocked at keeping up with the game.  Fun night for all of us!!

Off to Camp

Andrew left for his first overnight camp today ... he is going to the Doyle Baseball Summer Academy in Lakeland.  He has worked with Coach Doyle for almost 5 years and he is very excited to spend the week there for more baseball.  Sean and Matthew are driving him over and I am going to miss him so much.  I know he will have a great time, learn tons and it is a great experience to be out on his own away from this crazy family .... We don't pick him up until Wednesday.   

WATCH OUT WORLD!!!

Hip Hip Hooray

Cleared to Drive Today

I can walk in my boot

And no longer have to scoot

Can't wait to get out

I will scream and shout

Broken foot no more

See ya ... I'm out the door!

Thanks for everyone's love, support, prayers, and encouragement.  It has been a long road (15 weeks!)   I can walk in my boot for the next Four weeks, then Four weeks in tennis shoes and exercise can start 8 weeks from today!!!!   

Foot Update (again!)

I go to the doctor tomorrow for more xrays and to see how I am progressing.  The surgery was 6 weeks ago yesterday and I have to say, my foot still really hurts!!  I am trying my best to stay off of it, but 15 weeks on the scooter has been enough!! So think good thoughts tomorrow and lots of prayers that the doctor sees enough progress to let me walk on it with the boot and do some driving (especially helpful for Sean who has taken on the role of chauffeur along with all his other responsibilities!!)

Sweet Summer Moment

It warmed my heart tonight after dinner when I looked out the front window and saw two kids walking down the path.  I then realized it was Andrew and Jules.  They were in the alley shooting hoops and riding bikes so I didn't expect to see them on the path.  Andrew was so sweet with her picking up sticks, flowers, pointing out a bird and then carrying her bike back when she was too tired to peddle.  I sat on the front porch and just watched them and listened to them giggle and then give each other a big hug.  Andrew is such a sweet boy and great brother!!!   Perfect end to a nice, relaxing summer day with the kids!!

Beach Volleyball

We spent this morning at Katie's beach volleyball tournament ... this was her third tourney of the summer and it was at a Sports Complex in Orlando (not by the ocean like the others!), but I got to go with my broken foot and all so I was happy!!!  It was a rocking fun time ... Andrew babysat Matthew and Julia so Sean and I could concentrate on Katie and spend some one on one time with William.  Katie did incredible ... I was so impressed!!! 

Intense ...... a perfect word to describe Katie

Will just dug in the sand all day!!

Teamwork .. Kate and Casey did great today playing together for the first time!!  They had a lot of great shots and serves. Katie and Casey have both really improved and they are so excited to play for school team this fall.  So proud of both of them. 

All Star Fun ... St Louis Style

Matthew, Katie, Sean and Poppy had a blast for their short trip to St. Louis for the All Star Game!!  They flew in Tuesday morning and home this morning.  They got to sightsee downtown, go up in the arch and then go to the game.  They had so much fun ... what a great experience.  Thanks Mrs. Tourville for the tickets .. you rock!!!

The Real All Star Game

So it is obvious that we have Little League all star fever in this house ... but last night, Sean surprised the kids with tickets to the REAL MLB ALL STAR GAME in St. Louis.   Mr. Responsible Andrew decided to stay here for his USSSA tournament ... so Sean' dad (Poppy) is along for the ride.  They left on a 7:00am flight this morning, are going to spend the day in St. Louis sightseeing and then go to the game tonight.  As you can imagine ... Matthew was VERY EXCITED and couldn't wait.  Katie was more of a cool cat ... but I could tell she was really surprised and looking forward to it.   

CLL The Beginning

Pictures from his first season in CLL!!  What a cutie!!

Pictures from his last CLL game!!!

All Stars Through the Years

9 Year Old ... The beginning of #13

10 Year Old ... He was the catcher and still #13

11 Year Old - Pitched the game of his life in the semi finals to get us to the championship

12 Year Old - Hit 2 Homeruns and pitched complete game win to move out of pool play

As I am uploading all my pictures to my new Mac and came across all of Andrew's little league all star pictures ... very sweet to look at how he has grown, how his stance has changed ... Sean was his coach all four years!!  Thank you for amazing baseball memories Andrew!!

No More Little Field

Andrew's little league season ended last night with a loss to St Cloud in the quarterfinals!!  This was Andrew's last game on the "little" field.  It has been such a joy to watch Andrew grow as a ballplayer and a young man.  When we started this season, Sean and I could not have imagined what a fabulous year Andrew would have.  He batted over 600, had 9 homeruns, pitched so many amazing games, played tough in the field ... but what struck us more was that he had all this success in little league on top of playing on his school team, keeping his straight A average and being such a wonderful son and brother!!!  This season demonstrated to our whole family how dedication and hard work really pay off!!  We look forward to what is to come ....

Home Run Fun

Andrew hit TWO homeruns last night in his all star game against St. Cloud.  He pitched a full game and got the win and was 3-3 with 2 homeruns and one single.  He had 6 RBIs and it was so sweet that Poppy and Aunt Mere were both at the game to see his homers.  It has been on his goal list to hit two out in one game ... so it was very exciting to see!!  I told someone today that the look on his face after he hit the 2nd one was identical to the look that he had when he had his first hit in Tball.  So priceless!!!  He plays in the quarterfinals tonight .... Good luck Drewboy!!

Slip and Slide Fun

Nothing better than seeing a little one on a slip and slide ... priceless!!!

Fourth of July Events

Kane girls on the 4th 

Aunt Mere, Pete and John ... so patriotic and cute!!

Jules and Will cracking up ....

Kate and Jules at the parade .. they had so much fun!!

All American Kanes ... red, white and blue & Baseball ... now just need apple pie!!

We had a great Fourth of July.  We started the morning early at the parade ... Andrew, Matthew and Sean marched for baseball and the rest of us watched the parade.  We came home, got ready for friends to come over, did the slip and slide, had a cookout with the Harts and Conroys and then headed downtown for the fireworks.  It was packed but we had a great time ..... We absolutely love the 4th in Celebration.  

8 Things

8 Things I am Looking Forward to:
1. Being able to walk
2. Being able to drive 
3. Enjoying my day with Mere, John and Pete

4. A 15 year anniversary trip in October (destination tbd)
5. Andrew's All Star baseball games
6. Exercising (can you imagine!)
7. Going with the family to the beach
8. Finding some quiet time for myself

8 Things I did Yesterday:
1. Got up early to finish up the laundry
2. Took the kids to Dr. Phillips Park
3. Snuggled with my little ones while watching Yo Gabba Gabba
4. Checked email (repeatedly) 
5. Talked to both of my sisters, mother and mother in law
6. Yelled at my kids (darn it!)
7. Worked for 2 hours on medical bills (can you believe $24K just for the hospital for my surgery!)
8. Prayed for patience

8 Things I wish I could do:
1. Take more time out for myself. 
2. Sing .. love to but not very good
3. Dance .. love to!!
4. Broaden my meal selections
5. Lose 10 pounds (always!)
6. Go to Australia (maybe for 15th year anniversary!) 
7. Let the house go and play more with the kids
8. Talk to my daddy  

8 Shows I watch (definitely a reality tv girl!):
1. Biggest Loser
2. American Idol
3. Baby Story
4. Supernanny
5. Nanny 911
6. Bringing Home Baby
7. ESPN (anything!)
8. Law and Order

Worm Proof

I have been mentioning lately on FB and Twitter how our family is trying to learn to do the worm ... here is the proof.  Notice that Jed did not allow us to film his attempts.  You can faintly hear the Michael Jackson songs in the background!!  I will try to learn once my foot is healed (or so I have told the kids!!)

Uncle Jed

My brother Jed came to visit this week to help me with the kids.  It was awesome to have him here ... he was an incredible help and did so much with the big kids ... movie, go karts, arcade, bowling, mini golf, fast food and ice cream.  He is such a great guy and amazingly wonderful with the little ones.  Meredith arrived yesterday with her boys so we quickly snapped a picture of all the kids with "Uncie" Jed (or Uncie Dunkie as William calls him?).  You may notice a certain 4 year old girl missing from the picture.  You can assume she was in a bad mood and had no tolerance for a picture.  If you know Meredith and I, usually we don't want a picture taken in mismatched clothes, wet hair, onesie, jammies or a baseball uniform.  But ... I love this picture!!  Yeah Uncle Jed ... You rock (even though you have not yet mastered the worm .... post soon to come!)