Baseball

Jacob played baseball again this summer.  This year his games were on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  It was nice not having every Friday night tied up with baseball games but by the end of the season I was ready for baseball to be done!!  I think I was ready for the season to be over because the team he was on this year really struggled to get wins.  We usually got our butts kicked.  The week that Justin and Laura were in town Jacob had a game Tuesday night.  Jacob had a pretty large fan club at his game that night.  He was pretty excited to see everyone at his game.  And the best part of the game, they won!  It was their first win of the season.  It was an exciting game and a lot of fun seeing the boys so happy about their accomplishment.  You would have thought they won the world series!  After the game was over we took a group picture.  I was really glad my family was able to come to his game and watch him win.  What a fun night!  Thanks everyone for coming.  I know it meant the world to Jacob!

Jacob playing the infield.

Getting ready to bat.

My little slugger on 2nd base!

The 3 "little" girls hanging out at Jacob's game.  MaKena, Karisa and Emma.

Jacob up to bat again.

Gunnar hanging out at Jacob's baseball game.

Grandma Kathy and Dylan watching Jacob play baseball.

The crew that made it to Jacob's game.  Pat, mom, Jen, Lane, Jerene, Jason, Justin, Laura and Tom.  What a good looking cheering group!

Team huddle after their big win!

The entire crew at the game.  Justin, Dylan, Laura, Me, Uncle Tom, Mom, Jason, Jen, Gunnar, Jerene, Jacob, MaKena, Mallorie, Emma and Karisa. (We were only missing Pat for this picture.)

Family time

The beginning of June Justin, Laura and Dylan headed to Moorhead for a week long vacation.  We were all excited to see them and baby Dylan.  On Sunday, June 3rd, which happened to be Grandma Ivy's birthday, mom had everyone out for dinner and a family gathering to see Justin, Laura and Dylan.  I had just seen Dylan the middle of April but man had he grown in just a month and a half.  All the little kids were loving up on Dylan and wanting to hold him.  It was cute.  Mom made Ufda tacos for dinner which were delicious!  We had cake and ice cream to celebrate Grandma Ivy's special day.  It was fun having everyone together.

Jacob and MaKena riding in the car.  When all the kids come out to mom's this is the first thing that gets taken out of the garage.  Papa Pete made a good purchase 10 years ago!

My 2 babies!  So cute!

MaKena attempting to drive the car.  She has trouble steering!

Me trying to help her steer.

Me with my newest little nephew.  I just love him!  And it looks like he just loves me!  Look at the little smile on his face.

MaKena holding her newest cousin for the first time.  She loves holding babies.

Lane holding Dylan for the first time.  He was getting a little hungry, that's why he's crying!

Uncle Justin playing baseball with Jacob.  Jacob adores his uncle.  If he could move to Chicago he would!

Grandma Ivy holding Dylan.  Dylan is grandma's 11th great grandchild.

7 grandma's 11 great grandchildren.

From left to right: Steve, Dan, Lane (way in the back), Karlee, Laurie, Barb, MaKena, Keith, Carol and Nate hanging out in the back yard at mom's.

From left to right:  Justin, Laura, Steve, Dan, Lane, Jason, Barb, Keith, Carol, Pat, Jen, Nate, Grandma Ivy and MaKena (in the chair next to Laura.

The kids playing in the driveway.

MaKena and Mallorie in the car.  I'm sure the batter was dead by the time all the kids got done riding it that night!

Talent Show

On the last day of school, Jacob took part in the school Talent Show.  Jacob and 5 of his classmates created a band and performed Kelly Clarkson's song Stronger.  They practiced several times before the audition, yes they had to audition to get into the talent show, and a few times after they auditioned and had made the talent show.  I went to the school to watch his little band perform and I thought they did great.  Jacob and another boy played the drums, 2 boys played guitar and 2 girls sang.  I was impressed with all the kids that got up in front of all the students and parents to perform their talents.  I don't think I could have done that as a kid.

Setting up the instruments.

Jacob and his band.  Jacob is the boy in the blue sweatshirt (2nd from the left).

5th Grade Farewell Program

The last day of elementary school for Jacob was Thursday, May 31st.  Wednesday the 30th Aurora Elementary had a 5th Grade Farewell program for all the 5th graders and their family.  The kids sang a few songs and they handed out the Academic Presidential Awards for each class.  We were informed that night that the only time the kids can earn this award is in 5th, 9th and 12th grades. (I think. Once again I waited too long to blog about this and now I can't remember the exact grades.  But I do know they can only earn it 3 times in the school career.)  I was one proud mother when Jacob's name was called.  Honestly, I wasn't surprised though.  He is a smart little boy.  During the program they had a slide show of pictures of all the students from 1st grade through 5th grade.  It was fun to see those old pictures on the screen.  I fought back a few tears that night.  I can't believe my baby is heading to middle school.  He's sure growing up fast.

Jacob is in the orange shirt.

All the 5th Graders.

Jacob receiving his Academic Presidential Award from Mrs. Zent, the principal.

Bismarck

Tuesday, May 29th all of the 5th grade classes at Aurora Elementary school in West Fargo took a field trip to Bismarck/Mandan, ND.  The field trip was to see the North Dakota Capital Building, The Heritage Center, Fort Abraham Lincoln and the On-a-Slant Mandan Village.  Jacob asked me to be a parent chaperon for this field trip and I gladly said yes.  I've never been to any of these places and I was looking forward to the trip. 

Our first stop was Fort Lincoln where the On-a-Slant Mandan Village is located.  While at Fort Lincoln we learned about the Mandan Tribe and got to walk through some of the reconstructed earthlodges.  It was interesting to see where and how the tribe lived years ago.   

Our second stop was to General Custard's home and the Central Barracks.  Once we got off the bus at Custard's home we were met by a uniformed soldier/tour guide who conducted the tour as if it was 1875.  A lot of kids were confused when our tour guide (who played the part of a uniformed solider from 1875 very well)  kept mentioning a dinner that night at Custard's home that they were all invited to.  They couldn't figure out how they were going to get back to Mandan in time for the dinner party.  It was funny. 

Our third stop was the Heritage Center.  This was the only part of the trip where I was responsible for 7 kids by myself!  I think I was given a great group of kids!  They all behaved very well.  We walked through the Heritage Center for about 45 minutes and looked at all different exhibits.  There was a lot of interesting exhibits.  By this time the kids were getting anxious to see the Capital Building!

Our final stop was the Capital Building.  We got a brief tour of the first and second floor and then we rode the elevator up to the 18th floor observation deck.  On the 18th floor you could walk all the way round the building and look out from every side.  There were many interesting pieces of history and information on the walls to read.

It was a fun trip with fun little boy.  I'm glad I went and I look forward to the year MaKena gets to go.  Maybe I'll be a chaperon for that class too! 

A model of the earthlodges was on display in the Visitor Center. We were told this is what it looked like back when the Mandan Tribe lived there.

A picture of one of the earthlodges.  It looks small on the outside but inside they are quit large.

This is a picture of the inside of the Ceremonial Lodge.  As I was standing in there the teacher informed me the previous year there were bats hanging from the ceiling.  I about ran out.  Thankfully there were not bats this year.

A group picture.

Another group picture.  This one was at the Heritage Center.  (Jacob took some pictures at Custard's house but they didn't really turn out.)

This ship was downstairs in the Heritage Center.  (Because I waited so long to blog about this trip I can't remember the name. I'll have to google it!)

4 of the 7 students I was in charge of during our visit at the Heritage Center.

A picture of the Seal inside the Capital Building.

Another picture of the Legislative Hall inside the Capital Building.

A picture from the 18th Floor. 

One more group picture outside the Capital Building.

Planting flowers

Memorial Day weekend Lane, MaKena and I ventured out to Home Depot to buy some new flower pots and flowers.  Those of you who really know me know I don't have a green thumb.  I've tried planting flowers in the past and they never seem to survive.  MaKena asked several times if we could plan flower and I couldn't say no.  So there we were the Sunday of Memorial weekend planting flowers.  MaKena helped for a little while and then she got bored with it.  Surprisingly the pots turned out really nice but I think I may have planted way too many.  Oh well, they sure looked pretty this summer.  Maybe, just maybe, she'll be able to talk me into planting flowers again next year.  They sure do look nice!

 

Putting dirt into the flower pots. I think we may have gotten more dirt on the ground than what we got in the pots!

MaKena looking cute.  I love how she has her legs crossed!

Planting the flowers.