Oh, Mr. S.T, please go away!!!

I had great ambitions of showcasing some AMAZING pictures from Laura Beth's last softball game on Friday night. The team has come so far in such a small time frame. Out of the 12 players, only 3-4 had ever played before and still our team took home FIRST PLACE!!! However, on Thursday night, Mr. Strep Throat decided to pay a visit to my sweet little slugger, Laura Beth. That is right . . . we did not get to participate in the last game of the season. I don't have those sweet pictures that I had planned on (in fact, I don't have many pictures at all which kills me because I was score keeper!). However, what I do have is memories . . . . Playing the first game (and a few others) in sweatshirts and long pants. Little girls who are barely bigger than the bat FINALLY getting a hit!! Sweet cheers of the girls cheering each other on whether they were the best player on the team or not. Precious smiles from the girls from when they accomplished a skill they had been working on or just because they were having fun playing the game. So, Mr. Strep, you may have kept us away from the last game and those wonderful pictures I was going to take, but you cannot keep those pictures in my head from leaving.

Thanks to Some Great Fans!

Ashley Brown, Laura Beth and Alex Edwards
Ashley Helton, Jenny Taylor, Laura Beth and Kari Bishop
Chris Foshee, Laura Beth and Randal Prince

Laura Beth loves for people to come and watch her doing whatever she is doing. She has always LOVED an audience!!! The college kids are so good at coming out to see her (and her brother) at whatever they are doing. Of course, Gran, Grandad and Great Papa Whittle rarely missed a game of hers as well. I was planning on taking pictures at her last game, but . . . . .

Thanks to all who love and support our children! We (and they) love you!

A Look at 2008 Softball Season

A Sunday Spent at Chickasaw

Last Sunday, our Shepherding group from church met for lunch at Chickasaw. The kids were so excited. They are always up for a time at Chickasaw and a bonus - Lawson, Jagger and Josh (friends from church) would also be there!!! We were not there 10 minutes when they headed to the water. We could not get the away form the water except when we told them it was time to eat. (Carter is always ready to eat!) It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon!
Love the faces here!
Precious Jagger
Arika convincing Lawson the pier was safe!

A Closer Look in the Water

Showing Mr. Brandon the fish eating the bread.
Feeding the geese

I love the look on their faces - they were so excited!
The geese approaching for more bread!

Pool Time with Friends

Laura Beth "helps" Carter slide down the slide.
Laura Beth's turn
Carter, Jagger, Lawson and Laura Beth = Best Friends
After swimming, Carter played baseball - surprise surprise!
Oh how I miss seeing this face - my sweet Lawson

We are blessed to have such a good group of friends at church. We try to get together once a month just to have fun with one another and get away from the craziness of it all. Brandon adn Arika Young were the hosts for May and we ended the month with a wonderful day. The kids go together and had a ball just getting wet and then playing together. After some time of just fun, we switched gears to roasting hot dogs and making smores!

A Saturday Night Bonfire with Friends

Here I am (in the neon green softball mom shirt) with some wonderful girlfriends - Sasha, Sandy, Arika and Ashley. While some are closer to each other than others, we know that the others are always there for us. I also think, as I look at this picture of how we miss the Lamb sisters, Dixie and Laura Beth. We think of you both so much and can't wait to have Laura Beth back with us!

Now the pictures are in reverse order - I have lost my blogging touch!!! I think you get the picture, though!

The kids enjoy the hot dogs the daddies cooked (with the kids "help").

Brandon, Damon and Jared cook the hot dogs just right!

Carter is giving Damon a lot of help!!

Laura Beth supervises Damon as the hot dogs are ready to cook.

Story Time with Tim Hudson

Atlanta Braves' pitcher, Tim Hudson, came to the Plaza before the game began and read part of a book to the kids that were there. Laura Beth spotted him before anyone else did!!
Reading the book The Road to the Braves to the kids.
Tim talking about the importance of reading and education.

A highlight of the trip was getting to see and listen to Tim Hudson read Wednesday night before the game. The first 100 kids were able to get a book that Tim autographed and Laura Beth and Carter were able to get that. They loved being near him and listening to him read. What a special time for us all!

Snapshots from Wednesday's game

Daniel, Laura Beth and Katy walking to the game.
Damon and Carter
Uncle Richard and Miss Amy joined us for the game on Wednesday
My angel in the outfield!!
Kotsay put his glove on top of his head during a pause in the game. Carter thought this was great and wanted to do it as well!!

Snapshots from Tuesday Game #2

These next two pictures are out of order because I cannot remember how to work this thing!! Anyways, this picture is of Matt Diaz and Gregor Blanco warming up after the 2 hour rain delay. A bunch of kids (Carter included) were yelling at them - cheering them on. Matt Diaz turned around to them and . . . . . threw Carter a ball (which I caught - again!!)!! He was just walking on air!!!

Laura Beth's sign for Tuesday night's game. It did not last though!!
Carter's sign for Tuesday night's game. The signs did not make it to until the game because a MAJOR rain storm came and destroyed the signs. For 2 hours we kept ourselves busy while we wondered if they would play tonight.
Carter kept himself occupied by playing his own baseball game in one of the corners of the stadium.
This could be my favorite picture from the trip. After it stopped raining, our seats for Tuesday night allowed Carter and I to go right down on the field. He loved being so close to so many of his favorites.