Today

We spent today at the lake...

swimming,





sweating,

eating snacks,

trying to avoid the rowdy group of young adults using inappropriate words and indulging heavily in adult beverages,

taking walks hand in hand,



and stopping along the way for smiles




and funny faces,



applying sunscreen every 47 seconds because of sunburn paranoia,

fishing,



and enjoying the beautiful day!

The holiday is a tough one to explain to young kids... to them, today was a day Dad didn't have to work, Mom tried telling them about something (or was it someone?) called "America", and their neighbors made lots of noise outside which would have made it difficult to fall asleep had they not been completely exhausted from the fun day! (Some day they will understand the importance of this day!)

We will soon post our annual 4th of July family photo! (You know... after we take it.)

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

Sportsmanship and Dirt

I am not big on competition. I am usually the one that feels more bad for the team who loses than happy for the team who wins.



(I do know that conversations, car rides and overnight stays with Jordyn following softball games are much more pleasant when her team has won.)



But, what I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing is Jordyn grow as a player over the years.



I remember when I first met her at six years old... she was a good player -- hitting, fielding, pitching -- but her attitude and sportsmanship was... well, in need of some work.



But let's be honest. It's hard as an adult to handle pressure and disappointment...



so for a six-year-old? Yeah, it's tough.



(Jordyn was picked up by another team, the Sioux Falls Flash, to play in a tournament 4th of July weekend... hence the different uniform!)



Today, at 16, Jordyn has great sportsmanship.



She has found that delicate balance --



the drive and determination to win,



and the accepting attitude that comes along with loss.



She's got a lot going for her...



and I can't wait to see where softball takes her!

* * * * *

Though Carter loves his big sister, I don't think it's necessarily her softball-playing that draws him to the field.


I think it's the dirt.



I mean, with all the dirt just laying around, what's a 4-year-old boy to do but sprinkle himself with it?



Carter has also become a big fan of ball retrieval. The moment a ball is hit outside the fence, he's scanning the crowd to see if there are any other kids he's going to have to out-run to make it to the ball first.






And when there's a lull in the game, shouting "Blue!" and tossing the ball over the fence to the umpire... well, it doesn't get much better than that.



(We're grateful to have had some very patient umpires... it doesn't always make it over on the first toss!)

* * * * *

(Note: Rylee's not a fan of softball games this season, so we're finding her fun babysitters or wonderful grandmas to stay with her!)