Jam-packed June

 

 

My kids got spoiled early on by thinking they got to go to yogurt city after each game that someone came to watch them play...which they loved because they often had fans in the crowd!

Harper really got the shaft this year because Charli had out of town soccer the weekend before and after his birthday...so we celebrated between games.  Lucky for him my sister and her kids came to the game, so it felt like a 1/2 party!  She treated him to gelato and a cupcake!

We got suckered into a group picture at the arch, we thought mom would like the picture ;-)

 



Charli and a few of her soccer teammates found each other at softball one night.  These girls can be SO silly, so quickly!

F.I.V.E. 

He was super excited to get new flip flops this year, because he wore out four pairs this summer!  This kid knows how to get his money out of shoes!

Harper got a tent for his birthday so a camp out was necessary, and lucky the weather cooperated, mostly.  It was super hot and they got rained out 1/2 way through the night! 

 



The Monroe zoo continues to be a favorite spot to take the kids when we have some downtime.  I love how hands-on they get to be with the animals. 

This summer brought a lot of soccer Charli's way.  She had several camps along with her club games.  I was very thankful for good friends who helped get her where she needed to be on the days I couldn't get away. 

Harper played his first year of t-ball this year.  The season is super short, and was made even shorter because Harper sat out two games from his tonsillectomy.  Braxton came to watch on their final night...he was a veteran too as his season ended the week before!

I love these three!  Charli, Andy, and Sam.  These three kiddos are all little fighters from Columbus who are friends solely because of their commonality of fighting cancer.  I hate that they have this similarity, but I am so thankful to have them in our lives.  These kids and their families are near and dear to us, to say the least!

 



Relay For Life 2014

Dad * Brenda * Randy * Vicki * Rachelle * Mom

The potential threat for bad weather moved the event indoors this year.  I missed the outdoor event, but it was a neat and new way to experience Relay this year.  I was happy to have my "Borg" family present.  It doesn't' happen often because Randy lives in Arkansas, but they have been back a few times and I love it! 

And the bigger Borg group...not everyone was there, we were missing the biggest of the boys (Andrew, Bryant, and Derek) but getting a majority in one spot is a big deal!

 



I love this picture too! This is everyone who came from the Charli's Angels team...

 



Charli volunteered to get her face slammed by a wet sponge...Harper loved taking his turn to get her too!

Grand & Grandpa Preister **  Grandma Deb ** Great Grandma & Grandpa Louis 

Jump'n June

June is a busy month, so I knew I needed to slam a post out early!  These are out of order, but they are here!  We are only 9 days into the month...so I think we are okay!

Charli helped with her friend Madeline's 8th Annual Alex's Lemonade Stand again this year.  She keeps making it bigger and better as she gets older.  It's amazing to watch kids jump in and help...they make some of the most successful plans, and it makes the world to them and when it is from them.  I love the support Charli's friends have given and continue to give year after year!

Charli * Moe * Hunter doing the lemon challenge!  

It might be hard to believe, but by the end of day one of the stand, Charli was dancing!  

Harper is working on his gymnastics!  

Charli started her soccer tourney Friday night.  After four games, they ended the tournament undefeated, and they worked hard for that!

Jill & Brenda doing the lemon challenge!

Charli * Lynette * Madeline * Lizza * Isabel

Madeline & Harper on day 3 of the stand!  

Harper wanted to be "daddy's twin" with his!!

Chad's cousins were leaving a bridal shower as we were at the stand and did the lemon challenge with Harper!

Harper and Delanie, Madeline's mom!

Who wouldn't want lemonade from these cuties?!

Andy, another local survivor, and Harper demonstrating how easy the challenge is!

Before the busy weekend started, Charli had to get past her taekwondo testing.  The testing goes pretty quickly, but Harper has to come along and sit each week and her events...and it gets pretty boring for him.  This is how he passed the time with grandpa...taking selfies! 

Look at the worry on her face, and the anxiety in her eyes.  She was SO stressed out about this testing.  Like I have never seen before.  If it wasn't going to make her, it was going to break her.  But, she nailed it and felt great about it -- after she was finally done.  It was hard to watch her lose confidence -- but we cannot go out there and do it for her!

Super proud of her.  Hoping that this week she will find out if she has advanced another level and will receive her blue belt.  Testing starts to slow down for kids as it gets more difficult, she is four belts from black belt...so maybe in 3rd grade?!  It will be here before we know it!

These girls are having so much fun together and will only get better in the coming weeks when they are spending so much more time together!  They are working hard, and are setting some goals for themselves!

Lady Vipers 2014

One of the funnest parts of the weekend (also a little stressful) was to watch Charli and her BFF Moe play against each-other on opposite teams!  It couldn't have ended more perfectly -- a tie!  

And finally... Sunday night - the bumble bees played for the win!!

It's a big deal that we can't make a big deal!  Charli picked out & bought this pink tournament shirt this weekend!  

Rounding out May!

Sneaking in one more May update before we welcome June!

Memorial Day this year was extra special for my kids to attend as I was asked to provide the National Anthem as well as an additional song.  The kids like to hear me sing, but outside of our crazy singing never really hear me in public!  Charli was adorable and mouthed the words as I sang, and Harper as been singing "God Bless the USA" almost daily since!

These pictures are a bit out of order...but here we go anyway!  After Harper got his tonsils taken out, Charli was a pretty good nurse the first day or so.  She made him breakfast on his first morning, and this was the note she left with it.  It says he is a wonderful brother from his wonderful sister! 

Tonsillectomy did not slow this guy down!

The night of Harpers surgery, Charli played her first softball game...Dad was in charge of pictures and did a great job!

While waiting for surgery to take him back (after not eating from midnight on Monday night to 11:40 Tuesday morning) he kept himself busy playing with clay!

He was super proud of this -- he took his clay and made "Charli" letters!  He wanted her to see before he destroyed it, creations don't last long!

We had to find lots of ways to spend our hours....

He literally jumped on the surgery table.  I turned around and he was rolling out, so I snapped his picture and had to make them stop to give him a hug.  He could have cared less that he was leaving to head into surgery.  He was ready!

He wanted Charli to see his "cast"!

After waking from recovery, he was an animal!  he ate two Popsicles, applesauce, two jellos, pudding, mac & cheese, and drank a sprite, gatorade, water, and apple juice!   

On the drive home the night of surgery!  He was an all-star!

He thought this gift bag was pretty funny!  Grandma Jody gave him his "get well"gift with the front as his before picture and the back as his after!

This was about 24 hours after surgery.  He could not be slowed down - which worked well for him...he is a tough kiddo!

One of Charli's friends and classmates made this bag for the Relay For Life...the top 5 reason how to be a ninja!  Charli smiled when she saw it.  It is sad that her friends have to know what cancer is..this little buddy has another friend currently i treatment now (sammy) so he gets it more than most.