Bowling...

One day last week, while Mom was watching Erin and Pearl, I called her and asked if she wanted to take the girls bowling. I was given a website that allows for kids to bowl 2 games per day for the entire summer for free. And for $23.95 you can add up to 4 more people for the entire summer. http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/ This website is great...they email you your coupons for the week, you print them and take them to the bowling alley with you. It was almost too easy, but the kids had a great time!!!

They all cheered for each other and took turns, waited for the names on the board...Seth looking to knock down that last pin!!!

Grace and Pearl lining up the ramp just right...

Erin did an excellent job without any ramps or bumpers!!! Although it did take some convincing that Mom and I were right when we told her that she was getting the gutter balls because she was moving her hands...LOL (See, Erin, we do know some things...hahaha)

During the second game Seth and Grace were getting silly and started wrestling on the floor, they were laughing so hard, their eyes were watering....it was so funny!!!

By the end of the second game they were all ready to go...they were all soooo good though and we can't wait to go back!!!

Horseradish Festival 2009

The weekend of Carlyle Lake and baseball games was very busy for us. On Sunday, Mom and I took Erin, Pearl, Preston, and Grace to the horseradish festival. Seth was at Richie's baseball game (i guess hanging out with your mom and sister isn't cool when daddy has a game...LOL) It started to sprinkle while we were there so we didn't stay long. We did however, eat lunch (funnel cake...LOL) and make it to the Home Depot tent for some building. This year they had tool boxes for the kids to make. Grace is carefully reading the instructions...

While I think Pete and Erin are winging it...LOL

Face painting and tattoos are a big hit there too!! This was the first year Grace let anyone paint a simple butterfly on her cheek!! I think I was more excited than she was about it. It is amazing what just one year will do...Preston on the other hand has no problem sitting still for it...

These girls were sitting in front of us at lunch and I thought is was cute that they were all wearing the same shirt and had their faces painted...so I asked them if I could take their picture...

Carlyle Lake

After Grace's t-ball game and then Seth's we headed up to Carlyle Lake for a cook out. Aimee and her family went camping and invited us to come out Saturday night for dinner. I made potato salad and Dawnjulene made pasta salad and we drove up. We all had a great time, the kids rode bikes, played at the playground near the campsite, and roasted hotdogs for dinner.



Thank you for inviting us and we hope that Kevin had a great birthday weekend!!!

Grace's T-ball game

I am starting to see a repetativeness to these posts...they all begin with, "I am so far behind". LOL Well, I am as usually. We have been quite busy these past couple of weeks. Grace and Preston started t-ball 2 weeks ago. Grace has been so excited for this. Every time we go to Seth's game she keeps asking when her turn is. Well, two weeks ago she got her chance. They did running, catching/throwing, and batting practice then it was "game time". Don't they look thrilled to be here...LOL

Running the bases is hard work,

Then again, when you leave three year olds in the outfield with nothing to do, they have to entertain themselves...hahaha

Preston seemed to have had a good time and we are very excited that he is on Grace's team.

Boycotting

I got a call from Luke the other day asking for a favor...I said sure, "what do you need?". He said they boycotted the lady at the hospital for pictures and wanted me to take some pictures of Ben for them. I asked why they boycotted her and he said that she was really rude, so I went over today (after talking to Stacy...LOL) and took some pictures. So here are a couple that I got...

Luke just happen to lose his wedding ring, so we played around with Tiffani's...

Sisterly love...

Ben was such a good little guinea pig...poor guy!!!

A Successful Trip to the Doctor...

Today I had to take both kids to the doctor, because Seth came home with pink eye. I noticed Grace's eye was getting red as well, so I made an appt. In case you don't already know, Grace is a BEAR at the doctor. This trip was actually pleasant. She watched Seth get weighed and measured and when it was her turn she got right up on the scale and even had a smile on her face. Then in the room they took her blood pressure and temp and she didn't budge. She did everything the doctor said and didn't complain once.
I know going to the doctor isn't supposed to be fun, but when you can go with a three year old and come out with no tears or fights, it is a good visit...

Collinsville Hammers...

This year Richie decided he was going to take a wack at baseball again and not play softball. He had his first game on Sunday (double-header). Seth really enjoys going to all of Richie's games and practices. Grace and I went to see Ben and then got some lunch and took it to the ball field. The kids got to run the bases while the teams were gearing up for the second game.

Running the bases with Daddy was Grace's favorite part. Of course we have to take our shoes off and run barefoot in the mud!!!

Seth is a good "catcherman"!!

Richie swinging for the fence...not sure if it made it that far!! LOL

Hanging out in the dugout with Daddy...

Baby Ben!!!

This was a jam packed weekend. On Saturday the kids' games were cancelled due to rain, but thankfully it cleared up so that we could meet Aimee and the boys at the circus. After the circus everyone came over to our house for some fun on the waterslide and grilling. That evening I got a call from Mom saying that Tiffani was on her way to the hospital. She didn't feel good and was having some pains (Luke was on guard duty, so he was out of town). Missy drove her there and Mom and Dad left a retirement dinner to meet them there. At about 9pm I called Mom for a status report and she said we were going to have a baby in about 45 minutes. I jumped in the car and headed over. Mom and Missy were ready in their scrubs and Tiffani was as spirited as she can be.

Missy was on camera duty, while Mom was on support duty...

Tiffani had a scheduled c-section for June 16, but Benjamin Joseph Tillman was not going to wait for anyone...LOL

He is soooo cute!!!

He weighed in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces and 19 inches long at 10:15pm on May 30, 2009

After the miracle of birth, they brought him into the room and weighed him and checked him over real good...gotta love the baby footprints!

Luke drove home from guard duty to meet his son!! I love these moments...they are priceless!

He is just precious. He has Luke's chin and wavy hair (although right now it looks like a mohawk...LOL) Sooooo cute!!! He has Tiffani's nose and eyes. Dad even thinks we have another swimmer (frog) on our hands. He thinks he has a swimmers butt...hahaha

Congratulations to the Tillman family!! He is amazing!!!!!!!