pink flamingos

So ms. emily over at the anderson family crew sponsors a wonderful linky party.  It involves pictures.  Of yourself.

I love, love, love taking pictures of my family.  And the kids have become quite the posers.  Mommy on the otherhand.... Dislikes.   But this week I decided to join in on the fun.  Because it is the loveliest of ideas, isn't it?  To take the time to have someone take a picture of you?  And this little series of pictures showcases some of the mommy/daughter fun Katie and I had this summer.  A bit of pink flamingo softball.

 

Didn't she make the cutest of all catchers?   She's a tiny thing.  And as you can see {and Katie cannot :)} the gear was a bit on the big side.

And the team name?  The pink flamingos, of course!  Complete with our own mascots on display.

Up to bat came ms. Katie.  And as a mom your heart is hoping.  That the ball will be hit.  It took my little sweet pea a while.  But she got the swing of it {no pun intended!} and saved her very best hit for the last game of the year.  Smack dab right up the middle, passed the pitcher, passed the second basement into the grass.  She ran to first, rounded the bag, on to second where there was a.... very.... close.... OUT!

 

So, as the official "team mom" I had a first hand part of Katie's little summer adventure.  Up close.  Setting up snack schedule, making sure the batting order was correct and the most important?  Reminding the girls in the dug out there is no crying in softball.  Only hugs and chants of "Come on {Katie} you can do it, put a little  power to it!

 

a perfect little bike ride

The first of the season.

Tires aired.  check.
Training wheels on.  check.  (summer project around here to get rid of those.)
Helmets.  uncheck.  whoops.  (a little rusty on remembering that.)  next time.

A beautiful day and time for a ride.  You notice Katie is wearing pants.  Not that she goes around with nothing on.  She just rarely wears pants.  She's my girly girl.  You know, dress or skirt.  But she decided wearing a skirt on a bike was a bad idea.

We ventured around the neighborhood to one of our favorite destinations.  Oh yes.  What a novelty.  Whenever we start out for a walk or a ride the kids shout "to the fish mailbox!" And down the street, around the block, up a hill, under some trees we go.

What's your favorite bike riding destination?  Please share... I'd love to hear ;)

a perfect little day (in a 1st graders world)

I have learned that Katie is a saver.

Her sweet teacher rewards her class with tickets.  You know, the ones passed out throughout the day, throughout the weeks, throughout the year, for good behavior.  And each week those precious little tickets are cashed in for goodies.

My sweet pea?  Saved hers.  Every single one.  Week after week.  All year long.

She kept her eye on the prize (or two, or three).

And it was payday this week.  And oh, what fun she had!  She bought a "wear your pajamas to school" day for her class, complete with a movie and snack. And lunch with that sweet teacher, Mrs. Kern.

On Monday?  Shoes off for the entire day, sit by a friend, and a piece of gum or two.

 Yes, Katie made history in first grade.  And I'm just tickled pink.

a perfect game of dodgeball (complete with a half time show)

I had so much fun with the kiddos today.  We played.  Just played.  And what did we play?

Dodgeball 

This mama isn't a dodgeball expert by any means.  I'm not much of a dodger.  Or a thrower.  But I do love playing with my kids.  When Calvin was a little guy he would want to play football in the basement.  Over and over and over again.  We'd pick team names, have a kickoff, four downs, you name it.  I'd pretend tackle him and start kissing him on the neck where he would reply in that sweet preschool voice "Mom, there's no kissing in football!"

So, moving on a few years later we still play games.  Today we giggled and joked and changed up the dodgeball rules.  Then Katie decided she needed to put on a half time show (or two).  So Calvin and I took a little break and watched her routine.  Complete with a black cat costume.  Oh my.  That Katie.

the basketball game... rock chalk jayhawk?

So, we arrived at the basketball game and as you can see in the pics, no more barbie tat for Katie.  Whew!

We have a divided house here in the Dillon home.  Some of us cheer red and blue.  Some of us cheer purple.  We won't mention any names.  Anywhoo, the KU seniors came to Louisburg to take on our high school seniors in a little basketball game.

Then afterward, we all enjoyed a bit of BBQ.  Since Jim helped organize this deal, the kids and I got to join in.  Calvin was as shy as can be.  "No pictures mom!" Katie on the otherhand made her rounds.  First up?  Ms. Houchen.

Then a gal from KU who helped organize their end of things

("This is a first!"  she said. "Nobody usually wants a picture with me!")

Then, finally onto the more of the, shall we say, stars of the show?

Tyrel Reed - (He said he liked Katie's outfit, although self admittedly not really being into fashion, "it looked pretty cool", he said)

Brady Morningstar

Mario Little

Finally, Calvin decided he'd take a picture so he joined in with little sis for a group shot.  Gotta love it :)

a little birthday fun...

Katie Grace had the sweetest time this weekend at a friend's birthday party.  It was Barbie style.  Complete with fashion show, tattos and everything pink and black, baby!

She loved every minute of it until she realized we weren't going straight home.  We were going to a basketball game.  Where Barbie might not be so hip.  Oops.  More about that later...

Christmas, Christmas time is here!

The Louisburg Holiday Mart was a hit! Thanks to all of you who stopped by. It was a whirlwind of a day. Soon it will be time to put the Christmas designs aside and start on something new! I will be posting pictures, so check back soon for some cool new designs...
Katie invited some friends to the annual "cookie day" at our church. Together they decorated sugar cookies, made a nativity scene, gingerbread magnet and an ornament. It was a special day for everyone, daddy included, who was the chaperone for the event.

Sweet friends

Halloween is becoming the holiday that will never end! Between trunks for treats at school and church, downtown trick or treating night, class parties and the actual day...we have enough candy to last us a year! The kids had a great time sorting all the candy into chocolate, suckers, sweettarts, laffy taffy etc. and insisting they liked it ALL and mom and dad really didn't need a stash of their own...

Calvin is continuing his sports theme and was a basketball player this year (he has already been a golfer, soccer player and football player) while Katie was Portia from one of her favorite cartoons, "Friends and Heroes". She also got a lot of wear from her candy corn tee and was delighted to see other girls from school wearing their Halloween shirts. This pictures shows Katie and her friend wearing their tees to their class parties. How adorable!