Our All Star

We wrapped up another regular season of baseball last week. Andrew and Kelli both played this year. Andrew on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Kelli on Tuesday and Thursday! It was a bit of a crazy schedule and we quickly realized we are going to have to do a divide and conquer strategy once the other two get older and start playing as well...it's gonna be nuts! But nuts is what you get when you have 4 kids, I guess! =) This year, Andrew's coach asked him to try out for the All Star Team and he did, and he made the team! We are super proud of him and are looking forward to see what this next month of All Star tournaments looks like! So our crazy baseball schedule has been extended through the month of July, every weekend, and I am predicting that come August 1st, we will be SUPER glad to be done with baseball! Every weekend in July there is a tournament, and only one is local. YIPEE!! (note sarcasm in my typing) =)

Here is our All Star in action...

Kelli asked me to help her make this sign for Andrew's game...I didn't find out until later, that Andrew had asked her to make it!! An indication that humility is on our list of character qualities to work on developing with Andrew! =)

This was the last regular season game, and also happened to be on Nathan's 1st birthday!

Nathan loves going to the games, he wanders from person to person looking for handouts..

And he explores the fields

until he gets too close to the playing field and then someone wrangles him back to safety

and then looks for anyone who will give him a snack or something to drink...

The whole Mauch clan came out this night! Seriously, I want to thank Keith and Nancy especially, but also Dana and Amber, for all the help you guys were during the baseball season with Nathan! I was able to watch and enjoy the games a whole lot more because of you! I am very thankful and grateful for you all!

Field Trip

Went with Kelli's class on an awesome field trip last week to the Discovery Center in Rockford. This is an awesome place and I would highly recommend visiting it with your kids!

Our Hillbilly Waterpark! =)

Who needs to spend money on a day at the waterpark when you can do this in your own back yard!!

Music Monday

Thought I would post about some of my favorite music on Mondays for a while. Since Monday was a holiday I decided it was okay to post on Tuesday this week! =) So lets start off with a bang. This is probably my favorite cd of all time. It surprises me to say that, but when I hook up my mp3 player to it's dock when I am cleaning, or go to the Y to work out, or just want to dance with the kids, this is the cd I choose 99% of the time. It is impossible to listen to this cd and stand or sit still. You are guaranteed to burn more calories if you listen to this cd! =) The cd is TobyMac's latest cd, Tonight. IT ROCKS!!! Here are some links to my favorite songs on the cd

Changed Forever http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_E5ieFqE6M&feature=related

Tonight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MqNm4e98qU&feature=related

Hey, Devil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7rbsoUg51g&feature=related

Funky Jesus Music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_OEZ-EGob0&feature=related

Hold On http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhUOZGkWC1k&feature=related

Get Back Up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q_-9FyIxQE&feature=related

Catching UP~Picture Heavy!

No huge news around here...things are pretty much status quo! And I'm real good with that. We are in full swing of baseball season with Andrew, the weather has not permitted me taking pictures at his games, well the weather and chasing 3 other kids around while Brian coaches Andrew's team! Usually, it is a family effort and I am thankful when the in laws are there to help! Kelli was to start her Tball season this past Saturday, but because of flooding from the rains the week before that was cancelled, and resulted in a very sad 6 year old girl! Speaking of 6 year old girls! Kelli celebrated her 6th birthday this month!

We do family birthday parties around here until the kids turn 6 and then they get to have their first friends party! Kelli thought long and hard about what she wanted to do...go to the movie theater, go to the bowling alley, maybe Chuck E Cheese? But she finally decided on a sleep over! We started out with 4 of her closest friends, but you know kindergarteners are...they talk, and before we knew it, all the girls from her class plus one of her dearest friends that does not go to school with her were invited, because "surely they will not ALL be able to come"! Well they all could, and did! Ten 5 and 6 year old girls joined Kelli for a sleep over and boy was it "fun"!! =) Really, they did very well! I was pretty impressed at how well they played together and they actually got 8 hours of sleep!!! Not sure we will do a sleep over again for a long time (for sure not with that many girls), but I know there were alot of memories made!

We did a balloon release and yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELLI!!!"

Nathan wasn't sure what to think about all these girls!

Lots and lots of Barbies, a new ZhuZhu Pet, and fun arts and crafts projects!!!!

Emily watching from a distance!

Nathan finally figured out he better enjoy being surrounded by all these girls...probably wont happen again!!!

Making popcorn

Movie Time

All tucked in

We celebrated again, with my parents and Brian's parents this past Monday, which happened to also be Brian's birthday!

A combined cake

Kelli amazed at all the candles, Brian still oblivious that it's a combined party!

There is lots of smoke with that many candles!

To see Brian's gift...head over to my Project52 blog!

Dress Up

This week Emily has a new found love of playing dress up. I just love opening the door after "naptime" to see what outfits she has come up with!

Sox Fan

Brian and Andrew had the opportunity to go to a White Sox game this past Sunday....It's a good thing he is so cute, other wise this cubs fan would have a hard time loving this picture! More pictures from the game to come...

Our Young Author

We were so excited when Kelli was selected as one of the Young Author winners at her school earlier this year.






As a winner, Kelli was invited to read her story at our annual Book Fair this past Thursday. We made a family event out of it and we were so proud of our shy little girl! Each day amazes us as she continues to come out of her shell and excel in so many different arenas.

Anxiously awaiting for her turn to read!

If you know Kelli, you know that reading in front of a crowd is a huge thing for her, and with a microphone no less!!

Her classmate and friend and fellow Young Author winner!

Kindergarten and 1st grade winners

Brian took us to McDonald's for celebratory ice cream sundaes. I was one proud momma!