Summer time fun for Ben

Ben brought home this tree in 3rd grade for Arbor Day.  It's fun watching it grow with Ben!

Sweet Louise had ACL surgery on both of her back knees earlier this spring.  She has been on a short leash all year and is looking forward to gaining her freedom in early July when she should be all healed and ready to run again!

Ben and I picked up this amazing rocket at Costco.  It uses water pressure to launch really high into the air!  It's been a fun toy for all of us this summer, including the adults!

Summer piano recital

My heart is full listening to these 3 play their songs. 

Piano is not their favorite, but they please me by sticking with their weekly lessons and improving their piano skills, despite wanting to do otherwise!

Having the very best piano teacher one could ever ask for helps them stay with it!  Nick, Sam and Ben are affectionately known as the Horn Boys by Mrs. Dant.  

She rewards them with delicious cupcakes and punch after each recital. 

Indian's Baseball

Nick and Sam's Little League baseball team got the opportunity to take the field with the minor league team, the Indianapolis Indians for the playing of the national anthem.  It was such a fun experience for them to stand on the field next to the players!

Sam was #8 and stood near the pitcher on the mound, while Nick, #5, stood near the catcher and umpires.  

Fun with mom

While Ben was camping with Eric, Sam and Nick spent some quality time with me!  We enjoyed playing mini golf, shopping, eating out together and also a trip to Top Golf.

Cub Scout Camp

Ben and Eric attended Camp K Cub Scout camp for 3 nights in June.  

Ben had a ball with his buddies sleeping in tents, shooting air rifles, bow and arrows, boating, swimming, and all kinds of other fun things!

This will be the last summer Cub Scout camp for Ben and Eric, next summer Ben will go to Boy Scout camp!

It rained.  A lot! 

It didn't bother Ben much!

Sunday Showcase

In addition to their little league team, both Nick and Sam were on Sunday Showcase teams.  It's another opportunity to practice and play more ball with their friends, which they both enjoy.  

The teams were a lot more competitive and involved a little local travel, too.

We finished up the season in mid June.

Little League Baseball

Little League Majors champs!

Nick and Sam were on the same little league team this year, the Pirates.  We love it when the years line up and they can be on the same team.  

It was quite an exciting season for the Pirates.  They had some good wins through out the season and all of the boys improved over the course of the season and they won the championship!

In dramatic style they won 2 games on Father's day to earn the championship while missing a few players.  It was the best Little League season yet!

After the win the boys came to our home for a pizza pool party to celebrate.

Nick and Sam had lots of success at bat.  Nick loves to catch most of all and Sam has become a really good pitcher.  My heart is full watching those two pitch and catch together.

Summer time!

The first week of summer was spent sleeping in, running errands, swimming, hiking, golfing and just taking it easy.

One of our errands was a stop at the bank to deposit Christmas money and Nick's 1st paycheck!  Nick is umpiring this baseball season.  He is trained to umpire the 6 and 7yr. old baseball and softball games.  He's certainly enjoying earning some money and he really enjoys working with the little ones. 

The next week was vacation bible school for Ben.  

Roar!  Life is wild, God is good! was the theme.  

Ben participated with his buddy and had an amazingly good time!

We also took a trip to Illinois to visit Grama and Grampa Schraufnagel mid week  

The kids helped water Grama's flowers and we ate at Ben's favorite restaurant!

This past week the boys went to golf camp with our neighbor and friend, Finn.  

They have been going to this golf camp for several years now.  It's alway first on their summer bucket lists!