DINOMITE!

I was able to go to Tanner's soccer game today. The name of his team is The Dinomite's. His age group doesn't keep score, but trust me, I know who kicked the ball into the net and made 2 of the 4 goals. That's right, it was Tanner. He is quite the little soccer player, he just seems to get it. Shall I just say he's a natural? Okay then, he is a natural. I am a proud Grandma. Craig and I arrived a little before half-time and the first thing he said to me was "Grandma I kicked a goal for you!" Thank you Tanner, give me some more at your next game! I am the luckiest Grandma ever.

Had to include these pretty shots of Hanna. She is such a doll and fun to be around.
Love this girl!

It was a wonderful day, can't think of any better way to spend it!

Going Home for a Bike Ride!

My friend Debbie and I took a roadtrip with our bikes to Newport Beach, California. We had been planning this trip for months. Our goal for the trip was to ride our bikes at the beach. Ride we did, lots. Saturday we rode the Back Bay trail about 20 miles. Sunday was a cool, fogging, drizzly ride from Newport Pier to The Wedge. It was extra fun for me since that is where I grew up. It's funny how as a kid I took the ocean for granted. I had no idea it was home or one of my best friends and how I'd miss it so much. I wonder if that's how my kids will feel about mountains or red dirt someday. Below are some pictures I took while visiting my home!

The waves were huge at The Wedge! These pictures don't show any comparison to their size. There is something awesome about the sound of a huge wave pounding on the ground. I was in heaven just sitting there watching them. These pictures do however show how foggy it was.

The Back Bay trail

Debbie enjoying the view.

We woke up to this, my car is the red one with the bikes. I have no idea how this guy got out of his truck. Seriously, his mirror was an inch from mine, I had to take a picture of it and share.

GO Red Flash!

Doesn't Kylie look awesome in her soccer uniform? The name of her team is The Red Flash. When Nikki asked Kylie what the name of her team was she simply said, "The Red Team." She is adorable, in fact so adorable that we'll forgive her for not wanting to play in the game. She was a little sick and was content to sit on her Mommy and her Grandma's (that would be me) lap and watch her team play and WIN! Although at this age there is no score, everyone is a winner, yea right. Can't wait for the next game, to see her run around and kick the ball.

For years my entire world revolved around soccer. All five of my kids played, and were of course very good. I rarely had a Saturday free of frantically looking for a missing cleat or shinguard. We'd hurry out the door and drive to the field just in time. Craig was always a coach or referee. I was the team Mom and had my oranges all sliced and ready.

I can't recall how many times I have driven past the local soccer fields and felt an overwhelming feeling of envy as I'd see the Moms sitting in their chairs watching their cuties wearing over sized shirts and matching shorts run around the field fighting for the ball. I miss watching my own cuties, not so sure they'd want to be called cuties (sorry kids, I'm having a Mom moment here.) I never understood the Mom's that would come to the game, set up their chair and whip out a book to read. Didn't they know what they were missing? I did, I'd watch every step my kids made and delight in every connection they would make with the ball and yell and scream the most embarrassing things. That's right, I'm a screamer, I was one of those parents. The kind that get so caught up in the moment that they lose all self control, like this is their chance to just scream their head off and it will be perfectly acceptable. Then on the way home try to recount if they'd offended anyone or made anyone feel bad. Awe, the joy of it. The point is that I miss those soccer days! I am so thankful for grandchildren and a second chance to enjoy what I love the most, watching my kids play. For the grand kids I will try to be quiet and watch.

Hanna is beautiful, her soccer days are coming in a couple of years.

Tanner is playing this year as well. I'll post on him next.

Beautiful skies, fishing and camping!

I love a beautiful sunset with pink and orange clouds. I took these pictures on a recent fishing trip with friends. Linda and Bob followed us to Enterprise Reservoir on a Saturday a few weeks ago. It was a perfectly wonderful day, except for a little wind, the weather was perfect, we grilled

hot dogs, visited and I caught 4 fish!

Linda and Bob

We've been camping a couple of times recently. On one occasion Scott, Jaimie and the kids followed us up and had dinner, played and best of all made smores with us. Tanner and Hannah are the masters of smores or as Hannah would call them "snores". Roasting marshmallows just to watch them burn like a torch was fun too.

Oh, dear little marshmallow

How I love you

You're soft, you're so sweet

And so sugary too!

All white as snow

Chewy and soft as fluff

However I try

I can't get enough!

Look at that dirty face, awww the joy and fun of having dirt and ash on your cute face.

Below is one of my very best friends in the entire world. She is my caboose or baby, whatever. I don't know what I'd do without this girl.

This is another one of my very best friends in the entire world. My BIKE! Mine has the basket and gears, the other cool one is Nikki's.

Little Things.

I woke up at 4AM on Friday morning in Fargo, North Dakota. I was there for a work conference thing. Although it was an informative 3 days, I found myself missing my family. I threw on the clothes I'd laid out the night before, grabbed my huge suitcase and darted for the hotel elevator to get on the shuttle to the airport. I was going home! Below are the things I missed the most (not in any specific order).

Craig

Nikki

the grandkids

Tyler

Scott

Mike

Becca

Tammy

Devon

Jaimie

the grandkids

Craig

Click on pictures to enlarge

I couldn't sleep last night. I was so tired and maybe a bit stressed, I couldn't turn my brain off. Then Craig laid down beside me, I rolled over to put my arm across his chest and in an instant I felt safe and comfortable. As corny as it may sound, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I am so thankful to have that man in my life. He turned 50 recently!

Happy Birthday Craig!

What we've been doing this summer!

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Where does time go?

Missing from this photo are two beautiful daughter in-laws, one handsome son in-law and four gorgeous grandchildren.

I didn't mean to ignore my blog, it just happened. So much to write about. Life takes so many turns. Some good, some not so good. Challenges face all of us. I feel blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. We don't always agree with each other but the common anchor we share is love. We'll make it through what ever comes our way and at the end we'll still be holding on to each other.