Backyard Baseball

So lots of people have been requesting pictures of where we live. I still am disorganized enough on the inside...that those pictures will have to wait...but while the boys were out playing baseball, I decided to snap a few pictures of our yard. It has FINALLY been cooling down enough outside in the evenings to play a little. It is both of their favorite things! Gunner is melting his dad's heart lately by constantly bringing a mitt/balls/bats and saying "baseball?!"




Here is a view from opposite corners of the yard.



Cooper loves being the "pitcher" to Gunner.



Here is what Cooper did when I told him to put his arm around Gunner for a picture. :)



Here is the fun jungle gym just beyond our fence...and swings.




Our house is a rancher (one level) duplex, but there isn't anyone in the other side. I have LOVED having a one-level place. It is so nice to have the bedrooms down a long hall, separated by a door from the main living area.



Bikerides are a fav too...and we love having a quiet culdesac (sp?) for them to ride around in. Cooper loves to use his scooter too, but since it has been so hot, he says it is an "inside toy for now". I often find it parked next to the toilet as he uses it as his mode of transportation down the hall to go to the bathroom. :)

We are trying to take advantage of the pool before it closes Labor Day. I just can't believe it is closing, since it is still so hot! We also took our first trip to the mall, bought tickets for the few remaining Cardinals games that aren't sold out, and bought the boys their Cardinals hats and shirts. Cooper wanted to wear the shirt for 2 days straight! It has been cute hearing him work out his favorite teams... he said the other day, "I like the Cardinals, Mom, but I don't love them, I still love the Pirates better, and I want the Pirates to win the Cardinals, but I still like the Cardinals, I just want Jason Bay to win them."

I got a calling at church on Sunday...Primary Pianist! I think this sounds way fun...with no out of church commitment. Linds, you'll have to give me any pointers. :) We got a dinner invite Sunday too, so we are slowly getting aquainted with some people. Cooper has 6 boys and 1 girl in Sunbeams (poor girl!), and his teacher says he is doing better at being reverent, but is still a little roudy (he can't resist). He is still the LOUD singer too, and I saw his teacher put her hand over his mouth when he got a little loud during a reverent song. Can't wait for the program in October. :)

We also went to the "New Residents BBQ" at Andrew's boss' house on Saturday. All the specialists were there, and it was fun to meet the other residents and their spouse/girfriends. The head of the whole clinic is LDS too, and it was really fun to talk to his wife. Nobody else brought their kids though (whoops!), except the boss has a 7-year-old boy, and 12-year-old girl who were there, and they played with their toys with Gunner and Cooper, and they got lots of attention from the specialists too. I am just so proud of Andrew and his accomplishments. He was also happy to find out there wer 5 full-time assistants hired for the 3 residents, so he is feeling more and more like a "real" dentist. He loves it.

PS. Spike's mission call is the the Manaus, Brazil mission. He leaves November 28th (the Wed. after Thanksgiving). We found out that in June there was a Manaus Temple announced too. It is in the middle of Brazil on the river, right in the Amazon! We are excited for him! My parents will be empty nesters....finally. :)