Cub Scouts and Fishin' with Uncle Bryan

Well, since Oliver is officially 8 years old, he's now ready to begin the Cub Scouting program! He will start on the Wolf Trail and have a year to earn his patch! He's very excited to begin this new adventure.

One of the electives in the book, is about fishing, which he LOVES to do, but doesn't get to go very often. My brother, Bryan, was visiting for the week from Chicago and so they planned an afternoon of fishing on Saturday. They were going to get up at 8 am and go, but it was raining out, Oliver had gotten up and was pretty bummed that they weren't going. Bry said that if it cleared up, they'd still go before he left to go back home to Chicago. It cleared up outside and Oliver looked out the window and yelled, "It cleared up! We can go! We can go!!". As you can tell, he was VERY excited to go with his Uncle Bryan! He picked him up at about 11 am and went to George Wyth State Park for a few hours. Oliver came home and told me that he caught eight bluegills! SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! A few days before, Bry had gone trout fishing and had some in the fridge, so that day mom fried it up and Oliver tried trout for the first time. My mom said that she didn't think he liked it as he only ate three little pieces! When he got home he informed me that it tasted like chicken! HA!

He LOVES spending time with his uncles! He told Grandma Palmer today that he loves his Uncle Bryan because he takes him fishing and he gets lucky because he actually catches some fish when he goes with him! He loves his Uncle Chad because he plays video games with him and he likes action figures! I think it brings both of them back to their childhoods and they love to share that with Oliver! HE LOVES IT!!! :O)

JULY - Oliver's Baseball Tournament - Games 1 & 2

TUESDAY, JULY 21st - GAME 1 - Braves (W) vs. Cardinals (L) - Oliver scored the only run by being hit in!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22nd - GAME 2 - Braves (W) vs. Athletics (L) - Since they won, they got to move on to play in the Silver Bracket Tournament Game!!! Unfortunately Ed was on a business trip to Wisconsin and missed their BEST GAME of the whole season!!! They ALL did so well! There were several different boys who caught balls that never had before, their throwing was spot on and many of them made contact with the ball and got base hits!!! Oliver never got a hit until the last few games of the season and he did FANTASTIC during the tournament! He got two hits in this game! He's a fast little runner! I LOVED watching him play this year! This game was by far the most exciting one to watch! GOOD JOB, OLIVER!!!

Oliver in the outfield. He usually played outfield, shortstop and third base! He really wants to try and pitch and catch next year. There is a pitching and catching clinic sometime in April so maybe we'll sign him up for that! He just LOVES playin' ball!

View from the outfield.

Jaren sitting by Uncle Chad, cheering for Ollie!

Ollie at bat! Good ol' #16!!! My little lefty!

Ollie seemed to always bring up the rear when they lined up to say, "Good game"!!!

"Who are we? BRAVES!!!"

PIG PILE on the COACHES!!!

One of the mom's made some cute baseball cupcakes! I was going to do the same thing for Oliver's birthday since he was supposed to have practice that day, but they ended up not having it! Maybe I'll still try it for his actual birthday party... which seems to be getting pushed further and further back. We are a busy bunch this summer... what can I say?!?!

Uncle Chad made it to one of Oliver's games! He was lucky enough to see the best game of the whole season!!! :O) The kiddos certainly love their Uncle Chaddie!!!

This was Oliver's best hit of the whole season! It was a line drive past third and into the outfield!!! I love to watch his little legs go when he runs! He also is always holding his helmet when he runs! TOO FUNNY!!!

Dying Easter Eggs - April 2009

As Chad was set to leave for New Mexico the next day, we had one last family fun night together with our family, Mom and Chad. We decided to color the eggs for Easter. One thing I missed doing was our "Egg Judging". I think we were all just too pooped to do it... plus... I couldn't find my red food coloring so we were lacking in some colors!!! It was a spontaneous event, so it wasn't too well planned on my part. At least we all had fun!

I thought this looked like an eyeball when we were mixing the colors.

Ed and Bear getting ready to dye some eggs.

...and the fun begins! (side note: Why do my kids never have pants on???)

Mom and her rubberband egg.

Chad's "Egg-dger Allen Poe" creation.


My tie dye egg effect.

Oliver and Jaren. I LOVE this picture!

First a Nacho Libre pumpkin... now a Nacho Libre egg... What is wrong with me!?! ;o)


"Naccchhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"

Mom put the egg stands on her ears... AND...

...like Grandma... like Grandson... ;o)

To the BATCAVE... I mean... the STAIRS!!!

EVERY time that Jaren sees my brother, Chad, he walks over to him, grabs his fingers and walks over to the closest set of stairs that he can find!!! It doesn't matter if he's at my mom's house or ours... if Chad comes over, Jaren instantly toddles over to him and grabs him.

Here are some pictures of him at my mom's house with Chad!

(Ed got home from work one day and we were outside playing. Jaren was on the driveway and when he saw Ed, he hurried his pace and fell flat on his face. Poor little man!)

Video Games with Uncle Chad

Jaren sitting on Chad's lap looking at me.

Jaren and Uncle Chad

Get a load of Jaren in this picture... I love his arms while he's staring at Chad!

The kids have so much fun when Uncle Chad comes to play!!!

Hangin' with the Homeboys

Jaren and Uncle Chad. I think this is the first picture that I have with Chad and Jaren! AND... Jaren is actually looking at the camera!

The boys! Ollie - Chad - Jaren

"Tell me about Uncle Chad," I ask.

"He plays 'guys' (action figures) with me. He likes Elvis. He does good light sabers. I like dancing to Bad Brains," replies Oliver.

Uncle Danny & the Kiddies

Oliver, Uncle Danny, Eden & Jaren.

Uncle Danny and the Kiddies


Eden and the little manchild, Jaren.

Uncle Danny helping Oliver find pictures hidden in "The Friend" magazine, a church magazine for the Primary age kids (ages 3 - 12).