Third Place Victory in Iowa City!

Iowa Lightning Red Team 

This is the first Sunday we have been home in weeks and it is kind of nice, although we aren't sure what to do with ourselves.

Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful fathers in our family, especially to Wayne and my dad, Jerry!  Love you both lots!  Sending happy father's day thoughts and hugs to Joe, Wayne's dad, as well.  Missing him on days like today. (and always)

I bet you can't guess what Wayne is doing for Father's Day?  It's a tough one......right...golfing!  He is in some tournament today and hopefully he will do alright.  He hurt his back really badly Wednesday night at a fire meeting and is having a hard time evening sitting so we will see how he feels when he gets home.  The kids made him a HUGE breakfast and he and I had mimosas - maybe that will help him loosen up.  :)

As you can see from the picture, Elyse's lightning team got their first medals of the season.  They took 3rd in the Iowa City tournament.  Yeah!!!  They were very excited yet should have been in the championship, but due to a stupid loss to the other Lightning team as well as the tournament having point spread caps to determine seeding, we weren't there.  It was a bummer, but they should still be proud!  They came back and beat the other Lightning Team this time to get 3rd place so they were happy.   The team played fabulous basketball, except one game, and came out stronger than we have ever seen them.  It was a fun weekend to watch!  Elyse ended the weekend by fouling out of the last game (not a good official as they were not good calls) but that is a first for her for the Lightning, maybe ever.

So good job Lightning and happy Father's Day to all!

Big Tournament in Wichita....Success!

turning around.....

The family loaded up again Thursday night to head to Wichita, Kansas, for Elyse's next Lightning tournament.  This was the furthest one for the team and also the biggest one as there were 700 teams present at all levels.  It was very impressive and the organization was using 90 gyms throughout the area.  It would have been cool to play at Wichita University, but they used that for the older groups of girls.....next time! :)

This tournament was a kick off for the summer league and had teams


making a beautiful shot!



double teamed now



Lots of shoving between the two during this game



Elyse shooting...number 40

from all over.  Colorada to Texas!

Elyse's team did well and came back after a rough start.  The team had lots of turnovers the first two games and sometimes looked like they hadn't played basketball before. The sad part was they could have beaten both teams but had way too many turnovers.  They came back and played a team they had played before, The Force, and almost beat them.  The Force ended up getting 2nd place so the Lightning felt great with how they came out and almost beat them in pool play.  With that positive, the Lightning came back and won some games to end up playing for 5th or 6th place.  Out of 45 teams in their pool play, and 8 going to the Championship bracket, the team was very please making it this far and coming back.  It went down to the last minute, but we couldn't pull it off and ended up getting 6th.  You would have thought we were playing for the Championship though as some of the other Lightning teams were there cheering our Lightning Red team on and it was close!  Fun way to end the tournament.....although 5th place got nice, big medals. Sixth place got.......nothing!  :)

It was nice to have my aunt, Sheila, attend one of the games Friday night as she lives a few hours from Wichita.  Elyse and I also had a nice lunch with Sheila and my cousin, Kourtney, who is a Dr on part of her "rotation"? in Wichita.  We had a nice chat and loved the time with them.  Elyse's favorite part was the chocolate afterwards from this chocolate boutique!  :)  She wanted to go back for more on Sunday before we headed home as it was so good!  So thanks Sheila and Kourtney for spending some time with us and the great conversation over lunch!  It was wonderful!

Happy 13th Birthday Alex!

Happy 13th birthday to my "baby boy" Alex!!!!  It seems like every year we are gone out of the state for his birthday.  Last year was the first time in probably 8 years he had been in Iowa to celebrate his birthday as in the past, we have been in the Carolinas to celebrate.  This year he happened to be in Wichita, Kansas.  Although he had to spend 8+ hours in the car on his birthday, he did get in a few rounds of golf with Wayne between Elyse's games, which he loved.  He was a real trooper through all 7 of Elyse's games.

To celebrate, he did have 4 of his friends over for a sleep over Monday night.  They ended up playing basketball in the driveway until 11:30 PM and then coming in for a little XBox 360 time.  As you can see, his cake is pretty cool!  Thanks to my friend, Kelly, who is turning into quite the cake maker!  :)

So happy birthday Alex!  Can't believe my kids are both teenagers....oh my!  :)

New Team = New Friends

Dema, Amanda, Shelby, Elyse, Stephanie, and Abby

One of the mom's from a teammate on the Lightning took this picture of the girls hanging out in Wichita after a game.  Obviously, this is just part of the team, but it is a cute picture and I couldn't resist posting it.

No time to post more.  Will do later. Great weekend in Wichita and birthday weekend for Alex!

Fun Days with Graham!

When we returned from Connor's birthday celebration we brought Graham back home with us for 4 days.  We had a super time with him.....played a lot......read lots of books....had picnic with G'ma on Memorial Day......played with water.....flew kites.....everything.  We had a super time.

He was a perfect little boy who not only wore us out, but he was worn out by the end of the day as well.  He did end up taking naps 2 of the days as he was pooped. 

I told Sara I have many famous quotes I should have written down that he told me all weekend.  Here is one of them:

I was getting ready to give him a bath and he walked in the bathroom, took his clothes off, and put his hands on his hips and stood there.  He said, "Where are my toys?"  I said, "I guess I don't have any toys but let's see if we can find some."  He then replied, "All little boys like toys in the tub Kim.  You need to remember that!".    I guess I failed at "toys in the tub".

I was also greeting Tuesday when I came home from work with a big hug and the comment of "Where have you been?  I have been looking all over for you!"  That was so sweet.

We had a super time with him and he was so good.  Can't wait until he returns for more fun....maybe next time we can have Connor for a while as well.   He loved his time with Kirstin, Elyse, and Alex!

Look!  I am dirty and sprayed myself!  So fun!

Happy 1st Birthday Connor!

Happy Birthday Connor!

Last weekend Alex and I headed up to Minneapolis to help Connor celebrate his 1st birthday.  Elyse stayed back to go to a classmate's party as it was her only weekend free this summer and school just got out.  She thought she could stay by herself all weekend....Wayne and I did not agree.  Needless to say, Wayne stayed home as well.

Alex and I had a super time in Minneapolis celebrating with Connor and seeing Derek and Saras' new house!  It is a beautiful home in a wonderful neighborhood with lots of room.  Very happy for them and the boys love their new house. 

Connor's new wheels



Alex and Graham playing tag



Connor just wanted to be with Alex

 Connor, surprisingly, did not think too much of his cake but he loved his new ride....he wouldn't get off of it for quite a while.  He is just adorable.  Sadly, I don't think I am his favorite though.  It is Alex!  They are cute together and he couldn't get enough of Alex.

Happy 1st birthday Connor!  We love you! 
Congratulations on new house Johnson family!  It is wonderful!

Lightning Basketball in Des Moines

Elyse (in black) jump ball against Ballers

She shoots...she scores



Lightning Team (minus 2) with Coach Doud

 We returned from a three day tournament for Elyse's Lightning basketball team in Des Moines.  It was a fun weekend of "up and down" basketball. Elyse said she preferred the bigger city tournaments that this as this was a smaller one compared to the others, but it was good.   Elyse did well a few games, but could have done better others.  That is how the game goes I guess.  Her team did make it to the "A Bracket" for her division so that was great!  They won 2 of the 3 first games to get placed there.  Elyse had a great start to the tournament scoring in double digits the first game.  She also ended the tournament with one of her best games as well, making great points and excellent defense on a girl who was supposably a "senior" and big.  She ran off after that game wishing she played that way all weekend. 

Elyse's grandma and g'pa came down for part of the tournament.  We had a nice family dinner Friday evening at the Spagetti Factory before sitting in a very hot gym for the rest of the evening!  Elyse's last game was at 9:40 so it was late when we returned.  G'ma and Papa proudly wore their "Lightning T-shirts" to Elyse's game on Saturday before heading home.  It was fun having them there and meeting some of Elyse's Lightning Family.

There was some "down time" during the weekend so Wayne and Alex hit the golf course while Elyse and I headed to Jordan Creek Mall.  Saturday evening we had a super meal at an Asian resteraunt where they make the meal right in front of  you as you sit around the table.  The Galvins, family friends of ours, were also in Des Moines for a wrestling tournament for their son so they joined us.  It was super fun, kids loved it, and we were all stuffed!!!!!Ended the evening with a nice beverage with Mike and Paula.  They were also so kind to get to one of the Lightning games late Friday night so that was nice.  Sadly, it was probably the worse game the Lightning played the whole weekend, but it was still nice of them to come. 

A sad thing happened this weekend to one of Elyse's Lightning teammates.  Cara, Elyse's teammate, lost her brother early Saturday morning as he died as he rolled his truck.  Cara was there at the tournament Friday night, heading back to play softball Saturday and returning to Des Moines to finish basketball tournament (yes, she is dedicated!).  Elyse got the news Saturday morning from her thru a text she sent Elyse.  When we got to the tournament, Elyse and Coach Doud only knew and broke the news to the team.  While it was a terribly sad moment, the rest of the weekend pulled the team together as Cara showed up Sunday to finish the tournament.  It was emotional when she returned as the team had their picture taken the previous day, matted and framed it and all wrote messages to her around the matting.  They gave it to her Sunday, and there was not a dry tear in the hallway....it was one of the moments you won't forget as it was the true definition of how a team supports one another.  The parents, at the moment, of the Lightning girls, couldn't have been prouder of their girls or cared if they won or lost the rest of the games. What was more tender was when we started our first game for the Sunday in the A Bracketing, guess who scored the first basket for the Lightning........Cara! It was a very emotional moment.   So sorry for your loss Cara and family.  Brothers are our heroes....I know mine was......

We are all adjusting to our life on the "road" this summer.  Elyseand I are heading back in Des Moines Wednesday night for practice, come home, and turn around to head to Wichita, Kansas, Thursday thru Sunday.  It is a HUGE tournament, 700 total teams from all levels, boys and girls, and said to be an awesome weekend of spectacular basketball.  Her team is guaranteed 5 games, but we are hoping for more by getting some big wins.  Some of the teams she faced in Kansas City will be there.....paybacks!  We got an email from her coaches this morning to get some of the paint that you use to write on windows and let our daughters write Lightning verbage all over our cars as we head to Wichita.  They are pumped!  (The question is whether Wayne will LET her write all over his windows of his Expedition.  :)))

We will also be celebrating Alex's birthday in Wichita as my baby boy turns 13 this weekend!  Yikes!  Look for pictures of that to come as well!

Summer Means...Baseball!



Alex diving for ball from bad pass to him

 Alex's AAU team had a busy week last week with two nights of double headers.  Besides that, Park and Rec baseball has started as well.  He just got home from practice and was covered in sweat!  Hot! 

His AAU team is doing wonderful and pulled off wins at both double headers last week!  Alex is loving it, playing well, batting well, and does awesome when he is up to pitch.  He said he can tell that his "weight lifting" through the school year is paying off as he is pitching a lot harder! 

Last week's games were a little on the chilly side when the sun started going down....don't think that is going to be a problem this week!  Yikes!

Keep it up Alex and the Cadets!