Softball season has begun - with a win!

Ramsey and Bradey had their first softball game last night.  I didn't get any pictures because I was too lazy to walk back to the car to get my camera since I forgot to take it with me the first time I walked down the dirt path back to the softball field behind the rec center :)

The girls are on the same team this year which means only one practice and one game per week, happy!  For 2 weeks last year while soccer and softball overlapped and the girls played on different teams, we had 4 practices and 4 games a week, not happy!

Both girls had a great game, neither struck out.  Bradey hit 2 singles and had 1 RBI and Ramsey hit a single and a triple and scored a run.  Ramsey had 2 great throws from 3rd to 1st with only one bounce needed to make it to the 1st baseman.  Bradey didn't see as much action at shortstop...other than the time that she stood there and watched the ball roll past her :)

Next game I'll get some pictures.  Maybe Bradey will be sportin' her visor on her head sideways like a gangsta' again...proud moment for a mom...

Cooper River Bridge Run 2010

We did it!

Michael and I both ran the Cooper River Bridge 10K this past Saturday in Charleston, SC.  Each of us ran it in less time than we were projecting.  Michael wanted to run it in less than an hour and he ran it in 57 minutes.  I had hoped to run it in 1 hr 15 mins and actually ran it in 1 hr 7 mins.  I had hoped to be no more than 15 minutes behind Michael and ended up only being 10 minutes behind him (which was a personal victory for me :).

We both LOVED the event.  I was ready to sign up for next year's race before I even made it over the bridge!  My friend Sandi had told me that it would be so fun and beautiful that I wouldn't even noticed the big bridge (2 1/2 miles long and a 4% grade).  I thought that she was crazy, but you know, she was right (don't tell her I said that).  I didn't even notice the incline up the bridge because I was surrounded by thousands of my closest friends and we all had one common goal - to make it to the top! 

Here are some pictures that I took of the bridge on a trip to Charleston last year

I saw a bride-to-be running, a granddaughter running with her grandfather, a cow, Elvis (well, I didn't see him but mom and the girls did), a banana, men in tutus, cancer survivors, etc.  You see a little bit of everything out there.

I highly recommend this run/walk to anyone.  It is a great way for friends or family to share an experience like no other.  The Cooper River Bridge 10K is the 3rd largest 10K in the nation.  Everyone should be a part of something like that at least once in their lifetime.

Ramsey and Bradey plan to do the run/walk with us next year.  Hope to see you there too!

Cooper River Bridge Run Kids Run

We're in Charleston, SC, for the Cooper River Bridge 10K run on Saturday.  But today, Friday, was all about the kids!  

Most runs have a race following it for kids.  However, this one has a whole day dedicated to the kids!  It was at Hampton Park in Charleston, which is beautiful - definitely would like to visit it again the next time we're in Charleston.

Bradey participated in her age group's 1/4 mile run.

Bradey's in the middle of the pic, second row behind/between a girl in a green shirt and a girl with blond hair...see her?  I could add a little pointing arrow, but, I'm too lazy :)

And they're off!  Bradey is in the left edge of the pic.

In typical Bradey style...she came running across the finish line hand-in-hand with a little girl named Abby that she met while running :)

Ramsey participated in the 1 mile run.

Ramsey's in there somewhere.

Here is Ramsey as she is running by.

Ramsey just around the corner from the finish line - still going strong.  She did great!  She ran less than a 10 minute mile.  She is working her way up to run a 5K with mom and dad.

Both girls won a medal for their run and a big kiss from mom!  We're so proud of them!

Now, our turn.  Michael and I will be running the Cooper River Bridge 10K in the morning (Saturday) in mid 40 degree temps and a possible 20 mph wind.  Oh my!  Prayers are welcome and needed!

Fun with Phonics!

We had fun with phonics today!

Tuesday is our phonics flashcards day.  The girls review the phonograms in different ways such as writing them on wipe boards jeopardy style or spelling them out with their fingers in the air, etc.  

Today we had a little extra fun with phonics by adding Jelly Bellys and M&Ms.  We played "phonics bingo" and used the candies as markers.

 

Bradey blacked out her card first and won...or should I say candied out?  They each got to eat all of the markers on their card.  Ramsey had only one spot left open, so second place wasn't so bad.

It was a hard day at school today for the Shirley girls!

Bye Bob!

We had the honor of having a house guest from Japan with us for a couple of months.  It was wonderful to learn about his hometown in Japan and to show him around our town.  Bob was a wonderful houseguest.  He never made a mess and did not eat us out of house and home as you would assume most boys would.

Unfortunately, he could not stay with us forever, he had to go back home.  I sent several pictures with him to remind him of his time with us and to share with his family in Japan.  I thought that I would share them with you. 

Here is Bob with us at the park:

Here Bob with us as work:

Here Bob doing schoolwork with the girls.  He worked so quietly!

Here's Bradey reading to Bob (he always loved that!)

Here's Ramsey playing piano for Bob.

And finally, here's Bob playing with our dog Harley:

Bob was a "flat stanley" project that we participated in with a school in Japan.  Bob was from a 9th grade girl.  Bob stayed with us for a couple of months and then we sent him back along with the pictures describing life here in Concord, North Carolina.  It was a fun experience for the girls!

Bragging on the Hubby!

Just a quick brag on the hubby!  Michael blessed me with the gift of a little weekend to myself this past weekend.  I visited a place that I love that always restores my soul (and sanity :) and oh...the food!

When I got into my car on Friday morning to head off on my adventure, I was greeted by this beautiful rose and lovely card waiting for me in the car.  What a lovely surprise!

Thanks honey!  I love you too!     

A Day at the Ballet!

The girls and I went to a performance of the ballet "Cinderella" by the North Carolina Dance Theatre yesterday (Thursday).  We had a WONDERFUL time!  It was an educational performance which means that it is the exact performance that the public audience sees just without the intermission.  I thought that that would work out great for Bradey, because I figured that she would start getting fidgety after about an hour.  No worries though.  Bradey was so drawn into the performance that she didn't even noticed the time passing.  I think that all three of us were a little sad when the ballet was over...we wanted to see more!

Happy Birthday Ramsey!

Today is Ramsey's 9th Birthday!  My baby girl is growing up way too fast!

Her day started with her choice of breakfast fare and she chose waffles.  Then, I surprised her with no school work today!  She loved that!  After lunch, we went out under the pretense of running errands, but in reality, we went to the ice skating rink.  Michael surprised her by meeting us there.

   

Ramsey

I'm happy to report that no one broke any bones or bled.  But, Bradey knocked her head on the ice once and poor Ramsey is having a hard time sitting down after one too many landings on her behind :)  I'm happy to report that neither of the "old" folks - Michael and I - hit the ice.  Which is good, because we might have broke something.

 

Bradey doing a little ice dance presentation.

Bradey after a spill...still smilin'

After ice skating, we came back home and Ramsey opened her presents.  The girls get to choose where they want to eat dinner on their birthday and Ramsey chose Tsunami which is a hibachi restaurant.  I have a picture of her eating with chopsticks.  She's getting pretty decent at it.  I'll try to remember to post that tomorrow (it's getting to be my bedtime :). 

Happy Birthday Ramsey!

Mom and Daughter Breakfast

Press Pause

The girls and I attended a Mother/Daughter Breakfast last Saturday morning with the theme of "Press Pause".  It was an opportunity for us to "press pause" and be together as we each were encouraged in our roles as mother and daughters.

The morning started out with an activity that illustrated the choices that we all face in our daily lives that can interfere with our together time (with both each other and God)...TV, Computers, Phone Calls, Video Games, Commitments outside of the home, etc.  Then the girls went into their individual age group activities while the Moms listened to two wonderful speakers (moms).  Here are some of the things that I wrote down:

"Treasure the "doing" a little more and the "getting it done" a little less"  (a mom's version of don't overlook the blessings of the journey while you've got your eye on the destination.)

"Thank God for not letting my childrens' hearts (and faith in Him) be affected by my mistakes"

"Is your home life heavenly or hectic?  We live (the speaker) in a heavenly hectic home."

"Does my behavior (toward my kids) reflect my heart as a follower of Christ?"

"Fail to plan...plan to fail" as said by Dr. Phil :)

"It is much easier to be humbled by myself than to have to be humbled by the Lord"  (I had to give the speaker a big "Amen Sister!" on that one!

The girls rejoined the moms for one last activity before the morning was over.  Both Ramsey and Bradey enjoyed their break out sessions and we discussed the lessons that they learned in them.  We LOVED the opportunity to "press pause" and spend the morning together growing in our relationship with each other! 

Bradey

Ramsey

Disney World

Ramsey and Michael

Yesterday, we took a little break from school and Michael took a day off of work and we went to Disney World.  Back in January, we participated as a family in Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Day" program where if you volunteer for a day, you get a free ticket to the Disney park of your choice.  We were fortunate to find a volunteer opportunity that allowed young kids, so, we all earned free tickets.

The hardest part of the entire experience was picking which of the four parks we would go to :)  After a couple of days of going back and forth, the girls finally decided that they wanted to go to Magic Kingdom.  We had a wonderful time, good weather and it was "free" - you can't beat that!

Here are some pictures from our day:

This is one of my favorites (the other favorite being the one of Ramsey and Michael at the top.  I love the way the Mickey Mouse on the back of Ramsey's sweatshirt (on her waist) stands out and tells the story of where we were when the picture was taken).  This is at the top of the hill on "Thunder Mountain Railroad" right before it plunges down the hill.  Notice that both girls have their hands up :)

Still on Thunder Mountain Railroad going around a curve in a tunnel.  Ramsey's hands are still up but Bradey looks like she's just trying to hold on.

End of the line for the Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster.

Ramsey and Bradey taking the oath of piracy with Capt. Jack Sparrow.

Can't go to Disney without eating Mickey's head off of a stick.  Yum!

Their clean faces didn't last long!

This is a typical Bradey picture.  She looks at you right up until you push the button!  Here we are cruising in the Jungle on the Jungle Cruise ride.

Here's the family sportin' their 3D shades as we get ready to enter the "Mickey's Philharmonic" attraction.

Goodbye Mickey, until next time!

Ramsey at Piano Festival

Ramsey performed 2 piano pieces at Festival on Saturday.  Festival is an opportunity for music students to play their instruments in front of a "judge" and receive feedback on their performance.  Festival was held at CPCC's (a local community college) location in downtown Charlotte.  Festival is not a competition, however, ratings are given for the performance.  There are five possible ratings with the top being "Superior" and the lowest being "Needs Improvement".

Ramsey worked very hard on her two festival pieces and received a Superior rating.

We are so proud of her!