Baseball Mania Day!

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Last Thursday Redding's best friend Matthew, his Mom Melanie and Grandmother Carol came to Louisville to enjoy a day of Louisville's best. As mentioned before we went to the Derby Museum, but everyones favorite (because we all love to watch and play it) was the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Louisville Bats baseball game. The boys enjoyed the batting cages, Presidents and Baseball exhibit, the bat factory tour...and the gift shop...we all spent too much! Later that day we headed to Louisville Slugger Field when the gates opened for some batting practice and hopefully a few fly balls. Sullivan came away with three, Redding two, and Matthew got two also. To a sweet sentiment we all received free miniature bats from the Louisville bat factory, but the sponsor on the bat was the ALS Association Kentucky Chapter. They were promoting their upcoming Walk to d'feet ALS in Lexington. It touched us all to have those bats in memory of our Pops! Of all the days, we were able to be there, The ALS Association was there...the start to a great game. But the crazy fun doesn't end there. The boys were stopped by one of their promotion girls asking for their help. They were chosen to help out during the game. Matthew was the junior announcer at the first inning. Redding was junior grounds keeper after the fourth inning, and Sullivan and I were able to play "Are you smarter than Buddy the Bat?" at the end of the sixth inning. It was such a Cool experience for the boys to get to meet Buddy, go on the field and have a few moments on the jumbo tron. They all were given a free t-shirt and squishy balls, and we were all upgraded to sixth roll seats above the Bats dug out. They were AWESOME! After the game we stood around like a bunch of groupies and got baseballs and hats signed by the Bats and Charlotte Knights players. We couldn't have had a better day and we are so glad we were able to spend it with our baseball loving friends!!!

My Old Kentucky Home

Derby Museum




Ultimate Skate Park








The Blankenbakers
Natalie & Camden



A week after the boys got to Kentucky I flew up to stay a few days with them. Sullivan had been waiting on me to get there so we could go to the ULTIMATE skate park. Louisville has a totally cool huge skate park that the boys could ride their skateboards and bikes...we were in the big league now. They started off on the beginner ramps and by the time we left 2 1/2 hours later we were on the intermediate ramps. They absolutely loved it and Sullivan was able to go back the day we left while I packed. He wants Alabama to get a skate park...he's got a little "skater dude" in him. He now wants some Vans with skulls on them...go figure. We also were able to visit with my favorite Kentucky family the Blankenbakers. We met for dinner on the river and enjoyed some seafood and good company. We then went back to their house where the boys were bitten by the Wii bug. It is now first on the Christmas list and it's only July! Our last full day in Louisville Redding's best friend Matthew and his mom and grandmother were in town to take in few of Louisville's Best!

Boys go to Nana and Paw Paw's in Kentucky

Nana and Noy had been in Alabama for Camden's birthday, then headed to Kentucky with all the boys for a week trip at Nana and Paw Paw's house without mom and dad. Let the FUN begin! They LOVE going up there. They play baseball, checkers, ride bikes, help Nana clean the church building, eat all their favorite foods, and snacks (lots,and lots of ice cream)! They also picked blackberries in the backyard, caught some lightning bugs, went to the Ohio falls, visited Louis & Clark sites...Paw Paw usually does a little "history" excursion. They always love it and have so much Fun!!! Brian and I were also able to have the week to help his mom out without having to worry about the boys. WE all love our Nana and Paw Paw!

Remembering Pops!

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On July 3, 2008 our Pops (Brian's Dad) passed away after over a year long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). We have been so blessed to have such a strong Christian example for our family, and we thank God for all the years He gave us with Pops. Our lives have been for ever changed, and we hope you enjoy the highlights from our last year with him. Thank you for all your prayers on behalf of our family. We love you all.