"Run TJ Run"

TJ is on the school track team. There are 4 third grade boys and at least 20 third grade girls on the team. Smart Boys! They competed in a meet at Butler University this evening. TJ ran the 50, 200, 100, and the 4x100 relay. He was the anchor. TJ did not place in any event but he had a smile on his face from start to finish! Timing him as he ran laps around our house may be paying off.

Ian and TJ before the race.

Ian and TJ during the race.

BFFB Weekend in Florida!

For the past 5 or 6 years, following April 15, a group of friends and I trek to Florida for a long weekend. Each year the group varies slightly but Melissa, Lauren and I have not missed a trip. This year it was just the three of us again. By the way, my eyes appear a bit squinty in this photo. I think it was the camera flash - it certainly was not the $5 buckets of Coors Light!

Mom's Lilac Tree

Carol Faulkner and neighbors planted a Lilac Tree in Memory of Mom. Everyone gathered together to celebrate. Here is a photo of some of those that participated. Dad, Doug and I can not thank them enough for their generosity and friendship. The tree should bloom in May - Her birthday is May 10th!

TJ's Room Updated

I told TJ that he could redecorate his room for his 10th birthday (June). He could not decide what sport theme to choose. So.........he narrowed it down to four.........(not pictured is the 7x10 University of Michigan rug which is the school's basketball court).

PLAY BALL!

Yesterday was a FULL day of baseball for the Mann Family. The day started for me with Opening Ceremonies at the Rec Fields. It was a beautiful day and the ceremony was great. Fellow Board member, Tim organized most of the details. Several Skiles Test alum that are now LN varsity baseball players were in attendance as well as Snapper, the mascot from Sports of All Sorts. Rowdie, the Indianapolis Indians mascot was there to throw out the first pitch to a Rookie player. Trisha Shepperd sang the National Anthem and 400+ balloons were released to signal the start of another great baseball season. Games began and I went on to Greenfield, Indiana to watch TJ and fellow Cobras play thier first games of the season in a travel baseball tourney at the Bandit Yard. Before TJ's game, he and Todd traveled to Columbus to watch a bit of Devin's game at Cereland. Devin plays for the Columbus Blazers (a 12U team). Luckily TJ plays on a 10U team so they will never face each other - that could be ugly!!!!!!! Not sure who would be more competitive TJ & Devin or Todd & Bill! TJ played three games and started their season with three losses but the coaches were not upset. The boys are learning to play high school rules and this was their first official field experience. They kep the games close and we are proud to say that no one on the Cobras was picked off at the plate for trying to steal! TJ had a great day! He batted really well and played 2nd base most of each game. In three games he only had one error!!!!!!! They finished up about 10 p.m. and my nose is sunburned! No baseball today but TJ has a track meet at Park Tudor. Unfortunately for me, they run the rain! Well, I won't have to worry about reapplying sunscreen today!

Tomorrow is Opening Day of Baseball

As President of the Skiles Test Youth Baseball League - Board of Directors, tomorrow is a very important day! It is opening day of baseball and the rumor is the sun will be shining. Opening Ceremonies is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. with The Indianapolis Indians mascot, Rowdie scheduled to throw out the first pitch. I hope everything goes as planned and the teams are ready to PLAY BALL!

The Day After

April 15th has come and gone. It was an interesting few months. New regulations required our firm to electronically file ALL personal tax returns. Last year, we electronically filed approx. 500 returns so we had some procedures in place. This year we tested those procedures to the max. I am 99% sure we were successful. Time will tell. In the end, we were out of the office by 5:20 p.m. and most of the firm had a beer in hand by 5:30 p.m. at the Fox & Hound. I opted to attend TJ's first baseball game (which was cancelled due to cold weather) so instead Todd cooked us dinner, I found the couch, kicked up my heels, ate 1/2 an apple pie and watched TV until I was blurry eyed. This morning, I slept in, took TJ to school, and showered before the window cleaning crew arrived for thier annual visit to remove winter dirt and grim (I just smear it around when I try to clean the exterior windows - and yes, I really have tried). After doing a little personal computer work (like this blog and checking out friend's blogs), I will go to TJ's school for playground duty. Then on to the office to see what fires need put out. I am keeping my fingers crossed there are none! Life is good.

Happy Easter

A paper box full of eggs + four boys (and Uncle Gary) = Too Much Candy!

Final Stretch

Is is April 10th. Only 5 days remaining to give the government a good chunk of your hard earned income or request some of it back that they have been holding for you interest free. What a racket but one that keeps me employed. Thank goodness for taxes - wrong. Surely, I could put my 15 plus years of CPA firm management to good use elsewhere if taxes were eliminated.....right?

Never Finished or Satisfied

Todd and I have the "new home" itch. again. We started to look....have recently completed some more remodeling....and are looking again. We get the "itch" every once in a while. Then we calculate the mortgage payment and decide a remodeling project is more affordable. We have been in our "update and sell" home for almost 15 years!!!!! Here are some before and now photos.