Sydney

A new addition to the Bruce family. Papa Bruce adopted an 8 week old Australian Sheep Dog. She is adorable!

Happy Birthday Vicki

We celebrated a BFFB birthday

today at lunch.

Baseball Wrap Up

The 2010 baseball season ended yesterday with a loss in the semifinals of the CABA World series. The Prospects had a great season with five tournament wins and two 2nd place finishes! They played 64 games and practiced atleast once a week since January. That is a lot of baseball.

However, TJ and teammate, Jacob will have one more weekend of baseball. They were invited to attend the USSSA Tri-State All Star Weekend in Illinois. They will join other players from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. It should be a great experience for the boys.

Silver Bracket

TJ's baseball team finally finished their Thursday games today (scheduled for 10 a.m. and noon). It was questionable as the thunder rolled. Their noon game stopped and started and stopped again, changed field locations and finished around 5:30 p.m . It has been a long day! However, in the end, they won and are the #1 seed in the Silver Bracket ...of the Caba World Series! Elimination round starts tomorrow!

CABA World Series

TJ's baseball team qualified for the 10U Caba World Series Tournament. Luckily, it is being hosted in Westfield, Indiana this year! Opening ceremony and a parade was held at Clay Terrace Wednesday evening. Games began yesterday. Rain and lightning stopped their first game against a team from Kansas City in the 4th inning. They were tied and will finish it on Sunday. However, this morning...............they won 5 to 3! They played the Columbus Ohio Cobras. TJ pitched the last three innings to get the save. It was 3 up 3 down in the 4th. The Prospect defense quickly closed out the 5th and TJ made two of the three outs in the 6th to win the game with less than 28 pitches in the book. It was his best pitching performance of the season! Pool play continues through Sunday then they begin the elimination rounds.

SOLD

Our neighborhood garage sale was last weekend. Since TJ did not have any baseball games scheduled, we decided to throw a few items on the driveway to clean out the basement. All but 4 items sold. Those being two pillows, a large metal desk, and TJ's high chair (I had it priced above garage sale prices). We raised $100 selling many items such as half full bottles of shampoo, throw rugs, TJ's old cleats, lots of McDonaldland toys, old hunting gear and bathroom accessories from the remodel. Oh and my car. Yep, sold the Explorer to a nice elderly couple that will use it to haul future garage sale treasurers. Now................what should I get?

"Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!"

Following their final day of baseball camp, TJ and some buds ventured to Papa Bruce's house for a cookout, fishing and swimming. A good time was had by all and EVERYONE caught atleast one fish! Big Thanks to Dad for opening up his home to us!

Jacob & Joe Showing Off Their Similaneous Catches!

Sasha Showing His Catch Some Love!

Hey Jacob - give it a little kiss!

Jackson & Caleb catching a Ride to the Dock with Jacob & Joe providing the Peddle Power!

Fourth Fest Baseball Tourney

TJ warming up to pitch -July 4th Weekend.

We spent most of the 4th of July weekend watching baseball games. The Prospects qualified for the championship bracket on Sunday but lost their second game to the LA Gamers who last year finished their season 37 and 3 with those three losses all to the Prospects. They got their revenge!

A few of the families gathered Saturday evening for some swimming, corn-hole and cookout.

Following the games on Sunday, we joined the Daftari Family for fireworks downtown. The weather and the view was perfect. OOOOH AAAAAH

Monday I held down the couch in the air conditioning. It was wonderful. I was able to watch many of the shows I had stored on the DVR. Todd completely most of his honey do list and then helped me hold down the couch.

Happy Birthday America! What a great place to call home!

Backwards Bullseye

On Wednesday, TJ skipped out of bowling camp early to go swimming with friend, Jack. I dropped him off at the pool with his towel, sunscreen and snack money. TJ applied his own sunscreen and enjoyed several hours of sun and water. Unfortunately, TJ has learned that his arms are not long enough to completely spray his back properly with sunscreen. He has a perfectly round spot of white in the middle of his back but the rest of him resembles a tomato! Can you say "solarcaine"? Guess who was unable to go to bowling camp on Thursday. As a matter a fact he has been walking around without a shirt on for three days now.

Go-Carts

Following the Jasper tourney, we had plans to travel to Santa Claus, Indiana for a day at Holiday World. Unfortunately, the forecast was rain. Instead, Todd and I took TJ and his friend, Joe to Whiteland, Indiana for an afternoon of go-carts.

Jasper

Another out of town weekend adventure to cheer on TJ and his team as they battled the heat and some good ball teams in the Scott Rolen Summer Slam baseball tourney. TJ's team lost to the Evansville Heat in the semi-finals. TJ played well and managed to detroy his new bat. I have changed his nickname from "turtle" to "mighty mouse". Thank goodness it has a 400 day warranty.