Campers

All 3 kids spent a week at camps for the mornings.

Ellie spent one week prior at a volleyball camp! After the first morning, we asked her how it went and she said she was clumsy and the coaches had to help her a lot. She wasn't for sure how she felt about it. BUT she showed up the next morning ready to give it another try. Ellie, showing up when something is hard is so brave of you! By the end of the week, she was really enjoying it.

For Elle and Drew: Flip Camp 2023 is underway at our Woodside church! This year, Ellie is too old to participate so she and Riley asked to volunteer. Look at these cheery greeters!

Drew with his best buds Wyatt and Sylvan during worship.

Ellie helped the kiddos with the inflatables and their shoes. :)

Waiting for Ri's family to pick her up for early start camp. She is growing up so fast!

Afternoon bowling with church camp!

And Luke (even though he claims to despise camps but really it's walking into new situations for him) did a cooking camp at one of Ben's campuses! It was so cool because Ben worked from this campus for the week and was able to see Luke in action. Even though prior to this camp starting was met with a big thumbs down, Luke ended up loving it! Ahhh, the art of parenting. When to know to gently push your kid into being a risk-taker to try new things and when to let them choose for themselves. 

When Ben texted me this pic from day 1, I died. I laughed so hard and I could not stop. After the pre-camp drama of not wanting to go and then to see Luke in a chef's hat. OMG. It was all too much and I'm still giggling to myself about this. Life is soooo good. 

And by the way, Luke...If your adult self is reading this someday, laugh along with me! You look good in that chef's hat. I'm so proud of you, buddy, for being a risk-taker and trying new things!!

Look at this smile and confidence...A win for all of us. 

The food Luke made was good, really good! He brought home homemade pizzas, cookies, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits...YUMMM!

A sneak peak...

Father's Day & Tournaments

Luke and his team won their tourney! This season has had it's ups and downs. The way the boys were playing last summer, they were unstoppable. This year their has been stressors on our coaches in their own lives, new teammates that we are bonding with, injuries, and just some overall growing pains. This is what a team is, through it's ups and downs. This weekend, the boys walked a way with a W!

This weekend I was flying solo with Luke. Ben and Drew had their own tournament and Ellie was going each day with them. In between games, we fit as many boys in our van for a quick bite. These small moments are precious with Lukie.

I rarely record Luke hitting. It has become a weird superstition of mine. Today, Luke was rocking at all of his bats and so I thought, I'll just record this one. It's a walk. Of course! But walks are important too so I still posted it. I love the cheering for "Big Luuuke."

Luke getting his:

On our bike ride, we planted some wildflowers at our park that were given to us from a good friend.

Drew up to bat for the River Bandits.

I love this shot of Luke cheering him on.

Drew and Caleb.

Playing 1st base....And they win the Championship for 8U Rochester Little League!!

Wahoo!!

Great season, boys!!!

Ben congratulating the boys and families on a great season!!

Ben and Tony. These two. They have coached 10 teams together! 4 seasons of girls soccer and 6 season of boys baseball. 

Drew getting his trophy from Dad, the 'ol ball coach:

Champions!

Ben and Tony surprised the team, spraying them with supersoakers after their last win. Hence, the trophy and the water gun.

Click this Vimeo link to watch a post-game commentary from Ellie and all of her tweeny boppin' self. Click here

The next morning, Drew is out early practicing his swing.

Off to Drew's last tournament! Ellie made a Raptor bracelet with a note for every player on the team, 12 of them, to wish them luck for championship Sunday!

Drew warming up pre-game.

Ben and his dad squad.

All the big sisters cheering on their brothers. So sweet.

It was a tough loss in the semis. The same team we had beaten the day before...That's baseball.

But onto celebrating a great Raptor season!

Rochester Raptors 8U team.

You rocked it, Drew, and we are so proud of you!

This clip is like a metaphor of Ellie. Painted toes with dirt all over her feet.

Lukie in all of his sweet and quickly changing body. Love you, kiddo.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and for us, Papa Cooley, Papa Uitti, Papa Morin, and Dad. We are the luckiest to have you as ours.

Started the day at church!

Ben, you are the very best and we love you.

An early message from Ellie to Dad:

And then just a relaxing day at home that quickly turns into family competition with games in the backyard. These days are our favorites!

The kids started with flag football.

We couldn't find all the flags so Luke used dishtowels. :)

Also, I think that this is the last Father's Day that you are taller, Ben! Luke is measuring at 5' 10"!

Caleb's birthday at Goldfish Swim School.

It happened. Luke saved enough money from his mowing for a gaming system. His 1st system beyond the old school Wii.

We went and cheered on Stoney Creek girls soccer in the State semis which happened to be hosted at Stoney Creek. We had so much fun! The girls went onto win the Division 1 State Championship at MSU that Saturday!!

Of course when we got home, Elle, Riley, Luke and Joey had to play it out in the backyard.