Shopping...

I did something I don't ordinarily do. I went shopping

I don't mean shopping. 

I mean SHOPPING

I finally received my settlement.

While the majority went into a savings account

I had a new roof but on, paid off any outstanding bills

and put enough aside to redo the kitchen, laundry room

and upstairs bath.

I decided to treat myself to some nice things

(not without guilt, I might add)

I bought this amazing Canon EOS Rebel t1i camera

and...

I am still waiting delivery of the 

telephoto lens

I bought some cute shoes at ALDO

which I never would have

walk into before 

I shopped at Lord and Taylor

for the first time in my life!

bought 2 dress', 1 skirt and 1 shall 

(not even on sale)

OMG !

my heart pounded while paying

felt like a sin

I also picked up some odds and ends for the Tim and the

kids

Hell, they have suffered right along with me

due to my neck injuries

It was really fun and exciting to live as a rich

person for 1 weekend, but I had my fun

and now it's back to reality 

I took many pictures this weekend with my new camera. I am still learning to use all the features. The color and clarity of these photos is amazing even though

I will need to play with it for a while

This picture, I zoomed in from afar

and it is crystal clear. Just wait until my

telephoto lens to arrive, then you'll

be able to see TJ's eye color from across the field

Friends on a Saturday afternoon

Monkey see monkey do

I bought Karrick all new summer clothes 

from the Gap

Check out his cute Linen clam diggers

Go White Sox!

Yes, Buttercup even reaped the rewards

A $10 garage sale find...A solid wood roll top desk

complete with drawers and little cubes

A Day with Callahan

Today Callahan had a Kolh's shoot in Milwaukee. 

It hit me that callahan is no longer a baby in the modeling world

He had his own hair and make up artist, his own 

stylist that pinned, clipped and tucked his clothes.

You can't see it, but he has clips all the way down from neck to feet

to creat a perfect fit

The clincher was...Cal was one of 4 models in this shot.

2 beautiful college age size 1 girls flown in from California,

a young man in his  twenties and Callahan.

Cal played a peer, not a son as in years past

(see him on box)

My 10 year old!

No shoot would be complete without all the "people"

standing around

Cal also had 2 solo shots, so cute watching him work it

The foot switch, the hand change and the far off gaze

from left to right

with each click of the camera

He just turned 10

I keep flashing to Brooke Shields at 11 

in her skin tight Calvin's

"Nothing comes between me and my Calvin's"

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day was very mellow, Thank God

Tim and the boys picked fresh wild flowers in Long Grove

on Saturday. I received a beautiful floral arrangement

complete with chocolates from Tim

and Callahan surprised me with a pair of beautiful

blue/purple glass earrings. Callahan and Doug rode their skate boards to the 

Art Fair last weekend and they each bought a pair

 of earrings.

I had no idea, neither did Mona

I Love surprises.

I did get to take a long nap(what a gift)

as TJ had to be up and out by 7:30 am

Sat and Sun

The  look on Callahan's face when he gave me these earrings was priceless

He was so proud, that it made my heart melt

Congratulations TJ!

After a 3 day very intense travel tryout, the 

2009 12u Thunder Travel Baseball team

is chosen

22 kids showed up to tryout for a spot on the 2009 

team.

The competition was fierce, anyone of those kids had the skills to be on the team

I have to admit after the first day I slightly nervous for TJ

even though I knew he should be picked, you just never know.

 

My heart breaks for the kids that gave it their all

but had to go home

12u Thunder will play in 6 tournaments .

2 of those tournaments are National qualifying  tourney's

coach Ross wants us to play in the 2010 little League World Series

(there is more than one)

He coached a 13u team that won the in 2002 

AFull Moon, A New Roof and Another Home Run

TJ had an 8:00 game Friday night. We ( White Sox)

Didn't bring our game and were slaughtered by the A's

OUCH!

I blame the full moon

TJ's arm hurt while pitching (still did ok)

just wasn't amazing

He hit the fence while batting

just no home run

The entire team was off

We finally had a new roof put on Saturday

No more indoor water features

After a late night game Friday, TJ had to be at the field at 7:30 am

 for the 2 nd out of a 3 day travel tryout(Thunder travel team)

Many of the boys had 8pm games, but they gave it their all for a

chance to fill one of the coveted 11 spots.

We started with 22 and are down to 18

Final cut tomorrow after another 7:30 am start

After the 2 1/2 hours tryout, TJ had an hour and a half to eat and rest

before playing in a 12:30 game

for the White Sox

TJ will play non-stop if allowed, but he looked at me with those giant

blown eyes and said

"mom, I don't think I can play can I call in sick?"

No, TJ you can't, we'll let coach know your arm is over pitched

and to pitch someone else.

Just do your best

He looks dead

Well, my tired over pitched baby got up to bat and

SMACK!!!!

hit the ball over the fence for his 3rd home run in a week

Home Run Club

Kyle got his 1 st homer today, Tj got his 3rd and Zach got his 1st

Congrats boys!

At the top of the last inning we were up by 7 runs 

Our pitcher walks 4 guys in a row and doesn't recover

With all our reserves exhausted, coach puts in TJ

I wasn't happy, he could hurt his arm. Thank God TJ

Strikes out the next 3 batters to end the game

TJ gave up only one run in the last 12 innings he pitched

He is absolutely incredible

We won by 6

A much needed mental win

Needless to say TJ came home and fell asleep even with all the 

pounding on the roof

Just think he gets to do it all again at 7:30 am 

Sunday...Happy Mother's Day

The Ocean

Tonight was the annual Spring Fling at Callahan's school

It consisted of an open house, ice cream social and book fair.

The 4 th grade end of the year project is the

transformation of the hallway into the 

ocean.

It is their own  Rite of passage

The Friday prior to Spring Fling all 4 grades spend the entire day

painting walls and hanging their creatures of the deep

All kids are required to write an original poem

also displayed in the ocean

Spring

This morning I went to Lilacia Park for the annual
plant sale. I had the time wrong, but boy is it beautiful
What a great way to start my day

This is the park near my house

It's Lilac Time

It is lilac time in Lombard
Friday May 1st kicked off the 16 day festival with a father daughter dance
Yesterday was the Art Fair
I took Karrick after travel tryouts(TJ stayed for batting practice)
and met Cal and Doug (they skateboarded there from home)
The weather was wonderful and a great time was had by all

Lilac Fest

This time of year Lombard blooms into a
gorgeous purple village

Downtown Lombard Main Street
is closed off
I feel like we live in a small town in
the south during Lilac time

Smack and it's a HOME RUN

It was just a great night to be TJ. While up to bat he smacked the ball so

hard that it went over the Center field fence. 230 + feet.

Automatic Home Run!

His team mates went out on the field to greet him at home plate

after his celebratory jog around the bases

I love the team spirit, what a fantastic group of kids

TJ is still smiling

Mr Turtle and R.O.B. and R.O.B.

Callahan got a new turtle today

Meet Mr. Turtle

Karrick got 2 female betta fish

meet R.O.B. and R.O.B.