4th of July Fun!

Monday, we got invited over to the Smith's house for a BBQ to celebrate Ben's 10th birthday as well as attend the Singing Flag with them.  I haven't been able to get the family to go to the Singing Flag in about 4 years, so it was a good excuse to get everyone to go!  We had our yummy BBQ, yummy cake, Ben opened some presents and then we walked over to the Singing Flag.

  Don't the boys look excited to be there?

 Calissa had a great time even if the boys didn't.  I enjoyed being there again!

 What's not to like with cheesy, feel good, patriotic entertainment ... and it's free!

The fireworks were quite slow and not as good as I remember, but that's OK!  I still liked it!  Thanks Smith's for inviting us!!

 On the 4th we had a ward breakfast.  Got to love Jack Campbell!  He gave us our patriotic address that morning.

 The scouts raised the flag.

 Presenting the colors.

Parker was the caller and Conner helped.

 This was a funny moment.  They unfolded the flag and then Adam tried to hook it on the flag pole, but it was too high.  He jumped a few times and then Ethan took over since he's the tallest!

 It's hard work getting the flag up that pole!

 After a yummy pancake breakfast, it was time for the bike parade.

Calissa was our only participant this year from our family.  It's always a good reason to get the bike out and make sure everything is working!

That afternoon we went to see Brave with the Smiths again.  Our whole family enjoyed the movie.  We also enjoyed the trip to Cold Stone after the movie too.  The rest of the afternoon we spent hanging out and catching up on "American's Got Talent."  What's more American than that, right?

I'm really thankful for all those who serve to protect our freedoms!  We are very blessed to live in a free country and I'm proud to be an American! Happy 4th of July!

Parker's Driving!

Yikes!  Parker is driving.  He went out on Monday for his first behind-the-wheel lesson.  I wasn't too nervous to send him out.  He came back two hours later and his instructor (a former Police Officer) said he did an exceptional job and to just continue to practice with him.

Who knew how scary it would be to get behind the wheel of the car with my very mature 15 1/2 year-old son?!  Oh my ... I told my husband that I was either going to have a stroke or a heart attack driving with him.   I'm so afraid he's going to hit the cars parked on the right side of the road.  I've told him that he's doing a good job and the problem is all mine.  I think he believes I'm a little crazy, but even after a week I'm doing a little better!  (He's doing better too!)  Travis and I drove with him to the bank on Wednesday.  He and Travis were getting out of the car and I was still in the back seat as the car was rolling backwards because he forgot to put the car in park!  (It was pretty funny!)  We've scheduled his 2nd driving lesson in a couple of weeks.  Hopefully it will get easier as he gets more practice driving (and I get more practice breathing deeply and relaxing)!

Conner the All-Star!

Conner was chosen for the 4th year in a row as an all-star for his baseball league.  We are really proud of all of his hard work this year and all the years that he has played!  Usually the 12 year-old team starts about two weeks after the season has ended.  This year, they started only one week after the season ended, so they had very little time to practice.  It also was the week that Travis and Parker were going to be gone.  They would have to win several games for them to even get a chance to see him play.

 Here he is in his clean uniform ready to head to the first game.

 #2 ... Conner Burr!

 Announcing the players.

 The Little League Pledge and National Anthem.

 Conner was excited to play catcher since he didn't get to play it at all during the season. 

 He caught several innings the 1st and 2nd game and made a great play at home for an out during the 1st game!

 Here he is up to bat.

They played Continental, at our field for their 1st game on Tuesday and lost 6-1.  They didn't get killed and played them pretty good, they just couldn't get any big hits.

 Game two was in Walnut Creek on Wednesday and they played Pinole-Hercules.  Conner got to play catcher again that night.  However, he was having some problems with his left thumb (which is probably sprained and pretty swollen).  It was hard for him to catch and hit, so after a couple of innings, he came out to ice it.  They won that game 17-14 and Conner got on base and scored.

Game three was again in Walnut Creek on Friday night against Pittsburg.  Conner played 2nd base because his thumb was hurting too much to catch.  He made a couple of great plays at 2nd base that night and they won 9-5!  Conner got to be one of the captains that night.

Game four was on Saturday in Walnut Creek against Lafayette.  Lafayette had won our division last year, so our chances weren't great.  The game wasn't until 1:00 pm, so Travis and Parker got dropped off on their way home from Southern California so they could catch the end of the game.  Conner played 2nd base again and had a nice stop and out a 2nd.  Lafayette was just too good of a team for us to continue winning though and we lost 11-1!  Concord made it to the top 8 teams out of 15.  We were proud of these boys and Conner especially!  (The two teams we lost to were still in it to the final three teams, so they lost to some great teams!) Conner is not sure he's going to continue playing next year in the Junior Division, so it might have been his last Little League game ever!  If so ... you were always an all-star to us Conner!  Congratulations on all your years of playing!

Family Time

Last week Kevin, Kellie and kids came into town for a week-long visit.  Unfortunately it was when Travis and Parker were gone on their High Adventure kayaking trip, but they got to see them on Saturday and Sunday and then again the following Saturday for a little bit.  On Sunday, we all headed out to Danville for my Aunt Teri's surprise 70th birthday party.  

 It was great to see my cousins Courtenay and Cameron as well as my Aunt Teri and Uncle Claude!

 As we were cleaning up to go home, the kids all got some of the balloons.  I thought this was a cute picture of the grandkids hanging around with Grandpa!

(Sam, Charlie, Lindsay, Grandpa, Calissa, Christopher and Abby)

 We had milkshakes (made by the milkshake king, AKA Grandpa) several times during the week.  He went through A LOT of ice cream! 

Monday, we went out to lunch and Abby spent the night.  On Tuesday, we went to the Antioch Water Park and Conner had his 1st All-Star game.

Lindsay, Conner (being a great big cousin) and Charlie

On Wednesday, we went to Six Flags.  (I didn't get any pictures!)  Conner had another All-Star game that night.  Friday, we went to see Madagascar 3 and Conner had yet another All-Star game.  On Saturday we missed most of Christopher and Lindsay's birthday party because of another All-Star game!  We did get to go over after to play a little and eat some yummy food from the Taco Cart. 

We love it when the family comes to visit!

Calissa's Dance Show

Calissa stopped taking gymnastics at the beginning of the school year.  She had been taking for two years, but was about to move into level 3, which was going to be on a different day, for more time and for more money.  So ... we decided to try out dance.  She started in January in a Jazz/Tap/Ballet combo class.  For several months she was the only student in the class (which we both loved)!  She was doing pretty well with the different styles.  In about March or April they started working on their routine for the show the end of June.  It was a tap routine to P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).  She did a great job and really shinned on stage!

 Who knew how crazy it would be?  We drove out to Antioch on Thursday night for the dress rehearsal.  Doesn't she look cute?

 It was at the El Campanil Theater in Antioch.  It was fun to see the dance studio names up in lights outside!

 The theme of the show was "It's a Glee Thing!"

 Here is Calissa with a friend from her class before the show started.

 Calissa's fan club the 1st night!  Grandpa and Grandma, Dad, Conner, Parker and Me.  Calissa got to watch the 1st half of the show from the audience and then I took her back stage to change during the intermission.  There were 46 numbers and Calissa's routine was number 42!  It was a LONG show, but I really enjoyed it.  The boys enjoyed it too ... although they may not admit to that if you asked them!

 Calissa and I went alone the 2nd night to her performance.  She did a great job both nights!  Here she is with her teacher Michelle after the show.

Her friend Kyrsten was in the show too!  Calissa won a "summer scholarship" and gets to take unlimited classes this summer.  She decided on Cheer Dance, Jazz/Tap/Ballet, and Hip Hop!

A Baseball Game ...

The week after school got out we decided to go see a baseball game.  The A's were playing the Dodgers and since we have several Dodger fans in our house, it was the perfect game to go to.  Conner invited his friend Aaron to come along and spend the night.  We picked up Travis in Walnut Creek, got some dinner at In 'n Out, and didn't even have to pay for parking at the game!

 The weather was beautiful and we had great seats!

Unfortunately, it was a boring game (only action was in the 1st and last inning) and the A's won, but it's always fun to go to the game!

Awards

The end of the school year was on Thursday!  Over the last several weeks, the boys have gotten several awards.  Parker had an awards assembly at school the end of May where he received two awards.

 4.0 GPA for his Freshman Year

 and excellence in Physical Education.  He was sad he didn't get the math award, but he's gotten plenty of Math awards over the years.  We were very proud of him and all the hard work that he's put in!

 He also received the Athlete of the Month for May at the school.  Too bad, we didn't get another picture of the marquee out front again.  This was his 2nd athlete of the month award this year.  One for Cross Country and one for Volleyball.

 The beginning of June, Parker had his Volleyball Team Party and he received the MVP award for the Varsity Volleyball Team.  This was voted on by his teammates.  He was the only Freshman on the team and the only player to have not played Volleyball before.  He did awesome this season.  We had a lot of fun watching him play.

 He also received a Scholar Athlete award for his 4.0 GPA

 and a Varsity Letter certificate.  

 Another surprise that same week was being named to the DVAL 2nd Team all-league team! Thanks Teri for the text to let us know!  It was in the paper, but we don't get the paper.

There were 8 players from the league named to the 1st team and 7 players named to the 2nd team (as well as 6 players that were given honorable mentions).  Wow!  Hope all these awards don't go to his head!

Congratulations Parker on an awesome Freshman year!

Academically, Athletically and Spiritually!

 Conner picked up some awards too!

 His 4.0 award for his entire 6th grade year!  Great job Conner!  He had 3 or 4 classes that he had over 100% in this year. (He also had to put up with being called Parker by many of his teachers this year too!)

He also received an Excellence in Science award from his teacher as well!

In PE he earned the Silver Fitness Award this year. He had a wonderful 6th grade year and we are so proud of all the effort he put into his school work and sports this year!

 Yesterday was Conner's team party for baseball.  It was 102 degrees yesterday and we had the party outside!  It was so hot, but it was worth it to celebrate Conner's season!

 He was one of the two veteran players this year from the team.  He was a great example to the other boys.  He played mostly Shortstop this season.  He also did a little pitching as well as play 2nd base.  He had a good year hitting, but we found out yesterday that he had one of the top 5 batting averages from the whole league (60 kids).  He was also named to the 12-year-old All-Star Team on Friday night!  Great job Conner!  We are so proud of all of your hard work!