The BIG day - US Open

Thursday we headed on the 7 train to Flushing Meadows for a full day of tennis.  The weather was absolutely beautiful.

The outside of Arthur Ashe Stadium

Our first stop was the practice courts and one of my favorite players - Nadal - was at the end so I was able to snap a couple of pictures through the bushes.

Serena practicing before her match.

Our seats for the first match in Arthur Ashe stadium were near the top and boy is that stadium high & steep- I was so out of breath by the time I reached my seats.   We sat and watched Roger Federer play for a little while and then headed out to watch a few others.

The view from the top of the stadium

Louis Armstrong stadium with the Mets stadium in the background.

A better picture of the ball.

There was tennis everywhere and it was a little difficult to try and see everyone Jason wanted to see but we saw quite a few.  Yeah, probably most of you are like me and had never heard of these people but needless to say I learned a lot that day.

Tommy Haas

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga playing in the Grandstand.

Fernando Verdasco

Our seats for the night match in Arthur Ashe were in the middle section.  Carol Wozniacki & Novak Djokovic were playing so it was 2 quick matches - thankfully because sometimes the matches can go really LATE at night.  We were out of the stadium about 10:30 or so and headed back to the big city.

Pre Big Apple Bound - US Open

A week ago Jason and I headed to NY to celebrate his birthday and Father's Day - yes, a little late.  I bought Jason tickets to the US Open for his birthday.  He LOVES tennis so I think he was pretty excited about going to see one of the biggest tennis events LIVE - it was going to be an experience for me since I don't play but I don't mind watching it.

However, before we left early Wednesday morning - Brody decided to bless us with a little stomach bug Tuesday afternoon and well into the night.  He was so pitiful Tuesday night as we set up a little bed in the playroom with a blowup mattress with towels all over the place.  He slept there until about 11:30 and then came into our room (we were still up packing).  He told us that we had to be in there with him to watch him sleep - WHAT???  Poor kid, I think he was a little delierous.  He decided to bless us with a little present at that time as well, so we decided to move the mattress into to our room and he slept pretty good for the rest of the night - I on the other hand didn't because anytime he moved or cough I woke up and also worried that I would oversleep for our 7:30 flight.

Thankfully my mom was keeping the kids while we were gone - dad would be leaving Thursday morning so my mom was all by herself.  I did feel really bad leaving her with a sick one, but I knew they were in good hands and thankfully she can handle both of them really well.

We had a direct flight to NY and were able to check into our hotel early - Affinia Shelburne.  This was our first time staying there and it was very nice.  The rooms were actually quite large for NY and it was close to Grand Central.

On Wednesday, we walked around a little and did a little shopping.  That night we went down to Little Italy and ate dinner - usually some really good food and we ate a canoli for dessert.  Great first day in the Big Apple.

A new venture

Right after church a couple of Sunday's ago, we headed to Fernandina for Brody to try out a new venture - tennis.  Jason has always enjoyed tennis and played during college as well so we thought we would let Brody give it a try.  Fernandina was offering a free QuickStart clinic so off we went.

Brody was pretty excited but we weren't so sure how he would do since it was right in the middle of nap time and it felt like 100 degrees.  There were about 11 kids in the clinic and Brody seemed to enjoy every minute of it.  

The coach told Brody after one hit that they have a baseball player on their hands.  Brody thought it was pretty funny.  He did hit it pretty good & far - we just have to bring him back to the right sport.

A proud daddy watching his boy.

Playing Jail Break.  You can tell from this picture that Brody was one of the youngest there.  The clinic went all the way up to 10 year olds.

While Brody was playing tennis, Trevor headed to the playground and really enjoyed himself as well - static and all.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL????

A couple of weeks ago, Jason held his annual NFL fantasy football draft party at our house.  The wives and kids come along and it's a big party with the guys trying to pick the best players while the wives are chatting away and the kids are making the BIGGEST mess they can in the playroom - what in the world did we do before that room (I am so thankful).

Here are some of the guys working hard at their picks.

Adam doing his picks the 21st century way.

Jason writing down all the picks.

And here's what the wives did...

The kids had a blast.

Trevor talking to Uncle Daniel via skype.  Trevor thought it was so funny that he was talking to him.  Wow at technology.

John is somewhere under there.

Once the draft was over we headed over to the pool for some fun and the kids AND dads had a blast.   Jason and John swung the kids over and over and the kids LOVED it.  They got really high and always came back for more.

Brody loved doing canon balls.

Cale wasn't so sure about being thrown around so he just floated.

John quickly forgets about his not 100% back and carries 3 kids into the water.

I think everyone had a great time and hopefully we can squeeze in one more pool get together before it gets too cold.

A little Randomness

Here's a little what's been going on around our house lately

We celebrated my aunt's 72nd birthday at my mom's house.  Trevor enjoyed the little dots on the cake WAY to much that night.  By the end of the night he had almost picked them all off.

Isn't it a colorful cake?

Trevor already starting to pull the dots off

 Trevor and Popo checking out the balloon.

Granny and Aunt Joyce stopped by one Saturday for a visit.  Jason was being a great wonderful husband/daddy that day and let me go shopping ALL day.  It was wonderful and I totally needed it.

Daniel, Jessica, & Caleb had come down for Daniel's last visit before he went off to Japan for about 7 months.  Here's Caleb & Brody doing what they love - playing the Wii - Isn't the Wii supposed to be an active video game???

 Everyone enjoying one of Trevor's birthday presents - but getting upset with sweet Trevor for sitting in the middle of the track.