Softball

So as I have mentioned before Anthony and I coach (with some help) an 8&u softball team. We started coaching our niece and this has been our 4th season. Enjoying coaching is an understatement, we love what we do and we love our girls. Watching the girls learn and grow is awesome, they try so hard and work their butts off.

And guess what?

It paid off...

We made it to the championship game, and we took second place.

So to 

Addie

Ryleigh

Sophie

MaKenzie

Zoe

Emma

Isabelle

Ashley

Kayla

Gillian

Kylie

Thanks for an awesome season, I can't wait to see what we accomplish in the future!

And a picture of our #1 tiny fan

-- (Coach) Mel

4th of July

The 4th of July is almost here and it is one of my most very favorite holidays. We usually have a party for all of our friends and family. The kids swim and play in sprinklers and the adults usually eat and gossip and shoot off fireworks. I cannot wait!

Here are some pictures of Annabelle's outfits over her years, because we all know I love clothes.

Her outfits her first 4th, and yes I realize that she doesn't look like the same kid in those two pictures but I promise she is!

Her second 4th, I didn't get a good picture of her outfit.

Her third 4th, this is not from the actual day.. but it is the same outfit she wore!

She will be oh so cute this year too!

I hope you enjoy your day with your friends and family!

-- Mel

Exciting Weekend

I didn't have a post up Friday because this mama has been busy. I mean ridiculously busy.

But.. this weekend was a blast

On Friday night we went and watched one of my very best friend's son play baseball. It is no secret that Anna loves anything to do with baseball/softball and all of the attention she gets from her Aunt Mary and Uncle Tyler so she had a good time. His team won and he played great!

Saturday we hit the water park with our favorite cousins. I didn't get a shot of all 3 of them, but they thought it was super fun! We also went to dinner with Anthony's parents and went with them to pick out/set up an iPad for his mom.

Anna hates water in her eyes, so she wore these crazy goggles

And finally Sunday we acquired tickets to Country Stampede in Manhattan, KS to see Randy Houser. We were given what we thought were meet and greets, and boy were we surprised when we found out they were really backstage seats. Annabelle shook her booty off, and sang like crazy. Randy Houser even re-tweeted her picture. She let me know after the concert that she loved him, and he loved her so that means that they are married. Everywhere we go she gets so much attention, I know she is cute but she also has such a sweet personality and talks to everyone everywhere.

This weekend was a blast, I love my little family and I love being able to give Annabelle great memories.

-- Mel

Dance Recital

This past weekend we had Annabelle's first dance recital! She was so so very cute up on the stage shaking her booty.

I'm glad dance is over for a few months for a few reasons 1) It's expensive 2) I'm looking forward to having a night free every week. Annabelle has decided she wants to dance again next year, so look out because we will be at it again.

 I think I'm becoming a dance mom. 

-- Mel

Budget Living

Our family has gone through a couple of changes in the last year financially. First I quit my job to be able to spend more time with Annabelle. We couldn't afford for me to do so without any income so I watch a few kids during the week to bring in a little bit of income. I don't have any kids full-time, but what I bring in is enough to cover all of our "fun" stuff during the month. (Eating out, seeing a movie, picking up cute outfits for Anna etc.) Anthony got a new job with a local school district and got a significant raise from his previous job. We are able to pay all of our monthly bills and necessities like gas, and groceries with his pay check.

Staying home has made it easier for me to end some okay a lot of my extra spending. It was very easy to stop on my way to work or on my way home at Target and find a lot of things that we didn't actually need and waste money on them. I was also the queen of eating out.. a few days a week  everyday. $10 a day for lunch and $5 for breakfast adds up.. $300 a month on just my breakfast and lunch. I can buy groceries for our entire family for around that. We also went to a one car family in January, it has been a rough adjustment for me since Anthony works so much. It's hard to not be able to hop in my car and go to the grocery store if I need something but I am making it work.

We are trying to live a way that will allow us to have no debt as soon as possible. There is too much we want to do to be tied down to owing someone money.

-- Mel

Taking a family trip

Anthony and I live on a pretty tight budget, there isn't a ton of room for extras like vacations. However, I am very excited that we are taking a short weekend trip with Anna in a few weeks.

We planned our trip around seeing this guy in concert.

Yep, we are going to see Randy Houser in Union, MO. 

We are also planning on taking Anna to the St. Louis Zoo, The Magic House, and the St. Louis Arch! She is very excited to go on a "bacation" with mommy and daddy and of course she is excited to see Randy Houser!

It is going to be great! 

-- Mel

A little about my amazing hubby

Ok, so I know people get irritated when a couple is all mushy on facebook or twitter, and some think that if you are overly loving to one another then you are secretly hiding something bad going on. So here's a heads up, this post might be a little mushy and I promise that we are both happy and in love with eachother..

I have had posts about a lot of things here, but I haven't made one about my other half. Anthony and I met while we both worked at Best Buy, he actually trained me. I'm pretty sure I told my mom after our first date that I was going to marry him.

We have been through a lot together over the last 8 years, we have grown as 2 individuals and we have grown as a couple. I couldn't have picked a better daddy for our girl, or a better husband for myself. I so enjoy the time we get to spend together, he makes me laugh and lets me know how loved I am.

Everyday I am so thankful for the hard worker he is and always has been. He works his tail off to provide for our family.

So to my amazing husband, I love you more than words could say. I'm so thankful that we have one another.

Here come my pictures.

-- Mel