July 2022

Brinley is starting to get much more skilled playing in the field at softball. She is still struggling at the plate, but she is making lots of progress. The 4th of July weekend we spent in Georgetown looking for some more hardware. Both kids were playing, but they were unfortunately at different parks. Brinley's team played tough in pool play and ended up the top seed of the silver bracket. They laid an absolute dud in the tournament game and lost to a team that had no business beating them. It was a very frustrating game to watch and I thought the coach made some horrible in game decisions. After the game he talked so down to the girls. I had to bite my tongue because I was ready to give him a piece of my mind. I didn't want to do anything to give him reason to take it out on Brinley so I just left the field.

Landon's Rampage team played tough in pool play as well. On Sunday they showed up to play and looked really good too. Everyone was making great plays. The only problem was that they drew the Ambush to play in the tournament. They were another Georgetown team and it was someone that the Rampage had never been able to beat. Well, that changed on this day because the Rampage boys came to play. We used all our energy to beat the Ambush and fell in the tournament to another team. The boys were ecstatic to be the runners up and get some more hardware. 

On the 4th of July we headed downtown to the parade. The kids were really excited to see the Pikachu inflatable. The kids were not really dressed up patriotic. 

Landon's Slam summer ball team. This was a great group of kids and a lot of good families. 

The garden was starting to give us some great produce. Jennifer made some really awesome blueberry zucchini muffins. 

Landon had a tournament in Ashland for a Cal Ripkin tournament. He was supposed to play on Friday, but it rained too much they cancelled the games. The next day it rained off and on. They decided to play the games, but it was a complete disaster. Home plate was a puddle. I could barely step and throw pitches to the kids without slipping and sliding all over the place. They really wanted to finish the game we started. We were the home team and they rallied in the last inning and took the lead. Thankfully we had last bat. Landon was due up in the line up and he got a double to get us going. The next batter got a hit and Landon was able to score from second to tie it up. Then on errors the kid that got a hit was able to score the walk off run. It made playing in the rain a lot more fun. 

The Sunday of the tournament had much better weather. We finished out the pool play undefeated, but our draw in the tournament made us have to sit for two games before playing again. When it was our turn to play we came out flat and let the other team get a 6-0 lead on us. We battled back, but ran out of time. A lot of fun was had this weekend because we spent a lot of time hanging out together. 

As Landon and I were finishing up in Ashland with his tournament I was keeping track of Brinley's team who was playing great. They ended up playing in the championship game so Landon and I headed straight to Nicholasville to see her play in the championship. Brinley even got the MVP chain for how well she played in one of the games. They didn't play well in the championship and just ran into a team that was playing good. Brinley got to add some more hardware, just not the one we were hoping for. It makes me so happy to see that big smile of hers. 

I just love seeing these jerseys. They have been consistent with their number choices here lately. I hope to watch number 23 and 25 for many more years.

One of my favorite things about my job is that I get to go to camp with all my oncology patients and their siblings. It is a blast and so much fun to see all the kids running around and playing. This year's theme was holidays. Everyday when the campers woke up they celebrated a different holiday. I was there for the 4th of July and Halloween. The sandwich was a recommendation from a patient friend. It is a double cheeseburger with a McChicken in the middle of it. It was pretty good. Not sure something I would ever get it again, but I can say that I had it.

I can't believe our little boy is now nine years old.  He wanted some pancakes for breakfast to start his day.

What has become a little bit of a tradition is that Landon always goes to Goodfellas on his birthday. We stuck to the routine this year too!

An afternoon 9K bike ride with my little guy to celebrate his birthday. This kid usually has too much energy, so anything I can do to burn off some of it I do it. 

Since our entire summer had been filled with baseball it was only appropriate that his cookie cake had a baseball on it. 

Landon and his slam team mates got to play in the Ohio Valley Regional Cal Ripkin Tournament. Thankfully this was a tournament that was hosted by Southeastern, so we got to play all home games. We had a really good showing, but we got beat out in the semi-finals to our cross town rivals South Lex Red.

Landon had quite a group come to watch him play in the tournament. This was the official last coach pitch tournament for his team. After July they have to move up to kid pitch, which is going to be a whole new ball game. 

Brinley and her Rampage teammates playing on a playground in between games. 

Well, through a random series of events Jennifer and I decided to start looking around for a new house. Jennifer got a little excited and decided to pack up most of our house. She told me that my puzzle wall had to come down. So, I decided to take one last picture of them before taking them down. 

I got a nice phone call that asked me to come over to the football practice facility. It was so that I could pick up my Citrus Bowl ring from last season. I took a picture with the trophy in the background. 

Landon wanted to have a friend come over to play. We invited his friend Dalton. They had a blast, as you can tell Brinley was not amused with having two boys in the house. 

I talked Brinley into taking a bike ride with me. Sometimes I have to push her beyond what she thinks that she can do. She doesn't like it at the time, but hopefully one day she is thankful for some of her dad's motivational talks.

The kids and I went over to Uncle McKinley and Aunt Tay Tay's house to play some games. Landon is super competitive (I know it's my fault) and you can tell by his face that he most definitely lost here at Junk Art.

I had told the kids that I would take them to get shaved ice one afternoon. I jokingly asked if anyone wanted to ride their bike to it. Landon was excited about it so we took off and the girls drove the car. It was about a 3-4 mile ride there. Well, in the first mile I was riding behind Landon and I just got too close and my front tire hit his back tire. I flew off the bike and landed on my stomach. The only injuries suffered were on my chin and a couple of scratches on my hand, but I was extremely sore. Landon thankfully was able to keep his balance, but he was terrified for the next three miles on our way to the shaved ice stand. I put his bike in the back of Jennifer's car and then I started the ride back home. 

Landon and Brinley had been asking about going to SkyZone for some time. We were able to finally make it out there for some bounce time. Brinley was super excited because she was finally able to make it up the warped wall.

When you fall off your bike you just need to get back up and get on again. With McKinley and Taylor living so close to campus I have started parking at their house and riding my bike to work. It just so happened that this happened to be on Miracle Treat Day and Dairy Queen brought blizzards for all of the children's hospital.

Landon's first kid pitch tournament. The Slam came to play and went undefeated during this one day tournament. We actually played the Rampage team that we had played pick up ball with over the summer. Landon played a little bit of everywhere. He played center field, second, shortstop, and even got to pitch for the first time. During the semi final game I had my realtor calling to tell me that a house we had put an offer in on had submitted a counter offer. I told Jennifer to talk with him because I was busy coaching first base. So, during this game is when we signed a contract on a new house.

Nice way to end the summer ball season. This was our first time playing summer ball and it was a lot of fun seeing these boys grow into a really good team. Also nice to get that first kid pitch action under our belts. 

Our cousins Abby and Sarah were in Lexington playing in the Bluegrass games. We all went to cheer them on after church. Our Need Help? shirts were the perfect color to cheer on the Trinity volleyball team. I had a good time catching back up with my cousin Gretchen. The girls got robbed in the championship game, but what can you expect when you play four back to back games. It was a lot of fun watching them play.

July was a lot of fun as we spent a lot of time at the ball fields for either games or practice. We came home with quite a few rings this year between both the kids. The summer seemed to fly by, but we were ready for school to get back into session. Well, at least Jennifer and I were ready. Thanks for reading and God bless!

June 2022

15 years since we said I do. Happy to spend my life with this lovely lady. 

At McKinley and Taylor's rehearsal dinner they made sure to send up a congratulations to our parents who were celebrating their 40th anniversary the next day.  

Brinley and Landon in the top photo at the rehearsal dinner and in the second dressed up for the wedding. 

The morning of the wedding Landon had a baseball tournament game. We faced a Dodgers team that had gotten lucky and beat us twice during the season already. Our bats were not the best on the day and we fell to them again. Randy and Sheila, our cousins from New York were able to come and see Landon play. 

Our family sure did clean up nicely. 

The newly married Heflin's with our immediate family. 

The first picture with the cousin's official Aunt Tay Tay. 

Glad to welcome Taylor to our family. The ceremony was beautiful and the day could not have been any better.

All the cousins dressed up. Landon was the lone ring bearer. Brinley was a junior bridesmaid and Olivia was one of the flower girls. 

Brinley and Taylor. Brinley really likes Taylor and really enjoys going to McKinley's house only when I tell her that Tay Tay will be there. 

One of Taylor's nursing school friends got certified and actually performed the wedding. I thought he did a wonderful job for his first wedding. Here we are signing the wedding certificate.

Dancing the night away. You can see that Brinley quickly ditched her dress after the ceremony and pictures. It took a lot of convincing, but I finally got Landon and Brinley out on the dance floor for the Cha Cha Slide. 

The day after the wedding McKinley and Taylor held a open house so all the family could come see their new home. The kids started playing a game of four square in the driveway. Mrs. Heflin even came out and made an appearance. 

With Landon's team losing their tournament game, it was on to summer sports. Both kids will be playing full-time this summer. Brinley with the Rampage and Landon with the Slam. I took this picture because both kids have worked extremely hard to make these teams and have put in a lot of time and effort. They were not given their positions, they earned them. I am extremely proud of both of these kids. 

While McKinley and Taylor were gone on their honeymoon, we were in charge of taking care of Lexi, their cat. The kids were excited to try and play with and pet her. I'm not sure Lexi had the same excitement. 

Landon with his Slam team mates at their first tournament. The bottom picture is Landon with his two regular season team mates, Eli and Levi. 

Part of my job in the DanceBlue Clinic is also staffing the summer camp that Kid's Cancer Alliance puts on for all of our families and siblings. Here these kids get to meet and become friends with other children who have battled this horrible disease. They get to run around and play and enjoy being a child. Sometimes during treatment they miss out on lots of things that are a normal part of childhood. I love every second that I am at camp. Here I am one of the 35 that woke up early to jump in the pool at 7 in the morning. 

I also tried my hand at archery, which I did fairly well at considering it was the first time I used a basic compound bow with no sight. After walking in the creek with some kids I found some geodes that we cracked open to find some crystals forming inside. 

Talking through the cinder blocks to Brinley in the dugout. Look at that smile!

Brinley and her team mates celebrating after a win.

Landon and I traveled to Louisville for his second tournament and his team got their first win together. It was taking us a little while to figure out positions for everyone and how to adjust the batting order. I also became the pitcher to his team because the kids were hitting best at the moment off of me.

On Fathers Day we had a tournament game at 9 am in Louisville with the Slam team. We lost a heart breaker in the first round. I just really wanted to watch him play ball for Father's Day and we got beat out of the Slam tournament too early. So as we were driving home I said lets go cheer on the Rampage team that Landon had been practicing with. I told the coach that we came to cheer them on, but if they needed a player then he was ready. Landon sat in the dugout and cheered his team mates on, but they were getting beat and Landon was sitting out. They put him in during the 3rd inning at pitcher and he was playing lights out defense. Everything hit his direction was an out. They ended up coming back and winning the game to make it to the championship. In the championship he started at pitcher and was put back in the line up as the second batter. They played great and came out as champs! Landon's first championship!

The boys all showing off their bling at home plate.

All smiles to celebrate the championship.

This made for a really special Father's Day. Crazy that we played against another McLean County friend's kid in the championship. Seth and I went to school together our whole life. It was really neat seeing our kids play against one another. 

You know this boy is exhausted when he falls asleep because he hardly ever stops moving. He fell asleep doing his math worksheets. 

Landon made me a card for Father's Day.

Brinley made me a clay figure of the two of us. Sadly it broke, but I am so thankful I took a picture of her art.

Back yard fire pit calls for some roasted marshmallows and s'mores.

Brinley enjoying her s'more. 

Our 3rd Slam tournament proved to be our best yet. We went undefeated over 2 days and won the championship handily 10-1. It was a pretty awesome weekend. This made two weekends in a row with Landon coming home with hardware.

The kids and I took ourselves a little bike ride. Both kids have gotten much better at riding a bike. This ended up being around a 5 mile bike ride and neither kid complained once, which made me very happy. 

Brinley's team brought home some hardware too! She even got the player of the game chain for the amazing fielding that she did. I am so proud of her for the work that she has put into softball. She is gaining confidence by the day and is getting so much better. Glad to see her work paying off. 

June was full of softball and baseball games with a pretty awesome wedding to kick off the month. We are so glad to have Taylor as a part of our family. Thanks for reading and God bless!