








I had heard great things about NBC camp from several people and was able to sign Nic up this year. It worked out great with the baseball schedule (only 1 game missed). Last night they held and hour long intensity course for family & friends to watch. There were 25 to 30 stations the boys did for about 2 minutes each and they were dripping when all was said & done. This is the first camp Nic has been to where he is away for several days. He is having a blast & working his tail off. I dropped him off Sunday while Steve was riding the STP and will pick him up on Thursday. Besides great basketball skills these kids are taught, they learn teamwork, how to motivate each other, leadership & how to be a better person.
I think I have told you Nic is 6'1" or more by now but this picture is a perfect example.

Nic is the starting pitcher for the team, but he was given the night off. Well after the
other team tying the game in the bottom of the first inning Nic came in to relieve Joe and did and excellent job.



Nic had two solo home runs last night and scored on a walk. I am having Steve take pictures for me since I am the score keeper & can only keep track of so much at once!!! Thanks honey!!


Steve's Gorge Ride



Nic is ready get them out at 1st.

Taking a breather before the batter is at the plate.
This was out first official game and our first loss. We were ahead while Nic pitched the first three innings but after the switch things changed. Nic allowed only one hit and zero runs. The first game of the season was rained out (surprise). The game they played on Saturday they blasted the other team but since Steve was on his bike ride & I keep score...no pictures. Our next game is tonight.
For those who did not know....my dad had to have his right leg amputated below the knee in an emergency surgery May 16th. He had been fighting off infections from his latest ankle surgery last year and with different types of medications had (thought) been given a green light. Well so much for that. One day he was fine and by the next day his foot was huge, flaming red and hurt to move at all. He went into the emergency room on Thursday evening, was admitted & they preformed surgery the next day. The xrays done in at emergency showed all bone in his foot had just disintegrated and was starting to move up the leg. That was not the case six months ago. He only had to stay in the hospital a little over a week and is now home. He is in a wheelchair at this time and after some healing he will be moving to a prosthetic leg. Which in the end will be super. He will be able to go on walks, play golf and have a much better life than what he was putting up with. My mom was just sick that he wouldn't be able to golf anymore. He seems ok in the wheelchair but still has issues. For most people they have their other leg to support them to get up, down, it & out. He on the other hand has a left knee that is in need of a replacement and will not support any weight. That surgery will have to wait a bit now. He was planning on doing it in July or August but will now have to wait until they are fine with the amputation healing & walking around with the prostetlic. In the end, a bionic man!!!! Just say a few prayers for quick healing, strength and a positive spirit. I know this is the better choice for the future. He has more to do!!!
I am also including some pictures of Nic at his track meet. What a great guy!!


Wow...after a year we are starting on the back deck. I refer to the collective we, mainly Steve & I am the support staff. He is the designer & builder & I am the assistant & buyer of goods.
Our deck will end up being over 350 square feet of totally enjoyable space. We are going to add an outdoor kitchen with a nice grill, side burner & counter top. A new set of table, chairs, umbrella & lounge chairs.
This is two of the five walls that Steve built!!

We had to rent a lifter since the one beam was quite large & heavy. John & Hong helped Steve all day & Nic lifted or lowered until time for baseball practice.

Floor joists almost all in place. The trees are filling up out our backyard & it is so relaxing to listen to the birds.


Here we are as of Monday, Memorial Day. Steve is installing the Y braces from the post to the beam. I have been painting all the brackets, bolts & nails black. The painted black look is tons better compared to the silver galvanized look. It just looks more polished.
We just have the Y braces to finish & put up the stair treads before it is time to call the City of Puyallup back out for our framing inspection. Then onto the deck boards, posts, railings, kitchen & such. When the deck is all done we will be hyrdoseeding, graveling under the deck & adding plants. I am trying to remember, but I think the backyard has been almost three years with out grass. Zoom will really like having grass to sit on instead of sand.
Last summer Steve & two of his buddies did several weekends of backpacking. Look at the HUGE fish he caught!!! Happy Birthday sweetie.....I love you!!!


Close To My Heart has included a great feature to their website!!! You are now able to view their current Idea Book online. A great way to shop from the comfort of you home when you have the time. We have tons of great paper & stamps. Please log onto http://www.closetomyheart.com/ choose Products and you will be able to click on the Spring 2008 Idea Book. Let me know if there are any items you are interested in. You can email me at iscrap_4_fun@yahoo.com I am will get your order placed.
Happy Scrapping!!!
Here is our Stamp of the Month!!!
This is the Close To My Heart - February Stamp of the Month and is available for purchase

D1260 Endless Love(Set of 10) $22.95 US/ $25.50 CANWhen the giddiness of love makes you feel playful, we've got your fanciful feelings covered with a stamp set full of fun flowers and quirky flourishes. Available February 1-29, 2008 only. Use Blocks: 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 4" × 4" (Y1008) With a minimum qualifying purchase, get your Stamp of the Month at a great discount or FREE!
If you are interested in a current Idea Book or to purchase your scrapbooking supplies just email me at iscrap_4_fun@yahoo.com.




Justin & Nic are getting all prepped for the day. As you can tell it was snowing and pretty much did through out the day.


I was trying to get a good smile out of Nic but all he wanted to do was make faces. The normal 1st day of school pictures are getting more of a pain to him as he gets older. What is a mom to do???


I told him to deal with it so these are the faces I get.


This year he is in a brand new Kalles Junior High. The new school was being built last year while they attended school in the old Kalles. How many people can say they have been the first students in a brand new constructed school during their school days? I attended a new high school but we were the third year, so it wasn't brand spanking new.




