Last Cubs' game and Last Blue Whales ("psssh") practice

Thursday was the last game for the Bass Lake Cubs. My son had a good time playing in this league. Next year we'll find something a bit closer to his competitive and skill level, though. He got bored and was starting to show some bad habits. On this day, he had a few good defensive plays and hit the ball nicely. His coaches for the season were nice and helpful, so it was bittersweet to say goodbye to the Plymouth Park & Rec coach-pitch league.

My daughter's last L'il Sports practice was fun, too. They played a game of kickball. The coaches there were so fun, today, and all session long. My daughter's team decided to call themselves the Blue Whales (with the "pssh" sound at the end for the water coming out of the blow-hole). She kicked really well in her first at bat, but I got the at bat on video in which she only "bunted", but then ran hard to first base. :)

Summer Fun

The kids have had a pretty good summer. A week or two ago they got "pet" plants for their room. So we had to get some pots for the plants. Then we had to paint them. My son's pot ended up with a "motion W" a Cubs logo and a green-and-gold "G" ... no surprise. My daughter's turned out pretty, as well. She rediscovered her CD player with the microphone the other day ... and she's not the only one who seems to be having fun with it lately, either :)

We went to the Pond at Elm Creek. Had some fun there. The kids even got along. On the way there, the kids decided that they were not happy that our neighbors weren't coming with us - and they (the kids) wouldn't have anyone to play with. My wife responded by telling my son that he would find someone he knew within the first few minutes - just like always. Which he did. Fun was had by all.

"Burrying Zane" follows :)

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Ok. Busy weekend. Thursday night, I played ball really late. The kids went to the Maple Grove Days parade with my wife and the neighbors. Then, we had fun at Maple Grove Days on Saturday morning - Big Truck Show, plus my son likes to drive the remote control cars, and we had some shaved ice. I hope MG Days is the only time my children are in the back of a squad car :) But my son does have some "fireman" in him. Seems he uses the firehouse pretty well.

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It was warm in the morning, but we ventured to our friends' house on Forest Lake for the afternoon, only to find that clouds had materialized and created a rainy afternoon. We still had fun with our friends. Then, as we went to come home ... the tornado siren went off. So ... we spent 20 minutes in the basement before things cleared and we came home.

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Sunday brought another baseball game for me, but not before I could shave my son's head (he had been asking to have it done for quite a while). So, I had baseball, and he had soccer. I heard that he scored a few goals, Sunday, too. Figures. I miss one soccer night and he decides to become a star :)

Alexandra Putterball (Bautsch) Vitense

Lovable kitten, cherished cat, friendly pet, missed friend.

1993-2010

Here you'll see just a few pictures from her time in Minnesota. We will post more as we remember our beloved cat.

She was found as a barn-cat and probably would've been a "mouser" if she hadn't been taken to a loving home. Once she found herself inside, she became a lovable and gentle indoor feline who loved to run and jump and play with the males of the human species.

After spending several years moving from apartment to apartment in the Dayton, OH area, she came to Madison, WI with Holly and eventually became a Vitense (taking her owner's change of last names).

Over the last 8 years, she spent her time in Minnesota, helping raise two beautiful children who loved her very much. She became accustomed to a comfy cat-bed or a fluffy pillow, depending on which "resting spot" she decided to control.

For most of her life, she loved to chase the light from a flash-light and to beg for turkey or tuna. She thought putting her rear end in your face was fun and she always wanted to know what was on the other side of a closed door.

At 17 years old, Alex had seen better times, but you could still tell that she loved you. She loved to have her forehead pet and would still find a warm spot next to where you were laying.

Her health was getting worse and worse in the last few months. She didn't spend as much time out of her sleeping and eating areas. But it was still a shock when we came home to find her unable to move and in pain.

She rests with God now. And we thank Him for our time with her!

God bless you, Alex. You were a wonderful cat

Love, Your Family

Oho Trip 2010

The drive from Minnie to NE Oho turned into an adventure right from the start, with extra-long bathroom breaks in 'Sconnie and a nice little bout of "construction driving" taking place in NW Indiana (just outside of Ch'cago). But we made it - with barely enough sanity to spare. The I-Pass seems to work in all three "toll" states (IL, IN, OH), so that helped. And ... Thank goodness for the big hugs from the fam as we got to Holly's Mom and Dad's :)

We celebrated Ave's birthday since it was so soon after vacation.

And Mom and Dad threw a 4th of July party (on the 3rd?) like they do every year. Lots of fun with family and friends. The fireworks display and fire in the backyard drew rave reviews :)

Canfield always has a nice little celebration, parade, and the Firecracker Four Mile race. I believe that this was my 3rd race. The kiddos race in the kids' run. My son took fifth in the youngest age group (8 and under). Not bad. My nephew/godson took second in the older group (9+). I, unfortunately, did not do that well, but it's hot when you start a race at 9am in July ... and "hot" is really an understatement, so I'm just glad I finish each year :)

My nephew stuck around with us at Mom and Dad's while the rest of his fam had to go back to southern Oho for a parade. (We would join them later.) So the seven of us (Mom, Dad, me, Holly, the three kids) went to a fun little fourth celebration in Columbiana. Obstacle course, towel toss, face painting - and goofy kids, cuz it was hot. The new play area at the park was awe-some - the kids loved playing in the shade of the big trees on the HUGE wooden structures.

We journey down to Marysville on Tuesday and spent a fantastic few days with our brother and sister and the fam. Hit Zoombezi Bay at the Columbus Zoo for a day - which was cool! The kids loved all the water rides and we really enjoyed spending an entire day together, by ourselves having fun.

My daughter loved playing with her girl cousins, and decided to put all her new Twirlie Girl bows in her hair at the same time to show us how much she liked them :)

Some more shots of the pool at Mom and Dad's. It was warm, so the pool was USED! :) Love it!

And birthday party pics always seem fun. Need some help blowing out the candles?

My son went for a ride on Holly's Dad's bike ... and by bike, I mean Harley. All the kids love Dad, and he loves his bike. This was probably the best pic of the weeknd - Dad with all the grandkids in front of the bike (It's probably already up in his locker at work!).

So, the pics aren't all in chronological order, sorry. But we had a great week. Now we have to figure out how to handle the next one back at home. Maybe some more yardwork. :)

PS - Added some Rockies pics to the last blog, so take another gander! :p