4 Busy Whites

So we are heading out of Downey for home and decide to stop for something to eat. I could not believe my eyes when I saw Downey High School....lot's of new construction! We decided to take a walk around the campus. Well the football stadium has been completely redone with astroturf and a new stadium! We showed the kids the exact place where Doug and I met and then where he asked me to "go out" with him....how can it be that it was almost 23 years ago and we can remember it like yesterday?!? Anyway, here are some pics of the campus.

After Hollywood, we headed in to see Bev & Fred and to spend the night. It was a nice visit and on Sunday we got to see Christopher & Jody brought the twins by for a bit in the afternoon. Everyone headed out for some fun in the pool. The guys were all doing crazy flips in the pool.....I think Christopher was the only one to really land the full flip! We love you Grandma & Grandpa......Happy Anniversary!

So our tournament is over, we're checked out of our hotel and it's only 11:30 on Saturday morning. We are in no hurry to head back to the heat of the desert so Doug takes us on an adventure. We took the girls to Hollywood! We had a fun time surprising them.....we had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen on Hollywood Blvd. Then headed out for a walk to see the Walk of Fame and to Groman's Chinese Theatre to see all the hand/foot prints. After checking out all the sights we headed over to UCLA to show Chelcie the campus, drove through Beverly Hills and even drove down Rodeo Drive. I was probably a bit more excited to see all the amazing stores as the girls didn't recognize many of them (thank goodness!). We had a real fun time.

Well, our girls called it a day after a horrific loss on Saturday to San Clemente (9 to 0)! This loss marked the end of the road for us in this State Tournament. A bit of a sad note to end on as we all go our separate ways now. Our tenderhearted Chelcie (and even Doug and I)got a bit teary eyed as we said good bye to many families that we have grown so fond of over these many years. Chelcie has played on this All Star Team along with 4 other girls since they were 8. Now they will end this chapter of their lives. Some will head on to high school ball at different schools while others will develop different passions. This was a great season of some amazing softball and we are so proud of these girls for making it all the way to STATE!!!

What a weekend of softball! Friday we beat Realto 17 - 2, Saturday we beat East Vale 13 - 6 and then lost to Lake Elsinore 4 - 3. It was fun having Grammy, GG Lois, Lolo & Nick there to cheer! Sunday was a LONG day: 9:00 a.m. game against East Vale, we beat 'em then turned right around to play Lake Elsinore and beat 'em. This was a double elimination tournament and Lake Elsinore had only lost once so we had to turn around and play them again for the Championship. We were down 8 - 1 in the bottom of the last inning, our girls come back to score 6 runs. The score is 8 - 7 and we lose....sad day but our girls took 2nd place and qualified for the Jr. Oylmpic State Softball Tournament! We head out to Lancaster next weekend. Great job girls!

On Saturday morning we headed to Hemet to visit my Grandparents on our way to Chelcie's tournament. We don't get to see them very often and it was great to just call them and stop in for breakfast. The girls love to make biscuits with my Grandpa and they are delicious!

Madison was so excited to receive a birthday package in the mail from Aunt Dawn and Uncle Terry. Each year they get her a figurine with her age on it (sorry, no pic...) and this year Dawn made her this adorable blanket! Mind you it's 110 out but Madison takes that blanket everywhere! She just loves it.

Chelcie's birthday gift to Madison was a trip to the Salon for a pedicure! Chelcie got one too with a left over gift certificate from her birthday. They had a good time while mom played photographer.

Madison had 4 friends over for a bit of a birthday celebration sleep over. After pizza, we headed to Papa & Lolo's for some fun swimming time. Then we headed back to our house. We had a fun activity for the girls: each girl had a large piece of paper to cut out and decorate as a dress. Once they were all finished, they came out one by one for a "fashion show". The girls had some real cute "dresses" to show off and had fun. Afterward, they all watched "Camp Rock" with the beloved Jonas Brothers! That lasted until about 1:30 a.m. and then I heard them again around 4:30 a.m. and told them to get to bed! Rumor has it 2 of them (including Madison) made it to about 5:30 in the morning....they pulled an all nighter she tells me! Fun times.

Madison and I headed to the Orange County Performing Arts Center to go to the stage production of High School Musical. I surprised her with an early birthday present! We had a great time going with friends. We headed to Claim Jumper for dinner and they even treated Madison to a piece of mud pie and singing Happy Birthday. She was so happy to have some of her friends there too (3 "Madisons" and a Miley)! The production was amazing and one of the best stage productions I have ever seen. The atmosphere was so fun with lots of the audience singing and clapping along to the songs that we (yes, even us moms) know and love! Afterward, since we were with seasoned theatre goers, we headed to the stage door to meet the actors as they left. We got a couple of pics of the "Gabriella" and "Ryan" characters. Rumor had it that "Troy" headed out early and was already gone! Madison had a great time and loved every minute of it!

WOW ... Summer Spectacular, our anniversary, Temecula Tournament, church, High School Musical.....I am exhausted!