professional camper.

Dear Zach,

You are my professional camper. Here are the camps you went to this summer:

- Bellarmine basketball
- Ballard soccer
- back to Bellarmine basketball
- Rondo Basketball
- Bellarmine soccer

- back to Rondo basketball

(took a break for Florida vacation!!)
- Uof L soccer  (the picture on the right - you loved this camp!)

Whenever someone hears about all the camps you go to, they can't believe it and assume you must be so tired. But you love it! And you don't want to go to summer camp at SMA - so these sports camps are great. And you really have a good time, you are such a hard worker and really good at meeting people and making new friends. Watching you walk off to the field or court when you don't know anyone always makes me a little nervous, but it's also a pretty cool feeling because I always know you will make new friends and have a great time!

On the last day of Rondo camp, I got off early to come pick you up and we went to the mall and had some quality time together... I can't remember the exact reason we went to the mall, but we stopped by the cookie store.. and you bought a "pizza cookie" - chocolate chip with icing like a pizza slice. We sat down to eat and took this last picture!

I love you potamus.. and am so proud of you!!!

Love, Mom

injury prone.

Dear Nick,

We are calling this the "summer of noodle injuries"...
even though you've only had 2, we think it's appropriate.

Your first incident happened the week you were "supposed" to go to soccer camp. You were going home with the Vaughns and on Tuesday you guys went over to the next door neighbors house where you decided it would be a good idea to walk on their treadmill. Unfortunately, the neighbors had a 4 year old boy who decided to hop on and turn up the speed, causing you to completely wipe out! When I picked you up I could not believe how bad it was! Your knees were all ripped up and so were the tops of your feet. I immediately knew you would not be finishing soccer camp, which bummed me out because you were having a great time... and I knew you wouldn't be wearing tennis shoes for a while. 

Once your knees and feet healed up, and you resumed our workouts at North Oldham I was relieved.. but that did not last long...

You and Janie decided to go play on the jungle gym and I heard you crying... a sound I automatically knew was real pain... you had fallen and busted your lip on a bar. I'm just so glad you didn't hurt your teeth. After some ice and a few days though, you were back to your usual handsome self.

And we've managed to get by without any more injuries. Thank goodness!!

Love, Mom

major momemt.

Dear Zach,

What a 9th Birthday celebration you had! You picked going to Slugger Field to watch baseball because all your buddies play baseball - I thought that was so nice! You all had a blast - everyone got to go on the field, and you got to throw out the first pitch! You even had your name on the big screen wishing you Happy Birthday throughout the game.

(I have an associate producer who's dad is the GM of the Bats :)

But the big surprise of the night was having a limo pick us up and take everyone home.. it took much longer than I thought but it was SOOO worth it. You had a ball!!

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom

farmboy.

Dear Nick,

Today you are spending the day with Daddy and having a great time. You went to Grandma's, went to the farmer's market and bought a bunch of vegetables. Then you went out to the farm in Trimble County and got ice cream on the way home. Dad also told me you drove the mule all by yourself! You are only 7 and I'm not sure that is actually legal... however I know from letting you drive from the mailbox that you probably are a pretty good driver. We'll just keep it our little secret until you are 16.

Love, Mom

pool time.

Dear Boys,

Right now I am sitting in my office.. and you are swimming. And that makes me happy. I hate that I can't give you the lazy summer days where we just hang out at the house then stay all day at the pool. But I am doing my best to make sure you have a fun summer. And you are both having a blast so far.   Today Zach, you were at soccer camp with Charlie and went home with the Morgans. You guys went up to the pool at Glen Oaks and you are having a great time.





Nick, you were at SMA camp at school, and Aunt Sharalea called to ask if she could pick you up and take you swimming with your cousins. So you got to go swimming at Uncle Jesse and Aunt Suzy's house are having a ball with Maddie, Braedon and Ella.

I love that you are both having such an awesome time with great friends and great family!

Love, Mom

summer buzz.

 Dear Zach,

Today we went for your "summer buzz." Every year you look forward to getting your hair buzzed off..  and in just a few minutes you look totally different. This picture catches you mid-cut and even shows the hair flying off your head which is why I love it. Afterwards you always look like a little marine, which I know Grandad loves. And as usual, you are still your handsome little self. Because even with hardly any hair, you are still my adorable potamus.

Love, Mom

boxers.

Dear Zach,

When I took this picture you made me promise not to print it, or show anyone! But its just TOO cute for me not to keep somewhere.. so I'm putting it here... so we can both remember it! My cute little 8 year old potamus in his underwear and running shoes.. watching ESPN.

Love, Mom