A new chapter in our parenting book....

Kirk and I completed a new chapter in our parenting memory book yesterday. K3 is now sporting his very own set of wheels. I think we were even more excited than he was (if that is possible?). We had been searching and shopping for the last few months.....and finally found a 2003 Ford Taurus (one of the safest and cheapest to insure cars available now days). It has power everything, a V-6, low mileage, clean, and most important to K3 a Alpine 6 CD changer! How funny is that?! Kirk and I are looking at the vehicle and K3 is looking at the radio.

Love the picture of the cloud last night! We are so lucky to be able to see this right off the deck.

Why didn't I think of that?!

The boys have been working hard this week at Charger Football Camp. It is always a good precursor to the "real" football camp at Ft. Custer, which is quickly approaching. I started feeling the pinch yesterday when I realized I only have 5 weeks left of vacation. Not that I won't be excited for school to start....but....it is always a big adjustment to go from being on top of all the chores to lagging behind again. This year Kraig joined the big boy ranks as a lineman this year at camp. 1st shot was brothers going head to head with a giant cushion in between. Why didn't I think of that?! Maybe if Konnor and Kraig could "duke" it out with protection, things might be ok?! Probably wouldn't work with them. It was very sweet that they came home from camp and played football with Konnor in the front yard. Maybe they are "getting" it?!

Everything but hanging the stuff...

So everything but new shades and the stuff hung back on the walls is finished on the first floor. I think we are going to take a break before tackling the stairway....if we can remember correctly (7 years ago) it was a major pain in the butt to reach the top of the walls. K2 started filing the holes, cracks, and sanding though.

1st Floor almost complete!

I decided yesterday that I was tired of looking at the "beige blah" front room. So while the boys were in the weightroom, I started painting. Can't really say "NO" from the high school and I was far enough into the job that we had to finish. K2 is on his way to get more paint so we can finish it up today. I'm supposed to be painting trim right now.....my bad....decided to post a couple pictures instead. The color is the same as the dark wall in the living room. This picture makes it look gross

but it really isn't. Squirt was up to no good this morning so I took some pics of him too!

We're BACK!

Feels good to be home and unpacked....I really don't care for living out of a suitcase. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I decide to run away from home. Kirk and I spent Sunday and part of Monday on Put-in-bay Island. Not what the brouchures tell you. Unless you a 30 year old party animal....there isn't much to do or see. Monday we visisted Marblehead and took pictures by Lake Erie. (oh, we decided to try the other coast this year) Monday night we drove to Monroe and watched harry potter. Can't tell you the last time we watched a movie without chaperones??! Tuesday we drove back to hillsdale via Ann Arbor and Jackson stopping at every used car dealership in between. We think we may have found a car for K3 today. I'll keep you posted.

Introducing.....SQUIRT!

We have come to the realization that we can't let this kitty leave our lives now. Friday I finally caved in and took him to the vet. He weighs a whoppin' 1.7 pounds and is only about 7 or 8 weeks old. He is healthy and looks like the fleas are under control. We finally decided that Squirt is a fitting name....not only is he a tiny spaz....he also has so many worms he has the "runs". YUCK! He will get his 3rd dose of wormer in another couple days and then he will hopefully be worm and flea free?

Baseball officially ended for us today. Kraig's team lost in extra innings to Port Huron in Districts. Yesterday he had two great games and they won both. Today they weren't as lucky. A little disappointed but I think he is excited to take a break from organized sports for a few weeks before football starts.

K2 and K3 are at Northwood College today for a 7 on 7. They left at 7 and I expect they will be home late tonight. I have spent the day (after baseball) getting the house clean, laundry done, groceries bought, and packing for K2 and my trip. We have no idea where we are going but we do know that we are leaving tomorrow without children. Hopefully I will have some beautiful t sunset picutres to post on Wednesday.

Baseball, baseball, and more baseball. That about sums up what this weekend consisted of. Kraig was in a tournament in Hudson (2 games on Thursday and 3 games on Saturday) They ended up loosing two of the games in extra innings-sudden death. First time they had lost all season so it was a little rough. He also had two games on Friday night and won both. Kirk 3 has two games tonight and they are definitely gonna be scourchers! Other news....football is already in full swing around the Putnam household. It's only the second week in July you say....yep, but it has already begun. K2 and K3 will have Hornet football camp from 9-12 on Monday and Tuesday. K3 has Specialty camp at MSU on Tuesday afternoon, and they both will be gone on Saturday to Northwood for a 7 on 7. The following week there are two 7 on 7's . Yippee! Coaches widow in July.....how special?! Hope your life is more relaxed than this.

Happy 19th Kayla!

Today we had a " princess" birthday party for Kayla. She was excited about her blanket and crocs. The kitty (name still being decided) was a little overwhelmed by the party....hence the poopy on the rug. Yes, I scrubbed that rug clean! It was really quite comical though. Kraig thought it was hysterical. Guess (PW, PeeWee, or Yamaha) won't being coming back in the house for awhile or at least until the wormer makes it through his system.

Happy 4th of July!

We spent the day with the Laingsburg Putnam's, the Lansing Putnam's, and the Eaton Rapids Putnam's. Had a great day and the weather couldn't have been nicer. Did some fishing, hillbilly golf, fireworks, and of course EATING!

Saving a life.....PRICELESS!

Dirt bike $

Wormer $

Flea Shampoo$

Kitty food $

Saving a life ......PRICELESS!

K2, K3, and Konnor stopped to look at a 80cc dirt bike for Konnor on Tuesday. As they were inspecting the bike a kitty came bounding out of the pine trees and would not leave them alone no matter what they tried. So K2 brought the little fellow home with them. Now that wouldn't have been all bad except that it was probably days away from death. The poor thing had more fleas showing than visible skin, he was definitely starving, and had a big belly (worms). I'm happy to report after 3 baths, a flea comb, some kitty chow, and wormer he is a healthy baby boy, at least I think he is a boy?! Haven't agreed on a name but Lucky is definitely in the running. He was definitely lucky to have found him when we did.

TGIF!!

Thank God it's the LAST friday in this month! I know I thought June would be better than May as far as scheduling goes.....but take a look at that calendar! YUCK!! The exciting news is that July does look a lot better. We will be wrapping baseball within the 1st 2 weeks of July for at least Konnor and K3. K3 had a double header last night and they mercied them both games. They are fun to watch.

Report cards came in the mail today. We couldn't be more pleased with their hard work. K3 had 3 A's and a B- (3.64) while Kraig had all A's (3.93). I guess all the nagging and eye rolling is worth the end result. Just wish we didn't have to push so hard.

Exciting changes on the home front.....we are painting the walls on the first floor. I already have it in my mind that the 2nd floor will be next, but I haven't mentioned that to Kirk yet. We are trying to step out of the "beige and white" BOX and add some color in our house. I absolutely LOVE the kitchen color. So happy and bright. I wasn't supposed to paint that wall while K2 was at the weight room this morning but I couldn't help myself.....MY BAD!

Parents vs. players

I forgot I had these pictures still on the camera. Last Saturday the North Adams team did not show up for the game, so the parents decided we would take on our children. What a BLAST!! K2 tried not to hit the ball hard which made it more difficult. I was just excited that I COULD hit the ball. I think I might take up softball next summer. Yeah, like I could add one more thing to calendar without it falling off the refrigerator from too much ink!

Evil Kenevil!

Had a little dirt bike jumping action going on in my backyard so I thought I would try to capture it. Konnor and Drew worked on the dirt ramp yesterday and were trying out their jumping skills. They really were getting a lot of AIR!! Konnor put his dirtbike up for sale today and is hoping to use that money to buy a bigger and better bike. He has definitely got a lot of use out of the 50cc.

All in a days work!

I know....I know.....technically I'm not working right now but it sure does feel like it sometimes! Today I worked with Donna on finishing off Nate's scrapbooks for the graduation open house. I was able to get 12 pages done. Not bad! I need to go back and do some more sometime soon.

Konnor and Drew spent the day "hunting" for birds and rodents. Those two crack me up! They think they are these big bad hunters. They also rode their dirt bikes and made some new JUMPS! YIKES!!

Kraig had a very last minute Birthday Bash with a few of his buds. I decided at 4:30 that I probably should do something nice. K3 had a baseball game which meant I would have to go in alone. K2 was at the game. We had pizza and cake (of course, ice cream), they shot baskets and swam. Very laid back and easy. Hope he enjoyed his "surprise party". HAHAHA (surprise to me that is)

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY KRAIGER!

First let me start by saying Happy 13th Birthday to Kraig! He is definitely growing into quite the young man. Tuesday he had two molars pulled (yes, number 6 and 7 for him). He did a great job and spent the afternoon laying around on the couch watching movies and letting momma wait on him. Wednesday he was back to normal and ended up pitching at the baseball game. His team won both games (17-1 and 30-1). Poor other team! What to get a boy that has everything? I think we are going to cop out and do dinner and money.

Konnor's team also won last night 8-6. Konnor pitched the first 3 innings and ended up striking out 4 batters. He wasn't as accurate as usual but I sure couldn't do it.

K3 is back from Albion Basketball camp and starts his summer baseball season tonight. Yes, that means that Tuesday's are the only night we won't be sitting at a baseball game. Oh joy! Konnor and Kraig only have a few weeks left so it will only be crazy for awhile.

Hey, batter....hey, batter

OK, Kayla if they ever see this picture you took on Monday night they are gonna kill us both. At first you may be wondering why in the world would too large men be dressed in youth baseball gear?! Well, the story behind this adorable pictures goes something like this....Jared (Konnor's baseball coaches youngest boy) was having them dress up in the baseball garb. They were just "playing" along with him when Kayla got this shot. Ahhh....how sweet?!

Cousins....

Konnor is so lucky to have a cousin to do things with. It's better than being brothers because you don't have to spend everyday with them. I think that Konnor and Steven get along great for each having such "STRONG" personalities. This is a picture of a fish that they caught two weekends ago. WOW, what a catch that was! I wish Kim had gotten a picture of them Nude Froggin'....don't ask....just laugh along with us. I know that will probably cost us some couch time when they get older.

My boys sure are lucky!

My boys are so fortunate to have two loving grandfathers....and one GREAT dad! We spent the Father's day at the cottage with both sides of the family. Definitely easier than mother's day at our house with 17 mouths to feed. It is always appreciated when we can go to one location and celebrate with both sides. Our lives are way too crazy to go to more than one place. We also celebrated Kraigs 13th (June 21st) birthday with the grandparents also.

A week at a glance....Monday night Kraig double-header at FOD...Konnor baseball at FOD...Tuesday Kraig has to have 2 more teeth pulled and K3 leaves for Albion Basketball Camp....Wednesday Kraig double-header at Waldron...Konnor at baseball at FOD...Thursday Kraig's 13th birthday....Friday Kraig double-header....Saturday our anniversary....Konnor baseball....3 graduation open houses. Yep, I think that about sums it up! See you next week.

Car shopping with K3

I know this won't be very exciting for everyone else....but we went car shopping with K3 today. We took him to lunch and then we test drove about 6 cars. He liked the first one he drove and then couldn't keep an open mind for the other possibilities. It was still a fun afternoon outing for the 3 of us. Of course, the rest of the day was spent in the pool keeping cool.....but you probably didn't want to hear that either.

The boys had games last night....both teams won. Konnor struck out the first 4 players and then pitched for 3 innings before he played catcher. A little too hot for baseball but he and a buddy came to the pool after their game. Kraig and a buddy came home after their double header and swam too. Sure is nice to cool off!

Just in case your wondering.....

if I can find enough things to do to keep me busy now that I'M DONE WITH SCHOOL until August.....the answer can be found in the following schedule for this week alone.

Monday 7:30-10:30 K3 Hornet basketball camp

10:45-12:15 Kraig Hornet basketball camp

12:30-1:45 Konnor Hornet basketball camp

1:00-4:00 K3 and Kraig Hillsdale Charger(college) basketball camp

6:00 - Konnor baseball in North Adams

Tuesday - Same AM & PM

4:30 Varsity quarter finals baseball in Saline

Wednesday - Same AM & PM

5:30 Kraig baseball Jonesville

6:00 Konnor baseball FOD (Field of Dreams)

Thursday - Same AM

don't think there is a game tonight

Friday - Same AM

5:30 Kraig at FOD

I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time in my vehicle this week. Hopefully the boys will have a great time at the basketball camps though. So if I don't check back in for awhile you will know why. K:)