Update on World Series & Lebanon Trip

We left for Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 15, to attend the USSSA World Series that Zach was going to be playing in. We started the games on Thursday, and played two games that day and won both of them. On Friday, we played two more games and won both of them. So by now, we were feeling really good about the team. There were 15 teams in the series from Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri. Then on Saturday, we only played one game, as we got a bye since we were undefeated, and we won this one. So Sunday started the final games - we played at 11:00 a.m. to a team that had only lost one game; we beat them so we were still undefeated. So we played in the Grand Championship Game at 3:45 to a team that was also undefeated. We lost this game in the seventh inning (we only play seven innings) by one run. Oh we were so disappointed but they placed second out of 15 teams so I guess that was really pretty good. The boys were so disappointed but they held their heads high anyway. It was a really good game - final score was 7 - 6. The team that won it was from a suburb of Des Moines.

We had a really nice time while we were in Des Moines. We all stayed at the same hotel so we got to know all the boys that Zach played with and that was fun. We did some site seeing while we were there and did some shopping, of course. Des Moines is really a nice town. Very clean and modern. One of the shopping centers we went to was as nice, and very modern, probably better than most we have in Kansas City. So overall the trip was great. Enjoyed spending time with the family.

Here are a few pictures Jack took while we were at the games. The blog would have been over loaded if I had put all of them on it!!

Here is Zach getting his trophy:




Here is Zach as one of the captains of the team for the coin toss (he is #22).

Here is Zach getting ready to bat:

Here is the team congratulating one of the boys after his home run: (Zach didn't get a home run but came really close - the ball bounced off the fence).

Zach batting:

Zach playing right field:

Another one batting:

We got back to Kansas City on Sunday, July 19, around 10:30 p.m. It had been a long five days as we were pretty busy the whole time we were there. Then on Monday, we left to go to Lebanon (our home town) to stay with Jack's sister-in-law as she was going to have cataract surgery early Tuesday morning and we had to drive her to Springfield for that. All went well with her surgery. We stayed with her again Tuesday night and then took her back to the doctor the next morning to remove the patch and have her eye checked out. Everything went well. So then we came back to Kansas City late Wednesday night. So we have been a busy bunch the last few weeks. So now I believe we will stay home a few days and catch up around here.

July Activities - Family & Friends

On July 4th, we went over to our friends, Linda and Frank's, to cook out and celebrate the 4th. We had a nice time and then went to the Gladstone's fireworks display.

We celebrated Emma's birthday on July 10, as her birthday (July 17) we all will be in Des Moines at Zach's baseball games. She is turning 9 which I can't believe how fast she is growing up on us. Here are a few pictures from her party:

Craig, Emma, and Maggie - watching Emma open her presents:

Chad & Bronson:

Grandma Cathy & Nico:

Shannon with Emma, Maggie and Addison:

On Friday, July 10, drove to the Lake of the Ozarks. DeAnn had called us a week or so ago, and said that some of our friends we had met in Arizona a couple of years ago were coming in for the weekend and she invited us to come over on Saturday to see them. So on Saturday morning, Bruce, DeAnn, Lavon, Don, Wendy and Rick came by to pick us up in their new pontoon boat. It was great to see everyone. We took a spin out on the Lake for a couple hours and then went back to DeAnn & Bruce's condo. We had a terrific visit with everyone - we ate, visited, went to the pool, and ate some more. What great fun!!

Here is Captain Bruce:

Don, LaVon, & DeAnn (and Lindi) on the boat ride:

Wendy, Rick & DeAnn at the table:

All of us around the table:

Hope everyone has a great week. We are headed to Des Moines, Iowa, tomorrow to go to Zach's baseball world series games. Looking forward to this. Will give you a report when we get back.