Stay in your stance, Dirtbag.

Opening day of Dexter Little League was today. Sadly, it was cold, windy, rainy and just down right miserable. But, there we were supporting our dearest Dirtbag! Nate "made" a t-ball team and somehow got lucky enough to get on the coolest team ever. The coach had the opportunity to choose from any college baseball team name and apparently he couldn't resist the Long Beach State Dirtbags. This is no misnomer, I tell you. During the parade this morning, the parents of the team were all wondering if we should have gone with the clowns or hooligans because our kids were bonkers! As all of the other teams dressed in their uniforms organized into neat lines and stood quietly with their coaches holding banners that displayed their team name and team pride, our team ran amok and got filthy dirty. We were proud though and had the loudest cheering section! And, not only is Nate on the coolest team. He has the great responsibility of wearing one of the coolest jersey numbers too. He's #1! We will not believe the gibberish that it has anything to do with being the youngest on the team or having his name be at the beginning of the alphabet. He's #1! He hit well. Got a little distracted in the outfield today and was caught playing in the dirt and practicing his swinging, but otherwise a great start for the season. And, even though they technically don't keep score...we totally smoked the Redbirds!

Kalahari '10

We've made an annual tradition with the immediate Neuenschwander gang of gathering at a relatively local watering hole, or as we call it these days, a mega waterpark. We've dabbled and tried to mix it up going to different places that will remain nameless in attempt not to give bad press but we've come to realize that we are waterpark snobs. There is no shame in this really. We will only settle for the best. And even though a caramel apple should never cost anywhere near $6, a swim up bar for the adults is definitely the best. So, we took on Kalahari this year the weekend following Easter. Of course not thinking that this would be the tail end of many 'o spring breaks. The place was, needless to say, off the hook! We managed to have a great time despite the crowd. Don't let that first picture with no one in the background make you think otherwise. That picture was taken in the early morning as soon as the park opened up. There we were, ready to scavenge for lawn chairs and swimming laps in the wave pool! Everyone came home wet, tired and intact. And, that is all that matters.

Every-bunny loves Easter!

The Neuenschwander Grandkiddos. From left to right: Zack (7), Nate (4), Molly (3), Kendall (5), Tessa (2). This is taken moments before they tore outside to find easter eggs chock full of money and candy all over the lawn and hidden in odd places.

We spent Easter in Ohio doing the usual Easter things like egg hunting and overindulging.Here's the kids sorting their loot.The Easter Bunny is tricky with Nate and Tessa. But she did manage to find and fill their baskets while they were at Gramma Char's and Papa Kenny's house. The kids leave their baskets out to be filled and, if they are good, of course, as the Easter Bunny has been "watching" while Santa is on siesta following Christmas, they will awake to the many prizes of Easter. The Bunny hides their baskets full of treats. Along with stickers and too much candy, some of the other Easter profits included baseball cards, a new bungee cord and some pumpkin seeds to plant for Nate. Tessa found lots and lots of big girl undies, a new purple water bottle, and books in her basket too.

Cousin Cole is CINCO...army-guy style!

Cousin Cole had an awesome modern warfare bowling party for his fifth birthday this year. Now who would have thought that combination would make a good time?! We learned that Nate and T have inherited their mother's extraordinary bowling skills and they both broke 100 (and beat Aunt Shannon!)! Cousin Cole is quite talented and we are negotiating with him to go on the King Pin Tour with his Aunt Jen. We think Cole's secret weapon, besides his incredible charm and adorable good looks, is his electric pink bowling ball!

Confusion of a Midwestern Spring.

Does this picture capture the confusion of a midwestern spring or what? Tessa is wearing a bikini with her winter jacket all the while snacking on some raspberries. Nate is sporting a winter skull cap and long sleeve shirt paired with swimming trunks (you cannot see the trunks in the picture.) This picture is taken while it is really sunny and appealing outside yet still only a ripe 43 degrees. Here's to the next snow fall in April, cuz we all know it's gonna happen...especially since Troy removed the chains and plow from the tractor today!