Flashback to June

Alivia loves to go to games with Daddy. She'll get out her glove and ball and want to play catch. Maybe next year we'll have to try T-Ball! :)

Our Little Fish!

I didn't realize I was still recording so you get to see the bottom of the pool too! :) Alivia just loves to swim...she can't be at the pool enough!

A Hot July

Craig's bday is July 13th...the same day as the All-Star Game this year. We had a very crowded room at Pujols 5 and enjoyed some food, drinks and friends. I hope you had a wonderful bday, Craig! Your girls love you!
The below picture was actually taken by Alivia!

Craig's hero, Roberto Clemente, even joined us for the celebration!

We rarely get a family photo!

Love this picture!

Daddy's girl

A couple of our fun friends! I don't think we have a picture of Jeff that is "normal"! :)

Alivia took this one too! Aunt B is ready for her close up!

Below you will find the wasp nest I put my hand in while trying to move the chair (I didn't know it was there, obviously). I think I got 2, maybe 3 or 4 stings! HURT!

The girl cousins on the Heller side of the family (Alivia, Molly, Libby, Lucy)

Alivia's cousin, Jada, turned 3! It was a great time! All the kids were so adorable with their hula hoops! (Jada has her back to the camera)

For Father's Day, Alivia and I made a collage for Craig with some of the pictures being Alivia in Craig's jersey and hat (thanks, Chrissy). The collage is great! I don't think this picture made the cut, but I liked it!

Alivia and Craig showing off their "Cardinal finger" before they went off to a game! That's special time for them...they both love it so much!

Alivia loves her doggie! She tries to hug her but Emma just runs more than not. Here is one of the moments Emma stayed around and it turned out great (in my opinion)

Let's see...what's been going on at the Ball home.

Alivia is starting pre-school on Aug. 1. She'll actually start out in the 2 year old room and then move to pre-school when she turns 3 or if they think she's ready for it. She's very excited!!! We love her babysitter, but it's time for her to be with more kids her age and in a school environment! Our little girl is growing up so quickly!!!

Our condo is on the market...along with 14 others in our neighborhood. We're not giving up, but it doesn't look too good! We'll see...it's in God's hands now! I just wish someone could come clean it up every day for me! Maybe He can send one of His Angels!

Craig and I had a failed IVF in June. Guess #2 wasn't meant to be right now. Who knows what the future holds. We're so blessed to have Alivia so maybe that's the plan! :) Thanks to all those who were praying for us!

Alivia LOVES the pool! She's a little fish! We don't have pix b.c it's usually either Craig or myself taking her and we don't have the extra hands! I need a waterproof one! She jumps in by herself now with her water wings on. She'll kick and put her face in too! She's just a little swimmer! I hope she'll continue this way and it will be an easy conversion from water wings to swimming one day!

Other than that, we're just working and playing and enjoying our friends and family!

God Bless!

A quick pictorial

Do I have alot to catch up on or what? I've got pictures here from Mother's Day, Nana's Bday, Father's Day, Baseball Games, Tumbling, Baby Shower and playing in Alivia's little pool. I haven't even added July yet!

Alivia LOVES tumbling on Saturday mornings at Team Central. This is one of her teachers, Ms. Jamie, whom we both like very very much! We have so much fun! Craig loves taking her too! He's been a couple times when he's not working! I'm hoping we continue in the fall. I think we only have a few more sessions left this summer...maybe 3. You should see her front roll!!! She's a pro!

LOVE this picture of Alivia and my mom. My mom came over one day to help while I was unable to do alot. Someone was looking at our condo so we ran over to the park. Just LOVE this one! :) Maw Maw and Alivia

I had to be quiet b.c her fishy were sleeping! SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Happy Bday Nana

Just enjoying downtown...this was probably May, but not sure.

Our dancing princess on Mother's Day. We were at Nana and Papa's house

No, she's not telling you her age...She's promoting Peace in the world!

Tickle Bug!

I've wanted to take Craig to Southern Illinois since I met him. I just love it there! It's so beautiful! Well, due to unfortunate circumstances we were able to make the trip a couple times in 1 week. Craig had a past work friend that lost her battle to cancer and my SIL grandfather died at 99 years old. He missed his 100th by 2 months. God bless.

This is Alivia waiting for Craig while he was in the service. Her patience wore out after the 2 hour car ride. She was still wonderful though! We then drove to Carbondale...Home of the Salukis! Go Dawgs!! We stopped at one of the pizza places I used to go to when I went to school there! Quatros looked EXACTLY the same! It was even the same as when my brother used to frequent the place! We had some good pizza and I got to reflect!

Livvy now likes to say "CHEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE" when you take her pic!

We then journeyed to Giant City State Park...a place I would go study and relax and have fun during college. I was sort of sad b.c "spring cleaning" hadn't started yet so the place looked a little less impressive than my memories, but it was still beautiful

My mom grew up in Southern IL and my g'pa was a very well respected Engineer. This water tower was designed and built by Gramps. It was state of the art in its day and still serves as an attraction in the park. People climb it regularly and can see for miles and miles. It's so beautiful to look around at nature from that perspective!

Craig decided he could make the trip carrying Alivia to the top. I think he thought differently when he got up there, but it was great being able to share this with my family! I've always been very proud of it and the family connection.
Southern IL was a little behind St. Louis as far as spring is concerned. In St. Louis, all the trees would probably had a full set of leaves by then! :)
We made it to the ground safely!

We stopped at the park for a little bit, but to be honest, there wasn't much for Alivia to do there so we ventured on to something way more fun!THE STABLES!!!!!!!

Here Alivia is just playing with the stable dog while waiting to meet her horse she's going to ride!
Meet Magic! He was the perfect pony (besides the "pit stop") He and Alivia just "fit". Our little equestrian did just wonderfully! We were so proud of her! She was a champ...like she'd ridden several times before! I know she's a little young to remember it, but we'll remind her and show her pix b.c it was definitely a memory for the books!
It was a long day but full of new and exciting things! I bet she's dreaming "Magical" dreams! :)