Tuesday, June 11, 2013

We had a great spring!

Time to catch up a little on what happened this spring in the Tydlacka house...besides the big things that I already blogged about (Easter, Allie's Birthday etc)

Most days I feel like we are a household that is always on the go.  Whether it's basketball, softball, play dates, tutoring etc, the calendar VERY rarely has an empty day.  It's a great life, even on the busiest of days.

In March, Allie finished up basketball and went right into softball.  Brian (as posted recently) was Allie's softball coach this year.  Basketball was 2 nights and week.  When that ended, softball started and was 3 days/nights a week.  And...that's just 1 child in 1 sport. ;)  Softball was a lot of fun to watch, and Allie, especially towards the end of the season had some great hits and plays in the field.  Hunter knew when Daddy and Allie had their jerseys on, it was "time to see girls play."   Allie also has finished up her Daisy Girl Scout year.  Next year she will continue as a Brownie.  Most importantly is school.  I'm so proud of Allie in school this year.  Her teacher was awesome.  Allie learned so much, and her grades were excellent.  In an email her teacher wrote to me, she said she'd miss her right hand helper, and Allie's sweet shy smile, which shows me she really got to know Allie well.

Allie after her last basketball game

Getting ready for softball pledge before playing ball


End of Season

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Father/Daughter dance

Last Day of 1st grade - Allie and Mrs. Johnston


Hunter also has had some changes this spring.  He finished up Speech with Early Invention, which only goes to age 3.  He has qualified for speech with Child Find (3+ program), which will start in Sept.  He's weak in his articulation, but otherwise is right on track.  To think at Christmas I was still counting words to see if he'd made it to 50 yet, he's progress is unbelievable.  He pretty much says anything he wants to.  He's got some cute phrases like "oh wow!"  He is the most loving, caring, sweet, affectionate and any other adjective you can think of along those lines will describe Hunter.  He loves to say goodbye to things, and give a kiss before heading to something else.  His manners are so good, already with please, thank you, sorry, bless you.  He's had a great  year with meeting a new friend and staying at their house while I worked this year.  It was such a blessing to find a wonderful mom that took such great care of Hunter.  Hunter is also potty trained!!!  It took 5 days of accidents, and that's it.  Overall, wow..he's doing great.  


I wrapped up my 1st year back in the school system as a tutor in May.  It was so nice being back in the school system.  Loved every minute of it.  I've was also diagnosed in April with Graves Disease which is a hyperactive thyroid.  I'd had a lot of symptoms for thyroid problem recently, but not until it got bad did I end up in the ER with a racing heart, then to figure out the problem.  Brian will say it's always something with me.  I'm better, but still trying to get my thyroid numbers under control.  

Brian coached Allie's team and loved it.  He's a great coach and many of the kids parents were sure to let me know how great they thought he was...as do I.  Brian also ran his 1st 5K in April, and another one in May.  He's started to train for a triathlon in August.  

The race in May...Brian did 5K and we did the 1K Fun Run


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Allie's 7th birthday

Allie's birthday was 2 months ago, so I'm still trying to catch up....so here we go!

April 13th, our little girl, who's not so little anymore turned 7.  That just seems unreal sometimes, as I look back on baby and toddler pictures of her, sometimes it seems like just yesterday.  Allie is growing up to be a sweet, strong minded, loving girl.  We are so proud of her and looking forward to what year 7 has in store for us.

Allie's birthday fell on a Saturday this year, so we had all the festivities on one day.  Allie had a Mario themed birthday party this year.  She had 13 boys and girls over to the house for some Mario fun. We played find the gold coins in the backyard, Yoshi's egg, which was an egg race, and of course played the Wii, having a Mario Kart tournament!

Good Morning Birthday Girl!



Allie hunting for gold coins

This is just a small part of the awesome birthday banner Mimi made for Allie's birthday.  It was so cool!

A Mario cake for a Mario lovin' girl

friends

Happy Birthday


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

So I (*guest blogger daddy*) decided to coach Allie's softball team again this spring.  Up until now it has been T-ball.  But this year it was AA.  The girls actually pitch the first 2 innings of these games (with coach pitch mixed in so there isn't walks all the time).  Allie struggled a bit this year, and had a long slump this season.  About 6 or 7 games in a row without a hit.  She had a couple hits in the first few games but got into a bad habit of stepping way out of the batters box on her swing toward first and missing the pitch by a mile.  To give her credit, she never got down on herself or quit.  You could tell she was disappointed and kept asking if she would ever get the game ball.  Well I always give every girl on the team a game ball at some point in the year (although they don't know that is my plan).  But she was the last one in line to get it.  In the last game, Allie got 2 hits, scored a run, pitched one inning (subbing for the girl who was late stuck in traffic) and even made a play to get an out (those are rare for all the girls in this league).  So, with her breakout game, Allie got her first game ball of the season, her first season in fast-pitch softball.  Here are a few pictures of Allie from the game.

Allie getting the game ball



Allie playing first base



Allie making contact getting her second hit of the game



Allie beating out the throw to first for her second hit


Monday, May 13, 2013

Easter Fun on our street

This year right after we came back from Maine, we hosted 14 children from our street to an Easter Egg Hunt.  The morning was filled with Easter baskets goodies, play and cupcakes!

Some of the kids ready to start

Hunter's off!

Look an Egg

Allie's like lightning speed when it comes to egg hunts

Hunter quickly following in Allie's footsteps

Allie stops for a second...photo op with her buddy, Joshua


Mason (our Godson) in on the action

Got them both in the same spot after the egg hunt was over

Time to investigate!

Checking out her loot!

Cupcake time :)

The next day was Easter and Allie couldn't wait to dye Easter eggs.  Hunter at first didn't want to stop playing to come and try, but after getting him to the table, he loved it too



Hunter's 1st time dyeing eggs (on left), Allie did the ones on the right

The kids just wouldn't corporate this year for a great Easter picture at Church.  It was cold and misty rain Easter morning.  Here's the best I got!






Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Spring Break..A Trip to Maine

This year we decided to take a trip to Maine to visit Brian's mom's side of the family.  The last time we went was right after Hunter turned 1, so it had been over a 1 1/2 yrs.  We had a great reason to get in the car and go, and that was to go visit the newest member of the family, Aydriana!  Adyriana was born Jan. 15th, and is Nikki's daughter (Nikki is Brian's niece).  

We taught Hunter (kind of) how to use the head phones to watch his show

Mimi and Papa Tim drove up from Florida to come also.  We then took two days to drive up to Maine.  (14 hrs).  I know I have said and written it before, but seriously, we have the best little travelers and even our four legged friend Sky is awesome in the car too!  

In Maine, we visited lots of family.
Great Uncle Brian!

Hunter loves his Papa Tim!

Hunter wouldn't sit still to get a good pic with Great Grammy, but they are watching for the school bus here

Great Grammy got a computer at 80!  4 generations here

Allie teaching Grammy a thing or two 

Allie and Ethan at the Children's Museum in Augusta

Hunter serving up some pizza...if only he ate what he served

Cousins..Ethan, Hunter, Ashton and Allie

Aunt Tracy for Hunter a new toy

Tracy, Nikki and Aydriana

We had a great visit.  However it's still cold in Maine at the end of March and very Muddy!  I think our next visit will be summer time.  Love you all!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Papa's Birthday

I remember when I was a little girl and my mom and her brother Terry and families surprised my granny on her 75th.  I was just a little girl, but remember that day pretty clearly.  

I wanted to make another special memory like that, so we surprised my dad on his 75th birthday, which was March 5th.  

43 people gathered at a local restaurant in Lynchburg.  Dad knew we were going out to dinner for his and Joey's birthday but little did he know that so many of his friends and family were waiting for him!  The look of surprise is one I'll never forget.

I love you Dad!  Thanks for being such a wonderful part of my life, and an awesome papa to my little ones. They are lucky to have you.

Happy Birthday!

Joey, Marshall and Kate

Me and Dad

Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday to Joey and Jane
Dad and some of his siblings

Dad and Kids

Dad and some of the grandkids