the beatys

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ONE WORD
from Kristina

YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD!
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Packing it up from pulling weeds, I proceeded to walk into the garage when I spotted this rather large and shiny creature laid out in front of me, turning in toward the garage which was sitting wide open. His tongue twitching, I hurried to close the garage door, as he was rapidly approaching. The dogs and I flew inside and I panicked. I called our neighbor in Luke's absence to come and kill it, only to be told that he won't kill it, but will remove it. Whatever, I don't care. JUST GET IT OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY! Once he arrived, the snake had proceeded to slither away from our house, as you see in the picture, and back into the woods. Our neighbor educated me in the good of black snakes; they eat mice and keep the copper heads away. If they were to bite one of the dogs (which I asked about) it wouldn't even hurt them as they have small teeth as opposed to fangs. While we were talking, it slithered off into the woods, and I hope to God that I never ever see him again. Ever.

Still figuring it out myself, but come join me!

Happy Birthday, Ryan Cole! We love you!

Justin finished up with All Stars last night, closing out their post season at 2-2. While he never got his chance on the mound during the post season, he did manage to play third, short, second, and all the way around the outfield. He earned himself TWO game balls in only four games, and thoroughly enjoyed himself. We couldn't be more proud.

Luke is en route to his opening ceremony for his nine and ten year old major league all stars tonight in Charlottesville. They play their first game of the post season tomorrow; their first of three games prior to the double elimination. I plan to pack the boys up for yet another day at the ballpark tomorrow afternoon; only this time we will all be spectators and occupying the bleachers as a family. Well, almost. Luke will of course be with his team, but I plan to enjoy the heat with my boys by my side.

Ryan is thrilled with anticipation for his birthday party this weekend. Albeit a small one, he couldn't be any more excited for his day at the Field House. It's rather sad, really, how the second kid gets the short end of the stick. It's one thing to wear hand me downs year after year, and another thing that we have had Justin photographed about ten thousand more times than Ryan. That, is no exaggeration. Then the parties; Justin would have the Trump Extravaganza for each and every birthday he celebrated, complete with 3243214 friends and family members. Ryan? We cut back after age three, now inviting about eight friends and zero family members. Occasionally the grandparents will roll out if they're in town and not busy, otherwise it's just us and my mom.

I guess you can say we've gotten lazy when it comes to the second kid. While he still isn't wanting for a single solitary thing, he's not nearly as spoiled and pampered as Justin was. Granted, at the time, Justin was also an only child. Truly makes a difference! Just wait until Ryan starts public school and has an ass load of friends like his big brother. THEN the parties will be swinging in full force, with a bunch of rowdy elementary aged kiddos. Whose parents roll into my house when I'm not looking and steal all my shit. I CAN'T WAIT!

Having lived here for nearly seven years, we cross our fingers when we say that we have been extremely lucky when it comes to fallen trees around our home. Living on three wooded acres, we regularly rid our yard and driveway from snapped limbs and fallen leaves, and even sometimes an occasional large branch from one of several hundred trees. In years passed we have had tree guys come out and remove and top off some trees from around the pool, but we never did much more than that. We recently inquired with our homeowners insurance to see about having some additional trees removed from our property that are in close proximity to our house, only to be told that is a cosmetic procedure and not one that would be covered in our policy. Now call us when one of those trees falls THROUGH your house, and then you're in business.


This morning I went out to mow the yard before it got to be too unbearably hot. I mowed both the side and back yards, and had just turned off the leaf blower from cleaning up my mess when I heard what sounded like a whoosh, then a crash. I walked from the backyard to the gate where I found that this limb had partially snapped from the tree trunk, and was thisclose to landing on the hood of Luke's truck. Still teetering from the trunk, I quickly pulled Luke's truck away from the shed, just in case it decided to break off completely and come barreling down the roof of the shed and through his windshield. That would SO be my luck, considering I had parked his truck in that spot only about an hour prior to it snapping.

I'd have to say we've been very lucky, with this being our only large limb to fall this closely to our house or other structures. Trees get hit by lightning out in the woods all the time, and gynormous limbs litter the woods all around us. My only hope is that this is the worst that we will ever have to endure this closely to our house.

Alas, the last of our June birthdays is today. We kicked it off on the 18th with Alice's birthday, Luke's and my ten year anniversary of meeting, and what would have been Mom and Arty's 20th wedding anniversary, then moving along to the 20th with my father in law's birthday. We pulled off the surprise with gathering several friends and family to celebrate Mom's 60th on Saturday, and celebrated once more on her actual birthday on the 22nd. JC turned it up another year yesterday on the 24th, and closing out the month will be a celebration of thirty six years this evening.

After Justin's All Star game tonight, a few of us will gather here to wish Luke the happiest of birthdays. While I would like to then fall out from the exhaustion of signing so many greeting cards, I will hang in there for one more week as we prepare to celebrate Ryan's fifth birthday this Sunday. We have put together a small gathering of his closest friends for another trip to the Field House, where we will kick it up in Star Wars style. Then, after hosting one more celebration on July 5th, I will be officially dead for the summer. Respects welcome.

Wishing my husband the very best of wishes for this, his 36th year. It's sometimes hard to believe that we've been together for over ten years! We were only 23 and 26, and still that seems so long ago. I remember the second time we met, JC and I were out having some drinks for her birthday. Luke, there with his friends, asked me to dance again and from then on we were inseparable. We all, and when I say all, I mean six of us, came back to my house to have some more drinks and continue celebrating JC's birthday when Luke piped up and said that today was in fact his birthday! Starting the celebration on Friday night the 24th of June was actually JC's birthday, but the after party at 2am on Saturday morning the 25th was now Luke's birthday! I'll never forget; JC and I were all like, "uhhhhhhh well alright, let's DRINK!"

Good times. And many MANY more good times ahead of us. I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather spend them with. This man is the absolute best father to our two young sons, and he knocks my socks off each and every day. While I admit that I sometimes take that for granted, I will also admit that he and my parents are the reasons why I am such a spoiled brat. You created me, now you have to live with me. Happy birthday, my sweet man. I love you.


Let's back it up to Saturday, and the surprise of Mom's 60th birthday. With the help of Mom's closest friends and family, we managed to spiffy up what was already a beautiful shelter at the park with balloons and "60" themed decorations and completely pull off our surprise. We left to go pick up Mom for "JC's party", and returned complete with Mom toting JC's gift. And quite a useful gift it was; years ago when I still lived at home, JC and I would go out drinking and come back to Mom and Arty's house to crash. Well, there was this one time when JC had a little bit too much to drink, and inevitably barfed all over the bed she was sleeping in; comforter, sheets and all. Mom returned from work that afternoon and asked where all of the linens were from the guest bed. I explained to her that G had gotten sick, barfed all over them, and then took them home to wash. From that moment on, Mom would always put a trash can beside the bed whenever JC would crash out at our place. Sooooooo, in a massive gift bag, Mom toted to the party a plastic trash can with a bottle of Old Crow tucked away inside. When she realized the celebration was in fact in her honor, she went over to JC and said had she known, she wouldn't have bothered with a trip to the liquor store!



It was a great celebration; perfect weather, delicious food, and wonderful company. Many thanks to all who were involved with the planning and pulling it off, dating back to late February and early March. I wanted everything to be perfect, and with the exception of not having some of our family in attendance, I believe that it was. Mom wore her multiple 60's buttons on her shirt, and her Minnie Pearl like hat atop her head until she couldn't take the heat beneath it any longer. JC hooked her up with multiple 60 gag buttons and hat, and I topped her off with a blinking 60 button. You could see her coming from a mile away, and she sucked it up quite well, actually. Surprisingly enough, she didn't kill me. She had an absolute blast and was truly thankful that we thought to do this for her. I couldn't think of anybody else more deserving. That woman is absolutely amazing. And might I add, she looks damn good for 60! I hope one day I can be as lucky...

Happy Birthday once more to all of my June babies...Love you all!

Sunday night Justin played his first All Star game in his baseball career, as well as his first night game under the lights. Already an exciting event, you can only imagine what it felt like to watch your little boy play the game of his life and in the end be awarded the Game Ball. They won, of course, and after last night's game two, they are a perfect 2-0 in the All Star tournament. Games three and four will be played tomorrow and Thursday, and then his season is complete.

Couldn't have asked for anything better on Mom's birthday Sunday, then for us to sit and watch Jay make spectacular out after spectacular out, run the bases, and come running to us sitting in the outfield in possession of his very first Game Ball. Happy Birthday, Nana!!