Heard This Song....

...as I drove to work this morning. I've always loved it, but this time of year it always gives me goosebumps. For those of you who have never been here on a Saturday in September, October or November - please enjoy this video. The football team may be the "stars", but the band deserves the "Best Supporting Oscar". (If you chose to watch this video, please arrow down my sidebar and turn off my music player so it doesn't interfere).

As for us, the coolers are icing down, the taco dip has been made and the lawn chairs are in the car. Friends are coming in from Arizona and Chicago and our nephew is coming from St. Louis. Bobby and his friends will be "setting up shop" by 8:00 for a 3:30 game. The forecast says "sunny and 77 degrees". Looks like the perfect day to share our love of the Irish with family and friends.

Three Days to Go....

...and it's already here. Came back from lunch, and there it is "hovering" over the campus.

I.U. Volleyball.....

Next weekend we'll get the chance to see our niece, Annie play at Valparaiso. She's a middle blocker for the IU Volleyball team. Last season, she earned the honor of Big 10 Defensive Player of the Week on September 23. Hopefully over the next few months, we can travel to Purdue and Michigan State to see her in action. Her parents (who live near St. Louis) have a lot further to travel in order to see her play.

http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/moddrell_annie00.html

A New Look...

As we anxiously prepare for another season of Notre Dame Football (and the hype over WHO the starting quarterback will be on Saturday), I can't help but reflect on last year and how it's going to take some getting use to not seeing Number 10 on the field. Sounds like he's really been impressing the Cleveland Browns coaching staff, and I'm sure he will be in that starting spot before long. Found these photos today - looks like the "college boy" is gone and the "professional athlete" has emerged.

I'm still a little partial to this look.....

Happy Birthday Little Brother.....

42 years ago today, I became a BIG sister!!!! We've shared so many wonderful memories through the years and I look forward to sharing LOTS more. I love you Frank!!!!

Baby Girl Knight....

...has a new pink bedroom. Today, her mommy and her daddy and her Aunt Carrie painted while Grandma tried to keep Nolan, Grace and Jack under control. When they were finished, Nolan and Grace got to add a couple of swipes with the paint rollers - just to say they "helped". Now Angela and Bobby can finish the room with all of the items they received at the shower last week and they'll be ready to welcome their little girl. Just four more weeks to go - and not nearly soon enough for Angela!! This evening, Bobby called to tell us that Angela's mother arrived with a new crib and dresser and they were getting the room ready. So, I hopped in the car and drove back to the house. Bobby and his friend Ryan had the crib assembled and the women took over. We hung window toppers, put up the wallpaper border and finished the room with all the trimmings. We were on a mission - and we completed it!!!

A Rainy Week

I think it's rained here the entire week. The retention pond across the street from our house has been dry all summer and now it's threatening to spill over into the street. The St. Joe River is higher than I've ever seen it - looking very muddy and "angry". We lost a tree at the corner of our house in the wind storm on Thursday night. Kind of sad having to cut it down yesterday, since I remember planting it as just a "little thing" 20 years ago.

Colleen, Jimmy and Ben are on their way to St. Louis for a few days to visit with family. She called a little while ago to tell me that it has rained so much near Chicago, that the eastbound lanes of I. 80/94 were flooded and the traffic was backed up for an estimated seven miles. Luckily, they were in the westbound lanes. She said that they had hoses and pumps trying desperately to clear away the water and that there was only one exit ramp trying to handle all the traffic.

The Latest....

Now that softball is done and I have my life back, I'm actually accomplishing something in my scrapbook room. These photos are of Carrie's kids - taken last October. So.....now, I'm ONLY 10 months behind. I'm catching up!!!!

The More Photos I See.....

...the more I realize that we will probably not be visiting Costa Maya on our cruise in April. Five years ago, this area was nothing but jungle. The cruise lines came in, spent a fortune and turned this area into a tropical mecca - shopping, food, tours, etc. Hurricane Dean came through on Tuesday and turned it back into a deserted jungle area. My memories are of happy tourists, friendly people and unbelievable beauty - all destroyed. This photo was taken on December 6th, 2006 - from our ship balcony.

...and the view today.

....and the pier taken from our balcony window in December and what's left of it now.

The area in the foreground is where our ship docked (on the right of the pier). A Royal Caribbean ship was parked on the left. The long broken section in the background is what what we walked down to get into the shopping area. And here we are - just nine short months ago - standing on that pier in front of our ship.

Birthday Month...

August has been a busy month for birthdays - and we're not through yet. We started off the month with my birthday and my mother's - just three days apart. This week we celebrated Kevin's. Bob's mother's birthday is this weekend and next week is my brother's. And....it's not going to get much better in September and October. In fact, we don't see a birthday reprieve until November!!!!

It's Not Good.....

I took this picture in December - early morning as we sailed into the port of Costa Maya. This is the one and only pier, where the cruise ships line up and the tourists disembark for a day of relaxation in this Mexican paradise.

This is the photo posted today on the internet - following Hurricane Dean's direct hit on Costa Maya. The pier is now broken into several sections and long portions are missing completely. Amazing to think what wind and water can do.

According to Costa Maya's Director of Sales and Marketing, approximately 50% of the port's infrastructure, including the cruise ship pier has been damaged. An early estimate indicates that the port will be closed for six to eight months. We were scheduled to visit here in April - a little over seven months from now. This was our favorite stop on our December cruise and I truly hope that the damage can be repaired by April. There is no industry here. The people rely on tourism brought about by the cruise lines. Without the pier, there are no cruise ships and without the ships, there are no tourists. I pray for a speedy recovery for this little piece of paradise and the people who live here.

Grace and Minnie Mouse

...still making my way through last year's photos. Here's Gracie with Minnie Mouse. Quite a change from the previous year when she wanted NOTHING to do with any of the characters.

Hurricane Dean and Costa Maya

Well, we’re supposed to spend Wednesday of our cruise week relaxing on the beach and sipping margaritas at Uvero Beach in Costa Maya – but as of today, Hurricane Dean is wreaking havoc on this beautiful little coastal community. These areas take so long to rebuild – who knows what we’ll find there come April.

From the National Hurricane Center Website – August 21, 2007:

Reports from a U.S. Air Force hurricane hunter plane indicate that the eye of Dean made landfall near the cruise ship port of Costa Maya or Majahual around 3:30 this morning CDT. The hurricane was intensifying right up to the moment of impact.

These were the views we were able to enjoy just eight months ago. Kind of makes you wonder what’s left?

Happy Birthday Kevin

Twenty years ago this morning, I became the mother of six. Kevin Albert Sullivan Knight was born sometime in the middle of the night. (After seven kids, you kind of lose track of the exact hour and minute). He was named for my father and his paternal great-grandfather. Tonight, we'll all be celebrating at Hacienda. We love you Kevin - you make us proud every day of your life!!

Playground Layout....

Completed this layout last night - one of Grace from last summer. I have two Disney layouts (with Grace) pending in my workspace. Need to get those completed before they head back to Disney World in a few weeks - and I have NEW ones to do.

Two Weeks From Today.....

....let the fun begin!!!! We'll be tailgating bright and early in the White Field north of campus. Food will be plentiful, as will a few alcoholic beverages including Apple Pucker (Leprechaun Juice). The corn hole game will be set up and the challenges will be on. The television will be placed carefully on the tailgate of Bobby's truck. Our faces will be painted with shamrocks, we'll be dancing some Irish Jigs, and I'm sure a few Hail Mary's will be said as the Irish face off against Georgia Tech in the first game of the 2007 season. This is life in South Bend from September through November.

Summer Shades

This week's completed layout. Photo taken LAST Labor Day. (I told you I was nearly a year behind!) This is a TOTAL scraplift. Saw the layout in a magazine and had the perfect photo of Ben wearing mommy's sunglasses. AND OF COURSE, I see a typo - I have it dated 2007 instead of 2006. That's what I get for being SO FAR BEHIND!!!!

Baby Shower

On Saturday, we will celebrate with Bobby and Angela as we look forward to the birth of their still unamed baby girl. I spent my lunch hour at Baby Depot, in the midst of "Tropical Punch" - Angela's theme. I made a dent in the registry as I picked up lots of items for their room decor. I don't remember this stuff being so cute when I decorated for five baby girls. They moved into a new house just last week, so Bobby has a month to get that bedroom looking like this....

Merry Christmas....

Our children have given us our Christmas gift - two tickets (on our anniversary - December 15th) to see "Phantom of the Opera" at the Cadillac Palace Theater in Chicago. We are both thrilled and can't think of a better gift!! I've always dreamed of going to New York and seeing it on Broadway - well, this is the next best thing. Add to that a nice dinner and an overnight stay at the Hotel Monaco - and it's just pretty darn near PERFECT!!

The Rewards of "Grandmotherhood"

....three of my rewards!!!!

Scrapbooking Goals

I have to set some scrapbook goals for myself - since I'm nearly a year behind on my family album. I wouldn't be so far behind if I hadn't done an entire cruise album!!! I have my Design Team assignments and a high school album that I've been hired to complete - and then my own stuff. So my goal is to complete 3 layouts per week. That's one during the week and two on the weekend. I can do this!!!!! Last weekend, I completed three layouts - "PLAY HARD" for the Design Team....

...and "I RULE THE POOL" and "TROPHIES" for my family album. Now, I'm only 11 months behind!

Where Did the Summer Go???

I realize that school is starting two weeks earlier this year and I'm sure we'll appreciate it next May - but right now, it's hard to send Kelli back to school tomorrow.

It really seems like she had no summer vacation and I'm sure that's due to softball. She started playing in March with her high school team. As soon as school ended, she had summer ball with her high school team and played on a traveling team - which then sent her into All-Stars and we all know where that led. She finished last Wednesday on a field in Akron, Ohio - nearly six months straight. On Saturday, she left with her friend Katie and her family to go to their lake cottage and she'll be home later today. After spending a week with her in Akron, I really missed having her around the past few days.

So, tomorrow she'll walk through the doors of Clay High School as a sophomore. Let the FUN begin!!!!

http://www.sbcsc.k12.in.us/clayhigh/default.html

Close - But No Cigar

Kelli and I are just getting home this afternoon - after a week in Akron, Ohio. We came oh so close, but just couldn't pull off the final win against the team from Ohio. Our final record at the Midwest Regionals was 5 and 1. Ohio is now on their way to Seattle for the Little League Junior Softball World Series. They were an awesome team and very deserving of the title.

I couldn't be prouder of our girls. We defeated Michigan, the HOST team from Ohio (which were last year's Regional Champion), Wisconsin, Missouri and Illinois. The weather was NOT our friend - losing a day and a half to rain, which played havoc with our pitching staff and when the rain stopped, the weather was unbelievably HOT and HUMID. The facility we played in (Firestone Stadium) was beautiful and first class all the way. How many girl's softball games have you been to where they use SIX umpires? The following photos are from Tuesday and Wednesday's games - against Wisconsin, Illinois (which we won in 9 innings) and the final game against Ohio. A high point for the girls was having Ray Snyder (our park president) drive to Ohio on Tuesday and see our game against Wisconsin. And the saddest part for the girls was having him call them yesterday after their loss and via a speaker phone tell them how proud he was of each and every one of them. I don't think there was a dry eye among them. As for Kelli and I, it was an experience we'll always remember - but it's good to be home!!

Update From Akron....

Found access to a computer at Kelli's hotel, so I thought I'd post a quick update. We won on Saturday night - 13-0 over the team from Michigan. Kelli went 3 for 4 with two RBI's. Yesterday - it rained the ENTIRE day and now everything has been pushed back a day. Today, we played the Ohio HOST team and won 3 - 1. I was actually on the phone with Kevin (who was calling for an update) when Kelli hit the ball to the right field fence for a double. As of noon today, we were done so Kelli and I spent the afternoon shopping for school clothes. Now, it's off for some swimming and a cookout with Shelby Reser's family (who lives here). Tommorrow - no time for fun. We have two games - at noon and at 5:00. We have to win ONE of those games to make it to the final four on Wednesday. They have a great professional photographer here at the tournament. He has been taking the most awesome CLOSE UP photos during the games and they are available for view immediately following the game. I've already purchased four - but they're $10 each or four for $25 - so I just HAD to buy FOUR!!! The best part is that we can go to his website when we get home, view the photos and order more then - including mousepad, luggage tags, posters, etc. ............signing off from a very hot and muggy OHIO.

I've Changed My Mind...

I'm not waiting until Sunday to drive to Akron. I'm packing my suitcase and my coolers today and I'll be on my way tomorrow morning - arriving in time for the first game tomorrow evening. Birthday's aren't important and at this point in my life, I don't really want to count anymore of them anyway. So when it comes right down to it, the best birthday present I can have is to be in Akron, watching Kelli and the rest of her team. I'm sure I can find a few parents to share a drink with!!!

On Her Way...

Kelli has left with her friend and teammate Shelby Reeser and her mom Chris. They left a day early because Shelby's sister lives in Akron and they will have a day to visit before they meet up with the rest of the team and coaches tomorrow afternoon, for the Opening Ceremonies and Dinner. They will play their first game on Saturday evening against the Michigan team. I'll be leaving early on Sunday morning and will be there for the afternoon game against the Host team from Ohio. I'm sorry to have to miss that first game (but my husband has a little birthday party planned for me and I guess it wouldn't be cool if I didn't show up). I'm really looking forward to joining the rest of the parents in the stands to cheer on our girls on Sunday and Monday - and HOPEFULLY into Tuesday and Wednesday. Not sure I'll have computer access to update my BLOG, so if you just can't wait for me to get home and post results, you can always check the scores at http://www.sbregional.com/.

It Won't Be Long....

By the end of the week, we'll be on our way to Akron, Ohio for the Midwest Regional tournament - the last hurdle to make it to the World Series in Seattle, Washington. Daily practices are occuring in 90 degree heat, the parents have coordinated hotel rooms and coolers, directions and schedules have been printed.

The Regional Tournament has a great website with photos and rosters posted for each team. They will also update scores daily and photos taken throughout the tournament. If you'd like to check it out or stay in touch with how we're doing, the link is http://www.sbregional.com/. Please keep these smiling faces in your prayers over the next week - not so much for success, but for their safety as they journey.