{baseball and watermelons}

Nothing says summer like watermelon.....cookies?

Gerard's baseball team made the playoffs this year and they ended up coming in 3rd. There was a bit of controversy over whether his team should have played in the championship game for 1st/2nd place or in the runners-up game to determine 3rd/4th place. In the end they played for 3rd/4th (but should've been playing for 1st/2nd). I think it worked out better anyway, because they would have gotten CRUSHED by the 1st place team who hadn't lost a game all season. Instead they beat out their opponent in a great game, and ended the season on a high note. We're proud of all the boys on the team!

I hope all the fathers out there have a great father's day, especially the ones in my life. Happy Father's Day, Dad, Gerard, Granpa G and Poppy!

{last day of 2nd grade}

Like I said in yesterday's post, I really cannot believe that Gerard is now a 3rd grader. When did that happen?!? Of course I took the obligatory pictures yesterday to compare how much he's changed since his first day of 2nd grade. Take a look...

And HERE he is in September on his first day of school.

Here are my latest cookies, too. The birthday boy is turning 7 and wanted pirate ships. I made 2 extra cookies just for the fun of it. I think they turned out cool and would love to do the skull and crossbones for someone someday, too.

{it's officially summer!}

I can't believe I have a 3rd grader in the house!!! Today was Gerard's last day of 2nd grade. Boy, does time fly! Here are some pictures of the end-of-year festivities.

ExCel Expo, where he showcased his invention:

Field Days:

Ice Cream Social:

Baseball playoffs. Gerard's team won their 2 playoff games. (Actually they won the first game and won the 2nd because the other team had to forfeit. Depending on another game tomorrow, they may have to play a tie-breaker, otherwise they are in the championship game on Friday!)

Soccer is over, but I wanted to post this picture to show some of the storm damage we had here. A terrible storm rolled through a couple weeks ago -- it wasn't a tornado, but left just as much damage. The area where Gerard plays soccer was hit pretty hard, as evidenced by the damage in this photo:

Last but not least, Morgan has been doing AWESOME at swimming. Just a few months ago she was afraid to get in the water, but now she gets in happily. She started by using a "cube" on her back and holding onto a noodle. Now she regularly swims without the noodle and this week she even swam ALL BY HERSELF (with the instructor right next to her). Way to go, Morgan!

That about catches us up. Today I worked on some pirate ship cookies that just may be my favorites yet. I should have pictures tomorrow! Have a great night!

{cookies galore}

Well, in addition to end-of-the-school-year activities like baseball playoffs, all star tryouts, ExCel Expo, 2nd grade Field Days, ice cream social, soccer games, etc, etc, I've also been baking a lot of cookies. I've had a pretty steady stream of orders lately and I'm happy to say I'm still enjoying it! Here are the latest....

Books for Ma and Dad's book club:

A mom of one of Gerard's friends works part time at the intermediate school here and she wanted thank you cookies for the office staff. She saw the cookies I did for Nadine's nurses and asked for those:

Baseball gloves and balls for Gerard's team. I have an order for baseball gloves and balls for a girls' tee-ball team and those will be the same but with pink stitching.

My current project is pirate ship cookies for a boy's 6th birthday. I will have those done in a few days.

I also promise to have some pictures of the kids soon, too. :)

{soccer and stuff}

Gerard has played baseball and hockey for years. He has played tennis for the last 3 summers and has expressed an interest in lacrosse and golf. He clearly chooses his sports based on the size of the stick he can carry. This year, however, he asked us if he could play soccer instead of spring hockey. Turns out he is really good at it and is really enjoying it. Here are a few shots from last weekend's game....

In other news, Gerard had to invent something for ExCel (his gifted and talented class). He had some grand ideas, but in the end it had to be something he could actually make HIMSELF. He had to plan the design, determine his target consumers, build it, develop a logo, a print ad and a radio/tv ad.

So..... I am proud to introduce you to Gerard's Glowing Gardening Tools. For the gardener who doesn't have time to garden during the day. Garden at night!

And last but not least, Nadine asked me to make some thank-you flower cookies for the nurses who cared for her after her appendectomy. It was my first real order that I shipped and I hope they get there in one piece!