I wanna go fast!

Saratoga is known for it's historical, beautiful, and excitement filled horse track. But, there's another track in town too. 

Many a Friday night growing up our Capuano Ford Bronco brought us to the Middletown raceway in NY.  I have many memories of a dirt track with the racing noises and body thundering vibrations of modified stockcars.  This past Friday night I returned to my roots.  Rowan and I joined my parents at Albany Saratoga Speedway just around the corner in Malta, NY. Nothing has changed, it's still pure fun!

Got kids who love excitement? Looking for family firendly fun? Then grab your ear plugs and get to your local speedway.  OK...maybe not every Friday night but at least once!

Pure joy on my father's face.

Rowan was excited by all the action, especially any action to send the caution flag up.

Pops talking all about the cars.

 

Lolly and I giggled the entire night!

Celebrating Someone Special

There is a lot to celebrate in June, July, and August.  This month, among the many birthdays and anniversaries we made sure to celebrate a special young lady, Miss Emmeline.  Emmeline is instrumental in helping all us Ballston Babes.  She's a friend, a wonderful mothers' helper, and a caring babysitter to the children.

Happy Birthday Emmeline! Here's to another year of a beautiful life!

Celebrating at The Iron Roost

Emmeline with all her 'charges'!

Life's a Beach!

 The Sr. Rudnicks, Pintos, Carolin, and us Jr. Rudnicks crashed Beach Haven this summer for a week on Long Beach Island. What a beautiful week in a beautiful place. 

The beach was the recreation and food, sleep, etc. just had to fit around it. We were at the beach in wind, rain, sun, extreme heat and storm.

 The cousins: Evangeline, Kyle, Tyler, Connor, Rowan

 LBI had lots of Baywatch moments!

Good thing these lifeguards are on duty :)

 Finding a coconut washed onshore was a big moment for the boys!

 Fish faces! Local fisherman bury their fresh catch till it's time to pack up.

  Lots of digging, lots of sandcastles,....and lots of burying!

Connor

Kyle

 And of course, what would beach life be with out some surfing!

What a wonderful way to start summer off with a BANG!

Around...

'Photo management' is often a to-do on my weekly calendar ('blog' is also there but unfortunately that doesn't always make the priority list). I file pictures from our camera and my camera phone by month in that years' folder.  There are two very common categories for each month: around the house, around town.  Here's a glimpse of each of those for the spring.

Crafting at the Wonder Room

The plumber fixing our bathroom drain

Lolly reading a good night story to the two

Beach blanket bingo at school

Fun with sidewalk paint

A crash nap

Playing with friends outside

 

Evangeline, showing off her handmade bracelets, at her friends' tea party

On the soccer field

   A friend of mine and fellow blogger, #suburbangal,  just posted, " I had no time to blog because we were too busy actually living." So true! There's so much living going on we'd need a camera crew to follow us around each day. See you around...

Mother's Day Tea

Our Church Mouse Nursery School puts on a sweet tea time hosted by the children to honor their mothers. 

  Rowan greeted me with a yellow carnation, sat me at his table, and served me finger foods and punch.  He made my place mat, picture frame, and card. The children all sang songs to the moms and Rowan told me just how much he loved me. Priceless!

Our tea table

Proud Mama and her Ballston Babe

 

Rowan with his teacher, Mrs. Rowe

 

 

 Although you can dress him up you still can't take him out!

Michigan in May

In the air and enjoying the ride. The children are awesome travelers. Grand Rapids here we come!

Nothing but smiles once Jill and I are together :)

Let the games begin!

Time together with cousins begins in the mud.

Reese, Ellis, Rowan, Evangeline, Jenna (in birth order)

 T-Ball and Baseball Time

 And of course, lots of eating!

What a joy to spend time together just livin' life.  See you again soon!

A Goodbye Sendoff

Playgroup & church friends: R, D, Evangeline, S, A, Rowan

 Our time with the Champion-Terrell Family was a blessings. This past month we had to start saying our goodbyes.  KCT, W, S, and D are off to have a fantastic life in Indiana and we wish them the best.  No one leaves BSpa without a proper send off (especially from this Ballston Babe) and unfortunately we've had lots of practice saying goodbye to friends.

 Our sentimental gift for S &  D was also a way for us to remember them: canvas hand print art for everyone's wall. I painted each little one's hand, they made their hand print on canvas, and then after they all dried I wrote their names below their hand.  Six beautiful works of art were finished in the hour and are proudly hanging in each on of the children's rooms.





Our practical gift for S & D was a "Keep in Touch" box filled with: paper, envelopes, stamps, pencils, and photo-personalized address labels. Anytime S & D want to send us a 'note' or art work they've created they can sign, seal, and it'll be delivered.
 

Words and pictures alone don't capture the beauty of these friends but their imprints they've left on our hearts will last forever. Blessings Champion-Terrells!

Kristen, S, D, and Evangeline

Colleen and Kristen