Play Ball

Baseball season has come and gone for my boys this year.  MJ played in the "Minor" league for the second year and AD played in Coach Pitch for the first time.  Both boys had a wonderful season.

It was wonderful to see MJ so excited about playing baseball again.  Last year he had a coach who only wanted to win.  Now, there is nothing wrong with winning except when you are nine and ten-year old boys, still learning to play the game and the coach only plays you in one spot all season.  What a way to boost a child's self-confidence on the field than when the coach tells you that you aren't good enough to play anything but left field.


MJ had a great coach this year and great boys on his team.  It was wonderful to see all the boys improve this year as the season went on.  Unlike last year MJ got to play all the positions on the field with the exception of Pitcher.  He looked forward to going to his games and practices and was really bummed out when the games and practices were cancelled due to weather.  There is nothing better than watching your child gain their love for a sport again.

Getting ready for the pitch

Waiting for the pitch

Swing batter

AD also really enjoyed this year's baseball season.  I remember taking him to his first practice and the coaches looking at him like he was in the wrong place.  When he told them his name the look of shock was so funny that I had a hard time keeping a straight face.  You see my children are small for their ages, but it does not stop them.  When they began batting practice, on the first pitch that the coach threw to AD, he hit it into the outfield.  The coaches were so excited they kept cheering.  See big things do come in small packages. 


 At the first baseball game of the season, AD's coach pitched the ball to him and hit him in the face with the ball.  the coach was very apologetic and went to AD right away.  He kept asking AD if he was OK.  AD kept saying he was fine, after reassuring the coach that he was fine.  AD looked at his coach and said "Could you pitch the ball already?"  After the game the Coach apologized to me for hitting him in the face.  I told him it was fine and not to worry about it, nobody was hurt.


As the season progressed AD learned so much about the game of baseball and where to go when the ball is hit to different locations.  His love for the sport grew every time he went to practice or a game.  I can't wait to see what next year's baseball season will bring for him.

AD and some teammates before the game

Getting some advice from the coach

Waiting for the pitch

Hitting it out of the ballpark

This season was an interesting one for myself and my husband.  While the boys were playing baseball we spent most of the season running between games.  The boys had games on the same day and on most days at the same time.  There were the occasional double-header games when the boys would have their games back to back. We had many picnic dinners at the ball field. Next year's baseball season should be a little easier since they will be playing baseball on opposite days.  Although we might as well camp out at the ball field since we will be there just about every night.

A Day At The Beach

Ok, so it has been a long time since I have written.  I promise to write other entries to get caught up with everything since my last post, but first.

What do you do to entertain your 10 and 7 year old boys when the temperature and heat index reaches 110 degrees and you live in Ohio?  Well, you pack up the car and head to the beach for the day.  When I told the boys that we were going to spend the day at the beach, the looks on their faces made me laugh.  MJ then told me that the beach was a two drive drive from our house.  I tried very hard to keep a straight face while telling him that, no it was only 40 minutes from the house.  The confused look on his face was precious!  I explained that Caesar's Creek State Park actually has a public beach.  MJ again said that Ohio doesn't have any beaches.  Why, yes they do, although we would be swimming in a lake instead of the ocean.  

The boys helped to get all the beach toys, towels, chairs and food gathered, all the while questioning my sanity.  At one point I overheard AD tell MJ "I think mom has lost her mind".  After the car was all packed up off we went.  When we arrived, the boys once again questioned if I had lost my mind because they couldn't see a beach in the woods.  After parking the car and getting the items we were taking with us down to the water, the boys noticed people in the water and the SAND.  "WOW, mom isn't crazy there really is a beach" that was the response from AD upon seeing the beach.

The boys couldn't put their stuff down fast enough to get in the water.  They were amazed at being able to swim in the lake and build sandcastles as well.  All three of us had the most amazing day at the beach.  AD and MJ worked together to buildsandcastles, swim and blow bubbles.  For me it was one of the most relaxing days of the summer I have had.  Nothing makes a parent happier than when their children play and get along for an entire day without a single argument.

Swimming

AD Boggy Boarding

MJ Boggy Boarding

AD Building A Sandcastle 

MJ Swimming

Working Together To Build A Sandcastle

Finished Sandcastle

On our way home from the beach both boys asked if we could go again.  you know you have found a fun summer activity when the kids ask to do it again.  What are some fun ways you have beaten the heat this summer?

Ohio Has Sea Gulls