This One Was NOT in the Parenting Manual

Carter was thrilled to make the All Star baseball team. With the big leagues comes more equipment- right up Carter's alley. This kid is a sucker for sports gear. When he found out the catchers wore full gear he was beside himself...

   

Now this part I can handle. It's what's underneath that gets complicated. All the players are also required to wear a mouthguard and cup. Guess who got to pick those out? You guessed it, Mom. 

I can't say I have ever browsed the athletic cup section of the sports store before. I had no idea there were so many choices! Where do you even begin? We decided to go with the boxers. Then it was time to choose the cup size to put inside the pouch. Size? I really have to figure this out?! The box guidelines went by age and waist size. Neither of those were at all helpful. His age has nothing to do with his size and his waist size isn't even on there. It's the same as my thigh! So what next? Maybe the names will make it obvious.... peewee junior, peewee large, youth junior.... are they serious?! I'm starting to find the whole experience embarassing. Carter on the other hand doesn't mind a bit. He is chattering away like always. Have you ever had to stand in a store and try to assess the size of your child's package inconspicuously?! There are no guidelines for this one!

We finally made our selection and he triumphantly took it up to pay. When we pulled in at home he jumped out of the car and took all his new purchases with him. While I was unloading the car, he reappeared in just his skivvies, "Okay, now do I leave my underwear on or off and what order does it all go on in?"

We figured that out, but then he wanted to try it out. After pounding on it for a while, he decided to up the ante and grabbed one of his Nerf dart guns. He handed it to Julia and said, "Here, shoot me right here." Oh my!

And just when I was wondering if this was all normal, I looked over at All Star practice and there is a dugout of 8 year old boys in a line playing on their cups like bongo drums. Apparently the novelty hasn't worn off yet and despite their talents on the field, they are still 8 year old boys.

Though I must say the mouthpieces on the other hand come with a benefit not advertised on the package. As Coach Chris likes to say, "they are big kid pacifiers". The same kids that are constantly talking, commentating, and adding their two cents are suddenly rendered speechless on the field. Maybe we're on to something here.

Ah, the life of a baseball mama... making it up as I go along. I must say I am tapping into a skill set I never knew I had. I have also found I can carry a backpack, three camp chairs, a cooler bag, and a  camera bag, while pulling a canopy tent in the brutal summer heat over gravel lots and unmowed fields- while still happily smiling.

Lovin' every minute!    

Chevy Youth Baseball Camp

Chevy has partnered with our local baseball league this year to support our kids teams. Besides their help during the season, they also offer a free baseball clinic in collaboration with our local Minor League Ball club.

The kids couldn't wait to take to the field. It made them all look so small out there!

The players were on hand to coach and work with the kids on their skills...

After fielding practice the team with fewer catches had to drop for push ups...

Thanks, Chevy and the Greensboro Grasshoppers!!

Spring Baseball Season

Carter had a great spring. He was back at it with JYL Pony League. This year playing for the Braves.

 

There were a lot of young kids on his team this year and things seemed to get off to a slow start. But just as we've seen in years past something just clicks and these kids start to amaze everyone.

 

It is one of the things I love most about youth sports and what causes me to tear up on more than one occasion watching the underdog finally get a hit or make a play, seeing all the drills finally pay off, watching a kid shock everyone... especially himself, and watching them all band together and come from behind to pull of a win or even just to narrow the gap. It amazes me what the bottom of the lineup can do with 2 outs. Carter's team was in the bottom half of their league and that actually pulled off a win to upset the undefeated leaders! Love it!!

Carter continues to develop his baseball skills. Hitting camp this winter seems to have really worked. He has become a very consistent hitter this season- batting .850. He may not have the most power, but he can get on base almost every time.

He played first baseman this year and loved the action. His broad knowledge of the game makes him such a fast thinker under pressure that he's able to make some big plays. The same kid who used to play four outs as a 3 year old in tee ball when the other kids did know what was going on, is now using that to be a great ball player. This season he made an unassisted double and an unassisted triple play!

 I wish I could say, "here's the video", but have you ever tried to tape baseball. There is way too much field to cover, the ball moves too fast, the games last over an hour and you will never have it recording at the right moment, and it becomes impossible to do while keeping the books and appeasing Julia. So if you want an instant replay you'll have to ask the little sports caster himself. He would be happy to recount it to you complete with reenactments.

And this year, we didn't face the end of the season with a long wait until the next spring because Carter was asked to try out for the All Star Tournament Team. From the 11 teams, 40 kids tried out and 13 were chosen. Carter was thrilled to be selected and we are so excited for this opportunity. Billy was also asked to help as one of the outfield coaches. It will be 'the summer of baseball' with weeknight practices and two day long tournaments every weekend. It is a great group of kids and we look forward to some awesome games. Let's Go Jamestown!!

Memorial Day Weekend with the Fam

It was a fun and full weekend of family and friends. We tried something new this year and got a sitter for all the kiddos so they could continue their backyard fun uninterrupted while the adults had a much more classy dinner. Do you know where we headed?

 

Love, Southern Roots! The food, the atmosphere, the music, the drinks, the staff...

 

 We had lots of sunshine, therefore lots of sports were played by all...

Love the time we get to spend with family...

Anderson is our resident craft guru. This child saves every little thing he gets his hand on and plans a craft around it. He will be the future host of some amazing show. I introduced him to my craft closet and he was beside himself (probably half excitement and half dismay that I've been holding out on him so long!)

And no family fun weekend would be complete with out a Feeney's run...

On Monday, everyone had gone home and Daddy had the day off so we decided to enjoy the beautiful day. We started off with a bike ride and trip to the playground.

Then we headed over to Country Park for a hike...

and visit to the Veterans Memorial. Each wall contains details of a different war. Below it are bricks with the names of those from our county who served.

The kids took it all very seriously and wanted to pay their respects. We took some time to read a lot of the history and talk about why we observe Memorial Day. We want to consciously do our part to Remember, Honor, and Teach our kids how America won its freedom and fights to protect it every day. Freedom is never free.

To Mom, With Love

You would probably guess this is Julia's door, but actually it's our master bedroom door. Every time I see it my heart just swells. It is so much more than just an art gallery.

Julia and I have had a tough few years. Sadly as a cancer mom your role as mom becomes suddenly so very complicated. In many ways it is a privilege to be by their side through everything, care for them, and offer them comfort in every way you can imagine. But it also becomes achingly painful, stressful, and hard. I hate being the one forcing her into pain, watching her suffer, and inflicting painful procedures. Just last week I had to do her tube change and granulation tissue burn. I hate seeing the fear in her eyes, hearing her plead, holding her down, and listening her screams of pain. It never gets easier to do and a little piece of my heart dies every time.

When the dust settled last year, there was so much work to be done for both of us individually and together. Being five years old is supposed to be a magical year of play, pretend, firsts, friends, and giggles. For Julia it was whole lot more of wading though baggage leftover from cancer. We have worked hard this year as a family, at Kidspath, and in prayer- and it is beginning to really show. In recent months a sparkle has begun to emerge and our relationship has begun to heal.

 

For me the flashing neon sign of this is right there on my door. My little girl with a passion for scotch tape, makes me pictures to tell me she loves me and then adheres them to the door with miles of tape.

The scars from cancer are deep and some may never heal, but around here we've found scotch tape can help patch some of them. 

Kindergarten Bible Presentation

At the end of Kindergarten, our church has a ceremony to present each child with their very own Bible. It's always a little emotional for me because I realize how fast they are growing up.

Julia has had a wonderful year with some great teachers and teens. We are so blessed to have some dear friends in the class who have made this year extra special.

It was such a precious sight to see them eagerly wait their turn, cross the stage, and sit down with their long-awaited package. I pray that spark of excitement and the joy of this gift remains always and is the beginning of a lifelong journey.

God bless you, Julia! We are so proud of the sweet young girl you are becoming.

Julia's 6th Birthday!!

Julia was so excited about her coming birthday. She has been doing a daily countdown for months. When the morning arrived she was just giddy.

We had Bible study in the morning and the kids had Awana that night, so we met Daddy for a family birthday lunch. Her request? Cracker Barrel, of course! She was thrilled to be opening all her presents, too. I don't think that happens often at CB because we had quite the audience. They even brought her free chocolate cake.

Do you see a theme?

 

I love that her only actual gift request was for lots of rainbow-colored flowers. She reminds me every time we see them in the store.

After a full day of fun, it was also the last night of Awana. You finished your first year of Sparks and finished your book- yay! And Carter completed his last year and graduates to T&T- crazy!! We headed to Feeney's with friends for some celebratory fro yo...

On Saturday, it was party time. Our little cowgirl waiting for her girlfriends to arrive...

We had a sugar cube relay...

horseshoes...

stick pony races...

and horse bingo...

Then it was time for some tasty treats.

We all loved the way her cake turned out. I loved seeing the smile on her face!

Happy Birthday sweet JuJu! It was such a perfect week of celebrating. It was such a treat to see you having fun with your friends and family. We all love you so much!!