Baseball Mom

am i an idiot, or what?

I just got back from BigLots with the kids.  What was I thinking?  I woke up thinking that we'd go out and get them some water shoes for camping and the canal, and maybe look for some rafts since our campsite next week is right on the beach.  I didn't think about the fact that 1) they are constantly arguing, just for the sake of bitching at each other, 2) they can not keep their hands off of each other, 3) they ask for the stupidest stuff, just for the sake of asking, and 4) Alex NEVER shuts up.  I mean, the stream of chatter is endless!  Last night, he was tired, whiny, and crabby, and he drove us crazy--even Coach, who is not with him ALL DAY like I am!  He feels the need to control everyone's every move, especially his brother.  Sometimes I have to tell him to just BE QUIET AND MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS!  We accomplished our mission, and I was glad that I took them to try the water shoes on, because they are nowhere near the sizes that they wear in shoes!  Last year, I bought them on my own, and they were way too big, this year, T needed a size bigger than his shoe size, and Alex needed a size smaller.  Whatever.  It is super hot outside, or I'd make them go and stack wood like Coach wants them to!  Our pool is out of commission, so we only have the sprinkler, and I am planning to sit in front of the a/c for awhile and watch the eleventy million shows I have on the dvr.  It drives coach nuts that I tape all of these shows, like "the 220 lb. tumor" or "I am my own twin".  Hahaha, that's why I tape them, so I can watch them alone without anyone saying how dumb they are!  Last night I bbq'd chicken on the charcoal bbq, and I ROCKED it!  It was awesome, if I do say so myself.  So was the zucchini I bbq'd.  We had jasmine rice with it, and it was great!  Saturday we leave for the canal house for a night, for the 4th.  It's fun-there's a reservation right up the road that gives good deals on fireworks, and the kids can light them off the end of the dock.  It should be warm, so they can spend the day in the water, once the tide comes in.  Last time, T was on a raft, and a baby seal came up under him and nudged his hand.  So cool!

lazy days

We're slipping easily into the carefree routine of summer.  This weekend was kind of a stay-at-home, lazy weekend, with sun, yard work, and relaxing on the deck with a book.  We bbq'd some AWESOME burgers that were super easy to make, ate on the deck, and sat out talking until dark.  Today, we slept in and ate pancakes at 12:30, with wet hair, and didn't feel bad about it!  I love it when the boys can just throw on shorts in the morning and go...not worrying about looking 'presentable'.  Last night was my nephew's birthday party at the pool, at my mom's condo.  It was so much fun to sit out with relatives and watch the kids have a ball in the pool, get out, eat pizza, then go right back in again.  They're lucky to be so fancy free ;)  Alex's last game for the 'other' team that I talked about was Saturday, but he chose not to go.  I think he was torn, because he will miss the kids, but he didn't feel successful on that team, so he wasn't so worried about going.  I felt kind of torn too, because I hated going and watching him struggle with hitting the underhand pitches, and only playing one inning in the field because there were so many kids.  I felt like it was a waste of time to go for him to bat once and play for 5-10 min., then sit for 45 minutes and wait.  I'm relieved that it's over, and i sort of feel guilty because he committed to play, then missed some games, but I also feel kind of let down by the coaches because they accepted so many kids onto the team, after a lot of parents voiced concerns about it last year.  Oh well, what can you do?  We're looking forward to going to my mom and stepdad's canal house for the fourth, and CAMPING next week!!! Yea!

 

T and Great Grandma at the pool party

Ready, set, go!

So.  Summer has officially started, and we're home.  Together.  Don't get me wrong, Coach is at work, but the kids and I are here.  I always start summer off with a mix of joy and dread, because, well, who knows what's coming?  So far, the kiddos are keeping pretty busy, T has friends now that he can go and hang out with, and with them separated, it's better.  We had one friend over to go swimming, and each kid brought someone, so that worked out well.  T has been skateboarding and has had an overnight, and Alex is actually playing with friends too.  He's even talked about signing up for 'fit for fun' at the Y...which for my boy who doesn't like me to leave him anywhere, is a miracle!  I'm waiting until after the fourth, because we are cmping and spending time at the canal, so he'd miss a lot, but I have hope that he will actually go somewhere and do something that doesn't involve me supervising the neighborhood all summer!  I like having kids over...I do.  I just don't always like supplying all of the entertainment and food when I know that everyone else has perfectly good moms who are sitting in the house reading books and sunbathing while their kids are fed/supervised over here for free.  Alex chooses to have friends over, which is fine, but I also told him that he is going to have to branch out and go to their houses too!  I think we're all kind of easing into the routine of being together and not having a set plan pretty well.  I also realized the other day that since we are now in a rec league, with less games, I NEVER post about baseball!  Here's a rundown:

Alex just finished his one team, with Coach, and the party was last weekend.  It was a blast-the kids had so much fun.  The coaches and I planned a bbq at a local park, with games, food, prizes, and water balloons, so how could they help but have fun?  I saw so many teams that just did trophies after their last game, at the field, with no party.  What fun is that?!  He still has one more game with his 'other' team, which is the one with 20 kids and the one he's having trouble dealing with.  I don't know if he will go, and frankly, it's not a big deal to me.  He wanted to play with these kids because he played soccer with them for four years, but we were told that the coaches were going to limit the size of the team, and they didn't.  They said that the park dist. kept giving them kids that requested to be on the team, but when I complained to the park district, they said that they tried to talk these coaches out of having such a big team, and they insisted on keeping that many kids.  I keep coming back, even though soccer was the same way.  Why?  I guess because he likes the kids and wants to be with them, but at the same time, he's frustrated with being able to bat only once, and play one inning at first base before the game is over, due to the size of the team.  I have received a credit from the parks dist. so he can play a sport for free next time.

T's team is okay.  That's how I feel right now.  Rec ball is a whole different animal, even in the competitive division, and we're finding that we don't like it much.  The parks dist. is very unorganized, and sometimes we end up starting late because of no umps, or teams don't show up because they had a schedule change and both teams weren't informed, etc.  Parents are flaking left and right because their kids had school concerts, birthday parties, and sudden spur of the moment trips to wherever, and we only have nine kids a lot of the time, and sometimes I even have to call 10 min. before the game starts to see if they are coming or not so we'll have enough!  With PONY, they pay more, so the parents tend to get their kids there no matter what, and we don't have these problems.  They are also normally families that are more into baseball, so they understand the commitment.  These are kids that don't necessarily plan on sticking with baseball, and it's obvious that their parents, for the most part, are not as committed.  We probably will go back to our old league next year, if they reinstate the Pinto division-which would be the division that Alex would play in.  I hope so!  On the other hand, I am seeing so much growth where T is concerned, with baseball.  He really 'gets' his position (second base), and has the sense to cover areas that he's supposed to cover, hit his mitt to get the pitcher to pick off kids that are leading off, and catch line drives, fly balls, etc.  His hitting has really taken off too, and it's wonderful to see...even with that huge -3 bat, he's able to get it around and crank balls out there.  He never stands and waits for a walk like he sometimes used to do.  All in all, it's kind of a meh year, and I know next year will be better. 

Father's Day Gift Idea...

Okay, I'm feeling like a serious slacker because things have been so crazy around here, I haven't had time to write this review of a fabulously funny book, Pacify Me, by Chris Mancini.  I found Chris' blog through Auntie Becky's blog.  I figured anyone that Becky thought was funny, I would too, since I love her posts so much...and I was right!  Okay, back to the book.  This is a book written from a dad's point of view, about everything from finding out your wife is pregnant to your child's first ER visit.  He talks about his anxiety when he found out he was going to become a dad, and how it landed him a prescription for Zoloft.  He includes some hilarious inserts, such as the 'Nine Infernal Circles of Babies R Us', 'Ten things NOT to say to a pregnant woman'-these are SOOOO dead on-, and one super short chapter on how parent groups are for women.  Period.  I can't even begin to do this book justice.  It would be the perfect gift for a new dad, ar an experienced one, because I sure was thinking, "Oh YEAH, I remember that!" when I was reading it.  All I can say to you is, buy it, read it...it's well worth it!

The big chill

Well, things are finally winding down now.  Alex only has one more game with his first team, and two more with his second team, but it's not baseball every night like it was last week, which is a relief!  T still has a lot more games, but I can handle one kid having games, and it makes it much more enjoyable!  Monday I went on Alex's field trip to the beach, and it was a blast!  It was nice and warm out, and the tide went way out while we were there, so that was cool.  The teacher planted a stake in the ground when we got there, then showed the kids what happens when the tide goes out.  I think some kids had never been to the beach before!  This beach is a marine preserve, so there are just tons of creatures.  We saw a lot of huge starfish, all different colors, eels, chitons, little crabs, and some not so little crabs kept coming out of the sand-it was freaky, they would just suddenly pop out right by our feet!  The only bad thing about this trip was the busing.  I could not believe it!  The girl who showed up to take the kids to the beach had no idea how to get there, and she said that her dispatcher told her that a teacher would tell her...hello, mapquest?  Then on the way back, the bus didn't show up at 2 like it was supposed to, and we had 60 hot tired first graders waiting in the sun for the bus.  The driver apparently got lost, and didn't show up until 2:45.  The kids get out at 3:30, and many have to catch the bus home, but the guy drove 25 all the way back...it took like 40 minutes!  When we got back, he told the teacher that he had never driven such a big bus!!!  WTF?  So they entrust him with 80 people on a bus?  I could not even believe it.  I called transportation, but have not heard anything back-I think I'll call again.  I am soooo ready for summer.  I do need to go out and plant the rest of my flats of flowers in baskets, and pick up dog poop-ick.  Our pool is killing me right now.  Coach and i went out and pressure washed the damned thing for like 2 hours the other day, and I got ready to fill it after I'd patched some holes in the inflatable ring in the top (a raccoon jumped on it last time it was set up), and it was still leaking.  I repatched it, but now it's got another one, so I have to try to figure out where it's leaking from.  I'm ready to just scrap the whole thing and get another one!  I worked all day yesterday, and tomorrow I'm helping with field day at Alex's school.  T has a school bbq today, but he's too big to want me to help anymore, and tomorrow he's going to the bowling alley and the movies with the seventh grade group...should be fun!  I love this end of the year, mellow time at school, when breezes are blowing through and the teachers are relaxed and just want the kids to have fun.  Alex had a music program the other night, and I don't see why idiotic people insist on talking through the entire thing, and letting their small kids make a ruckus and not taking them out!  I was shooting evil eyes at many people, and expected to get my ass kicked on the way out.  The kids sang again yesterday for the rest of the school, so it was better...funny how 300 students can be quieter than an audience full of parents.  I wish the kids had had more practice-our music teacher is subpar to say the least!!!

Neverending heat

It is hotter than blue bloody hell here.  I am sooo sick of this heat!  I live in Washington...it's not supposed to do this right now.  August?  Maybe. For a couple of days.  I can't hang with it, and I am hoping it really cools off tomorrow like it's supposed to.  The boys have had baseball games every night this week.  Alex had an okay game on Monday-he hit a double and a single, got two runs, and played first base the whole game.  His game last night was great too-he hit a triple and a single, got two runs, and played first, center field, and catcher at his request.  My kids are NOT allowed to ask their coaches for positions--that is a huge nono in a coach's house, but the assistant coach asked them what position they wanted to try that they haven't, and he said catcher.  The proper response, if it were a perfect world, would be, "Wherever the coach puts me." but since she asked, he answered honestly, and that's good.  I know he was shocked that she even asked!  He regretted that request after playing one inning at catcher, in the gear, in 90 degree heat!  He was soaked after that!  He's a big kid, and we always thought that he may end up being a catcher someday, but he is also a lefty and does an amazing job at first base.  He is one of two that know--actually know--how to play first on his team.  T's game on Tuesday was a nightmare.  First of all, it was 86 degrees.  Helicopters were circling overhead because there was an armored car holdup at the WalMart down the street, and one guard was killed, and the guys were still on the loose (they've now been caught and I hope they get the chair).  We were a little nervous that they'd come busting out of the woods onto the field!  Anyway, we played a team that was a bunch of HUGE 14 year old eighth graders-from our school team, which was undefeated this year.  There's a BIG ass difference between a bunch of 13/almost13/almost14 year olds and 14/almost 15 year olds!  These kids looked like 'young men' as one of oour parents put it!  They spanked us-mostly because after the second inning (we were in it for the first two) one of our outfielders dropped a fly ball and allowed a grand slam homerun, so they ended up scoring eight total runs that inning.  T played second and outfield (he wasn't the dropper) and had a tough time hitting off of their pitchers.  They had great pitchers, who just gunned the ball in there!  Our kids were more than a little intimidated, and none of them got a hit.  We've had to switch to bigger bats in the last two weeks, and it's been a struggle.  Fortunately, this is the best team in the league, and we don't have to play them again.  He has another game tonight at 8, so it should cool down.  We heard from a friend's team who played the same night as us, that his team lost 32-1, so I didn't feel AS bad for the 21-0 schooling that we got.  This league is tougher than we thought, for sure!  The downfall for us, partly, is that these teams are playing this league after already completing their normal leagues, and some tournaments, and they have a lot more experience.  I think there are some more evenly matched teams that we'll have some fun with, though.  It will be fun to play next year when we're the 'big kids'!

 

Alex at bat

 

I just about died when I saw this coach from the other team in his beer mug socks--I had to pretend I was taking a pic of the kids and share with everyone...

Fulfilling day

What a day!  It's still beautiful outside, and I slept in, which made me feel slightly guilty.  I got up at 9:45, and Coach cooked breakfast-bacon, eggs, grits and toast.  I think bacon should be its own food group...it's that good.  I swear, if I was in a religion where you couldn't have bacon?  I'd have to quit.  Anyway, right after breakfast, when I wanted to just veg out and watch Flip That House, Coach started cracking the whip.  The kids went out to weed, and I went out to start planting our flats of plants from the preschool plant sale.  We planted a flat of impatiens, I did half a flat of fibrous red begonias, and six tomato plants (a brandywine, a sweet million, a super steak, a beef steak, and a better boy, and one more that I can't remember the name of).  I also did two zucchini plants, and need to plant our giant pumpkin seeds from the fair.  I love it when the garden is in, and am looking forward to just watering, weeding, and eating the fabulous tomatoes that come out!  I was soooo tired, but it's very satisfying to have it all done.  I still have some fillers to plant in my baskets, but that's it! 

The little things

We have lucked out with awesome weather lately, and it's going to stay that way until about two weeks from now, supposedly.  I just had to share a couple of little things that make me happy...I love when little things please me...

-I LOVE it every year when we get the window A/C out....makes me crave summer.

-I LOVE when my flowers are potted up and on the deck-which will happen today and tomorrow.

-I LOVE handing out the new baseball uniforms every year-it makes the boys so happy and excited.

-I LOVE going to our school when it's summer, the doors are thrown open, and the halls are breezy...it's great to hear the kids playing outside.

-I LOVE when the boys can sack out on the couch whenever they feel like it and not have to get up for school.

-I LOVE sitting out in the shade and watching baseball practice.

-I LOVE seeing the look on my boys' faces when they get a good hit-it's just pure joy and amazement at their accomplishment.

-I LOVE my deck-it's cool and breezy, and covered so it's shady. 

-I LOVE my hanging baskets-the lavendar bacopa is so beautiful right now, and the lotus is starting to bloom.

 

 

The rush

Holy cow...it is definitely the end of the school year!  I've been rushing around, trying to get fundraiser companies signed for pta, doing baseball tickets for pta, working, sending email reminders for both baseball teams, and attending the various baseball games.  Today, I am off, but I am going to pay the electric bill, pick up prescriptions, pick up dog poop, take T's sweatshirts to be repaired, pick up baseball uniforms, and grocery shop, then look for a new bat for T, since his is the wrong size for his league.  Jeez.  I can't wait for the school year to be over and be able to relax a little!  My kids are just DONE too.  It's so hard to get them to go to bed, and get them up in the morning!  Alex is stressed about his homework, and has meltdowns nightly because he's just sick of all of it!  I can't wait to be able to let them stay up until they're tired, and sleep as late as they want each day.  Camping was fun, it was a nice break for everyone.  We brought the boat, and the kids and Coach caught ten trout between them...yum!  Now I have to clean out the trailer and do laundry.  It's never ending!  The weather is soooo beautiful, and I am enjoying seeing sun every day lately.  Here are a couple of camping pics...

 

Alex and Louie (E and C's dog)

 

my boys playing by the creek

and here are a couple of Alex hitting his FIRST HOME RUN!!! notice the kids' faces on the bench...cracks me up! 

 

Enough with the v word

Last night, the internet gods finally smiled on Coach.  Or maybe it was the computer gods, but he was messing around with my computer and it is able to go on the internet...at last!  I don't know if it was the stupid facebook virus thing, or something that I messed around with, but all I'd get when I tried to connect was the 'internet explorer cannot display the webpage' thing that I wanted to punch in the face.  If I clicked 'details', it would say that the computer could not connect to the internet using http, http5, whateverwhatever, because of firewall settings, and even when I turned my firewalls off TOTALLY, it still didn't work.  I hated it.  The kids' computer is up in their messy room, and the chair...let's just say I missed my preshus chair.  So...I missed blog surfing, and finally caught up on some of your blogs last night!  Right now, we're in the throes of getting ready to go camping, which means I've been running stuff out to the trailer and trying to get at least some of it ready so I don't have to do it all in one day.  We leave Thursday morning, and I can't wait!  I'm making the boys go to school so we can pack in peace, then we'll pick them up early to cross the bridge before the crazy traffic.  T has still been practicing with his team, and they're looking pretty good.  We lucked out on the three boys that were placed on our team by the parks district, because they're all good players, and two of them are 14, so we got some bigger boys.  They are so unorganized about reserving practice fields though...we can reserve for three weeks at a time, and four times out of five, there is someone else thinking that they have that field at our same time.  I got a call from the parks dist. the other day, and they had double booked us for the field that we have on Tuesdays, so since we were the last ones booked, we lost our field.  There are no other good ones to reserve, unless we want to practice on a grass field, which would be a waste of time, since they play on dirt and the balls roll in dirt, but stop in grass.  Alex has been really doing great on the team that Coach helps to coach.  He and one other boy play first base, because no one else knows how, and he played pitcher last night, and also short stop.  He got two good hits and made it to third before some of the others struck out.  His other team is a different story.  I am so frustrated, because he is just beside himself with frustration too.  There are 20---yes...20 kids on this coach pitch team.  This happened with the same team during soccer last year, and we were assured that they would be limiting the amount of kids that played on the team from now on.  He wanted to play with the kids that he did soccer with, so we signed up for this second team.  Practices are like herding cats...there are so many kids!  A lot of parents help out, but the coaches are the ones who know how to teach the kids what to do, and they can't get around to every kid at every practice.  There are two teams within the one...so half play at each inning, but they all bat.  It takes FOREVER to have a turn at bat, and the pitcher is not allowed to throw overhand.  Let me say that ever since Alex was able to swing a bat, he's been pitched overhand to.  We knew that he'd need the skill later on, so that's how he's grown up.  He is SO PISSED that this pitcher just throws these huge rainbows, and the ball drops in front of him, and he can't track it in to the bat.  He is very driven and determined...and hard on himself because he wants to succeed, so he was almost in tears after the last game.  I told him to think about it hard, and decide if it was worth staying on that team, because he is wanting to quit.  I told him that he has two weeks before his next game with that team, and he needs to decide if having fun with the kids is enough to keep him happy, and if so, not be so hard on himself, or if he just wants to stick with Coach's team instead.  We'll see what happens!  I wish he wasn't so hard on himself, but at the same time, it's got him reading at a third grade level in first grade, so it's a good thing in some ways!