Baseball & Softball Summer

Summer consisted of a lot of ball (baseball and softball). 

Kollin's Mid-Mo Xtreme team won the 13AA World Series!!!  They had a really great year, and I'm so very proud of my brother to have such success.







Kaden's kid-pitch team went undefeated!!  12-0.  Kaden tried pitching once, but he wasn't quite comfortable with it.  He did a great job hitting and playing first base again this year.








Kylie had her first year of kid-pitch.  They were able to pitch three pitches for each batter, and if the batter didn't strike out or hit, the coach finished up the pitches.  Kylie (along with two other girls on her team) pitched, and did a great job.  It's so different watching/teaching/learning about softball pitching and rules when I've been watching Kollin and Kaden play baseball for years.






Ball definitely kept our summer schedules busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love sitting in the sun, watching the kids play a sport that they really love, and improve throughout the season.  And when they win, the feeling is grand.  I know it isn't all about winning (it's supposed to be about having fun, they say, right?) but winning is fun!

STL Cardinals Game 2012

I wasn't blogging as much last summer and so this weekend adventure never got blogged about.  I am getting antsy to go to a Cardinals game this year.  I've been thinking about getting Chicago Cubs tickets when the Cardinals will be playing there and plan our vacation around that. 

Here are some iPhone photos from last summer when we took the kids to the Cardinals game.  It was a hot day but the drinks and cotton candy helped us make it through the game.  I love going to Busch Stadium; it's always such a fun time.

We also went to the St. Louis Arch at Kylie's request (our third attempt at it) and the Magic House. 

Kylie plays ball & my response

Both Kaden and Kylie started ball practice last week.  Kaden is in his first year of kid pitch with Coach Shawn and Keane as his coaches, and 14 boys on the team!  Kylie is playing on an all-girl's softball team this year. 

At Kylie's first practice, they had been doing drills such as catching grounders, hitting the ball, and catching pop flys for about 45 minutes or so and I heard Kylie ask her coach, "When are we going to start practice?"  She's going to be good this year -- she can hit the ball, and she sure can throw it.  If only she keeps her patience.

After practice, Keane and I introduced ourselves to Kylie's coach who went on to say that Kylie was really impressive and did a good job out on the field.  I nodded my head and agreed that she's doing really good.  And then Keane said, "Thank you," very humbly. 

Did I come off as a bragging parent who doesn't know how to take a compliment?  Or worse yet, someone who doesn't care enough to appreciate something nice someone has to say about the kids?

I wanted to caption this moment as "Awkward Stepmom Moment."  What am I supposed to say when people compliment Kaden and Kylie, when someone says they're doing good at something, or behave nicely, or look cute?  I naturally want to agree or add my thoughts on the matter.  I don't necessarily feel like I can take credit for it -- I think that's a parent thing, especially in the looks department.  If they get a compliment on a shirt that I bought them, their hair that I fixed, or their manners that I've instilled, then I will definitely give thanks.  Other times, however, should I just smile?  Should I say "thank you" or should I do what comes natural, awkward or not?

Kollin up to bat at his game on Tuesday

Tournament Champs

Kollin played two games last Saturday and went 2-0.  I went with my parents and him to two more games on Sunday.  It started cold and the wind was blowing strong.  Then the sun came out, that sun we haven't seen in so long, and I got a little burnt.  But it was all worth it because they won the tournament.  "Who did what?" you ask.  Mid-Mo Xtreme was the champion of the tournament!  And Kollin made an awesome dive-and-catch (is that what they call them?) in center field! 

Baseball Brother

Sometimes I wonder how I'll be able to love my own children as much as I love this little brother of mine.  Just like the mothers having a second child wondering how they will be able to love the new baby as much as they love their first; I know they will.  And I know that I will, too, but I love the love I have for him.

 

 

I adore watching him play baseball.  And I say adore like I'm watching a wee little boy slamming a big plastic bat on the ground, but that is not at all what I mean.  I adore his dimples and his serious "game face."  I love the way he looks towards me in the stands while he's in the dugout and knowing that he cares that I'm there to watch him play.  I was so proud to see him up to bat with his teammates cheering him on, and proud to see him on the pitching mound for two innings with no one scoring off him.  I even adore being able to see him out in center field, knowing that's my little brother, and hoping the other team hits a fly ball into center field so I can see him catch it and make everyone proud.

Last weekend he played in a tournament and hit his first over-the-fence homerun!  Here is a picture of him with his homerun ball.

 

Every single age and stage of his has been my favorite, and this one, yet again, is a favorite of mine.  I'm very proud of him.  I know that I'm an older sister to him, by thirteen years might I add, and I know that I call him my "little" brother, because he definitely is, but at the same time, I think of him as a companion.  I care about him, and sometimes it's in a motherly way where I think he should be doing this, or work more at doing that, but other times, I'm simply excited to hear about his life at school, with friends, and lately even girls. 

He knows that with the parents he has and his two older sisters, it's going to be a lot harder for him to find a girl one day that everyone approves of, but he says so with a smirk on his face.  That smirk that exhibits those dimples that I wish I was fortunate to have gotten since we come from the same genes and all.

I'll keep cheering you on, this season in baseball, the next, and in everything you do, young man.

My first NFL game

The weekend before Christmas, my boss offered me his Chief tickets.  Keane and I invited Andrew and Kayley to join us on our trek to Kansas City.  It was quite cold, especially while tailgating, but our grilled food was delicious (brat burgers and wings) and the seats were amazing!  We had some really good laughs including the man who had to check our tickets and our persons before entering the gate having to watch Kayley finish her outside drink before she could throw it away, making fun of me for my blank "signs" which were just pieces of cardboard to keep under my feet (I heard it keeps you warm), and having to smile while he felt what was inside Keane's pockets.  Even though the Chiefs lost to the Colts (13-20), it was a great time.

Summer Recap

A few things I was fortunate to capture by photos for remembering this glorious, tremendously hot and dry summer are as follows:

Sister's Birthday Celebrating -

Outdoor Home Constructing -

Wedding Attending -

 

 

 

 

 

Camping & Swimming -

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beer Drinking -

 

 

 

Sister & Nephew Visiting -

 

 

Note Writing -

 

 

 

Farm Helping -

 

 

Nephew Loving -

 

 

  

 

  

Mother's and Father's Day Surprising -

 

 

 

Baseball Playing - (Remind me to add more photos including Kollin and Kaden playing ball)

 

 

Baby's First 4th of July Enjoying -