All Stars Update

(Josiah on first as runner, Game 1, July 9, 09)
I can say that Mom (me) made it through the All Stars games. The kids practice mon-friday for three weeks or so to get ready for the tournament. Josiah liked his coach, Coach Mike. He was really good for Josiah. All this season, Josiah has had issues getting his bat on the ball. Rod's been trying to work with him, but hadn't been able to explain to Josiah how to correct his swing - something to do with his hips.

Somehow! Somehow, Coach Mike got Josiah to fix whatever issue it was that Rod was talking about. Ever since, Josiah's has done a much better job of making contact. Not that any of this was really an issue during the regular season, Jos got on base anyway, mostly because the other team walked him time after time. Must have something to do with his height - he's bigger than other kids his age, so the strike zone is different. You'd think that since he's bigger and obviously his strike zone is bigger, that he'd be easier to pitch to. Not so.

During the season, he pitched. During All Stars practice he started out Catching. Turns out they needed a first baseman. It's like he has velcro on the inside of his mit, he catches just about everything! First base is fun for me to watch, because he's so good & there's not the stress involved like when I watch him pitch. Not that he's not good at pitching, he is, it's just that the game is so dependent on the pitcher, that if he has a bad inning - it could lose the game. So~I enjoy watching him play 1st base. Rod got a couple of good shots with the ball in Josiah's mit during the games :D

(Jos playing 1st base, forced out & runner not even close to plate! 7/9/9)
So the first game was last thursday against North Whidbey. They lost 9 to 7. It was a pretty good game. You could tell out of the shoot though, that the kids were nervous. They bobbled the ball too much & it affected the game. At least in the beginning. Josiah was awesome though. He caught every stinking ball that they shot his way. I love the sound of the ball when it hits the mit. You would probably classify me as an over excited mom - he makes a fantastic play and we're all hooting and hollering and you could probably hear me over everyone! I really struggle though with the anticipation of tournament games. Rod handles it well, but he's played tons of sports. Me, it kills me to watch, knowing that if Jos doesn't catch the ball, literally it could be the end of it all... Yes, so dramatic!

The ump made a call that he thought was correct and the opposing coach literally had the ump or baseball president call the LL association in California, stopping the game, to try to get a reversal of the call. Talk about frustrating. It held up the game ~ the call wasn't a bad call to begin with. Everyone was frustrated and it was irritating and we all sort of left the game with a bad taste in our mouths. Feeling like we didn't really earn a loss.

Second game, Friday night, he went with the Waldes. Rod & I had had plans before the tournament was on the books - so we couldn't go. Bummer, they won against Burlington. A blowout of 28 to 8. It wore the kids out though, & you could tell the next day. I guess that in one inning that the kids went up to bat 3 times! Josiah then spent the night at the Waldes and had a fantastic time :D

(Josiah scores! Game 3, 7/11/9)
Third game, Saturday afternoon, the kids were stoked. They'd just won the night before & were excited to be playing. They lost this one 11 to 13 against South Whidbey. If I had a complaint about baseball it would be the umps. When they make a bad call, they should just admit it & retract. Game 3, a kid was safe on the thrid out, the ump called him out. Everyone, including the other team saw that the kid was safe & not tagged. Even second ump saw it ~ and they stayed the call. They had two runners on base. They could have tied up the game & the ump made a bad call & they are out of the tournament.

Tournaments are tough. You work real hard and then it's over fast or you go on to state. It would have been a stretch this year for us to go to state. I'm glad though that Josiah got to play. He became better friends with his bud Austin. Coach Mike also told a friend of ours that if Josiah wanted to play on his Majors team next year, that he'd have a spot on his team. I don't know what we'll have him play. He did show me this All Star season though, that he is ready to move up. I'm not sure if I'M ready for him to move up! It's a daily committment for about 3 months.
Anyway, that's for next year. Glad he got to play ~ glad he did so well.

Josiah, I love to watch you play baseball. You're awesome. You're enthusiastic. You energize everyone on your team. You're a leader and it shows. You are an encourager. You're the loudest guy on your team. You are MY son!!!

A Surprise for Shawna!

(Mathbook cake for Shawna, 7-10-09)
Last night we threw a surprise birthday party for Shawna. I think we actually got her! The look on her face when she opened the door was a good one. Everyone yelling "surprise" actually made me jump ~ it was so loud!

Branden & Katie had some neat ideas for the party ~ which I really loved. Rod & I made a math victorian cake ~ see photo.

(Shawna, when she came in 7-10-09)
We actually brought our camera to take pictures & B brought their photo printer and Kevin & Kirsten printed the pictures on the spot. Someone is going to take the photos and scrapbook the party ~ neat idea. Rod got family shots of everyone that came.


We all brought a chocolate dessert, so we all ate a LOT of chocolate! Many of us brought an old memory to scrap too. I chatted too much. Brought the scrapbook paper home & will make a couple of pages & take down the next time I see them. I guess I could just send them to work with Rod. LOL.

It was a fantastic party! Got to catch up with old friends and get acquainted with new ones! We were asked to make a Math cake. So we made a math book. It really did look like a book, somehow that surprised me! I made fun stuff out of gumpaste ~ an eraser, a protractor and a ruler. Rod made the pencil.


(Kirsten & Kevin ~ Scrapbooker & Photo Printer extraordinaries :D)
What was funny, is that many of us saw Shawna last weekend for the fourth of July ~ and we all had to NOT talk about our plans or do the "see you next friday" thing. That was an exercise in will!

Happy Birthday Shawna!!!

What a GREAT Weekend :D

(Rod & Jaden, July 3, 2009)
We had such a nice, long weekend! It's been awhile since Rod's had more than two days off. The last week was so crazy busy (and this week should be pretty busy too!) that it was nice to have some down time. This week we All Stars games begin.

Friday, Rod & Dad worked on the van. We need to get some tires & have a realignment done. Later, we went out to the reservation and bought some fireworks. Then we went to Mom & Dad's for a BBQ & fireworks. Best chicken ever! Rod & the kids did fireworks, while Mom, Dad & I watched. It was great fun. Rod's really good about being safe with the kids.

Josiah burnt his foot on a morning glory. That was our only incident. While it was going off, a spark landed on the inside of his shoe. Icepacks insued (or is it ensued?). After we got home, I put burn relief spray on it ~ and we sent him to bed. He's worn flip flops yesterday & today, to make sure it gets some healing time in before baseball. (Nelson Kids at home, 7/3/09)

For the 4th, we spent time with the Powells, the Bussards and the Jurys ~ and other friends. I've lived here, my whole life. I had NO idea that there was a beach out on the Tulalip reservation! What a nice place, amazing view! We all had a great time! B let all of the kids blow off fireworks ~ and they loved it ~ right on the beach!

(Kids on the Beach, Fourth of July, 2009) We had to get off of the beach because the threat level was definitely higher as we got towards dark. I was frustrated by the kids next door who were throwing M80's off the dock by hand... I guess demonstrating to our kids WHAT NOT TO DO!

We were sandwiched in between I think the two heaviest arseneled houses in the cove... We sat up on the dock, under blankets watching everyone else light off fireworks. It was crazy loud ~ crazy tons of fireworks. I don't think i've seen a better show (maybe Skagit Speedway's show ranks higher.) In honor of Shawna, the evening ended with an Iphone version of Neil Diamond's ~ I'm Coming to America. Classic!

Today, Sunday, was homework day. The kids had down day, playing outside in the sprinkler, doing chores, arguing with the neighbor boy (some days they get along great, others not) and playing video games. (Our Xbox 360 came back in the mail on Friday!). It was so good though, after being so busy to be forced to be at home. Rod did homework. He's trying to get as much done as he can. (Kids on the beach, 4th, 2009)

What we didn't realize for Summer Qtr. is that there's just as much homework as Spring or Winter Qtr. but much less time to do it in. Today he got a mess of homework done, so hopefully, it'll be less stressful this week homework wise - his first homework deadline is the 13th. I'm praying he meets it with time to spare! Positively thinking, here...

(Tex, Julia & Me, ponycamp, 2009) One of my favorite digital scrapbooking sites has a free class ~ which I signed up for. So here's out first assignment. Those of my facebook friends have already seen the picture ~ but I liked it, so I used it for this quick assignment. Love Jessica Sprague!

Julia's First Graduation

Today Julia "graduated" from Horsecamp. We had my Mom & Dad, Garrett and our family come watch the arena part of our lesson. We all enjoyed it. My favorite part of the week, was listening to Julia giggle as she trotted around the arena.
Jaden thought she did a good job. Rod thought it was pretty amazing that a 3.5 year old could lead a horse so well!

Afterwards we came home and hung out & then had lunch. We were due to be up to a friends house near Bellingham about 1pm. Leeann has a pool where she lives, so the kids got changed into their pool clothes & we headed to her house.

We all had a great time. The kids loved the pool. I got the chance to really talk to a good friend of mine. Glad that we took the time ~ glad that she thought enough to call and plan to see us. She has the ability to understand some of the emotional things I've been dealing with lately ~ in such a understanding and motherly way. Talking to her, always helps me steer myself back on path. Her faith in the Lord is so tangible and real. I love her very much!

Got home just in time for Josiah to play the second scrimmage game before the All Stars tournament next week. I dropped him off at the baseball field with my mom & Garrett. Left Jed there with them as well (my dad stopped by to pick him up for their Garden Club meeting - Josiah couldn't go b'c of the game.) Jaden, Julia & I headed home for some quite time. I did a load of laundry, realize how sore I really am, & went & sat down on the couch with the kids & watched the first Night at the Museum.

Rod came home with Jed from the Garden Club meeting. He drove over there after work. He's officially recieved permission to go ahead and develop a website for the Skagit Men's Garden Club. They don't have one. I think they should... Anyway, Rod needed a final project for his Adobe Certification in the design field ~ so he decided to do their website. Tonight he took it to the president to get the go ahead. Glad that's decided. All in all, it was a good day. Tonight, tired, I will sleep well. What a crazy busy, yet great week!

Yep, We sure did!

(Tex & Julia)
Today was an eventful day, I guess.
We started out at horsecamp, day 3 of 4. Had a good morning with my little Jules. Today she got to experience guiding the horse with no help from mom or her teacher. We were in a small arena, and we took off their lead ropes. Then we played sort of a hide & seek. I went somewhere in the arena a ways away ~ and it was her job to her her horsey over to me. It was quite fun & I was profoundly surprised that she was able to do it. We she also went on a long trail ride in the "jungle" (where I led Tex.)

Then I got Jaden from Mom & Dad's. Mom had Jos & Jed out at the gleaners with Shirley. When I came home, she showed up with the boys shortly after. Jed asked if he could go to Grandmas for the day. I said okay. It's summer afterall.

Julia & I had a nap on the couch while Jaden & Josiah played. That was good. Then Mom came to take Josiah to baseball practice. (Garrett has been helping out at practice, so she's going over to the park anyway.... I'm getting to the point where I'm park-ed out!)

I showed up before practice was over so that we could all go to the Matt's practice. We all headed over to one of the players homes. Mon & Wed, Josiah & Jed have been going to practices of sorts with their coach from this season. This last Mon they went on a hike of Little Mountain. The boys had a GRAND time & so they all agreed that for practice Wed (today) that they would go up the other side.

I didn't have anything better to do & wanted to take the opportunity to participate in what the boys were doing ~ so I went to. I should have known better. It was much harder than I had anticipated. Julia was with me & my little doll was such a trooper. She did better at it than I did. (I "heard" that Jaden had no problem on the hike at all!!)

I should have known that there was NO way that I, a relatively seditary housewife, could keep up with "the boys" on a three mile hike. 1.5 each way. We let the boys go on ahead. Julia & I got about 3/4 of the way up & the trail split. Didn't know which way to go. Julia thought we were lost. I got out my cell to see if I could get ahold of Garrett or one of the other dads that were hiking... when a lady & her dog showed up & told us the way to go. Not much later I ran into Matt & David. Matt went on ahead with the boys & David stayed with Julia & I.

I seriously thought about heading back. But, I wasn't sure of the exact way. I asked about the way back down the trail & then I thought, I'm not feeling well enough to make sure I go the right way ~ and I didn't want to take the chance of getting lost with Julia in tow.

I thought about the boys, Garrett, Josiah, Jedediah and Jaden who all brave-heartedly went ahead of me & expected me to show up at the end. That spurred me forward. Literally. Then I thought of my Youth Dynamics days, where, we rockclimbed, river rafted, repelled and hiked. We went on a week hiking trip in the North Cascades ~ I have pictures to prove it :D

I thought about how I have not done one thing as hard as what I was doing right at that moment since I had gone on that North Cascades hiking trip with YD. I thought about how difficult some of the hiking had been and yet I kept going and pulled through. It wasn't pretty, but I had done it. Which of course, means, that I can do it again. Day to day, now as I raise my kids, I still see the effects of the time that I spent as a Youth Leader with YD. The investment my leaders made in me, and I am so thankful.

There were times today, that I literally couldn't make the next step. David held out his hand and pulled me up. Talk about "seeing" what the Lord can do. Isn't that what He does for us when it's tough enough we cannot do it on our own?

Honestly, I would not have gone today if I would have known how hard it would have been. I certainly would have left my precious little three year old daughter down at the bottom, safe and sound with her Grandma. She & I went on an adventure & boy, that's what we got!

There were a few times, where I had to tell her to stop talking and just keep walking. She just kept saying that she needed to go to the bathroom, that her legs were tired or "Where are my boys?" she would say. Each time she said one of those things, which in those moments, were complaints or downward thoughts, I had to ask her to not to talk. Sometimes, it's just better to not say anything at all ~ than to discourage those around you, as well as yourself. That may not have been a lesson for her, but it was for me.

Made it to the top. Had hoped to get a group picture of the team & the other kids from their families that had come. No chance. We were too late. Oh, well, got a picture of Julia & I. That'll just have to be good enough.

The way down was so much easier. We talked much of the way. There we were, almost back. I get a call from Garrett on my cell. Where are we? On our way down! Did we make it to the top? Yep, we sure did!

Nope, didn't do it pretty, but we got 'er done! And I got to tell my boys that, although we finished a good 1/2 hour after them (probably more honestly) and that even though it was tough, that I wanted to quit, that I weighed my options ~ finishing something that was very hard, was the better way to go.