How to succeed in T-ball

There are some things you need to know before venturing out on the T-Ball field. 

First of all, you need to take the game seriously. This is no joking matter and winning is a must. Case in point:

Get your game face on!

OK, now that you are in the right frame of mind, let's get on with the basics of succeeding in T-Ball.


#1: Always be in READY position. Glove down, head up ready for the ball to come to you!

#2:  Make sure your shadow is at the game with you. You can always use the extra help.

#3: Get rid of the weeds!  The field must be free and clear of all debris.

#4: Keep your eye on the runner. You never know what shenanigans those 5 year olds will pull. This can still be done while in the 'ready position'. 

#5: Always use TWO HANDS when fielding the ball. This will ensure that you NEVER miss the ball. Ever.

#6: Focus. Focus. Focus.

#7: Perform a successful "I've arrived" pose when you arrive at the base. It must be announced with flare!

#8: When all else fails...stare 'em down, because nothing scream intimidation like a good stare down.

#9: Last, but definitely not least important, look cute playing. Your skill will never define you as a ball player, only how good you wear the uniform (and perhaps your ability to actually look at the camera)!

Cheers!

I got snubbed

So, let's begin this conversation (one sided as it may be) with the fact that I believe that at some point in the road of youth sports, kids are TOO OLD for the parents to be bringing an "after game snack". For those of you who don't know what the "after game snack" is, I will explain.

The definition of "after game snack" is a drink and 'snack' to be had after a game of baseball, soccer, softball, tennis, golf or what have you.

In our current case it is baseball.

In this specific case, it is for a team of 8-10 year olds. While Agent P is only 7, he is nearly 8 and so I lumped him into 8-10 because he is the only 7 year old on the team.

My point is, I think THIS team is too old to be expecting an "after game snack".  

SO.

The first problem: I was on-deck for "after game snack". That means, game 1 was on Wed and game 2 was on Thurs. On Tues, I was informed that I was in charge of game 2. Thus, on-deck, get it?? Baseball pun...(that was for you Aunt Laurel).

Being prepared as usual, I made a run to the store on Thursday morning.

Second problem: I have been cutting out most packaged processed snacks in our house. We don't have bags of much of anything laying around. I had no idea what I was supposed to get. Cut up fruit? Likely not.

So, in the name of trying to not load them up with sugar at 7:30pm I purchased a box of Cheez-its and a bag of pretzels and made them into snack baggies for each player. At my house this is a HUGE treat as we don't have either of those.

I should add here - I was also told to bring snack and drinks for the 3 coaches. Righty-O, 10-4. 13 kids, 3 coaches. 16 snacks and 16 drinks.

I also purchased a juice box (*GASP*), but had no added sugar.  We will go ahead and mark this "problem three" for the sake of listing problems.  Problem four will be noted as: I bought gator@de for the coaches (not kids).

After the game I diligently shuffled my sweet husband and twins off and headed for home (took 2 vehicles) and I stood with the beloved "after game snack" to hand out. 

I mildly paid attention to the comings and goings of the kids, they grabbed, they pushed in, they looked, they passed, they rolled their eyes... 

I gave the coaches their gator@des and 'snack' and they looked at me like I was nuts. I assured them I was following the rules and request stipulated by the "Team Mom". She said to bring for coaches. They hesitantly accepted.

Then it came. The final snub.

I had a coach's kid come to me and ask for HIS gator@de.  I said "oh, I'm sorry, I just brought them for the coaches".  I watched him walk back to tell his mom what I said and she looked at her coach/husband and rolled her eyes and harrumphed at me.

Yup. Harrumphed and snubbed. 

It is likely that I will not be asked back to deliver the "after game snack". I came home with 9 baggies of snack and 6 juice boxes. 3 snack baggies were forced upon coaches...so do the math - 4 kids took a snack.  7 took drinks.

Which is fine.

Cuz next time I was going to bring carrots and apples in a baggie with a water bottle :)

Cheers!

Conversations

The other night we were eating dinner at a local restaurant that sits above an auto shop.  I know that sounds pretty ridiculous, but my theory on it is that a few guys wanted to be able to just work on their race cars, motorcycles, random vehicles without their wives nagging them about how expensive that little hobby was. SO, these said fellas opened their little auto shop and put a restaurant  above it so they could make a little money. Plus have a place to eat lunch.

It's pretty sweet, one entire wall is just glass overlooking the shop and you can see what they are working on.

Anyway.

We ate there the other night.

Monkey LOVES to just smash his face on the glass (sorry to whomever has to clean that...) and look at the vehicles down below.

We were seated pretty close to the window and the restaurant was pretty empty, so when Monkey asked if he could go over and look at the vehicles, I said "yes".

Then, Mini P says "can I go over there too".

"Sure" I said.

"well, I don't really want to" she says and continues on with her coloring.

Lovely. Not sure why she asked. But that gives you a glimpse into one of many conversations we have at this house :).

Cheers!

OH MY!!! SNOW!!!

Ok, the title makes it sound all exciting and the first time it was... for about 12 minutes.

BUT, the first snow of 2013 caused ruckus. It canceled baseball tryouts. It canceled the kids last soccer game of the season. It canceled soccer team parties.  

It caused 2 loads of laundry.

Ruckus I tell ya.

It snowed a total of THREE times this year, a new record - in a matter of less than 2 weeks.

By the 3rd time, I was mostly just annoyed...and tried to discourage outdoor snow play because the 3rd snow was much wetter than snow 1 and snow 2. Is that even possible? Dry snow? How would I know?

I did so many loads of snow laundry, as we are quite ill prepared for any type of weather that involves condensation of any sort...rain or snow.I didn't even know how to properly dress my tribe for playing in the snow, as noted by the plethora of clothing that was laying around in heaps of soaking mess.

We are desert rats. We live for the dry heat.

I don't even know where our one family umbrella is. 

But they enjoyed it...

. 

And I did, to the extent that I got A-Dog to do an experiment for me...

If you shake a tree with snow on it...will it all come down on you, or just some of it??

 

Seems like only some of the snow shakes off the tree...good to know.

These shoes were made for walkin'

And walkin' in them he did.

And today we will finally say good-bye to them because...well...

What do YOU think???

The boy (Monkey) loves his flops.

(now, I just need to get them in the garbage without him taking them back out!)

Mom of the Year

I heard this story about a Mom...

One day, she was going to take her son's baseball bag to him for practice after school. (full with a glove, cleats, helmet, clothes, bat, water etc).

She had done it before.

The day before in fact.

She was such a great and amazing person for doing this. The envy of all players I'm sure. He didn't have to carry the bag around everywhere during school that day, since he has no where to put it. *sigh*

A genuinely nice act by this outstanding Mom.

Until she drove to school to deliver the bag...

And when the son went to fetch the bag from the back, figured out that his amazing Mom...forgot the bag.

The bag she was driving to school to deliver.

The only reason she was there.

Apparently she had to relinquish her "Mom of the Year" award she just had received for getting him to the bus stop on time 3 days straight.

I hope this never happens to me her again.

Camera shy

I was looking for some soccer pictures that I could post. I am pretty sure I have gone the entire long season without posting any. That is so sad really, but apparently if you are not the first born, you are just one of the other kids and just blend in. Truth is, we have been playing soccer since October and the last game is this Saturday. Problem is I have discovered it is very hard to pay attention to what is actually going on in the game if I am trying to take pictures. Which I concluded when I discovered that I took pictures exactly twice.

Anyway, while I was looking for those, I came across these (and edited them..) thought you would like to see what is randomly on my camera:

This girl is a LOT of things, but camera shy she is not. I, on the other hand like to be behind the camera, not have my behind on a camera! 

I was doing family shots for a friend and needed to check lighting or shadows or whatever it was I was supposed to be doing to make it look like I was good at this...

So, Mini P was happy to be my shadow checker.

After much searching, I did find some soccer pictures. Monkey and Mini P played on the same team and Agent P a different team. The good and the bad of it...well games are on Saturday at 10am. Both games.

We try to rotate who is watching which game each week. It's complicated because we also have to rotate practices so each of them get equal time with each of us watching. 

Any-who, here is what I found...

Mini P

Agent P making a run for it

Monkey

We enjoy watching the kids play soccer. Monkey enjoys watching the kids play soccer too...being the 'observer', he tends to forget to participate in the game.  Agent P has developed in to a very good soccer player and really loves playing. Finally, something besides baseball.

Speaking of baseball.

A-Dog has tryouts for High School baseball this weekend, Agent P has tryouts for Little League Friday night and the twins will be playing t-ball this year as well.

Anyone want to volunteer to sit and watch someone play baseball? Seems like we have run out of adults :)

Cheers!