Summer fastpitch 2017

 Summer ball is here and I simply cannot believe how much fastpitch we play around here. It's a little out of control! With the girls in different age groups that both play games and practice on opposite nights of the week, we play anywhere from 6-7 days/week depending on tournaments. That's a LOT of ball! Poor Lincoln continues to be our "take along" child and generally goes with the flow. He knows the fields that have play grounds, and those that have space for him to play his own ball. He knows what team means he will see which friends and certainly has his preference :) 

At the end of the day, we are tired and dirty but always proud to have ball playing girls! 

Sidney ended up earning Team Captain (signified by the blue armband) during the Bloomington BASH tournament. She got to lead her team in warm-ups and continues to demonstrate some great leadership and passion. She loves loves loves to play ball. It's in her heart. She wants nothing more than to hit the ball and get on base (and ultimately score). She's working on understanding it's not always going to happen that way; her passion sometimes gets in the way.

 She is one heck of a ball player. She hits those pitches like it's no body's business (still machine pitched in this age division) and charges plays. Twice this year she has completed unassisted triple plays! She is learning how to pitch and practices hard. She loves to be in the middle of the action so her favorite positions to play are pitcher and first base. 

Her team has had it's ups and downs this year. They are a young team in general, with only a handful (she included) that will be moving up to the next age group in the fall. It means that although some of them play hard and have a strong desire to win, the outcome is not always in our favor. But they are learning and having fun and that's what 8U is all about. 

 

 Regan is in her 2nd year of 10U and loves every second of being on the field. She has played a variety of positions including outfield, first, second, third and catcher. The last of which is her favorite, even when it is 95 and humid, she has no problems pilling on that gear. 

 She is a dedicated team player with THE most incredible attitude. Ryan used to get frustrated with her (in prior years) that she never seemed to mind when she got out, or when she missed a play. Turns out, that is exactly the attitude that coaches want to coach. You can teach kids skills, but it is so much harder to teach good attitudes. This girl can shake off almost anything: from getting hit by a pitch, to overthrowing a ball to striking out. Not much rattles her. She just moves on and tries hard for the next play. 

And that right there makes me proud to be her mama. 

 

Both of the girls have built some pretty amazing friendships. The best part about fastpitch is that there is so much time to socialize and create new friendships, things that we are pretty good at around here. Our association pulls in kiddos from several area elementary schools and mixes them among several teams. They've loved getting to know some new faces. 

 

And building on some existing friendships. These two have known each other since they were little tykes attending the same day care. Separate elementary schools tore them apart, and then brought them back together again before they landed on the same team this year. The giggles and smiles are enough to warm your heart (and body when it's 57 and rainy at the end of June). 

 

Regan has been fortunate enough to be picked up by a fellow team who happened to need players a few times this year. She's having fun getting to know yet another group of players and doing her best to help them out. This double rainbow we were blessed with last weekend at the end of a long day of qualifiers was just what we needed. The games all seemed to literally pause for a quick moment so that fans, spectators and even umps could catch a glimpse :) 

 

We're nearing the end of 8U season but only half way through for 10U. The jugs of water are endless, the amount of dirt on the back rug is ridiculous. It's intense and time consuming but we wouldn't want life any different for our summer!

Day trip to Franconia sculpture park

One day early last week, we buckled the kids into the car and headed north in search of some fun. The idea started because Ryan wanted to drive into Wisconsin in search of some 4th of July entertainment, and then morphed into "let's drive up to Franconia Sculpture park and head into Wisconsin from there!". Good thing he doesn't mind when I plan our trips :)

As we drove (nearly an hour and a half!) to the park, we chatted about how we have some pretty cool things to do in our very own state, but instead of exploring them, we have always traveled out of state in search of something new. 

Admittedly, backwards. 

Needless to say, we were all pleased as punch to arrive and have a chance to not only stretch our legs, but see something new.

The place is sort of a few football fields worth of sculptures that you can not only look at, but also explore. Seems that it's actually encouraged to climb up on them! 

It was a little drizzly that morning but nothing that ruined our plans. We even got to play a little "Where's Lincoln?" as he climbed around this makeshift playground. 

 

 

And then, from out across the way, Sidney (the only one of us who had actually been there before), asked if we could walk all the way to the back and see the sculptures across from the parking area. Sure, why not? We were in no hurry. 

Let's just say the conversation grew silly as we approached this thing. There was no way we would have believed it to be what it obviously looks like....but the description told the truth. It was a gigantic male penis. Lovely.  

We later landed in Marine on St Croix and enjoyed an amazing lunch at a place where the water actually runs under the building into the St. Croix. History and fun all wrapped up into one day! So glad to have spent the day finding new adventures and making family memories. We have more travel plans in this great state to stay tuned!

May little things

With the pace at which we are moving around these days, I'm going to borrow the idea of monthly "little things" and hopefully it will mean at least a memory of the fun things that happened throughout each month. We'll start with May little things.

We shared some fun lunches before the end of school with the girls and their adorable friends.

Mother's day came and went, was full of love from our little ones and a (not as terribly long as I thought) U of MN Graduation commencement ceremony.

Regan performed in her band concert, then raced over to her dress rehearsal before having to skip softball practice for the night with all the other hoopla going on.

Our girls had a combined 4 dance recitals and together performed 14 dances and I sat through all of it :)

We started playing summer ball, then it got cold and then it got warm again. And although it's June, I still have the bag of hats, mittens and warm clothes in my trunk....just in case.

Sidney won player of the game.

And then took 2nd place in her gymnastics meet! Way to go Sidney :)

Ryan ventured over to Germany for a week of travel, fun and far too much food! We were very jealous that he left us behind.

The kids and I ventured to New Ulm while Ryan was away and got to meet one of my dad's trees on the golf course.  Plus I managed to help my mom do some tree trimming and somehow the girls and I ended up on the roof of the shed as I trimmed trees!

It was a wild month, but I wouldn't want it any other way! And just like that we were on to end of school events and the beginning of summer. 

5th grade "graduation"

I'm going to run with this disclaimer that Ryan thinks it's pretty silly that I'm calling it a graduation. Heck, he thinks it's pretty silly that I was as tearful as I was on Regan's last day of 5th grade. I get it, we have far too many "graduations" these days: pre-K, kindergarten, 5th grade and then eventually 8th grade and 12th grade. But this one....this one really pulled on my heart strings. I couldn't shake the fact that Regan would never return to her elementary school (he told me that was crazy silly because we have 2 others who will be going through the same school so of course she'll be back in the school!). Men, they just don't get as attached to these types of things, at least not Ryan!

Let's rewind several years and remind ourselves that we purchased this particular home we live in based on the schools surrounding us. We live just blocks from our neighborhood elementary (and middle and high) school and I fell in love with it the first time we walked through the doors. Honestly. It just felt like home, like we belonged there. The people, the fellow students, it was like an extension of our family. That feeling has only grown over the course of the last 6 years.

walking in on her very first day of school.

another first day of school

And as Regan sat up on stage for the 5th grade awards program, I teared up listening to the amazing principal speak as my mind wandered back 6.5 years when I listened to him first speak before she entered Kindergarten. And I distinctly remember how he talked about "these kids, I love them like my own kids". And you know what?, he meant it. He repeated that phrase up on stage this particular day, and I still believe him. The entire community has been incredible.

We have loved (almost) all of Regan's teachers, some were better than others. But never did I doubt how much those teachers cared about their students. And every year, since she was in kindergarten, Regan's teachers told us "she talks too much". I would roll my eyes and beg her to stop talking while the teacher is talking. This year, her teacher said "she talks too much" but for the first time, we heard "but she still gets her work done, and she doesn't interrupt me, so I have a hard time disciplining her". That girl finally figured it out!! Sort of :( She still talks too much, but at least she is completing her work and not being rude in the process. Multi-tasking; I like it!

the kindergarten teacher-Mrs Checco, who first told us "she talks too much"

fifth grade long term sub: Ms Crippen

At her ceremony, she was awarded with superintendent academics, presidential fitness, battle of the books and school patrols. We are so proud of our little "graduate" and can't wait to see what Middle School has in store for her!!

And then on the final day of school, after one heck of a class party, she walked out those doors for the very last time during the ceremonial "clap out". Oh boy did I shed a few tears. Let's be real, I was in good company between the teachers, parents and even students who bid one final farewell to those amazing 5th graders. We'll miss her school...it's a good thing Sidney will be returning there next year :)

End of school year hoopla

Our elementary school likes to have some fun at the end of the year.

Go big or go home, as I like to say!

I do my very best to get to each and every one of the kids' party days plus award ceremonies, Olympic days and more. It's stressful given my work schedule and each year I swear that I'm taking off the last week of school, but in six years, I have yet to do so.

We started off with Olympic Day where both girls participated in various outdoor relay events. There were plenty of giggles and a lot of sweat! (did I mention it was hot that day?!).

As fifth graders, Regan got to be outside ALL day long. The first half was spent helping the little kindergartners, and the last half was for their own benefit. To be honest, I'm not sure which part Regan liked better :) She sure loved having those kiddos look up to her.

 Then it was on to Sidney's class party and picnic. Again we had a beautiful day and basked in more outdoor fun events. There happened to be a plethora of volunteers that day so I was fortunate enough to wander around and hang with Sidney for a few hours instead of getting assigned my own station. Best day!

Later that afternoon was the annual 5th graders versus the teachers kickball game. I adore a friendly competition, and the idea of playing kick ball thrills me even more! I wanted to jump into that game so badly but was happy watching the kids have so much fun even though they got crushed (as the 5th graders do each year).

I loved that Regan assumed the role of catcher just like she loves to in softball.

And then she scored a run right past her favorite elementary school principal (and ours too!).

From there was Regan's 5th grade award ceremony (more on that in another post of it's own) but I loved how silly she and her two good friends got sandwiching themselves into this portion of their new middle school auditorium. I wonder if they'll fit when they finish 8th grade?....I plan to take another picture :)

With my attention focused on the girls and their end of the year, I was so thankful for my mom to come pick up another day (or two!) of hanging with this little guy. He is in his glory when anyone brings tools and had no problem saying goodbye to me when Grandma showed up with her drill that he got to hold and even play with!

Finally, it was Regan's last day of elementary school (again, more on that later) and her over-the-top end of elementary school class party!! There were bouncy obstacles, pizza, yard games, Maui Waui's and more. Those room parents sure know how to throw a party!

I'm told that slide was super fast, and the laughs out of everyone's mouth at the exist sure proved they were having fun!

Despite the heat and humidity, once Regan got inside of those oversized inflatable, she never got back out. I think she may have played games from inside for close to an hour! My favorite game to watch was when the kids just ran into each other trying to knock one another over. It was like watching turtles laying on their backs :) So much fun!

I couldn't resist taking picture after picture of she and all of her friends. She may not have let me hoover too closely, but she always obliged when I asked to take pictures. Love those friends of hers.

I'm beyond grateful for all of the fun things that our elementary school does for these kids. Sure makes them longing to come back again next September. We miss them dearly over the summer but are always happy for summer vacation!