Another Season Closes

Our 12th season of softball has come to a close. The season begins May 1 and seems to end a little later each year...August 30 was our last game. After tying for first place in our division for the regular season, we were knocked out of playoffs in the second round.

Since its such a long season, we make it a family affair. We have friends and family who are usually there and the girls love to dig in the dirt and run around. There is also usually a special snack involved...fruit snacks on game nights...yay! (I should actually give them fruit snacks more often...I found taking them away works very effectively as a punishment!).

Our commitment runs deep...Aiden was 36 hours old when he attended his first game. I was happy to give up the score-keeping job to my SIL Laryssa. Although I was usually happy to do it, I've enjoyed not doing it. Now I can be free to do potty trips behind a tree or car with the girls and feed the baby if necessary. I can also get involved in a conversation and loose track of a whole inning. ;)

To celebrate the season, we had a picnic hosted by our friends Connie and Eric. It was a beautiful (perfect, really) day and we had a good time hanging out with friends.

At the annual awards banquet last weekend Shaun was voted Coach of the Year for our division! No one can know the heart that he puts into the team each season. He deeply cares about his players and wants to help build character in them and show Christ. He keeps tedious stats on each player and knows the league rule book inside and out.

He is also highly competitive and wants to win and guys like playing for a winning team. I love to watch him in his element, passionate and wanting to have excellence in everything he does.

Its kind of a sick little pleasure, but I enjoy watching him in an argument. (I feel its important to mention here that these are more debates than arguments...he doesn't have a temper of even a mild degree). After being with him for 19 years, I know he is rarely wrong and its just fun to watch other people begrudgingly make the same discovery. He's very humble about this and only pulls it out when necessary, but in a head-to-head, my money's always on Shaun.

And, well...he just looks good in his uniform! :)

Softball Begins!

Our softball season started a week ago, for the 13th season. We enjoy spending our summer evenings down at the park as a family. We've formed very special friendships with many of the other players and their families and the kids almost always have friends to play with and dirt to play in.

After the girls got up from their naps, I told them that we'd be going to Daddy's first softball game in the evening. Immediately, Avery took Amanda upstairs and they both put on warm clothes and socks and shoes. Then they came down and announced they were ready to go so I had to clarify that the game wasn't for another several hours. I thought it was sweet that Avery thought up the warm outfits and that Amanda let her help. And, it takes a special occasion for Avery to willingly wear her sneakers. Apparently they are not as fashionable as sandals or flip flops.

Although we have a new sponsor this year, Shaun is still coaching and I am keeping score. Really not much has changed except we've "gone green". Opening night was chilly and rainy but the girls didn't skip a beat. Turns out umbrellas are lots of fun to play with and puddles even more so.

I am reminded every day how different these two are. Avery hiked up her pants and carefully stepped through the puddle a couple times and called it good. Amanda ran full force through all puddles available, laughing as she did it.

Even though the team lost, it was nice to get the season underway. It was a little strange to get out of the car and, for the first time in four years, I didn't need to pull out the stroller and diaper bag. I gotta say, it was quite nice to travel light, though by the middle of the season I know I'll be hauling the stroller and diaper bag around again. For a good cause... :)

Softball is Over

Our softball season has finally come to a close after kicking off in May. This was our 11th season as a team. We won the championship for our division, as well as first place for the regular season. Its a fun way to spend our summers...the kids love to dig in the dirt and occasionally run around the bases after a game and I keep score and take a few pictures.

Last weekend was our annual after-season picnic and tonight was the league awards banquet. Shaun was voted Coach of the Year for our division and I was so proud! No one can know the heart that he puts into the team each season. Formulating line-ups and addressing problem areas in the defense are things that he thinks about throughout the day.

A win or a loss, depending on the circumstances, will have him up at 3:00 in the morning. He keeps tedious stats on each player and knows the league rule book inside and out. He deeply cares about his players and wants to help build character in them and show Christ.

He is also highly competitive and wants to win and guys like playing for a winning team. I love to watch him in his element, passionate and wanting to have excellence in everything he does.

Congrats, Shaun on Coach of The Year! Very well deserved...thank you for always desiring to live life with excellence.

It's Summer

Just a few pitctures for those of you interested. We dug out the kidde pool and I was reminded again what a wonderful age the girls are at. They wouldn't have enjoyed their time more if we'd spent $40,000 putting in a heated pool with jets and pavers. Ahh...contentment and joy with life's simple things. I have so much to learn from my kids!
Avery doing a "fly boat" (back float). She does the, "Mommy, watch this..." thing

When Avery was given this bike well over a year ago, I was pretty sure it would be years before she would ever be able to ride it. Well, Daddy dug it out of the garage and pumped up the tires and she actually did fit on it. After two days, she is an old pro and is delighted to be able to do it by herself.
This is what you get when there hasn't been rain for a while at the softball field and you throw yourself prostrate onto the ground in a fit.

Loyal Fans

Last night Shaun had a double-header softball game. It rained hard just before the first game started, enough to make sufficient mud and puddles for a 1 and 2 year old. This picture was taken on the porch because that is where I stripped them down before they entered the house. Although the team lost both games, we still had fun watching and playing...in the mud!

(Of special note: Amanda is officially 18 months here and Avery is holding her "bay-den soup" that she was proudly carrying or wearing yesterday...no, I do not know why). My precious raga-muffins!