Look For Me At The Ballpark!

Baseball season has started and with two boys playing on different teams I have found that a lot of my time is spent at the ballpark. Hughes is in his 2nd year of coach-pitch with Coach Rod's team. The team is mainly made up of players that started with Coach Rod three years ago with tee-ball so we're very familiar with every one. Banks is finally old enough to play tee-ball and he is thrilled. Lucius is on his team, too so that makes it all the better.

Before our first games - later to be rained out and rescheduled.

Cutie who spends just as much time at the ballpark as everyone else involved.

Fielding some balls warming up.

The rain started to drizzle at this point and about 2 minutes after this picture we had a downpour.

A couple of days later, Banks truly had his first game. Lucius and Banks "warming up" or sitting down. Whatever you want to call it!

Banks hitting and taking off!

Running strong to first base! He told me he was running like a cheetah.

It should be an interesting season with two different schedules. Hope I don't get them confused!

Taco Boy T-Rexes

Total Domination.

The Taco Boy T-Rexes are a force to be reckoned with.

The boys had a great soccer game last week.

Banks going for the kick.

Hughes throwing it in.

This picture gives me a glimpse of him as a 12 year old. He looks so old and mature to me. This was right after he scored his first goal and he was cool as a cucumber.

Game Over - Snack Time!

Woo Hoo!

First Soccer Practice

The big boys had their first soccer practice last week.

No one cried + every one participated = huge success

The Taco Boy T-Rexes

Thomas, Hughes, Lucius, Conley, Hudson & Banks. Wyatt was out of town.

4/7 of the team is my family - 2 sons, 1 nephew and 1 cousin

Banks dribbling towards the goal.

Lucius taking it to the house with his red shoes. Banks was beyond jealous of these much cooler soccer shoes. Sorry, bud. Yours are hand-me-downs as are most of your clothes! Thank you big brother for that.

Hughes in the midst of a practice game.

Practice kicking.

It's going to be a fun season. This is Banks' first team sport and he's ready to knock some heads. I think he may be our jock.

Go T-Rexes!

Banks' & Soccer

Banks participated in his first soccer clinic this past Saturday. He's finally old enough to do a sport through the recreation department. It's not a "team" but a clinic. He loved it and we got Lucius to do it with his. Lucius had more reservations about this but Banks was ready.

Listening to Coach Paul tell them about soccer. Banks was also super-excited about the gear and especially his "spiderman" ball which is really just a red soccer ball that has some black stripes on it. He was upset this morning when he realized he didn't have a team jersey like Hughes so I'm on the hunt for a soccer shirt.

Banks and Lucius ready to dominate.

Awesome Kick

Lucius giving it his all.

We celebrated with ring pops. Banks is pumped up about his next "game". He was a little sad that he didn't get to kick it in the net so next time we'll have to sneak over and do some kicks. Altogether, Banks loves all sports and has said lately that when he grows up he's going to play football, basketball, soccer & baseball. He might be our jock.

Bojangles Baseball Team 2011

Baseball season has begun and there is a drastic difference between Hughes' attitude this year and last year. Last year, he did a lot of crying, refusing to play, a lot of bribes took place and he finally warmed up the last two games to actually participate. This year, however, he has participated in every practice (happily, I might add), worked on hitting/throwing/catching, and generally has a good time. We had our first game this past Saturday and, boy, was it hot! So, you can imagine, with one inning left the heat started to get to our team. But with his last time up at bat, Hughes cracked the ball past the 2nd baseman and ran to first. I brought back my ol' cheerleading days and was jumping up and down just like I would have for the Cavaliers with my pompoms. I was proud, David was proud, Hughes was very proud. Oh, did I mention BecBec, Kentos, Aunt Trina, Bryce, Lucius, Banks & Collins were also all in attendance and cheering loudly. He had enough batters behind him to get him to home plate.

The Team

Hughes - age 5

Check out those 3rd base coaches - ridiculously good looking

Running home with Mr. James ready to give a high-five

Conley taking a pose on 3rd base - he's serious about baseball

Taco Boy T-Rexes

Today was a crazy day. Hughes willingly & joyfully played soccer today. We've had quite a time with Hughes and soccer. He would participate in practice doing the drills but would never want to play in the scrimage during practice. And on game days - forget about it. He sat on the bench - sometimes crying, sometimes pouting, always miserable. Well, for parents, that makes us miserable. What do you do?

This morning we had team pictures at 8am and a game at 8:30am. Dreading it, I sent David with Hughes for the pictures. Well, he did great with pictures which is kind of crazy considering Hughes hates getting his picture made.

Top Row: Thad, Hughes, Conley, Coach Jay

Bottom Row: Sasha, Wyatt, & Graham

David called me after the 1st quarter to tell me to "hurry over" because Hughes just played the first quarter like a pro (okay, maybe not like a pro but definitely like someone who's interested). I was in shock. Banks and I rushed over only to find Hughes playing soccer with a smile on his face. I got tears in my eyes because I was so happy that he finally was enjoying himself. He did awesome!

Now, let's back up a little bit to the early morning before we left the house. David and I had a talk with Hughes. We told him that he didn't have to play but that he could not cry on the bench. All that we asked was that he sat on the bench and not cry. We no longer cared if he played. We showed him a ring pop that we had bought for him in return for no crying.

A promise is a promise. Showing off the ring pop that he worked so hard for. Of course, Banks just benefitted from his brother's hard work.

First Soccer Practice

Hughes had his first soccer practice earlier tonight. The team has 6 players of which half of them are from our neighborhood along with the coach (Conley, Wyatt,& Wyatt's Dad as Coach). We had a difficult time getting in the soccer spirit at the house. We didn't want to get dressed but we rallied and managed to get all our gear on. Then, he fell asleep in the car on the way to the field. The practice began at 5:30 and anytime we go somewhere during the 4-5 time frame there is always great potential for Hughes to fall asleep. So, we get to the field and I wake him up with a promise of chicken nuggets for dinner if he gets out there and participates. (I should have defined what participated meant at this point)

Practice starts, Hughes sits down in the middle of the field and watches his team run laps, do stretches, kick the ball to each other, etc. Hughes does nothing but watch. When a water break is called and his entire team leaves the field then he decides that he's going to kick the ball around. Of course, when the team gathers again Hughes takes his place on the sideline to watch the scrimage.

FRUSTRATING - I know he'll love it but it always takes him time to warm up to a new situation. Even though he knew half of the team and the coach personally, it was still a new thing. Soooooo, I asked him how soccer went after practice and he said "perfect". Of course, I just smiled and said, "let's go get some chicken nuggets". We did talk in the car and I asked him if at the next practice he was going to kick the ball with the other players and he told me yes.

He has also requested a soccer ball with flames on it. I told him to talk to his Dad about that one. I mean, don't you think we need to first play the game before we start asking for special equipment?

Kids Bowl Free

I signed the boys up for the Kids Bowl Free program at our local AMF bowling alley. It is a nationwide program and I thought I would give it a shot. I'm always looking for that occasional indoor activity when it's 100+ degrees outside with 100% humidity.

We went on Wednesday morning unbeknownst to us that there is a morning group who bowls that day. We didn't have to wait for a lane but it was crowded. I didn't think at 10:00am there would be much of a crowd but I was wrong. The bowling was free but we did have to pay for shoe rentals - which wasn't much.

Stacy met us there with Charles and Francis and the bowling ensued. Hughes lost interest about after the 5th frame. Charles and Banks were into the bowling. And Francis, well, she bumped her head and lost interest after that. After watching a couple of balls literally creep down the lane the manager brought us over this metal ramp. The kids could put their balls on top of the ramp and then give them a slight push which would send the ball sailing down the lane. This was much faster and easier. I think we quit after the 8th frame.

Charles and Hughes at the control board.

Banks working on his form.

The boys with their green balls. You can see the ramp in the background.

I don't think this will be a weekly activity but I'm definitely glad to have it in my back pocket. You never know when I'm going to want to send David and the boys off on an adventure!

End of T-Ball

This morning we had our last T-Ball game. Hughes has come a long way this season - from crying and having to be bribed with milkshakes to gladly running out on the field and listening to the coach. He has made us proud! His intensity level is definitely not comparable to some of the other teammates but he is still having a good time and has a smile on his face.

Before the game sitting on the bench with his team.

Banks has been a trooper. As much as he wanted to be out there playing, he was content playing with his daddy.

Hughes running home - check out that stride - maybe we have a track star!

Coach James and Hughes chatting on 3rd.

Trophy Ceremony - Coach Rod giving Hughes his t-ball trophy. Hughes was very excited and very impressed with his trophy. He keeps saying "I won".

A very proud player

Showing it off to Dad - it has his name on it along with a baseball that spins.

The team showing off their trophies!

Coach Rod and Hughes - This coach has made all the difference this t-ball season. Hughes follows him around wherever he is on the field and gladly listens to his directions. I can only hope that all his future coaches are like this.

T-Ball Update

Hughes is finally enjoying t-ball and I no longer have to bribe him with chicken nuggets and milkshakes. Now, he just asks when he can go home. But, at least he's on the field fielding balls and up at bat when it's his turn. We have found out that if Coach Rod is not there (rarely but sometimes schedules conflict) then Hughes refuses to play. He loves Coach Rod. For a while there, we thought it had to do with David being at the game. Since most of the games are during the week at 6, David has missed a lot of them. And at one particular game where David made it, Coach Rod was absent and Hughes refused to play. Well, I'm happy to report that it has nothing to do with David but all to do with Coach Rod.

Team Photo - I don't know all the kids' names but Hughes is on the front row with the white pants and then Conley and Wyatt are on the end of the same row. On the back row is Coach Rod, Wyatt's dad Jay, and Conley's dad James. These are not the coaches that Hughes has a tough time with. There are some other more intense dads that help out that just don't "get" Hughes.

Team Huddle

Conversing with Sasha

Check out my slugger

He may not be a professional baseball player when he grows up, but he has come a long way, baby!

T-Ball - like it, hate it, who knows?

We had our first t-ball practice this past Tuesday. Hughes insists on calling his

'baseball pants and cleats" "his running pants and running shoes". We arrived a few minutes late so the Coach was already talking to the parents and kids. I didn't quite get a warm feeling from him but much more a "cut'n dry" type feeling. I realize this is t-ball but it is their first experience with an organized sport. Anywho, the coach led all the players out to 2nd base and told the parents to back-up. Hughes ran out there with the team but then got scared and refused to do anything. He just stood there while the rest of the team practiced catching and throwing. (Hughes was not the only kid who was scared and refused to participate)

Oh, he did pull his pants down and te-tee around 2nd base. I guess he was trying to get his point across of how he really felt. I was mortified but all the other parents just chuckled (probably thankful that it wasn't their kid).

Team Huddle on 2nd base - Hughes is in the blue/navy striped shirt.

On 3rd base standing with the group but still refusing the participate.

All this poor boy wanted to do was to play ball with the big boys. It was heartbreaking. How do you explain to a 2-year old that he has to wait 2 more years before he can play on a team?

Conley did great. Hopefully, his excitement will rub off on Hughes.

Hughes did decide during batting practice that he would participate. He really enjoyed that part. They only got to hit once but, hey, at least he did something. After hitting, you're suppose to go to the outfield and field balls. Well, I had to break my lent pledge and promise chicken nuggets to Hughes if he would go out to field balls. All he did when in the outfield was yell to me "Mama, now can I get chicken nuggets?"

Next practice is on Saturday morning and David is taking him. We'll see how it goes!