Baseball Season!

Well this year Baseball was different than in years past.  For starters Hans is now in the “player pitch” league.  With Track and Field season underway in May, we opted NOT to sign him up for the “traveling” league.  Unfortunately, this was the team that practiced all the time and really improved their skills.  Hans was on a Sterling Rec league that included many of the traveling team members and he did AWESOME…however, he knows he could have done better if he got as much practice and playing time as the “traveling” team kids.   Our sanity was thankful that we did not…the traveling team kids played Tues-Thurs and Saturday tournaments….we just played 2 games a week.  HOWEVER, Alan was in the pitching machine league, so he also had 1-2 games a week.  Sometimes we had to go separate directions which I did not like!  I hated missing one of my young ones play…  Other nights we had 2 games in the same place at the same time and we watched back and forth and basically did not get to focus on either game.    CRAZY! 
Hans’s coach, after the first few practices had him come to a pitcher’s practice and actually started him at the first game. However, Hans just was not ready and this was the only inning he pitched.   Just wait until next year,  ya’ll!
Alan’s team was another story.  I got the skinny from the Rec league guy toward the end of the season.  See, coaches get to pick or draft their kids.  They divide up “evenly” the 3rd, 2nd and 1st graders, but many of the other coaches have been doing this for the 4+ years we’ve been in it.  Alan’s head coach was a grandmother in her first year in since her boys played….  Only 2 of the kids had EVER played before…  Alan and another player.  It was a character building year, they were win-less.  BUT those coaches NEVER gave up.  They practiced 1-2 times a week ALL season and we went from being beat 20-7 throughout the season to only losing 10-5 the last game.  They never lost their heart even though, I confess, I was MAD!!!  How those other coaches could take advantage like that just made me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   These things happen and life goes on!  Kudos's to the Royer women for their integrity!
  

Hans team only lost 2x and they came in first in the league I believe.  Many of the 4-5th graders had trouble figuring out how to hit when player’s pitch, but I was proud of Hans’ determination.  He hated having to be walked, but learned it was better than striking out! 

Been gone...

Well, with the dawn of facebook, I've neglected blogging all together!  For the most part that suits me because more family and friends see our stories on facebook rather than here!  However, for story telling, blogging is better and if I ever get a blog book put together and printed like I said I would....
Regardless,  I hope to catch up with some summer posts and vacation stories shortly.  It might be short sighted...as if August will be any less hectic than July and June!  This is the longest summer vacation on record!  School let out May 18th and does not resume until August 31st, Lord willing! 

The children have been busy with baseball, football & volleyball & gymnastics practices and the pool.  Chris, as always is busy with farming.  This year has had it's challenges and he is enjoying that less and less.  I did not really plant a vegetable garden this year and the flowers I planted are struggling with the cold spring and hot summer!  Sounds like complaining.... well let's just say I enjoy fall and winter better than summer! 

I'll be back to share some of the wonderful blessings the Lord has bestowed on us shortly...that is, if anyone even looks here anymore!!!  I don't!