Back to Baseball

It's that time of year again ... fall baseball. Do you hear the twins screaming and crying? Trust me, they do. A lot. The good news is that they haven't had to come to too many practice or games so far this season. Their helpers have been with them most days after school, and they've gotten to stay home to finish homework or go on fun adventures of their own.

Connor has moved up in to the bigger leagues. Major-Minors. Where kids pitch to kids. It's interesting. Let's just put it that way. The coach is moving all the players around, so Connor is playing his usual positions of catcher, second base and outfield. With more players on the team, all the kids are also rotating sitting on the bench for a few innings each game.

And the batting ... that's really interesting. Because, you know, kids are pitching. Connor had one really good hit on his first at bat, a slide-in triple. It sailed over the outfielders heads and rolled to the fence. That was a pretty good pitcher. The others, not as much. Because there are kids like Connor, who have never, ever pitched before, who are now pitching.

He did, last game. He struck out one and walked three. But only one run scored in the inning because the kids were hitting infield grounders off of him.

So, we are back to baseball. The twins are not thrilled, but they aren't having to endure it too much. It's not quite as fun to watch as Rookie league was, but it's definitely interesting to watch. I have a feeling Spring is going to be even more interesting ...

Weekend with the Big Boy

A few weeks back, the boys had the day off from school on Friday. Apparently our district likes to ease us back into the school year, three days the first week, then four day the next.

With a day off from school, we hit up Grandma and Grandpa to come keep the little guys so we could take Connor on an big boy adventure. We planned a day of things we knew he would like, but that we would have trouble doing with all three boys along. We drove a few hours away to take in an aquarium right on the river, and then we made our way across the river to see a major league baseball game.

The Newport Aquarium was a lot more fun than I expected. It probably helped that the local schools were in session while we were there. It wasn't crowded at all. I got several pictures in the big tunnel walkways with just Connor and Josh in them. I'm guessing that wouldn't happen on a weekend or on a regular day in the summer.

So we spent a few hours exploring there. Connor was in a hurry, as usual, but he really did seem to enjoy most of the exhibits. His favorites, according to him, were the sharks, the rays, the penguins and the otters. He started out with two favorites, but when I mentioned mine, he added them to his favorites as well.

And then we made our way across the big river bridge to Great American Ball Park. We were a little early, so we spent some time in the team store. It as packed, probably because there was air conditioning. Connor ended up with a souvenir backpack (the drawstring cinch sack). It served a dual purpose. We had been looking for one for him for a while, just for taking over to friends' houses or little day trips to places. But buying one at the baseball field meant we could hand his baseball glove and foam finger back over to him to carry, in his backpack of course.

So we watched the Reds and the Brewers play. The home team lost, but it was still a fun night. We had Skyline chili dogs, nachos, snow cones, Pepsi(s) and all kinds of ball park food (and let's face it, that's Mommy's favorite part of going anyway). It was a Friday Fireworks night, so we got to watch fireworks over the Ohio River after the game.

It was a long day, and an even longer night. Poor Daddy had to get up and go to work at the fire station the next morning. That's why I had the fun task of driving home. And Grandma and Grandpa had the even more fun task of driving back to their house in the middle of the night after we got back to our house.

The big boys says it was worth it.

A few other photos are here ...

Soccer Sundays

Sawyer is less certain about our return to soccer. He participates, and he does pretty well with the basics, but he is not particularly happy to be there or to be participating. As you can see in the photo. He's dribbling the ball, but he's also voicing his frustration about it. My arms are also covered in bruises and scratches from pinches, his way of voicing his frustration.

I expected him to like the outdoor version better. He seemed happy when we were there during the summer for a brief practice session with his coaches. It was less crowded and less formal then, so perhaps that's part of it. There were several new team members added to our group from last Spring. There were a lot of volunteer "buddies" and others on the fields. It was busier. And, even though we'd been here once before, it was a new routine.

Hopefully Sawyer will come around. He's not necessarily a natural athlete like Xander (he has some apraxia and motor planning issues). But he understand the basics and does pretty well with those. Like Xander, he struggles with the listening and following directions part. He was also ready to quit about 15 minutes in, so that made for a long first practice. We'll keep trying ...

There's always Wendy's french fries after we're done. Surely that has to help.

"August Soccer"

Xander has been saying it for weeks. "August soccer?"

And then, just as quickly, "Soccer first, then Wendy's."

It's the little things, apparently. And while I definitely think the french fries are the motivating factor, I also think he was looking forward to soccer again, too.

Xander is a natural athlete, in every sense of the words. Whether kicking a ball, throwing a ball or catching one, he just does it with a simplicity and ease that you would not expect. It's actually kind of amazing to watch him play. He has some trouble with the listening, and the following of rules, but he has no trouble with the fundamentals. Dribble the ball down the field, kick hard, score. That he can definitely do. Stretches, listening activities, group activities. Those come less easily. Usually with screams of protest and a lot of "No (insert activity here)!" after every thing his coach says to the team. I think she's used to it by now.

So we're back to soccer Sundays through October. The fall season is outdoors, which I think both boys will like better. Time will tell ...

Snapshot Sunday

Love that Expression, a photo by here we wander on Flickr.

Well, taken last Sunday at least. Xander wins the prize for my favorite photo from last weekend at the lake. The expression says it all. Loving every minute.

The rest of the photos are here (and Daddy even made a few, because he joined us for the first time all year).