Baseball Summer of 2016

Just hanging out on third waiting for a hit home.  

Will's baseball season wrapped up last weekend and I regret not writing about it as the season went along.  This was his first year playing in AAA and he had a few new changes to learn compared to last year's AA season.  The biggest change was no more pitching machine.  This was the first year of kid's pitching.  So lots of walks, strikeouts as the season progressed and a bunch of hit by pitches.  It was definitely exciting.  Players in AAA can also steal one base per play, except no stealing home.  Will was good at listening to his base coach and scampering to the next base on a wild pitch or even just a strike.  He got a little speedy over the winter and it was fun to see him zipping along the base path.  

More hanging out.  It was easiest for me to get pictures of him on third plus I was also pretty invested in the games (irrationally so?) and too nervous/loudly cheering/being irritated with the other team's parents to take many pictures.  Yes, I know it's a game.   

Will played on the Indians again this year and he had a great coaching staff, including his dad who managed the dugout.  Will played just about every position except first base and pitching.  He was pretty excited to play catcher and he improved a lot as the season went one.  I can't say I was crazy seeing him behind the plate but luckily catchers have tons of padding and once he even caught the ball before it could whack the umpire in the face so there's that....  

Will's hitting improved as the season went on, too.  He had a pretty good eye for judging pitches and he'd get on base with a walk quite a bit.  He got hit by the pitch a few times.  In one particularly close game, he was up to bat and the pitch came right at him but he ducked.  I found myself stifling back a yell along the lines of "just get hit by the pitch!  It'll be okay!"  Yes, in hindsight I felt weird about instructing my beautiful 9-yr old to go ahead and get hit by a ball coming in pretty fast but in relaying that story to a co-worker who's son plays high school baseball, she told me that those coaches tell the kids to "wear it" meaning 'get hit by the pitch.'  I told Will that if he heard mom say "wear it" he'd know what to do.  Yes, I also feel weird typing that here but baseball is a complicated game and sometimes you just have to get on base.  Or something like that.

"Wear it" Will!  But only if it's not coming at your face or brain.  

The baseball season ended last Saturday when the Indians lost in the semi-final round of the tournament.  They finished with a record right around .500 but they had some great games and it was a nice group of kids.  Football season is right around the corner but Will is still in the front yard with his mitt, throwing a tennis ball up against the house.  We sure do like our baseball.  And our baseball player.

Baseball sister who wants to try her hand at softball next summer.  Stay tuned!  

Dolly, Lolly, Ren and Rey

Coco is super interested in the chickens.  Also interested in holding them in her mouth.  

So it's high time I wrote about the girls.  The chicken girls.  Dolly, Lolly, Ren and Rey.   Yes, I know it seems crazy to add more critters to this already hectic life but some days they are the easiest thing to take care of and sometime soon we'll have fresh eggs in the fridge.  In the meantime, we have little bug eaters and weed destroyers and poultry entertainers.  

On one of their first excursions in the backyard.  They were so little!  

Reina has been a great help with the chickens.  They might not appreciate her enthusiasm but she helps take good care of them. 

We kept the chickens in the basement for about 6 weeks while we waited for the weather to warm up and for Glenn to build the chicken coop.  It was tough keeping the dogs and cat out of the chicken room and we are all pretty happy that they are finally outside. Well, except for Coco.

A few weekends ago, while trying to get some chores done, I gave Reina the camera to take pictures of the chicken girls and she did a great job!  Here are some poultry pics from the perspective of a 7-yr old.

Meet Ren.  She's a Barred Rock.  She's still the smallest chicken and the friendliest.  We thought she'd be the leader of the pack but that title goes to the Rhode Island Red named Rey.  I don't see her picture in this post but she's pretty.  And bossy.  

This is Dolly an Orpington.  Dolly was a few weeks older than the rest of the gang when we got them and she's pretty shy still.  She's also not the sharpest tool in the chicken shed but that's okay.  She routinely gets panicky when she misses the entrance to the chicken coop and can't figure out why everyone else is on the other side of the wire.  There's a reason that chickens haven't taken over the planet yet.  But she's pretty!  

Ren and the rhubarb.  

Meet Lolly the Australorp.  She's a little dinosaur.  She's shy but warming up to us especially when you are holding corn on the cob.  

The Chicken Coop to end all chicken coops and the chief architect/construction manager/laborer/painter.  

We agree that our chickens are living the 1% life.  Besides being spied on by a few dogs and a very interested cat, these four are living the life in a big run and a warm coop.  We let them out in the yard when we are home and they love hanging out on or under the deck.  'm surprised at how entertaining it is to watch them just be chickens.  Ren chased another bird out of the yard one afternoon.  If one of them starts running, they all run even if there's no reason for it.  They are discovering table scraps and made quick work of a piece of watermelon today.  There's something oddly peaceful about watching them peck and scratch the ground.  While I never pictured myself eating dinner on our deck with chickens running around, I'm so glad we brought them home.  We are having fun with our chicken girls.

Baby Boy Cousin

Back around Christmastime, I took this picture.  A nice family shot of grandkids and grandparents right?  It's also the scene of Pop-pop receiving some big news.  See Grandma and grandkids found out at Thanksgiving that Baby Boy Cousin would be making his appearance in late spring, but Pop-pop was on a big trip and had to wait to find out when he got home.  So when Aunt Vicky took this picture, instead of saying "say cheese!" she said, "say.... 'Aunt Vicky is having a baby!' I love Reina's expression the most, besides Pop-pop's (who still hasn't fully grasped the news.)  Surprise!  

Baby Boy Cousin is a delight. He's handsome and healthy and pretty chill.

Uncle Glenn and BBC on his second day on the planet.

I got the chance to stay with Vicky and BBC on the night after he was born and it was exhausting but so cool to get to spend time with a NEW newborn and his super hero mommy.  He was very sweet and liked to be cuddled, especially in the wee hours of the morning.  I was crazy tired the next day but it was completely worth it.

We had some serious eye contact going on, he was probably amazed at the giant shadows under my eyes.  

So BBC is one month old and I still haven't wrangled all four cousins together for a group picture but that's my goal for July!  Everyone looking at and smiling at the camera.  I can dream right?   Toddler Cousin has adjusted pretty well to her baby brother and Will and Reina are delighted with the new addition to our crazy family.  Reina really enjoys the babysitting role and Will always says he doesn't want to hold the baby or anything like that, but once he's within arms reach, Will is holding his hand or rubbing his blonde hair.  So yes, I need to get that picture taken.  Everyone is growing up so fast!