Summer...in review

Yeah.

Apparently, after taking a photo a day for a few months, I really loose interest in taking pictures.

So here is a recap of the first half of our summer.

This summer...

we played (and watched) a LOT of baseball



went to camp



had a mini reunion with 4 of the 7 families we traveled to China with



watched (and marched in) a parade



climbed some fences



played on the beach





a lot...




spent time with our cousins



learned to row a boat



trained for a triathalon



became an official "Lake Monster"



relaxed...



made friends with some farm animals



checked out the Chicago skyline from one of the tallest buildings in the world







and that was just July...

Another baseball season behind us...

I hate it when baseball season ends. I get a little wistful on the last day of the season.

This season was a bit difficult for Sam--he had a screamer for a coach, but Joey had a GREAT season.

I will really miss it next spring. On the other hand, Finnish baseball is interesting to watch!

Not sure if Joey is up for trying it out or not!

118/365 Opening Day

It's opening day in our house!

Bye, bye baseball

I start longing for little league baseball to begin at about the end of January. I can't wait to find out what team the boys will be on, who their coach will be and who their team members will be. I love going to the games, meeting new families, watching kids improve as the season goes on....

By late July, however, I'm ready for the season to be over. It's hot outside, the baseball dirt blows around too much for my liking and the kids (well mostly Lily) have NO interest in watching baseball or anything in the park surrounding the baseball game--except for eating ice cream that is.



Sam finished his Rookie career on the St. Louis Cardinals this year. We were quite pleased that Sam received the Most Improved Player award this year. He made the last three outs of the season!

I must admit, I'm a bit ready to move on from the Cardinals (sorry Grandpa and cousins!). Whenever we stop for a bite to eat before or after a game in this Cubby land we live in, we get more than a few comments about the Cardinals shirt and hat!



Joey had a great season too. He has turned out to be quite a pitcher and struck a lot of kids out. (We're not really the kind of folks who keep stats on the kids!) Joey received the most valuable player award this year.



So it's on to fall soccer for us. Just about the time that's ending, I'll be ready for more baseball!

My City My Chicago

As baseball season comes to a close and cold weather sets in, I am reminded of the BEST place in Chicago to play and watch Little League baseball...Thillens Field.

Sammy's FIRST Baseball Game!

We left the house for Sam's first t-ball game. The excitement in the air was palpable. We were all a bit nervous. It was a double header for our family...Sammy's first game, followed by another of Joey's games.



We were late leaving the house. We arrived (seconds) late to the game. Darn, Sammy has to sit on the bench for the first inning and is last to bat. The second inning starts and the coach assigns positions. Sammy's eyes are wide and waiting. "Thor, pitcher...Jack, catcher...Sam, first base..."


"What?" I ask incredulously of the mom next to me. "What did the coach just say? Did he say Sam, first base?" "Yes," she replies with a sweet, proud smile...perhaps wondering why I look like I've just been told Sam has the swine flu.


"But he hasn't learned to catch the ball yet," I reply.


Anyone who's ever had a child in t-ball knows that almost the entire game is played by the pitcher, the batter and the first baseman.


YIKES! I brace myself for the inevitably long inning, and pray my little Sammy doesn't get discouraged. You see, his big brother plays baseball too (and he plays rather well, I might add).



But Sammy pulls through! He doesn't catch any of the balls thrown to him and watches a fair number of them roll on by, but he runs after the ball, scoops it up and dutifully walks it to the pitcher. The inning doesn't last forever and he actually does pretty well!

Whew!

When the inning was over, Sammy ran over to us and said "everyone keeps telling me I'm a good hustler."

Then, there's a long pause while he kicks a bit of dirt..."Dad, what's a hustler?"

We have a Cardinal in the house

In true family tradition, Sammy is a St. Louis Cardinal this year...

It was a real nail biter!

The American League Championship game on Sunday was a real nail biter! Actually, Joey picked the book "Casey at the Bat" for his bed time story last night and we noticed that the story of Casey and the story of the Rangers was very similar.

It was the final inning. 9 to 8 in favor of the other team. They were home, so they had last bats. Our first player steps up to the plate and pops one up in the infield...caught. Second player gets up to bat and pops it up as well...caught. TWO OUTS. The kids start chanting..."two out rally, two out rally!"

One of our best hitters steps up to the plate...hits it way into the outfield. He gets on base. Next player gets a single, as well as the next. The bases are loaded and our BEST hitter steps up to the plate. The day before he had hit TWO home runs. We're thinking...he'll at least get the kids on 2nd and 3rd home which would score the tying run. He hits it right to the pitcher who throws it right to the first baseman for an easy out.

I was standing next to first base and I could see the tears in our batter's eyes as he ran down the baseline. It broke my heart! He is the guy on the team who LIVES for baseball and in my eyes, would be our MVP! So we lost by one measly little run. But secretly, I was relieved...Joey was up next.

Congratulations Rangers! What a great season!