"Take me out to the Ball Game..." PLAY BALL!

Plllllllaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy ball! This is the new phrase we hear almost nightly. It is officially that time of year when baseball is in full "swing". Owen started playing baseball at the YMCA when he was 3 and now plays for the Little League the last two years. Raymond started when he was 3, so this will be his 3rd year and now little Judd has entered into the world of baseball. As you can guess the minimum age to start playing ball of any kind and most extracurricular activities is 3.  Tony has coached for the last 3 years. (I kind of feel like breaking into that School House Rocks song 'three is a magic number'. lol) This year he is coaching Owen and Raymond on the same team like last year. We figured that Judd would be too clingy to Tony if he coached his team, so we are letting another Coach teach Judd the ropes, which is good for him to have another authority figure to listen too.

As I always say, life is a whirlwind and constantly crazy. If we are not at church, then we are at baseball, or baseball practice, or soccer or swimming lessons, or meetings....the list goes on. This is without Tess being involved in anything yet. What will we do then?

Owen signed up for soccer for the first time ever with the YMCA. He was so excited because he had been playing it at recess with some of the other boys. He is pretty good when he applies himself, but he is timid and not a go getter after the ball. He is a little scared of being kicked I think and doesn't realize that he doesn't have to be polite about stealing the ball away. He'll get better though, for his first time EVER playing I think he does really  well. The other kids have been playing for awhile now. He looks so cute with his shin guards and jersey though and he's trying super hard. Tuesday nights are his practices and Saturdays are his games.

Each boy is very talented at baseball. Surprisingly at times cause they never really play it at home much, so when I see Judd at his 2nd game only yesterday be able to pretty much throw the ball from the pitcher mound to first base, I was a little shocked! I love watching them play sports or do activities of any kinds. It makes me so proud to see them doing something that they like and are good at.

I love the way they look in their uniforms. Owen and Raymond are red and have black hats with a white B on it for Benson (our area of town), then Judd is forest green with the same hat. Owen and Raymond have long red baseball socks, but we opted to not worry about socks for Judd this year because the smallest size baseball pants they make go down past poor little Judd's shoes. They have to be pulled up and tucked under to make them not too long. He's so cute though, he looks like he's dressed up in his dad's clothes or something. The hat is over sized, the pants are over sized and the shirt is a bit big. The cutest image you will ever see is Judd running the bases wearing a HUGE helmet with his little legs, it makes him look like one of those bobble head dolls running the bases. ha ha. He likes it and I'm happy that he's trying something away from home. Each of them plays 2 -3 games a week, which means we are up at the ball fields about 4-5 times a week to watch games.

Owen and Raymond in the outfield.

Judd is the 3rd one from the left.

Judd getting his first hit.

Probably my absolute favorite baseball picture of the season! Judd made it to first base.

My 2nd favorite picture. The ONLY time that Owen and Raymond will play against Judd's team. Judd is on 2nd base chatting with his brothers in the outfield.

Tony as coach of Owen and Raymonds team in the dugout.

Raymond's first hit.

Owen's first hit.

 So now that baseball is in full swing, we have soccer to go to twice a week, baseball 4-5 times a week, and Owen and Raymond are taking swimming lessons every Thursday night until the end of May. Busy as always but I kind of like it that way. So here's to busy nights and tired days, quick meals, and lots of sun! It's a great spring so far.