Baseball equals BUSY

The middle of April welcomed baseball season around these parts, and with it came intense excitement on the part of the three little men that live in my house. Between three teams (and the practices/games each one brings to our schedule) and three boys going in different directions each day/night, busy barely even begins to touch how our lives have been the past few weeks!

This week, I am determined to catch up on a few posts that have gone unwritten due to time constraints as of late; but for now, I'll show you a little slice of our lives from the past month.

Colin is on not one but two teams this year. He plays regular baseball and is known as a Mudhen (our league decided on Minor League names this year!); he also plays for our travelling team, and is known as a Cobra. On both of our teams are two little boys with sisters about Lola's age, and the girls have a blast playing together.

First game; practice game against the Catlin Grasshoppers, May 1st

Daddy, of course, is a helper on all of the boys' teams.

High five before Colin's first at bat

First Cobra game: Sunday, May 6th. 

Colin played all over the field, trying out different positions.

Ethan, Cameron, and Lola do so well for as many hours as we are at the ball park! 

They usually help out in the dugout with bats/gear or play with the other kids. 

Sometimes, I am lucky enough that they actually sit with me for a few minutes!

Monday, May 7th began a week long pre-season tournament. Our boys did so well and won their first game against Bryant Industries. They were more than a little excited!

The very next night--Tuesday, May 9th--we played again. Colin is the pitcher's helper on our team and does very well. He is athletic and very quick. This time, he was facing someone we know very well....

....his cousin Mason's team!

It was fun to see Colin and Mason out on the field together! 

Mason plays shortstop and is a very good little player too!

Colin on second base, Mason fielding

Since Mason was there, I got to squeeze little Paislee for a bit. Yay :)

Quick Cuts did well, but our boys were able to pull off a very close win. Colin was super happy!

On to Thursday night in Georgetown--where I did not have my camera battery charged and didn't figure that out until I got there! Grrrrr! But our boys pulled out another win.

The next night (Friday, May 11th) was an extra special one. 

Tell me, is there anything on this planet cuter than a T-baller?

Cameron and Ethan's first game as a part of the Catlin Cardinals was a smashing success. 

Cameron played first base, and this is a position that gets a lot of action in T-ball, 

since all the children fielding on each play are instructed to throw it there. 

Ethan played shortstop. He took the position very seriously, as you can tell. :)

Though I am certainly biased--I do believe we had the cutest cheerleader of them all!

Cameron batted second in the lineup.

No tee needed--he hit one right off the bat from Coach Dave's pitch. It went all the way to the fence 

(though, to be fair--fielding is still quite the challenge at this level!)

Then, in the third spot in the lineup came Ethan.

He also hit one right away from Coach Dave.

Safely to first and conversing with Waylon, the other team's

first baseman and one of Cameron's K-5 buddies.

One his way from second to third!

And when it was his time to run from third to home....

....of course he would slide! So funny. Both boys slid across the plate both times they came around, even though there was absolutely no need to do so!

Cameron back out at first, catching a toss from his teammate to get the batter out

Batting again. This time, he needed the tee, but still got a hit.

Cameron and Waylon: still friends after the game! :)

Such a fun night as a family at the ball park.

The next morning (Saturday the 12th) we got up early to head back out and do it all again. We played at 9 a.m. for a spot in the championship game of the tournament.

The girls decided to play in the dirt for a while.

Colin led off, and the inning was off to a great start. 

We scored four runs right off the bat against a very good team.

Rounding third and on his way home--love the determination in this picture.

Lolee girl cheering Colin on!

Though we lost our first game that morning, we still had to be "doubly eliminated". So, we turned around and played again at 11:30--this time, squeezing out a win by one run!

We then had to turn around again and play at 2 p.m, since even though we lost that morning, we had fought our way back into the championship game. We played the same team we had played just hours earlier. The boys put up a much better fight, but we still lost 12-9. They were simply exhausted after a full day of play.

Congratulations were in order for the second place champs!

The kids with their coaches and medals

So, as hard as I will try, I may be more absent from this blog than normal.....

....we are out on the fields just having too much fun!