First Day of Summer

I could have called this post "Last Day of School". Considering that school got out at 11:15 on the last day, it kind of made it the first day of summer as well. We didn't have any plans, so I somehow talked the kids into going back to Sunol Regional Wilderness with me to see what its "Little Yosemite" area is all about. It sounded like there would be water and I used that as a lure since saying "hiking" doesn't really get the kids excited these days.

I tried to choose a short loop for a hike, but I didn't know just how uphill it went. I also didn't realize that I'd left the water bottle...at home. So, not a well-prepared Mommy on this trip. The kids did O.K. They were pretty game. They enjoyed looking at the scenery and the flowers. Mam was particularly enamored with the many blooming butterfly mariposa lillies.

I've always thought these were cool too.

We spotted a golden eagle, saw some fluffy little baby turkeys and got dusty and hot before getting to our destination, but I think the kids found the whole thing worthwhile as soon as their feet hit the water.

I don't know that Little Yosemite is aptly named, exactly. We've been to Yosmite, after all, it didn't exactly measure up, despite its quaint little waterfalls.

But the kids didn't couldn't have cared less. I let them play in the water as long as I thought I could get away with it. After all, there is dinner and bedtime, even during the summer!

Mommy & Me

This is possibly my favorite picture ever with my daughter. Life doesn't really lend itself to a lot of opportunities for me to have a photo taken with just one of my kids, so I love this one. (It was a perk of being the team manager.)O.K., she has a crazy look in her eye. And I should probably claim no relation to her whatsoever with that look on her face. No one would really know she's mine, right?

The Bug - Take 2

Two years ago, Smunch had to make "a bug" for his second grade class. It doesn't seem like our school demands a lot of home art projects from the kids, so it's hard it object. And Mam was raring to go when it came to her turn this year. Again, it was supposed to be made of household objects. This time, we used some wooden bits intended for parrots, popsicle sticks, jewels and stray edges of gold ribbon.

Introducing "Jewel bug", a Mamrific, glittery creation that apparently went over quite well at school.

Bookworm

She was never particularly behind in reading, but certainly wasn't "accelerated" either. Now she is smitten. What's softball, or even breakfast, when you have Harry Potter? I have to stop her from taking books in the shower with her.

No Title Needed

But not tomorrow. Yesterday, Smunch's baseball team, the PONY Mustang 2 Angels, lost in the semi-finals of their playoff tournament. They could have won. They batted well, but their defense looked like the Keystone Cops.

Smunch even scored a run in the photo above, after being hit by a pitch. And then he caught a great big fly ball to end the second inning. But Smunch's good day ended there.

In his next at bat, he was issued a walk. And he stood on first base as the scorekeeper from the other team (who was the offical scorekeeper) argued with the umpire that it had been only three balls. She was right. Smuch was called back to the plate, only to strike out.

But nothing compared to the hissy fit he threw next, whacking the ground repeatedly with his bat in a spectacular display of unsportsmanlike conduct that I've never seen from him before. He earned himself a warning from the umpire. And then he stood in the dugout, kicking the fence forcefully, fighting to contain the anger and tears and largely failing.

I went over and hissed at him to cut it out. Then returned a few minutes later to explain to the angry and disdraught Smunch what had happened and that he was at risk of being thrown out of the game. I told him I understood he was angry, but he can't act like that. And I gave him a hug. He recovered, but he was shaken up. During the remainder of the game, he struck out twice more and fumbled a ball or two in the field.

His team lost 13-15. Smunch seemed relieved that the season was over. I wanted to cry. This has been a great team. And this is the first year Smunch won't be playing any post-season All-Star tournaments. He's talking about quitting baseball. And to go out on such a note? Well, it kinda sucked.

Hopefully, his travel team will manage to recruit enough players that it'll fly and they'll go to tournaments and Smunch will enjoy it enough to play with PONY again next year.

I hate to see this child who had such a passion for baseball just let it fall by the wayside.