More Baseball...and Less

Later in the week, after Smunch had recovered from the excitement of watching the Giants win at AT&T park, the Cardinals played their last game of the season. As usual, Smunch took it very seriously. Also, as usual, I was so busy trying to keep order on the bench that I didn't see a whole lot of the game. (Apparently, I was also too busy to notice that my white balance was off and my pictures were coming out blue.)I don't think it was one of his best, but he had a good time and although they don't technically keep score, he apparently emerged a winner. Maybe he was cheering because he made it to first base...or maybe it was because it was his last at-bat and the next stop was the pizza parlor.And the pizza parlor gets him one step closer to what? His trophy, of course! This is actually the first season when I could tell how much he loved the game and that he wasn't just playing for the end-of-season trophy. That doesn't mean he didn't have it on his mind though. Apparently, it wasn't really on my mind. I don't even have a photo of this year's offering.

The boys posed for one final photo... and then the season was over.

Baseball season is so much fun...and so much work and takes so much time. As sorry as I am that it's over, I'm glad to have our regular schedule back, even if we're headed into a really busy summer. And now? Now there's no keeping order on the bench. They're just a rowdy bunch of little boys again.

Happy Birthday, Little Blog

When baseball season arrives and PONY league opening day is over, I always remember the very first blog post I ever wrote. It was titled "Opening Day" and I wrote it on Smunch's very first day of Little League, on March 18th, two years ago.

Smunch doesn't play in Little League anymore, since it turns out the boys at his school play in the PONY Baseball league instead. But yesterday was, again, Opening Day. And we were out on the ball field in the drizzle, watching Smunch start his third season of baseball.It's sort of strange to read now. Smunch had just turned 5. Yesterday, Mam had just turned 5. It didn't even cross my mind to ask if she wanted to sign up for softball (or baseball). Next year, I guess.

Interestingly, all the TV shows I referenced in that post are still on TV. We still watch them. But I don't do nearly as much paying work these days, so I don't find TV vegetation nearly so necessary. I still don't find my life particularly compelling, but I am enjoying it an awful lot. And I like to document particular moments on the blog...because I want to remember them, not because I think anyone else will be particularly interested.

Awww..and there's my little sweetie pie in his first baseball uniform. He was so small and it was so big. The current uniform seems that way too, but we retired those pants this year. They look fit for a leprechaun, definitely not a 7-year-old. Mam, yet again, was bored to tears by this year's Opening Day. And this time, Smunch's friend (mentioned in the original post) is not on his team, so Mam didn't have "her Sarah" to play with. Fortunately, there are plenty of other little siblings around and she made a new friend in one of the older sisters of a team member, so I think we'll live through yet another baseball season.

It's amazing how all the boys have improved in a year. They can actually catch the ball if they get a decent throw and they have a clue where to throw the ball once they've caught it. Well, sorta.I'm looking forward to it...and to revisiting Opening Day again next year...maybe with a little softball thrown in as well!

Happy birthday, little blog. Who knew you'd ever make it for two years?

It's Coming...

Batter up! Smunch has a new baseball uniform and that can only mean one thing. Baseball season! Speaking of birdies (as I was in the previous post), he's gone from being an Oriole to a Cardinal. Looks like it's going to be a fun season, with much the same team as last year. But gosh, I know the new game/practice schedule is going to feel mighty oppressive by May!