The Dwindling Spring

Spring is nearly over. I haven't felt a lot like writing lately, but it doesn't mean I haven't taken plenty of pictures. Since our camping trip to Pinnacles, I went on a short backpacking trip, Smunch participated in the Junior Olympics, we had a successful 5th grade Colonial Day, played lots of baseball, played lots of softball, Mam made the summer travel softball team, Smunch's PONY Bronco Giants won the Bronco Championship, while his travel team lost almost every game they played. Mam and I ran a 5K together...what a blast that was! Smunch played his cello on stage for the first time. I played my flute on stage, for the first time in 20 years...and possibly the last time, but I remembered how much I enjoyed it.

I feel like I'm drowning in kids' practices and sports right now, even as the school year quickly winds down. I'm praying for July... when softball finally ends...to rescue me. And since I have no real heart for the writing, here are some pictures.

Mommie N. and me at Pt. Reyes National Seashore for a more adventurous trip to Alamere Falls

Meanwhile, I  missed Smunch competing in the Junior Olympics. Here he is doing the standing long jump.

My little runner, who ran the entire 5K with me for Girls on the Run.

Turns out running with your daughter is pretty awesome. She says I'm too slow, however.

Mam finished her stint as a Neon Green Viper

I joined current students and alumni to bid a happy retirement to our high school band director, retiring this year.

My high school buddies on stage with our flutes.

Well, one of us appears not to have aged a day.

A happy little cellist preparing for his first concert.

And after this? He quit.

Mam, once again, tried out for the Nova softball travel team

The head of the cooking school and her little colonist

Who knew there were pickup baseball games during colonial recess?

Oh, and she made the team.

8U Nova winning their first tournament in Brentwood

The end of the Mavericks' season was far less joyful

A little something I did for myself

Eat your heart out, Justin Bieber. Smunch with Coach Jeff.

And this is where I realize that the PONY Bronco Giants really, really deserve their own blog post. Because they just do.

The Player

I admit that I asked for this photo. I virtually begged to take this photo.

See, starting in 4th grade, I was a band girl. I played the flute. I was never particularly gifted or talented or even motivated. Frankly, I was never very good at it. But I loved it because it provided me with an instant social circle and a sense of belonging that I wouldn't otherwise have had.

Nowadays, at least in our school district, kids don't get to pick an instrument until 5th grade. That means it was Smunch's turn. Late last Spring, the 4th graders got to try out all the instruments to see which one they might like. I couldn't have been more surprised when Smunch came home and said he thought he might like to try the cello.

The cello?

There's no precedent in my family for playing the cello. I played flute, my sister played clarinet, my dad played piano and flute. My mom played the radio, sometimes. I'm not aware of anyone on the other side of Smunch's family having a musical bone in their body. But cello? My baseball kid wants to learn how to play the cello? O.K. I've always liked the cello. Strings just weren't an option when I was in elementary school.

Over the summer and as recently as last week, he waffled a little on the cello. He thought maybe he'd forgo instrumental music altogether and join the chorus. I felt like he was about to chicken out, but he didn't. On Friday, he announced that he was officially going to play the cello.

So, last weekend, I called around and secured my little boy his very first 1/2-sized cello. I'm so thrilled and so proud of him for sticking to his guns on this one. I don't really care if he sticks with it long term. I'm just thrilled that he already loves it...even though he can't play a thing!