New Digs Same Old Game

CWS 2011 at TD Ameritrade: watching the game on Father's Day;  Dad and Mr. C at the opening game of Texas and Florida on Saturday.  I think Mr. C's face was in sorrow over the Horn's loss. 

I've been attending College World Series Games for nearly all of my life.  As a young child, I was even in command of the binoculars when a "streaker" ran the bases.  Now, I'll admit that there were years that I had my head buried in a book while the action happened around me (There was netting to protect me, I'm a book nerd, and I'm fine with that) and then there were those years when I had a huge crush on the cotton candy man.  I might even have written him a love letter!  Thankfully, my aspirations for a "boyfriend" got  a little higher and my appreciation for the game grew too.

Now, I have the pleasure of watching my kids gain a love for college baseball and experience all that is the CWS.  I tease my husband that he might have married into the family for the CWS season tickets, but in all honesty, he just loves his "Horns" and even I'll admit they make the Road to Omaha more than anyone else.

Spending Father's Day at the new ballpark was my husband's favorite gift.  He even was willing to cheer for that other team from Texas.  Miss A was very confused that not all Texas teams wear Burnt Orange and she wondered if maybe they were sponsored by a bank since their shirts all said ATM. 

I'll admit that I actually spent "game time" at a nearby hotel lobby knitting away. We only have so many tickets to go around and having Nana and Papa share this father's day with the kids and hubs was more important than me watching another baseball game. 

I already have my "cotton candy man" and it's rude to knit while watching a "real" game.

Seasons End Well

Dad and Mr. C at a game on Saturday. It was super hot and Dad watched to make sure "blue" stayed cool and had plenty to drink.

Some people mark the seasons by the weather and calendar, but around these parts we also mark them by the sports.

Thanks to some friends for getting this great picture of Mr. C in action behind the plate.

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This week marks the end of Baseball/Softball Season. You might have heard me yelp a little last night when Miss M's team lost a nail bitter to the "mean girls on the block" or at least that's what I call them. We were robbed of a victory and a chance to comeback in the loser's bracket for a shot at the championship.

Go Reds! Acting Crazy on the field before a game. What a fun group of girls.

However, the loss was also a victory in that we get our evenings back. Hooray!

Mr. C's baseball season ended on Thursday night and as a special treat his Bestemor and Bestefar were in town and got to see the game. While they lost, Mr. C had some good at bats and the temperature for the first time in over a week was tolerable. We missed out on Norwegian Meatballs as result of a dinnertime game, but can't wait to dig in this week to the frozen bag they left behind.

Mr C has been playing baseball since Kindergarten and this was the first year he got to be Cub his favorite professional team. Go Cubbies!

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C still has a few more umpire jobs to do this week so it's not officially the end of Baseball Season, but I'm counting down the days.

To mark the "end" of the Season here are a few things that will be changing around the Faithful Household.

1. No more snack shack trips. Don't tell Miss A, she'll be disappointed, she loves her some snack shack trips.

2. No more Gatorade and Water Bottles sitting in door of the fridge to get a little chill before game time.

3. No more late night wash loads to get the uniforms cleaned before a game.

4. No more dinners of sandwiches at 4 p.m. for ballplayers and at the game for parents and fans.

5. A full fridge again. I'd given up buying fresh meat and veggies that would rot in our fridge while we were at a game eating #4.

6. Cleats will no longer fill up our garage and hats and gloves will not be found under seats in my car.

7. Dad will no longer will taking clothes to work to change for the game in order not to coach M's team wearing a suit.

8. No more watching Mr. C behind the plate calling strikes and balls. He's really enjoyed umpiring and the teams and coaches have been very complimentary to him. That's why he's umping a few Championship Games this week!

9. Empty Calendar. Plenty of Free time for the Lake, Pool, Movies and Summer Fun just in time for the 4th of July.

Here are a few of the things we'll miss however...

1. Seeing friends at the ballpark and hanging out on lawn chairs watching our kids have fun.

2. Watching the joy on Mr. C's and Miss M's faces when they have a great "at bat" or make a great catch on the field.

3. Watching Dad coach Miss M's team and cheering them on in victory or defeat. He's a great softball coach and the girls love the team.

4. Knowing that these "seasons" at the ballpark are slowly coming to an end. Mr. C won't play forever and Miss M, while committed for one more year, isn't going to continue her softball career much longer either. Miss A of course likes the green grass of a soccer field much more than the dirt of a ball field.

I'm happy to see a new "season" around these parts, but this has been a great one! I think from now until school starts we'll just call it Happy Season.

Spring Sport Season AKA Laundry Season

Spring Sports are in full swing at our house. Which means that, in addition to watching various "games," we are also keeping the shower and washing machine busy. Added to the mix of practices and games is the fact that our springtime allergies are in full gear so there as also a lot of nose blowing, coughing and watery eyes in the mix.

Mr C, in addition to adding the Track Team to his plate, has taken on umpiring baseball games for our league. His first "game" was Saturday morning and the Umpire Commissionor was thrilled with his decision making and quick learning. He told C that he was very "teachable" and loved how his strike zone and play calling improved from the first to third inning. He's going to be a great umpire and is loving the fact that he can earn a little bit of extra cash, too.

My husband went to watch the C's first game behind the plate and commented how weird it is to cheer for the umpire.

C is again playing baseball and loving it. He's not a super star or hitting machine, but his decision making at second, his attitude and team spirit is contagious. He's the kind of kid you want in your dugout. He loves the sport, cheers and encourages his fellow ball players, and takes all the coaches advice to make himself better.

Miss M is playing softball and, after their first game yesterday, her coach "father" commented that he thinks he had as much fun coaching as the girls did playing. It was a great first game, and M who had the lead off batting position got right into the swing of things. We're blessed that our "team" has been together since 1st grade for the most part and the new girls who have joined have just fit in so well. Rumor has it she's pitching the next game! That might cause the mother to have a little stress, but Miss M's nerves will be steady.

Miss A has no interest in joining the crew on the ball field however she loves the "Snack Shack" and was thrilled that finally after a long winter off from ball game,s we are able to once again get Pretzels with salt, Ring Pops and Bazooka Gum. For her, it's all about the snacks and the siblings she gets to play with while "watching" the game. I have noticed, however, that after every game she asks the same question; "So, did our team win?"

Maybe she's not paying as much attention as I thought.

Miss A's real love, however, is soccer. She's thrilled that once again she's playing and scoring goals. I've even had the opportunity to "Coach" the past three games as the real coach has been out of town. I'm only suppose to be the Team Manager meaning the Snack Guru, but it's been fun to cheer on the girls and see them running and kicking and scoring goals.

Thankfully, I've remembered to assign "snack duty" to various families as it's not really a soccer game if there are no snacks at the end. Miss A might be willing to count up her "goals" and comment on how great she passed the ball to her friends, but I'm certain she would never forgive me if we didn't have snacks too!

Watching all the various games from the sidelines and cheering them on to victory is one of my favorite spring time rituals. The laundry and dirt that comes along for the ride is a small price to pay for the memories. At least, that's what I keep telling myself as I throw another load in the washer and clean up the kid's bathroom one more time.