Baseball's done!

Little League season wrapped up this evening with sunshine, smiles, and lots of spectators!

Shan enjoyed t-ball with her same team from last year. Her coaches are so patient and kind - even buying her sno-cones when she hits out of the infield! 

She loved being on Blane's team!

Mitch was also fortunate to be on the same team this year with his wonderful coaches! The team was certainly better this season and it's feeling more like watching baseball.

Mitchell's love of baseball is complete. He went to sleep listening to the M's tonight, in his Mariner nest with Moose, and hanging 'eh' signs for every Paxton strikeout he heard. There's even a little eagle on Paxton's shoulder.

We are grateful for volunteers who make this program happen - and encourage the love of the game in our kids.

Fun Weekend

 May is wrapping up nicely!

 Mitch and Bryan went to state track together on Friday.

 Then they went to a Mariners game that night! Mitch is standing next to his grandpa Dave's name on the Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame plaque at Safeco.

 A reprisal of his photo from a year or so ago. He's getting so long!

 The Mariners won and they got to see Paxton pitch - happy super fan!

 Saturday they went to more track and then got to watch the Huskies play at Husky Ballpark.

So much baseball equals one happy kid.

Meanwhile, Shannon and I got to see Uncle Kevin and Mindy as they visited on their way to New Zealand!

Shannon beat Kevin at "chess". It was lovely to spend time together!

May Mish-Mash

We've had some wacky weather this month, including a wind storm early in the month. The wind came from the opposite direction as usual and the pollen was blowing wildly. As Bryan and I rushed to close windows, we saw the tree branch in the park break. 

 Jackson and Mitch were playing on the basketball court and came running with wild horse eyes!

 We were not sorry to see this tree fall - it had a wretched shape and was not well. It was cut down the next day and we're tree shopping for the park now!

A few days later, Shan had a loose tooth she wanted OUT. We did the classic tie-it-to-a-doorknob method and it worked like a charm. She was a champ, too! No tears and now a charming gap tooth grin and a slight lisp.

 She's also the child who doesn't like repetitive breakfasts. She'll make herself toast or, in this case, a bagel, and dine al fresco rather than settle for a bowl of cold cereal. Getting out the door on time in the mornings is not her priority!

 Shan and Blane watch Cale and Mitch play ball.

Touch-a-Truck with Dad was pretty fun. No one in their right mind would let this child behind a wheel...

 Ryan and Betty Ann were in town for a visit on the front end of their summer home from Liberia. The kids got to see them quite a bit and even enjoyed having them watch t-ball and baseball. They seem good and have lots of fascinating pictures and stories!

I have lost count of the number of trips I've made to buy plants. However, I'm pleased with much of the progress we're making in the beds. Shannon is frequently a helper and is learning the names of the flowers and how to distinguish a weed from the seeds we're awaiting. 

The pool is almost open, more family is coming to visit, Johnsons are preparing to move, and school is winding down. We're in the final push until summer vacation!

Mother's Day

May is perhaps the busiest month, what with our kids' baseball games, end-of-the-year events and planning, and all the post season games and meets Bryan runs and/or attends. That said, we were happy to relax in Ephrata for Mother's Day Weekend - even if it was just an afternoon!

Grampa and Grama Pobst were in town for the day. Grampa was very attentive to the kids and tried to help referee the hammock.

  

Grama taught Mom and me how to make her potato salad - huzzah!

 After a delicious lunch and pies, the guys crashed - hard!

 

These two are in the thick of aging with grace. 

The kids always love to spend time with their greats. Happy Mother's Day!

Opening Day!

We had warm weather and overcast skies for little league's Opening Day 2018!

 Mitch and his team ran in to their introduction.

 This kid was tired and barely cracked a smile.

 Shan was so excited to wear her new cleats and be introduced.

 She, too, was tired after spending the night with Avery at Johnsons'.

 Steven Smith requested Mitchell to catch for him as he threw out the first pitch. Has the man crush extended to a 3rd generation?!? Notice Mitch gave him a sign! He caught the ball, too, in spite of it clearly being a ball.

 Mitch and Coach Fronsman with Steven Smith.

 Mitchell's team had a double header to start things off. They hit the ball really well and were fun to watch.

Mitch will tell you that they won both games - and he hit 2 HRs!

 

Meanwhile, Shannon worked on her throwing and catching with her dad in the outfield. She's getting lots better! Having Bryan there with us for the day was a bonus - he opted not to go to a district baseball game in E'burg and we were happy to have him!

 Shannon was 3 for 3 and very focused at the plate!

  Mitch and Cale helped coach 3rd for the first inning and congratulated Shan on her baserunning prowess!

She does NOT get into the herd of kids chasing the dribble hits in the infield. Her ready position gets lots of practice!

 Dave and Vicki, Kim and Rachel and Avery came to watch. So did Ms. Watson, which made Shannon so happy!

 Here's to a grand month of May with baseball galore!