Out Of Her Comfort Zone - Killer Bees

When the time arrived to sign Emily up for Fall Softball, I found myself with a dilemma. We liked the girls Emily had been playing with for the last four to seven seasons, but we also felt like Emily had been at somewhat of a standstill when it came to her progress in the game.

The way the league had been set up in the past there were two age groups. When Emily turned 11 she was supposed to move up to the older age group. I was really excited about her getting to play with older girls who would push her a little bit more. But when it came time to register we found out that they had now divided the league into three age groups. Putting Emily towards the oldest of the middle age group. The last two seasons we had her play in this age group. By the end of the last season I was a little frustrated that it was pretty much the same as playing in the younger age group, with not much development for Emily.

So this season I told Emily that I thought we should bump her up into the next age bracket just to give it a try. We talked about how this move might mean she will not get to play her favorite position as catcher, and she may spend a lot of time in the outfield, but in the end playing with the older girls would help her become a better player. She agreed. So this fall Emily played in the 15 and under league.

When I say 15 that means the girl was 15 as of January first. The fall season being in September meant some of the girls were 16. I took her to her first practice. I was a little intimidated by her new team. Most of the girls on her team were 15 and 16. A couple had played on the school teams, but there were also a couple of girls who had never played before. Her coach asked Emily what positions she likes to play. She told him catcher and 2nd base. So he had her try them out at practice.

After the practice Emily was really excited about playing. I asked her if she felt okay playing with the older girls. She told me it would be fine, and she didn't fell intimidated at all, because she knows what she is doing, and there were a couple of girls at practice who had never played before.

The coach must have liked what he saw in Emily, because she got to play catcher for at least two innings at every game. When she was not playing catcher he rotated her to 2nd base or outfield.



Moving her up to the older group turned out to be just what Emily needed. She really sharpened her skills this season. Her coach was very positive, and also really great at telling Emily how she could improve.
The girls on her team were great too. They made sure Emily felt like part of the team. It was a fun season to watch. We won a few games and lost a few, but the girls were all into playing, and that made the games really fun to watch.

Red Cheetahs - T-Ball

This fall Josh signed up for t-ball. T-ball is one of my favorite little league sports to watch. It is more like having practice instead of an actual game, and the kids all seem to just have fun. They also don't quite understand the rules yet, and occasionally do something entertaining. Like when one of Josh's team mates, after hitting the ball and running to first base, went to the dugout to get a drink from his water bottle, because he was thirsty.

Josh's coach is really great, and tries really hard to encourage the kids, and make sure they are learning. He has them each take turns at the different positions. After every batter they rotate to a base, or to the pitchers mound. That way they all get a chance to get the ball and throw it.

Josh signed up for t-ball mainly because that is what Joe did after soccer, but unlike Joe, Josh likes to have as many people as he can come and watch and cheer for him.

I know he really likes t-ball, because he is always excited to go.

He is doing great at it too.

Let's Play Ball

For Family Night we headed up to the school to play a little ball. Grandpa and Grandma joined us. We designated Grandpa as the pitcher and then everyone took turns hitting, while the rest of us played the outfield.

Josh was excited to play. He had watched Joe and Emily all season and thinks baseball is what he wants to sign up for in the fall.

Joe dressed for the occasion, and got a few hits off of Grandpa. He is really starting to get the hang of it.

Grandma took a swing at it and got a hit.

Emily was having a lot of fun helping her brothers and getting hits herself. After the boys got board with the game and wandered off to the playground, Grandpa and Emily got in some extra practice time.

Valerie did not try to hit the ball, but she had a lot of fun with the bat.

Until she discovered the after game treat. Then all she could think about was the cookies.

It was a fun night, and I am seeing a lot of baseball (and softball) in our future.

The Giant Bees

Last Fall when I asked Joe if he wanted to sign up for soccer again, he said "No, I think I am done with soccer. I want to try baseball." So this spring when it was time to sign up for sports we signed him up. Tuesday was his first game of the season. He was excited to play and really liked his new uniform. At their first practice the coach had the team choose a name. They chose The Rubber Duckies, but I guess the coach did not like that name, because by Tuesday night the name had changed to The Giant Bees. (Coach is a big Giants fan.) So the Giant Bees it is. Sports are always more fun with friends. Joe's friends Max and Ethan are on his team. I took this picture right before the game. Joe was either getting his game face on, or posing for the camera. I am guessing it was the latter of the two. Can you tell who the comedian of our family is? Joe was really happy when the coach had him be the catcher for the first inning. He knew that Emily liked being catcher and he was excited he got to try it too.

He is playing Machine pitch ball this year. He didn't get a hit his first time up to bat, but he had a big smile on his face when he struck out. Joe seems to like baseball. Even when he was playing in the outfield and things were moving a little slow, he seemed to be very entertained. Although it wasn't always with the game. At one point he had a really good air guitar solo going.

I love Little League sports. They are always entertaining.

The Ice Dragons

Because of all of the snow storms we have been having, softball season has been a little slow getting started. The clinic has already been rescheduled twice and one game was cancelled due to the fact that the fields were covered in snow. But Tuesday the weather was nice and by Wednesday the fields were playable. So Emily got to play. Her team is light blue this season, so they are calling themselves "The Ice Dragons."

Emily has graduated from the beginner league and is now old enough to play by all of the rules. So this season is going to be a lot more work, and a lot more fun. No more coach pitches. Three strikes, your out!

Emily loves softball and was sooooo ready to play. She was excited to be the first up to bat. I would have been too nervous, but Emily did great and got her first hit of the season.

She also got the first run for her team.

Catcher is Emily's favorite position. She was really happy when the coach put her there to start the game. She does a really good job at it too. I think her coach was pleasantly surprised when she threw the ball all the way to second base.

The other position that she played was second base. Where she picked up a ball and threw it to first to get an out.

My family was in town this week, so Grandma and Grandpa, and a couple of the cousins came to watch the game. The cold wind was blowing in the next snow storm. So it was really cold and by the end of the first inning most of the fan club had moved to the car to watch and keep warm. Emily didn't mind. She was happy to have them there, and they gave her their blankets so she could keep warm in the dugout.

Hopefully the rest of the season is a little warmer, but I am excited to watch Emily play. She loves it, and I love watching her.

Josh's Soccer Plan

Wednesday was Josh's first Soccer practice. Each boy was told to bring his own ball, and for the practice the coach played games with the boys that involved kicking the ball to the goal. Josh's favorite game was "red light, Green light" They kicked the ball on green light and stopped on red. When practice was over Josh was happy and excited for his first game. On the drive home he talked about the practice and his team. Then he realized that while practice was fun something was missing.

So he asked. "Will the coach tell us the plan next time?"

I asked. "What Plan."

Josh said, "The plan for winning the game!" That's my Josh, always planning.

Today was his first game. Knowing how Pre-k soccer works, every boy for himself, I decided that I better make a plan with Josh. So while I was helping him get his uniform on I told him that the plan for the game today was to kick the ball as much as he could, and try to get it in the goal. Josh seemed satisfied with that plan and was ready to play.

Josh did great. He stayed with the ball and got a few kicks in here and there. As usual with this age group the boys were often found in a big mass kicking each other while trying to get the ball.

Josh loves an audience so he was happy to have his fan club there.

He didn't seem to mind the assistant coach who kept following him around to give him his ball.

Grandpa took on the Job of keeping the Assistant off of the field.

After watching his brother and sister for years, Josh is so excited to finally be playing sports and getting to be part of a team. He had so much fun today, that he is already talking about signing up for soccer again next season.

Red Fire Dragons

Softball season has already come and gone this fall and I have yet to post anything about it.

This is the last season Emily will be able to play with the younger girls. She has been playing with most of the same girls for a while now and they have become good friends and play really well together. A couple of them will be moving on with her next season.

Emily has been playing for six seasons now and is doing really well. Her two favorite positions to play are second base and catcher.

At the team party at the end of the season she was given the Golden Glove Award for her great catching skills.

Emily is a great catcher. Not much got past her. She is also getting really good and throwing the ball from home plate to second base to try to catch the base stealer's.


Ryan coached Emily's team again this season. He loves doing it. This season he had a little help. Valerie was not shy about taking charge of things. At one of the games she even stole one of the parents chairs when they were not looking.

I can't wait for the Spring season. It is so fun to watch Emily do something she loves.

Karate Test

Last Saturday Joe had his first Karate test. He did really well and was moved to the next level.

10KYU

When he was asked what his favorite part of the test was Joe said the KATA. This is a routine he had to preform for the judges. I was not sure how Joe would feel about Karate after the first few classes, but Joe loves Karate, and has a really great Sensei.

Way To Go Joe. We are so proud of you!

My Little Bikers

Summer is in full swing and we had yet to go on a real bike ride. So Ryan's mom and I took the kids to Jordan River Parkway for a ride. Yes, we knew it was supposed to be 90 plus degrees that day, but we thought it would be cool enough in the morning.

We were really proud of ourselves that we were able to load the bikes into and onto Grandma's SUV by ourselves, and get them safely to the parkway.

Emily was sporting her new biking outfit Dad and Grandma had found at the outlet mall for her while we were out of town.

We had one technical problem, Joe's chain fell off. We were able to get it back on without too much difficulty.

At first Joe tried to keep up with Emily, but Josh was sad because he wanted to ride with Joe. Joe was a nice brother and waited for Josh to catch up and then rode with him.

Everyone did really well on the ride, and it didn't get too hot until the end of the ride. Then we were all ready for a cold drink and a nice snack of cheese and grapes before we headed home.

Valerie did great. We are going to have to get her use to wearing a helmet though. She got it off pretty quickly on the ride, and did not want it back on. It is a little too big for her, but it is the smallest size they make.

While we missed Grandpa and Dad on the ride, it was nice to know that Grandma and I can take the kids on our own if we want to. I love going on bike rides with the kids, and biking is something they love to do. Hopefully this will be the first of many more rides this summer.

My Karate Kid

With School, Drama, and Soccer all coming to an end Joseph needed something else to do. He has been asking to take Karate for a couple of years now, so we decided to give it a try.

Joe LOVES it!

Sensei Marius is from Romania, and speaks with a very strong accent. He is really great with the kids and they all have lots of fun in the class. The first class he told Joe that Karate was fun, but very serious. I was not sure Joe would be too into it when they started doing stretches, and push ups, but he likes it all.

After class Joe is always excited to go home and show everyone his new moves.
I have a feeling we will be sticking with this for a long time.

Spring Sports

Spring is here and our weeks are full of ball games and practices.

Emily is in her sixth season of Softball and most of the girls on her team have been playing together for most of those seasons. Emily loves Softball, and gets better every season.

At her first game, a few weeks ago, she got a hit every time she went to bat.

Emily is right handed, but her Grandpa is a lefty, and he taught her how to bat. When she goes to the clinics they always try to get her to bat right handed, but she bats better as a lefty. She is starting to get a reputation. At the last game when Emily got up to bat the other coach told his team to move out into the field.

Ryan has been the assistant coach for the last two seasons, and this season he has taken over as the team's coach. He loves doing it and Emily loves having her dad as the coach.

Joe is in his second season of soccer and is still having tons of fun. Joe is getting the ball a little more this season and is becoming a fast runner so he can keep up with the ball. His team is full of his friends. I love watching Kindergarten soccer, because there is always a big mass following the ball, and they are really there just to have fun.

Let's not forget the fan club. They are hoping for warm weather the rest of the season, but love to come to all of the games.

(pictured) Valerie, Grandma, Joe & Josh
(not pictured) Mom, Dad, Emily, and Grandpa.