Durango Palmers: baseball

Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Sails, Baseball, Play-dates and Mice

Here is some more randomness for your Saturday enjoyment (hopefully).

While I was up in Denver for the bridal shower we went to Heaven's Superstore (you may know it as Costco - I really wish we had one in Durango...) to get food stuff. I, however, also found some sunshade sail thingys for a great price for our back deck. We've been looking online trying to find affordable ones but it was tough. I brought them home and have been begging Mark to help me put them up.

It was somewhat of a project since we didn't have poles to attach them to away from the house. Our first try was with iron hanging plant holders. They looked super nice but turned out they couldn't withstand the gusts of wind we can get {hence the need for the sails -- we have a shredded umbrella that has pretty much had a tour of the neighborhood thanks to the wind). The stands bent somewhat so we took those down and searched for stronger metal poles.

I'm super pleased with the results and have LOVED sitting out on our back deck during the day (something we've never really been able to do in 10 years!).

Here are the before and after pictures.

I wish I had another one from the back view but apparently I didn't take one and I'm too lazy to go take one, load it on the computer and then upload it to the blog. You'll have to trust me that it's awesome and I'll post another picture later. I spent most of the day Thursday planting flowers in my pots and cleaning up the yard. We (as in me) have more plans for more landscaping. Mark just goes along with it most times. Although I did join Pinterest (yes I know...finally) and have gotten a couple cute ideas for landscaping. Mark seems to think I'm gonna turn our yard into a junkyard. No I will not plant flowers in a toilet. I promise!

Here's my little superhero, Jack, enjoying the swing on our newly covered deck Thursday morning. Cracked me up with his goggles on.

On Thursday Kate had a play-date with her BFF Madi. They threw on their swimsuits and jumped on the trampoline (that is now bungeed together and sandbagged down, again, thanks to the wind). They had a blast!

Kale has had a couple baseball games. He used to hate to catch and now I think he tolerates it. He looks like such a big kid in his uniform.

These two are from his game this morning (they lost). It was a gorgeous day!

I snapped a picture of the antics of 8 year old boys during warm ups. Stealing ball caps. I'm beyond thrilled that Kale has made new friends on this team and that he's having a good time playing.

Jack, my fearless one, came in this morning while we were getting ready to leave for the game and brought this.

The kids started yelling "Jack's gotta mouse!!!!" I didn't believe them at first but I looked over and sure enough he was holding it like a pet in his hand. *gag*. I tried not to get grossed out {pretty much failed at that} and excitedly told him to throw it outside and wash his hands!!!!

I was gonna just throw it over the deck (Mark was gone by the way) but Mishka was far too interested in it so I had to pick it up (with the shivers) and throw him away. What a way to start off my Saturday. Blech!

After baseball we headed to a garage sale and picked up a couple light sabers. My 2 little Jedi Knights were pretty stoked. Fun light effects eh? That was natural I promise!

After the garage sale we met friends for lunch then came home for naps. I did some yard work (we're gonna do the straw bale gardening again and I had to prepare the garden) while Mark worked on his message in the office (aka the trailer - love that thing!).

And that's the last few days in a nutshell!

jklj;kjkljklj;ll

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Baseball, Breakfast, Broken

Friday evening Mark's parents drove their RV into town just in time to see Kale's 7 o'clock game. They lost but I have to say that the kids look more like ball players then they did a few weeks ago. Still a ways to go but they are improving and I think that says something. By the way, here's Kale up to bat.

Mark's parents are staying in an awesome little campground just outside of Bayfield. It really is a gorgeous place. The new picture up top was taken there. Beautiful! They camp right by a stream/pond that's loaded with fish. There will be more fishing pictures to come but here's a cute shot of Margie and Kate sitting by the water.

Saturday Kale had another game but the other team forfeited so they had practice instead. Afterwards we headed to Denny's for breakfast.

And finally broken.
I had a baby shower Saturday afternoon when I received a text message from Mark telling me that he had broken the trampoline :(

Sadly the 'tampoline' is temporarily out of commission.
Boo!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

This and that...

I promise that there is more going on in our life other than church. And I didn't not blog since I wrote that just to make sure you read and reread that post everyday. This week has just gotten away from me! Does that ever happen to you? You make plans, figure things out, count on things happening and then BAM! The margins you had planned in disappear and life happens in a messy way. Nothing bad has happened. But lots has happened. So I decided to just post some pictures and fill you in on our week.

We spent part of it outside pulling weeds and getting the yard ready (still so far to go). Here are the helpers. Kale refused to come out so there are no pics of him doing yard-work.

Yes the shovel is way bigger than him.

We used a gift card that Mark had gotten for his birthday to get us some Adirondack chairs from the Depot. They are fabulous!

So are the models.

I documented one of Kate's outfits. The bottom half is what cracks me up. This was a church outfit. Thankfully the socks did not make it out the door [her decision not mine although I wholeheartedly agreed!].

Kale had a baseball game. The kids played in a little area by the field and it was perfect to keep them contained. Kind of like a kid cage. I only took a video of Kale so no pictures :(

One of the super-fans

And a couple more pictures of the cute little bugger cause I can and cause I have them.

He loves to help me cook. I'm pretty sure because he's just like me in that he likes to lick the bowls and stuff.

So there's a bit about our week. We've also started a music class. A lady from our small group needed some volunteers so she could practice a Kindermusic class. We have 4 free music lessons and it's been fun {we had 2 this week and 2 next}. It's been good to get out and experience something new with the kids. They've enjoyed it so far. No pictures from there though. I hate to be that crazy parent with the cell phone camera.

Let's see...Mark had a softball game. I had a 6:15am meeting on Tuesday morning. We had a chiropractor appointment. I had another meeting Wednesday afternoon. Not much school has been accomplished although we are so stinking close to being done for the year. We have a fun Friday planned for tomorrow as well as a bon fire with our small group to finally get rid of our burn pile that has been accumulating for 2 years. We'll definitely have pictures from there. Kale had practice (as well as a game). And we've slept. I think that's about it. You're all caught up now. I hope.

Friday, May 13, 2011

And we're back!

Blogger has been down for a day or so and it's finally back! It's not like I've had tons to say and am dying to say it but we did have a ball game! 2 actually. And Fun Friday (to be blogged later)! And a doctor's visit. And home art class. I mean there's stuff to say!

Mark had his first men's game on Wednesday night but the kids and I opted out on account that it was stinkin freezing and there was no way I was going to freeze my tail off in the wind. We're fans but I don't think we're super crazy fans. I know there were some dedicated fans there and I admire them...from my home....

So we'll start with home art class.

Nothing too spectacular. Just paint. But they painted for quite a while!

Everyone that is, except Jack. He decided to be a helper and wash his toys in the kitchen sink. I suppose they needed a good washing. And hey! It was clean! And he was entertained!

On Thursday morning the older kids had check ups. I was figuring that Kate would need her kindergarten shots (which is another thing I still need to blog about!) so I bribed them with ice cream {as any sane mommy would do....}. Turns out she was caught up on her shots. But of course we still had to have ice cream!

Then Thursday evening Kale had his 2nd game {his first win!}
Here's a super fan (totally didn't get a picture of the other one and I was so bummed) playing with his stick/planes....

...and stick/gun.

Kale was 1 for 3 - - meaning he got one hit and was up to bat 3 times (for all my non-sports readers). He hit a double though!

He played 2nd base, outfield and he tried catcher. He was supposed to catch for 2 innings but he only made it about 3 pitches before a ball ricocheted off the ground and hit him in the butt. He was so done after that. He walked right back to the dugout in the middle of that at bat and said he didn't want to catch. His coaches graciously allowed him to be done. He wanted to come sit with me in the stands (typical Kale) but we all encouraged him to show courage and persevere and go back out for the rest of the game. He did and I was really proud of him. He tends to give up when things are hard, so for him to go back out there was awesome. His little bud Toby filled in and was great. He did like putting on the gear though :)

And that's all for this post. I'll be working on Fun Friday though and will post that this weekend.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

1st Game of the Season

Wednesday night was another milestone in Kale's life -- his first baseball game of the season. He played t-ball last year and has since graduated to machine pitch. And for his first time out he did stinkin' awesome!

It didn't come without some hard knocks though. His first few practices taught him a few lessons. Lessons like bring a sweatshirt cause it can get cold, don't stand close to someone taking practice swings or you'll get a bat in the gut - hard, hitting a ball with a bat when it's cold outside stings the hands like none other and allergy season sucks.

So Wednesday was his first opportunity to put some of those lessons to use.

Waiting

and waiting

and waiting for the game to start.

Pre-game pep talk.

Starting off in right field. He spun around to entertain himself.

His buddy Katrina at the "mound". Not pitching but helping.

Trying his hand at short stop with his buddy Toby (excited kid with hands in the air) at 3rd

The fans. Building castles. In the dirt.

The little sisters. I told Madi to smile and immediately Kate stopped smiling. Go figure.

This is my friend Jen's little girl Josie. Doesn't she look like Michelle Tanner from Full House?

Kale is up to bat and Jack thought the cheering section was much too loud.

The kid hit a double his first time out! Can you tell he was excited?

Jack asking Josie for a hug. She wasn't impressed by the cuteness....

I affectionately called Mark the "Team Mom" or "Den Mother". His coaching job consisted of making sure the right batter was up, that the kids weren't climbing the fences or having sword fights with bats or throwing rocks or wrestling in the dugout (not an easy task). He did great!

Thanks for the pose Kale.

Little Toby. I thought the catchers were adorable!

Next he tried 1st. First base can be awful boring so instead of paying attention he dug a hole in the ground with the heal of his cleat and spun in circles.

Instead of your normal warm up swings, Kale preferred to walk in circles around the bat

He hit it again! #2!

After his hit...ready to run the bases. I love his ready stance!

And there you have it. I promise not to post a zillion pictures for each game. Maybe a couple if I get more fun ones.

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