Pirates Tournament Play: Day 2

Tonight we played the Tigers and once again, our batting took a few innings to get off the ground {literally}. By the end of inning 2 it was tied: 1-1.

Inning 3 proved to be a little more fruitful as we closed it out by getting 5 runs. The boys were really getting comfortable with the bats and Drew even hit a triple!

Inning 4 gave us yet another triple by Drew (ok, this one was an *infield* triple, but hey, we'll take it) and a full-on home run by his good buddy Caleb. WOW! Way to go guys!

Quote of the game goes to Lars. "Mom! Did you see Drew hit another three-er?!"

Yes Lars, I did. And it was pretty cool.

Final score 10-1. Pirates win it.

See ya tomorrow night!

Let the Tournament Begin

Last night we started our final week of baseball with the first round of tournament play! We came into the tournament UNDEFEATED, 12-0, with the knowledge that all these teams that we have beaten are ready to knock our socks off. We played the Coralville Dodgers and both teams were playing very well defensively but the batting proved to be a little slow.

That is until the fourth inning.

Then we were able to swing those bats and get our five runs (5 run rule per at bat for this league).

And that was all she wrote.

5-0--Pirates WIN!

Game 2--Tonite. 7:10. Bring it on.

Coach Adcock giving Drew some advice and a little *congrats*

(Un)Patiently Waiting...

We have been trying to get a basketball court (ok, concrete slab) poured in our backyard for about 2 1/2 weeks now, and I have been (un)patiently waiting to post the final product. The 30'x30' square has been meticulously laid out, the skid loader came and leveled it all out, (Lars even got to DRIVE the skid loader), and the boards and rebar have been laid.

But no concrete.

Not for lack of trying.

But EVERY stinkin' day for what seems like an eternity, it has managed to rain, making the dirt too wet to pour on. Even if the day starts out beautiful, there has been rain every afternoon, meaning they can't pour because it wouldn't have time to set.

Or like today. The sun is shining, it is HOT! and muggy, but our torrential showers from yesterday and last night have left the surface too wet to pour on.

Not to mention my kids are chomping at the proverbial bit to start shootin' some hoops. The NBA championships this week only fueled that fire and made them obsess about it even more. I know that someday soon, it will get done, and I really shouldn't complain.

But I will.

coming to life...
smoothing out the rough spots
pools of water that won't go away...

10-0

look at that serious face!
you can do it, bud!!
i'm sure this was a strike! ;)

WOW! Only two more weeks of baseball until we bring Drew's season to a close. What a difference a year makes...last year, we were 0-11, this year, so far, we are 10-0! Even though it's not about winning, (ummmm, right?) Drew has enjoyed his time on the field this summer and has definitely become a more confident ball player.

*For the record, I should let it be known that even though he was on a losing team last year, he did always feel like he was having fun. Ya gotta love the fact that in the end, kids just like hangin' out with their friends and don't always have to be so serious.*

*Again, for the record, even though Drew enjoyed his team this year, he was still ticked when he learned that he wouldn't be able to play his first few weeks of his 3 on 3 basketball summer league due to conflicts with baseball. I think the direct quote was, "I can't believe baseball is getting in the way of my playing basketball! That is ridiculous!"

Well bud, ridiculous or not, them's the breaks--now get out there and play some (base)ball!

Let the Fun Begin!

Well folks, school is officially out for the summer! The kids have already taken advantage of the mostly nice weather we have had this spring and have played LOTS of basketball, eaten popsicles that melt and run down your whole face, and broken out the slip n' slide! We have three words for you summer...BRING. IT. ON!

my basketball kid
slip 'n slide
popsicle faces!

Hello Again!

Well it has certainly been awhile and I have no witty (or worthy) excuses for being away so long. I thought about putting up 7 or 8 different posts just to get caught up, then I decided--naaahh! Too much effort! Not that you're all not worth it, of course! ;) However, in the interest of time (which I don't have enough of BTW) I'll just start with some recent *happenings* and see where that takes me!

For Memorial Day, we went with some friends to Decorah for a scenic and leisurely float down the Upper Iowa River on kayaks. The weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Drew got to go solo in his own kayak for the first time while the other two kiddos rode *passenger style*. If I were a good mom I would have photos of this, but I'm not. Ok, I am, but the battery in my point and shoot was dead. No juice. Nothin'. Bummer. *Sigh*. Guess we'll have to go back next year!

The boys and their carving sticks
sleeping beauty
ok, so maybe the coffee pot was a bit much. nope, just perfectness!
again, just wanted to share with you how we like to rough it.
this might have been about 9:15?? our group had some stimulating conversation by the fire that night!!
check out the white eyebrows after a day in the sun
our view from our campsite. not too shabby for Iowa, eh??
josh and our chili. don't ask. it's a tradition. and it rocks.
yep. that's pizza. leftovers from the graduation party in CF we were at prior to our arrival at the campsite. proves there is no bad time or improper way to eat pizza.