Now That's How to Kick Off Summer!!

That's a picture of the ball park where my kids play summer ball.  At 8:30 on Saturday morning.  Isn't it beautiful?  Hardly a cloud in the sky, fresh cut grass, and cleanly grated dirt.  Everything was so quiet and calm, and it made me realize that it was going to be a great day.  A day where we could soak in that summer really has started, and we were going to have some fun in the sun.

The day got underway with Butter playing the first game of the day.  The parents bustled in to the bleachers and cheered on their boys as they played a hard game.  Here's Butter going up to bat:

He loves baseball, and I'm so glad he does.  He enjoyed playing football, when he played, but I really think this boy has taken a shine to baseball and it's going to be something he sticks with in the coming years.  I love watching baseball, so I'm happy about that.

Before Butter's game was over, Jelly also had a game.  In a completely different town.  Thankfully, her coach was willing to take her for me.  Sometimes it's going to happen that all three of my kids, who play for three different teams are playing in three different towns around the same time.  It calls for a lot of planning and preparing to make sure that all kids get to where they need to be on time, and figuring out who I'm going to be watching so that I give each kid the same amount of time.  The only one that gets me at EVERY single game is Peanut, and that's because I'm her coach and don't really have any other choice in the matter.  Butter and Jelly have to share me in the event that they are playing games at the same time.  So, Jelly went off with her coach to play her game.

After Butter's game was over, it was my team's turn to play.  We had to go to yet another town.  My girls (including Peanut) played a hard game and ended up losing by one run.  That's actually a huge victory for us, because we've lost all of our game so far, by pretty significant leads.  It didn't help that we were down three players.  I only have one pitcher, right now, and so it makes it tough when she has to pitch the entire game.  She gets tired, and so towards the end of the game, things can get even harder on us.  I am so proud of how the girls played, yesterday, and I'm ready for our next game on Tuesday.

Once all the ball game fun was over, it was home for a quick shower and change so that we could head out for the end of school year party that was being hosted by one of the teachers from our school.

Some schools have an end of the year party by having a potluck on the last day of school, or maybe going out to a restaurant, but our school?  We spend the entire afternoon/evening out on the lake having an absolute BLAST.

One of the teachers is lucky enough (and I'm very jealous) to have a lake front home.  In fact, here's the view from his back patio:

It was stunning.  The lake right at his back door, equipped with boat dock, diving board, and personal yacht. Unfortunately, those clouds are exactly what they look like:  rain clouds.  Do you think that stopped us from having a blast?  Heck no!

The kids wasted no time getting in to their swimming gear and jumping in to the boat to take a cruise around the lake.  While the kids were gone, I was fixed up with a little cocktail and then sat around with everyone having a great chat.  Good times were being had by all...

All three of my kids got to have their first experience riding on a boat, Butter and Jelly had their first experience riding on a jet ski, and all three kids found out what it's like to jump off of a diving board in to a lake.  I definitely have three water babies, that's for sure.  I don't feel near as nervous for Jelly to swim in the 8ft end of our pool after watching her swim around in an open lake.

We sat outside and enjoyed each other's company until close to 10PM.  I had laughed so hard I almost cried.  It was amazing to get to spend time with my co-workers outside the confinement of the school building.  One thing I learned is that I work with people who definitely know how to have fun and let their hair down, and that they are just as amazing outside of work as they are inside of it.  Maybe a little more so?  Just kidding.  Maybe.  Finally, thinking about the hour drive I had to make home, I figured it was best to call it a night.  

Little Jelly was asleep before we ever made it off their road, Butter was asleep before we ever made it on to the highway, and Peanut stayed awake to keep me company and awake for our long drive home. I think both of us were alseep before our heads hit the pillow once we did make it home, though.

It was such a great way to spend a Saturday. 

Yesterday, I had to spend the day recouperating, because sitting outside most of the day did a number on my allergies.  I had a headache ALL day long from the coughing and wheezing I did while I was out and about.  Next time, I'm definitely going to make sure I take my inhaler with me. That might have saved me from the pain, yesterday.

Now, I'm on to a new week, new activties, and a new blog post....

Play Ball!!

                                    

There aren't many things that will get me out of bed before 7AM on a Saturday.  Even if I fell asleep at 8PM the night before.  If I didn't have to get up, I probably wouldn't have.. but I did.  And that's because, this morning, I have a summer ball meeting at 9AM.

It's a meeting where all of the coaches, players, and parents come together to find out what's going on with the Summer Ball program:  Practices, games, uniforms, etc.  My little family fall under all categories of coaches, players, and parents.  Being that I'm coaching, all the kids are playing, and I'm the parent of my children.  

It's been a long time since I coached softball, but I'm so excited to be doing it once again.  I coached Peanut's team when she played in 3rd-5th grades.  I'll be a little out of my comfort zone with the coaching I'll be doing this time around, being that I'm going to be coaching the 13 and under team.. but I'm ready and excited for the challenge.

Although, with three children playing ball, me coaching one of the teams, and Peanut and Butter also being in track, our weeks are going to be crammed full of activities.  Softball, baseball, or T-ball practices almost every night, thrown in between track meets, on top of every day of track practice.  And, because there are so many other activities taking place during the week, it will mean scheduling some practices on Saturdays.

It feels just like the good ol' days of Hubby complaining that I'm never home, and that I'm putting too much on my plate.  Back when I was going to college, holding down a job, and coaching softball.  If he thinks that was bad, he has no idea what it's going to be like now.  We just had one kid that played back then, what on earth does he think it's going to be like with all three kids playing, and two of them playing two different sports?

But, I think he's finally gotten used to my crazy, busy schedule.  Now that we both have calendars on our phones that sync and he knows when I will and won't be home, it makes life a little easier.  Plus, he knew full well that once I did get a teaching job, life would be constantly in the fast lane.

I have to be busy, though.  I'm always wanting something to do, something that keeps my mind off of stresses and being so busy helps calm the stress.  Some would probably disagree with that statement.. and think that adding more stuff to my plate would only increase my stress level.  But, it doesn't.  Not for me.  I don't have time to dwell or overthink when I'm running here, there, and everywhere caught up in tons of extra-curricular activities.  

Even figuring out how I'm going to get it all in doesn't stress me out.  It's just apart of the challenge.  It requires me planning and scheduling and coordinating what's going on, and that makes me feel more in control.  If I'm able to make juggling all that's on my plate work, then I'm able to somehow convince myself that I can take on whatever is thrown my way.

There has been quite a bit of tension in my house, lately.  Not between the people that live in it, but between us and stuff outside the house.  I'm dealing with some issues, Peanut is dealing with some issues, and Butter is dealing with some issues.  All separate issues with the same result:  Stress and worry.  And, we've all been depending on each other to help with the stress and worry.  None of us have solutions for each other, but just the support we give each other helps...somewhat.

By having stuff that keeps us busy, it helps keep our minds off of our issues.  Even if it's just for a little while.  It's not running away from the problems, but allowing our minds to take a break.  And that's what we all need, right now. Breaks away to think about other things and do other things.

What I've discovered these past few months is that being a parent to teenagers is TOUGH!  I have sat here in this very seat and preached about how I want my kids to make their own mistakes and learn from them.  Be a listening ear, but staying out of the issues as much as possible and letting them try and figure them out on their own.

Yet, I've discovered, that's a lot easier said than done.  When my babies are hurting, I want to take care of the issues and take the hurt away.  I'm forgetting one very important piece to that, though: They're not babies anymore.  They are young adults.  And, if I don't allow them to spread their wings more, take control of their issues, and face them head on, I'm doing them a major disservice.

As much as I know that I will always be there for them to talk to, and for me to advise them, I can't solve the problems for them.  They MUST stand up on their own and take charge of their own situations, and figure out the best way to resolve them.

Which is hard.  Too hard.  

I also have to realize that I CAN'T use my own personal situations as a way of explaining my thoughts and feelings about their problems.  I can't share what's going on with me with them.  I'm an adult, and I have to deal with my problems and let them see me doing that... rather than telling them my problems  and us all pow-wowing how to solve them.

They are children.  And even though they are growing up so fast, I MUST remember that they are not the people I should be talking to.

Thankfully there are three people I can talk to:  E, P-Momma, and Hubby.  The three people that will listen, offer advise, and just allow me to vent when I need to.  Plus, they won't sugar coat what I need to hear.  Each of them offer their own suggestions, and never just feed me what I want to hear.  And, sometimes, brutal honesty can be SOOOOOO refreshing.

Getting back to the original topic, I honestly feel like the summer ball program will give us an outlet to deal with stresses without having to talk about them.  Hit a few balls, throw a few balls, build some friendships, work as a team, and just HAVING FUN!!! Something that I've been wanting a lot more of around here.

I'm excited and ready for this new challenge, and optimistic for the good it's going to do for my little family.  We're going to be busy.  We're going to be exhausted.  But, we're going to have fun.  And that will make it all worth it.

So, I better get to getting if we're going to make it to that meeting on time.

Have a great Saturday, everyone!!