Summer at the Ballpark

I knew it was going to be a crazy summer.  The day I signed up Sophia for machine-pitch softball and Anna up for her first year of t-ball, I felt like I was signing away 6 weeks of my summer vacation.  I knew each girl would have 1-2 games a week, 22 total games!  But reality is starting to sink in now.   Games begin this week. 

Sophia is so excited with her adorable uniform from the ribbon hair bow down to the tie-dye socks she is ready to play.  She has gotten much better about batting.  She can now hit the ball most of the time that it comes at her.  Though 99% of the time she hits grounders.  It's strategy right?  We've still got to get her to get a little airtime with those balls.  She's pretty good at catching and throwing too.  I have to admit though, at this point in the season the balls aren't really making it out to the outfield (or infield for that matter).  At a recent practice game Sophia was in right field where she spent much of the time playing in the dirt.  She's a tomboy at heart and dirt seems to draw her in like a magnet. At one point she was literally laying on her side basking in the sun.  It's pretty boring in outfield as you can imagine.  But I'm sure as the season progresses the girls' offensive game will improve so there's a reason for a defense. 

Anna is incredibly timid about t-ball.  She's so excited to be playing and knows a couple of the girls on the team which makes things easier.  By random chance she's on an all-girls team which I think will really help her comfort level.  She can hit the ball....with a very gentle swing.  Imagine a little butterfly swinging a bat - that's Anna!  And she's working on her throwing and catching.  She doesn't have her team shirt & special socks yet, but as soon as they come we'll post a picture! Somehow special socks make you feel like a real ball player.  They're still debating their name also.  You know how girls are!

I really want the kids to be able to try different sports and find things they enjoy.  I'm secretly hoping by the time all 4 are of age to play, that at least a few of them will lose interest.  When your kids outnumber you, it's hard to get to all their activities especially when they overlap. 

I'm posting our girls' schedule below not to demonstrate how crazy life is about to become, or to brag about the future tan I'll have from soaking up the Kansas sun this summer, but mainly because our kids have fabulous grandparents who love to come watch the kids participate in all their many activities.  So, Grandad, Grandma, Grammy, Grandpa Gene, Papa & Gigi......here's the summer schedule.  Hope to see you at a few games! 

Wed., May 19............Sophia........6:30......field 6
Wed., May 26............Sophia........6:30......at Whitewater
Fri., May 28................Sophia........6:30......field 6
Wed., June 2..............Sophia........8:00.....at Towanda
Wed., June 2..............Anna............8:00......field 5
Fri., June 4..................Sophia........8:30......field 6
Fri., June 4..................Anna...........6:30......field 5
Mon., June 7...............Anna...........6:30......field 5
Tues., June 8..............Sophia........8:00......field 6
Thurs., June 10...........Sophia........6:30......field 6
Fri., June 11................Anna...........8:00......field 5
Tues., June 15............Sophia........6:30......field 6
Tues., June 15............Anna...........6:30.......field 5
Fri., June 18................Anna............6:30.......field 5
Mon., June 21.............Sophia........6:30........field 6
Tues., June 22............Anna............6:30........field 5
Wed., June 23............Sophia.........6:30........field 6
Fri., June 25................Anna............8:00........field 5
Mon., June 28.............Sophia.........6:30........field 6
Tues., June 29............Anna............8:00.........field 5
Fri., July 2....................Anna............6:30.........field 5
Wed., July 7................Sophia.........8:00.........at Towanda