Reesie at the Tides Clinic

When we signed Reese up for the clinic, we weren't entirely sure that she would want to go.  She can be hit or miss at times about baseball - she LOVES to play, but she isn't thrilled when she's surrounded by boys.  We have spent a lot of time over the last few weeks discussing the upcoming fall season, and whether she wants to play baseball or softball.  I think that she really would love to try baseball, but the fact that there are only boys playing is really holding her back!

I just can't believe that she's old enough to be pitched to now!  Fortunately for her, she found another little girl to hang out with at camp.

Brian said that they were constantly on the hunt for water and they were probably the two thirstiest people there.

She went through the same drills that Wyatt did.

She loved the pink eye "black" that they handed out.

And then they had to run!  She told me that she's pretty sure that she was the fastest person at the camp...she might be right!

Wyatt at the Tides Clinic

Wyatt had so much fun last summer at the Norfolk Tides clinic, and we decided to sign both of the big kids up for the clinic this summer.  Brian took about 80 million pictures, so I figured I would split the pictures up between the two kids!  Ha!

Wyatt ended up in a group with his cousin, and he had the best time!  Here they are talking baseball like a couple of pros.

They got to practice fielding with the players.

Gunning it!

Wyatt explains this story better than I can, but to get this ball he backed up and then ran forward, and ended up making a diving catch to get it.

He said that once he stood up and threw the ball back the player hummed the ESPN jingle at him.  He said that he was pretty sure he would have made the highlights if it was real baseball.  Ha!

 In this drill that had to practice flipping the ball to the player at second.

Got it!

By far the highlight for this boy was going to the batting cages.  They are under the bleachers, so he thought that he was big time!  Ha!

The Tides are the Triple A affiliate for the Orioles, and the players are so good with the kids!  I think that the kids really love the combination of meeting "real" baseball players and being able to experience the "behind the scenes" lifestyle of the ballpark.  It really is just a great experience!

Our Weekend

This was the most eventful weekend that we have had in awhile, but it's been fun!

Thursday was a late night!  I finished PiYo, had mountains of laundry to fold, and then had to watch X-Files with Brian.  It's called compromise, Ha!  For almost 15 years (which is just unbelievable!) I have held pretty strongly to my anti-Scully ways (I find Gillian Anderson's manner of speaking annoying).  BUT I am making the sacrifice.  Because marriage.  And I think I can use this to get him to watch Gilmore Girls with me one day.  Just kidding!  His feelings about Lauren Graham are similar to mine about Gillian.  I can't even comprehend being annoyed by Lorelai Gilmore.  Now her as Sarah Braverman on Parenthood on the other hand....

FQB has had a weird little rash on her arm for a few weeks, and I coudn't get it to go away!  So we went to the doctor for some steroid cream...and she had to have her picture taken in front of the dolphin!

On Friday night we met up with friends at the Y pool!  I brought dinner for them, and they wolfed it down during adult swim.  Then they all shared Ian's cheetos!

He had a blast doing laps in the pool!  

Reesie and Emma!

The boys played Baseball Guys together before bed.  I think their last play involved some sort of bench clearing brawl!

The Talls had a baseball camp on Saturday morning with the Norfolk Tides, so the Smalls and I went to the Y, to Mimi and Baba's house for cousin time, and then came home to get ready for a fun play date. Wyatt and Reese came with me to visit with Steph, Natalie, and Baby Dave.  Had to get a picture of these two boys - the first born of all the kids and the newest addition!

And these two girls born about three months apart!

And on Sunday we went to not one, but TWO birthday parties.  Miss Reesie Piecey went to her friend Madison's birthday where they got to paint (Reese is having her party there, too). Wyatt went to his friend Brady's party, where there was LOTS of baseball!

It was a really fun weekend, and I can't believe it was the final weekend of July.  Ready or not, here comes August.  I've already started working on the schedule - baseball and soccer are ramping back up.  And school doesn't even start until September 8th!

Our 4th

We had a really fun Fourth of July this year.  We usually hang out at home and don't really do much. Logistically it can be difficult with me and all four kids alone, and the Fourth is typically a pretty busy day for Brian at work!

My parents bought a camper in November, and they've been setting up camp at a local campground that is right on the water.  They were going to be at the campground on the Fourth, so the kids and I decided to join them for a fun day!

Here they are in their Red, White & Blue before we left the house.

The boys started fishing almost as soon as we got there.  Hudson really got the hang of casting the line.

Wyatt has fished before, but Pop Pop is a really good teacher.  

He's also really good to have around when a fire truck comes through the campground :).  Finley hopped up in the truck.  She was wet from the bounce house water slide, so she left the seat a little wet.

Hudson had to hop up in the truck too.  He was a little more comfortable behind the wheel.

We spent the morning walking to the bouncey slide, letting them slide (I still can't believe that Finley did it!), having lunch, and then scootering around and fishing.

Then we went over to the pool for a little bit.  Hudson was much more content to stay at the bouncey slide than swim in the pool, but he eventually made it over.

We went back to the camper for more fishing and showers.

I dressed the girls and Hudson back up in their Red, White & Blue for the next big event of the day....

The Hayride around the campground!  Wyatt wanted to stay back and fish, but these three were excited.  But they were also tired.

Celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence!  I also make them answer random historical trivia questions on the Fourth because I'm a "Cool Mom,"

Once we were home I put Finley to bed, and then we went outside to watch some fireworks that our neighbor picked up in South Carolina.  Because that's where all the good fireworks are!

And after an incredibly long day, this guy fell asleep watching "Pride of the Yankees" with Jeter. And he loved it!  He's already asked me if he can watch it again!  My kids love to watch Andy Griffith and Leave it to Beaver, so I'm not too surprised.  And Gehrig was on our baby name list.  Ha!

All in all, it was a really great day!  Thanks for having us at the campsite Didi and Pop Pop!

Backyard Baseball

Seeing one or two kids in the backyard playing baseball is not unusual around here.  But a few weeks ago everyone was outside playing together and I had to grab the camera!

She obviously takes baseball very seriously.

Wyatt is so great at teaching Finley to play baseball.  He has a lot of fun with her, and she loves him so much,

He always gives her great instructions and encouragement.

Brian asked her to throw him the ball.  And she walked it all the way across the yard to him, instead.

And then cracked us all up when she just walked away like it was nothing.

Hudson took a time out from the game to climb the deck.  He looks a little afraid, but there is no fear in this kid.  

One second they're catching, the next second they're hugging.

LOVE!

Hudson has the. BEST. facial expressions.  He is just full of enthusiasm for everything!

He loves to play baseball with his Daddy and his brother and sisters.

We gave this girl a helmet and a bat.  Look out everyone!

She steps up to the plate.  No tee!  She wanted to be pitched to.

And she HIT THE BALL!

Running the bases is obviously more fun with the bat.  Not as safe, but more fun.

Especially when you have a bunch of kids chasing after you.

I love the looks on their faces here!  Everyone is celebrating FQB's hit!

A little more instructional time with her big brother.

She clearly had something smart to say to him!  Ha!