softball {hannah}

Hannah also decided to finally try something new also. She decided to give softball a shot. She had been thinking about playing, and almost chickened out when it was time to sign up. We talked her into at least trying it and she ended up loving it! 

She decided she wanted to try to be a pitcher. I thought ok, whatever. Then I saw her practicing pitching in the backyard to Bethany. She was doing really well, throwing strikes. Then I thought, ya you probably can be a pitcher and do well! 

She ended up just teaching herself. Her coach helped her a little, but mostly she was self taught. She did awesome and ended up being the best pitcher in the league. She lead her team to a undefeded season, which really was mostly due to her awesome pitching!

It was pretty stressful having her be a pitcher. Everyone is looking for the pitcher to throw good pitches. She had her share of strikeouts, and some innings she had the three outs with strikeouts. She also had some innings that she walked players. She was learning and doing her best. We were so proud of her trying something new and giving it her all. Her teammates loved her and she kind of became the team captain or remodel for the girls. It was a team of 5th and 6th graders, so she was one of the older girls on the team. A lot of the younger ones looked up to her. 

It was also hard, that we had quite a few parents from other teams get upset with Hannah and the fact that she could actually pitch the ball. A couple different games parents were yelling to the umpires saying she wasn't pitching right. We had a coach talk to the umpires and complain about her footwork. It all was a little ridiculous and was very frustrating. By the end of the season Ky and I were both pretty frustrated in the level of sportsmanship by the other teams. It really made me made when Hannah would tell us after the games that she could hear these parents saying rude things. So not ok! I would usually just start cheering louder for her when I would hear things. Or loudly correct them, and hope they could hear me!

She was fun to watch! She was voted by her teammates to go to the city all star team. We were so excited and proud of her! It was a fun season!

Hannah's team was the first place team for league.

Hannah's team made it to the championship game in the playoffs. They ended up losing by a point, but they played a good game!

baseball {dallen}

Dallen decided to give baseball a shot this year. It was his first year and he had a lot to learn, and he did so well! He had a lot of fun!

He got to play lots of positions. His coach would move them all around. He did really well at stopping the ball, but he didn't always know where to throw it to. He is a lot to learn!

He also did really good at batting. He would usually swing and miss the first two pitches, and then would hit the 3rd one. Almost every time that was his pattern. It must of taken him a couple pitches to get the timing right. 

Just hanging out in the field. Sometimes when I would see him out in the field, I would keep thinking "why does he have his glove off, why is he holding his glove"? Then I would realize that no it was on his hand, he's just left handed. It through me off so many times! Him being left handed also made it a little harder for Ky and I to help teach him, everything was backwards!

He had a fun year. Even if his team only won one game. He was happy that their was always a treat at the end of the game! He was also happy to be on an orange team. His 2nd favorite color!

I think his favorite place to play was the pitcher. They had a pitching machine, but a lot of the balls were hit to that area. So he got to do more at the position. We were super proud of him trying out something new and he did so good!

dallen's 8th birthday

It seems like the kids birthDAY's turn into birthWEEKS, these days! His birthday dinner with grandma's was on Sunday the 7th, the day before his birthday. He requested macaroni and cheese from a box and watermelon. We rounded out the meal with some other food too. They love getting to choose their own meals. 

On his birthday, I checked him out for lunch and he picked to go to McDonalds. He loved it!

He even got a hot fudge sundae. Happy boy. It fun to get the kids one on one. They usually have so much to say and just enjoy having your full attention all to themselves.

Opening presents on his birthday.

He opened a lot of them on Sunday, the day before, because our night was going to be pretty busy. He was happy, two nights of presents!

I wish I remembered what was funny. I guess that's what happens when I am a year behind on the blog!

Ella loves it when we open presents! She loves playing with the wrapping paper, and especially the tissue paper!

The kids had fun playing with Dallen's new presents.

Cake time! He wanted a pokeball cake. 

I can't believe he's 8! My little boy is growing up! 

He still loves to be a little comedian. He likes to make everyone laugh. He also can still get tempermental, and through little tissy fits. Usually it makes everyone around him laugh because they are quite entertaining. Then that just makes him madder!

He still loves pokeman. He loves to play the wii or any electronic. He would play them all the time if I would let him. He likes to play soccer. He loves to be warm, he does not like to be cold. 

He is a great brother and friend. His classmates at school enjoy to be around him and his teacher enjoys that he is a good kid. He is super smart and is one of the top readers in his grade.

His favorite color is still yellow. 

We are super proud of him and love him so much!!

Happy 8th Birthday Dallen!

spring softball {bethany}

Bethany had a full schedule of softball during the spring months. Her team started playing game in March. They practiced year round. In the winter months they practiced at a inside facility. It was a lot not having a break, and we felt like we were worn out before the real season even started. 

Bethany was a rock star and tried out new positions to help out her team. She started out learning how to play short stop. She enjoyed learning a new position and the challenge it gave her. 

She was also her team's captain. Her coaches picked her to be the captain, because she works so hard all the time. I think they also thought she was a good example to the other girls, and they were trying to help her come out of her shell a little. And she did! She was the only captain for a few months. It was actually a little hard on her. Before every game she had to pick three other girls to go up to the plate with. The umpires talk to the captains and they do the coin flip. It was hard for her to remember who had gone up with her and who hadn't. The coaches also had asked her to pick the other three captains. Which was also a hard thing for her. They didn't think the people she picked deserved to be a captain, so Bethany continued to be the only one. Finally the coaches picked two more girls to be captains, and she loved sharing the responsibility. 

Although she was awesome at learning new positions and doing what she needed to do for her team, she has always loved 2nd base the most! It's where she feels most at home on the field. She loves it when she get to play there!

She also got to learn how to play first. She also performed well there!

My cute softball player. I love that she is doing what she loves!