It's Baseball Time Again

It's that time of year again, time to spend our evenings at the ball field, or in the backyard playing catch. This year both boys were very excited to have the season start. They've been working the backyard, hitting, catching, and throwing for the past month or so and a two weeks ago the season finally started. This year, to make things more interesting and more difficult, the boys are playing at two different locations. Rowan is playing at the fields by the gym, that's five minutes from our house. Meanwhile Zane is playing all the way across town at the usual ball fields, a solid thirty minute drive in the evening. So on the nights when they both have games we have to split up and Zach and I each take one. Thankfully so far the two nights they have both had games Aunt Abbey and Uncle Brent have hung out with T so we could each actually watch the games.

 





This year we asked Rowan to put forth just a tiny bit of effort, at home when he's practicing with Zach, and at practice with his team. The past few seasons he's phoned it in. He was good and he had a blast, but it was obvious he wasn't working hard or trying to get better at all. If you're going to due something you should do it as best as you can. So far this season he has worked very hard. I'm so proud of him. He practices hard at home. He goes to his practice and his Zane's practice and works hard during both of those. He keeps up with the big boys like a champ. This little bit of effort has gone a long way and he's doing amazing. I've seen two of his games so far and during each one he got multiple outs, had great hits, and most importantly had so much fun. He's on a great little team where everyone gets a turn playing everywhere and they are finally old enough to start making some plays. They generally know where they should be throwing the ball, even if they don't always make a good throw, and rarely does anyone catch it. On Tuesday I was watching Zane play, but Rowan had a great game on the other side of town. He got four outs, including a double play to end/win the game. He caught a fly ball then ran and tagged a kid out. To say he was proud of himself would definitely be an understatement and I couldn't be prouder of him either.



Meanwhile across town I had the absolute pleasure of watching Zane play for the first time this year. T was at Abbey's so I could actually watch the game. Zane is doing really well playing third base this year. He made some great throws to first base, tagged a kid out on his way to third, and had three big hits. One hit was just a few feet away from a home run. His team this year is doing pretty well. In the Spring there are upper and lower divisions so we don't have to play the super good, crazy competitive teams. Playing teams that are at the same level as we are makes it much more fun. The kids are making plays, making good throws, getting outs, and everyone is hitting well.



Last season every game was brutal to watch. There were a lot of new kids who were still learning the game and struggled with the basics. They lost every game but one, I think. It's not fun when you are never winning. After the season we talked to Zane about switching teams. We offered all kinds of options to him. In the end he wanted to stay with the Lake Monsters. He wanted to stay with the friends he knew on his team. He liked his coaches and he wanted to stay with them. I kind of questioned this decision, but I respected his loyalty. So it was wonderful to watch him out there playing a close game, getting big hits, getting to slide into home, and making plays.

Zane does not have a lot of God given talent. He can't fall back on being little and quick. He's not a natural born athlete. However, he is beyond tenacious. He never quits. He works harder than any kid out there. He drags his dad out to the backyard every single day to hit balls for as long as Zach will throw them for him. He can be coached, he takes instruction, and works so hard to get better. I would not have blamed him at all if he wanted to quit after surgery. But he never even thought of that, he just kept at it, day after day. He took his failures and just kept going, letting them help him get better.

 



Beyond the game I was amazed to watch him, almost nine years old, fully independent. I never once had to help him with any of his gear. While lots of other parents were in the dugout unpacking their kids bags, making sure they remembered everything, reminding them to get their hats and gloves, I was sitting their beaming with pride. Zane was helping his teammates get ready. He was the first one the field, hustling to his spot. After the game he was the first one out of the dugout with all his things. He cheered for his team, and watching him surrounded by his teammates he seemed so mature. He's so grown up, and so happy. All he's been through has made him stronger, independent, able to take some failures and not let those get him down.

He had another game Wednesday night where the all the joy and magic weren't quite there. They started strong with some good hits and a three up three down defensive inning. Then the wheels started to fall off. They were playing a really good team, one of their players got a home run and all the balls were going to the outfield. Everyone on our team was tired from having played games two nights in a row. It wasn't pretty. However, Zane got two people out at third, had a great hit, then tried way to hard to get a home run after the other team got one. Back to the reality of little league still being a bit of a train wreck at times. However, he had a great time. I had a wonderful time watching him play and he's learning new things with every game. T came last night which is always fun and look at just how adorable he is. Thatcher is either going to love baseball and be amazing at it, or he's going to absolutely hate it after spending years at the ballpark. For now I enjoy having a cute little nugget to play peek-a-boo with during these rough games.



Happy Second Birthday Thatcher

Dear Thatcher,

Your birthday week kind of fell apart as everyone else in the family came down with the stomach bug you had brought home from school earlier in the week. By Friday, your birthday, you were feeling much better, but sadly dad was fully sick and missed most of the day. Your brothers got you up early so you could open your presents before they headed to school. You had been talking about getting presents all week and were very excited to finally get to see them.

You got the classic two year old gifts, a new lawn mower, a toddler t-ball set, a new puzzle, and fire station Mega Blocks. The shark and dinosaur wrapping paper was also very exciting to you.

 The only right way to start your birthday was with donuts. We even took your brothers before we had to drop them off at school. You ate a whole bag of donut holes and part of the Spidey donut you picked out for yourself. Donuts are your favorite thing and I was so happy you got to share some with your brother on your special day.

 

Your brothers were so sad that they weren't going to get to spend your birthday with you. You gave Rowan the sweetest hug before we left to take your brothers to school.

 

You and I had a great morning. We went shopping, then came home to play baseball and swing outside, two of your favorite things. Then you requested Mac and cheese, your favorite, for lunch.





 After naps you even let me cuddle you for a few minutes, an amazing gift for your mother. You picked out some new dinosaurs at the store which we played with most of day.

 Zane came home sick after lunch and by the evening it was becoming clear that both of your brothers were fading fast, which meant that your party, which was scheduled for the next day, was probably not going to happen. So we went ahead and let you open your presents from Grammie, Papa, and The Prance family since we weren't sure when we'd be able to celebrate with the rest of the family. You loved your fire truck from Grammie and played with it for the rest of the evening.

 

 After dinner we sang to you and you were the only on feeling well enough to eat cupcakes. It wasn't the greatest of celebrations, but we tried. In good news you had a great time and seemed to have a wonderful birthday despite the rest of your family not feeling great.

 

 

 So now, sweet boy, you are two years old. You think you're the biggest of boys, but you will always be my baby. You are so funny and light up everyday for our entire family. I can't imagine this life without. We love you so much little man. I wish I could freeze time in this moment, in this stage. I'll try to soak up every minute instead. Here is to another amazing year with you.

Happy Birthday!
Love
Mamma



Thatcher's Second Birthday Week: A Few Of Your Favorite Things

Here's a glance of Thatcher's favorite things at two, in no particular order.






TV: A couple weeks ago I would have just said Mouse Cookie (If you give a mouse a cookie TV show on amazon). He just started enjoying watching TV maybe six months ago and his desired TV shows were either dinosaurs (Dinosaur Train) or Mouse Cookie. However, in the past few weeks he has broadened his horizons to all sorts of things like Bubble Guppies, Fire trucks, Stinky and Dirty, and Goldie and Bear. As with everything in life that I tell him no about, he will quickly just ask a brother and they usually are happy to get a show on for him. He watches something when he wakes up in the morning, after naps for a little bit, and in the event that we need him contained for awhile, think batting practice outside, playing board games with the big boys, or making dinner. He gets all cozy on the couch, requests milk and a snack, then enjoys his stories. It's probably not a great habit, but such is life, sometimes he needs to be still, and in one place.

Note his Mouse Cookie stuffed animal. The obsession is real.

Books: This is a fairly recent development as well, probably within the last few months, where he will sit and listen to an entire book. Usually we are ready If You Give a Mouse a Cookie or another book in that genera (If you give an animal some sort of food) or one of our many dinosaur books. How Does a Dinosaur do various things. Zane loved the dinosaur books at this age as well and we have videos of us reading him the books and little Zane answering "nooooo" to all the questions in the book. In a very full circle moment the other day I got a video of Zane reading the books to Thatcher as he dutifully answered "Nooooo" To all the questions. So cute and I still love this books all these years later. The other favorite book in rotation currently is Brave, the book about a fire engine. He loves saying all the sounds a fire truck makes and has led to his new obsession with all things fire truck.





Visiting the Ducks: Thatcher loves being outside, doing anything, but one of his biggest requests when we are outside is to go visit the "quack quacks." This means riding his little tricycle (he still refuses to learn how to peddle so he just uses his feet) down to the big lake to say his to the ducks and geese. And when I say "Say hi to the ducks and geese" I mean that very literally. When we get there he stands and waves at them, "Hi quack quacks!" "What you doing?" Then after walking around the lake, looking at sticks and throwing rocks, he always is sure to say "Bye bye quack quacks, love you." Half the fun is in the ride there, but a lot of the fun is visiting his duck friends.



Swinging: Thatcher's other favorite outdoor activity is saying "weee." Praise God for our swings in our backyard. He will spend hours out there swinging, both in the baby swing, and the big kid swings. Luckily for me his big brothers can also help him swing, so there are times all three can be outside, playing happily together, with little to no supervision from me. We rarely actually make it to the park, because we can swing and slides in our backyard, his two favorite things at the park. As the weather because nicer I'm sure we'll spend more time at actual parks, but he really prefers his brothers to be there with him, and not unlike Rowan, wonders around a little lost when they aren't there with him.



Playdough: I know what you're thinking, why in God's name would I let my two year old do playdough. Honest answer, I'm not sure how it happened, but he loved it so much and was surprisingly good with it. He doesn't try to eat it and only rarely gets in on the floor. He quietly plays with it, making balls, and tearing pieces apart. I even bought him more for his birthday. Strange I know, and totally not my usual feeling on playdough, but he loves it.

Donuts: In reality he loves all food and eats as much as his eight year old brother. However, his favorite thing might just be donuts. His obsession started with donut holes after mass, but has spread to all forms of donuts, any chance he can get. In the event there isn't donuts cries of "OH NO NONUTS" can be heard throughout the land. If given the opportunity I think he might eat them until he got sick. Don't get me wrong he loves all food, but donuts are his favorite.

Climbing/Jumping/Falling/Getting people/Wresting/Being a boy: This all probably goes without saying, but Thatcher is a rough and tumble boy. He loves getting people, jumping on his brothers, wrestling, climbing up on things he should be on, then jumping off. He also really loves to pretend to fall off things, followed by saying "I'm ok!" He is getting big enough that he can legit "get" Rowan, pulling him to the ground by his shirt at times when Rowan isn't really wanting to play. He's got a bit of a mean streak, but loves his brothers, just really loves jumping on them the most.

I occasionally walk into rooms to find scenes like these.





His Brothers: His brothers are his absolute favorite thing in the world. He misses them dearly when they are at school and are beyond excited when they finally arrive home in the afternoon. As much as he loves playing rough with them, he also loves cuddling them on the couch, watching a movie or reading books. He wants to be wherever they are and does not handle not being able to do what they are doing very well. He's really bossy with them, which I find really entertaining, "Roro, come on, bath time, come on!" "Bobo, read to me, come on." The big boys have loved watching him be able to communicate and play with them more over this past year. There are times I feel like they are too far apart, but for the most part I adore how good his big brothers are with him and how much he loves them both.





Puzzles: I've had the same five toddler puzzles since Zane was little and I'm happy to report Thatcher loves them as well. We do all the puzzles multiple times a day.

The dinosaur one is probably his favorite.

Dinosaurs: Truth be told we probably are stifling Thatcher's love of dinosaurs by hiding his dinosaur toys that walk and make a God forsakenly annoying noise. He got two of these for Christmas and loved them, but after about a month of having the constant sound of the dinosaurs in the background of our lives they magically disappeared. He does love playing with all the plastic, non motorized, quite dinosaurs we have accumulated over the years.

 

 Look at this joy! Maybe I should get the big one out of hiding. I think the little one did actually break so doesn't make noise anymore, but he still plays with it.







Mega Blocks: In an attempt to learn our colors I've busted out the old Mega Blocks again recently. Thatcher is a huge fan, but it in no way has helped him learn his colors. We do have lots of fun building and just as much fun tearing things down.