NOW: Closing out the Season

We closed out the baseball season with an end of year party today.  The team planned a day at a lake for fishing, swimming, and camping.  If you know the mil10s, then you know that is not how we usually spend our free time.  We did, however, go and had a great time.  It was a fun way to wrap up a great season.  Go White Sox!

mr. mil10 decorated the cupcakes.  This is about half of them.  It seemed like cupcakes, cupcakes, and more cupcakes.

First thing on the party agenda: swim.  Here they are venturing into the water.

mrs. mil10 does not understand why mr. mil10 likes to take pictures of signs.

We sat under a shade tree while the players and coaches swam.  Sitting there, listening to the waves come on shore, it almost sounded like sitting on the beach.  The roar of the waves just wasn't loud enough though.

EK really liked being thrown into the air.

Standing on the bank of the lake.

When not swimming, the boys took turns riding bikes.

Look!  Another sign leading to the fishing pier.

"2010 Tri-County Baseball League.  Coach Pitch Division.  First Place"

On the way home, mr. mil10 commented that there must have been some debris on the floor mat.  Then he thought there must be something stuck to his shoe.  He was thinking along the lines of a rock or something sticky.  Look closely and you will see the hook that was in his heel.  Thankfully it found the shoe and not someone's bare foot.

NOW: Reading

It may be summer, but EK has spent about thirty minutes every day reading.  Tonight EK read on his own for thirty minutes.  He was reading a chapter book from Hometown's public library.

After EK finished reading by himself, mr. mil10 read to him from another library book.  Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy, written by Phil Bildner and illustrated by C. F. Payne, was an enjoyable read that explained Shoeless Joe's quest for the perfect bat as he journeyed from amateur baseball player all the way to playing in the majors.  Written in a kid-friendly format, it left the more rigid biographical details to the afterward.  You don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy the story so go check it out--we have to return it to the library tomorrow!

NOW: Baseball Tournament

Tonight is game one of EK's baseball tournament.  It has been a good season.  We have won many of our games, although the exact number escapes us right now.  At times the games were heated and some plays were disputed.  If you ask me, and no one did, some people take it way too seriously.  We, however, are just here for the athletic opportunities for EK.  Ha ha.

Play ball!

BIG: Disappointment

EK's BIG hit:
Today at baseball practice EK hit what would have been a home run.  The ball went far past those that were playing in outfield.  However, when running past third base EK's foot never made contact with the base.  Although he didn't make it, it is fun to see his progress and abilities continue to improve with each practice and game. 

Mavs' BIG loss:
The mil10s' favorite NBA team is officially out of the playoffs.  The Mavs' run is now over for the year.  Despite the cheering from our living room in Hometown, Texas the Mavs could not pull it off.  All we can do now is hope for next year.

BIG: Sell It, Show It, Swing It

This morning our neighborhood was conducting a neighborhood garage sale.  It is a great time to get rid of all that stuff that you don't want around the house any more.  However, we didn't participate.  We just walked around looking at several homes and all the stuff they had to sell.  We may be twenty-five cents poorer, but now EK has a BIG green wig!  What a great model he makes!

EK's baseball team had their first game today.  In addition to the excitement of the first game of the season, they also had to contend with BIG wind.  Gusts blew up to 20 miles an hour.  We may not have won, but we do have good sports.  Congrats to EK for hitting a double.  Keep up the BIG hits!

EK mans third base.

Ready to swing.

Standing on second, but ready to run.

Post game huddle.