Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Baseball and Birthdays: Who Could Ask For Anything More?!

Last week was crazy around here.  This will probably be a bit long... so bear with me!  The craziness all started on Thursday.  Travis turned 9 years old.. I can hardly believe it!  Also, it was his first baseball game of the season. Here are Travis and Coach Daryle before we left to have dinner for Travis' birthday.
Travis picked Olive Garden for his birthday dinner. They are so nice there. You can buy a small cake and they even bring it out with candles on it.  After singing happy birthday to him he blew out the candles.  All 9 of them! (Future note to self- if we do this next year there is no need to bake a home made cake at home!)
For the last few practices Travis has been practicing pitching.  Daryle asked him if he wanted to pitch that night.  Travis was a little hesitant to do it as he hadn't pitched to a "live batter".  He said he would if Daryle could stand by him. The other coaches agreed that they didn't mind if Daryle stood behind him since it was his first time pitching. I must say, he did a pretty good job. I think there will be more pitching in his future.
The following night we decided to eat the birthday cake that we didn't get to the night before. Since Travis is 9 now he wanted to light his own candles. Don't worry, Daryle and I were both very close by.  He did a great job. No worries after all.  (Look at how focussed he was!)
Saturday was Opening Day for Little League. Since Daryle is now on the board of directors he had to be out there at 7 in the morning.  Of course it was the hottest day of the year so far... it was 94... so he was pretty hot by mid morning.  He was out there until 3:00. He came home, changed clothes, then headed out to the fields again for our 5:00 game.  I was only out there part of the time, so it wasn't so bad for me. However, it was a long day overall for the family.  There were all kinds of fun things for the kids to do before the opening ceremonies.  Here is Travis trying out the jousting area.
Connor checked out a bouncy.  He loves these, I think he could stay there all day! Notice he is wearing his Darth Vader cape... he has a style all his own! I had to laugh. He asked this one boy how old he was.  The boy said he was 10.  Connor's reply, "MY BROTHER IS 9!"  Funny boy.
Then Connor wanted to try out the jousting area. He went in there and didn't even know any of the kids. After about 5 minutes he realized this was too heavy for him and we left.  Sometimes I need to let him figure these things out on his own!  He wouldn't listen to me when I told him it might be too much for him.
This is Daryle being introduced as a board member. I had to use the close up lens and of course this man had to get his hat in the way.  Oh well.
After that long day Travis finallyl got to go home and play with some of his birthday presents.  Here is Travis with his birthday present from Uncle Rob.  They are posing with their Nerf guns.  Don't they look dangerous?!?!
We decided this year that Travis could have a birthday party. He chose to have it at Laser Quest.  He invited all boys.  Oh my. Actually, they were all very well behaved and had an awesome time.
They all sang to Travis then this huge roll of toilet paper exploded all over him. It was so funny! Of course it happened so fast that I didn't get a picture of it!
After the second round of tag they all came in for pizza and cake.  They were so cute poring over their scores.  They worked up a pretty good appetite too!

Really, another cake?!  Every single cake was chocolate.... per Travis' request of course.
After that weekend, it was time for some R & R around here!
I am so glad we survived the week.  All in all it was pretty fun. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that Travis is 9 years old.  He is growing up and changing right before my eyes. He has gained more responsibility around the house.  His leash in the neighborhood has been lengthened. He has friends close by that he likes to hang out with.  It is nice and kind of scary all at the same time!  I just want them to stay young and innocent forever.   A mother can wish, can't she?

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