victory

It's only been one week of summer and I'm ready for a break. Typically you think of summer and a nice break to the hectic schedules of the school year. I think it's pretty much been established that we're not a typical family so summer means crazy times.

Last week we had 6 baseball games, 2 baseball practices, summer track workouts for all three kiddos, and a really fun, awesome week-long experience for the boys to participate in the FCA Victory Bowl. So basically the boys left each day about 6:30 a.m. and didn't get home until about 10:30 each night. They were absolutely exhausted. Especially the biggest boy.

The Victory Bowl was put together by FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). It's basically an all-star showcase for graduating seniors. It is a big honor to be selected to play. And to coach, too. They have practices, speakers, devotionals, dinners, a pancake-eating contest, service projects and fellowship. Cooper and Campbell got to be there all week, handing out water, doing chores, setting up practice fields, and basically just hanging out with the big boys who were really just awesome to them.

The game is a pretty big deal around here and is televised locally. The boys were really pumped about getting to play at Floyd Casey Stadium, the home of the Baylor Bears! Campbell was the ball boy and was really excited because on Friday nights he hasn't yet gotten the call downstairs. Coach Seward asked Cooper to signal in the plays. How cool is that?

The Red Team has never lost so there is a lot of pressure to keep up that tradition. The game was really close and came down to the last minute. Literally. We caught an interception on the 5 yard line to basically end the game, ensuring a Red Team victory. It was exciting for sure.

Like I said before, Campbell hasn't gotten to be on the field on Friday nights yet. He's had plenty of JV game time but hasn't been called up to the big leagues yet so being on the field for this game was super-awesome for him. The one thing about the boys is that they study football. Just about all they do is draw up football plays and talk to each other about different formations. It's kinda exhausting to be honest. Bottom line, they know a lot about football. So when the Blue team was kicking off to us with just about 2 minutes left, Campbell ran out into the huddle with the warning "Guys, they are going to do an on-side kick."Hilarious. Super-hilarious. Well, it's super-hilarious now but the coaches really didn't see it as so hilarious in the heat of the moment. Now it's something the coaches, and players!, will probably never forget. Good times.

I'm definitely a reluctant coaches wife but when my kids get these really incredible opportunities I'm so, so thankful. I'll add this to my list of the only good things about having a husband who is a coach:

1. Free ice. (crushed ice people!!!!) 
2. All the girls want to babysit for us (little do they know...)
3. and just added...Incredible opportunities for my kids (in the future I might just make this number 1)

Onward.

a|m

perfect

OK. I've said it before, I LOVE baseball. I especially love baseball when my kiddos are playing.

This past year we moved to a new city only about 20 miles from where we were before. With that move came new schools, new neighbors, new friends and new teams, specifically baseball teams. Cooper had been with his baseball team for about five years. We loved our coach so much. He taught Cooper so much and was just a really super coach. We've been really lucky to have a really great team here in our new town, too. Thank goodness. We know what it's like to have not-so-good coaches unfortunately.

Last week we had to face our old team and we were nervous. I mean, of course we wanted to win but more importantly we wanted to play AWESOME. Now if you know me I'm a nervous wreck when it comes to baseball. And if Cooper is pitching, well then it borders on insane.

old picture from 2010

We started out really, really bad. Coop was on third and we ended up walking in seven runs to give the bad guys a one run lead at the end of the first. Ugh.

When Cooper jogged out to the pitchers mound I was kinda about to die. Would he do good? He hadn't thrown in a few weeks. Maybe he just needs to catch. Can he handle the pressure? OMG!! And to make it worse my husband wasn't there to calm me down/punch in the arm/hide my eyes.

And so it began. One down--strike out. Strike out number two but dropped third strike so batter advanced to first. Ugh. Next batter, strike out! Two down! Fourth verse same as the second...strike out slash dropped third strike. Next batter STRIKE OUT! I was freaking out! Five (technically!) strike outs in one inning! Woohoo!

Next inning he was on again. But this time three up, three down. All three strike outs. Incredible!

Finally in the last inning here we go again. One up. One strike out. Two up...strike out. At this point I was so nervous because I wanted this perfect (practically!) game for him so bad. So the third batter comes up and four pitches later. STRIKE OUT #11. Amazing. I was so, so proud. Couldn't believe it.

It was a perfect night. To have THAT kind of game against our old team was incredible. And, yes I couldn't stop smiling for days. Woohoo!

Fingers crossed for beaucoup games like this in the future!

a|m

pride

Even though Memorial Day was last week I still have patriotic touches around the house. Let's be honest, these decorations will stay up through the Fourth!

I have a few ideas of things to add but that may or may not actually pan out!

Just thought I'd share because I love how all the flags look! I also laid out my red, white, blue quilt on my table. I love this quilt. It's the second quilt I ever made and I love the fabrics in it...my favorite being the Pledge of Allegiance.

I hope to have more patriotic touches in time for the fourth!

Thanks for stopping by!

a|m