Little League Opening Day

Time for the annual Little League Opening Day festivities.  A parade, a ceremony and lots of inflatable bouncers.  What else do you need?    Palmer is an IronBird so I made all of the kids IronBirds to carry.  So cute!

A Beautiful Morning For Baseball

Just a few great shots of my baby.  He doesn't love the game yet.  He insists on many "breaks" and hates fielding.   But he's cute. 

Playa Pom Pom

Last Saturday Palmer had his first baseball practice.  I remember Connor's like it was yesterday.  Bob is coaching and Connor is helping out.  As you'd expect--the whole thing was pretty adorable.

 

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Go Sox Go!

When in Boston during baseball season...well. You know. Palmer got to go to his first game at Fenway. And Bob and Connor got to sit in some fantastic seats 12 rows behind home plate. And the Sox won! Not that Palmer and I were there to see it---he only made to the third inning before he'd had enough.

Riding the "T"

Yawkey Way

Director Rob Reiner threw out the first pitch.

The pitching speed booth.  We spent alot of time here!

1969 ball cart

My First Fenway Game

Great seats for great guys

Champions!

Connor's AAA Little League team--the Rays--won the World Series championship for their league division.  It was a dramatic week with weather delays and postponements.  The great thing was that Nana was in town to see it! 

Championship Rings!

We're Sick But The Fun Continues

Bob and I both have horrid head colds.  Luckily it has not struck the boys.  Misery notwithstanding we has lots of fun this weekend.

 

First up...beautiful weather for the Rays

Then I had a fun night out celebrating a friend's birthday.

Today we hit the pool.

After a pancake breakfast to raise money for the fire department.

And we had a great nap and some snuggle time this afternoon.

Spring Baseball With The DLL Rays

The weather is finally warming up and we're getting in some games.  Almost no practice--but games.   Connor is having fun.   Palmer is bored to tears.  

First Base Hit

Braves

Connor is playing on the Dulles Little League AAA Braves this spring baseball season.   AAA is a bit higher skill league than some forth graders so he's left a few friends behind.   And alot of the other AAA drafted kids his age play on travel baseball leagues, which he does not.  So, its kind of weird.  But he's doing well and we had a baseball milestone event just about an hour ago....when I watched him ride off to practice on his bike.  I remember when he was little and I'd see kids riding to baseball with their bat bags on their back.  Or wearing their football pads.   I thought they were so old.   And now he's one of them.  He was just riding to a friends to get a ride from his mom to the ballfield...but its the same net effect. My baby is growing up. 

Hey Now, You're An All Star!

Well, the baseball season is officially over today. There's so much to say about how the season went. There was plenty of drama (touchy parents), plenty of running around the field (chasing Palmer), and plenty of really great baseball. Connor's skills have really taken a step up and his focus and patience have improved immensely.

Along with his personal growth and maturation, his advancement this year is also attributable to two very important things. One, his Dad was not his coach. He helped out a TON, but he wasn't the primary authority figure on the field and Connor really needs that separation. Two, his coach was fantastic. We live in a place where many people step up and give of themselves, but Rich Abdinoor does better than that. It was clear to every boy on that team and every parent that he loved the game and he wanted those players in it all the way and to be positive and thrive on the game. The chemistry of those two men---his Dad and his Coach Rich---really made the difference for Connor. I am grateful to them both for the love and patience they showed.

Although it was disappointing that the regular season Dodgers lost in the first round of the playoffs, we were appeased by the fact that Connor made the Dulles Little League Single A National League All Star Blue team. The All Stars played a few games over the past days and today, Connor's team won. And even better than that, Connor got the game ball. He went 2 for 3 with a double, had 3 RBIs and pitched a shut-out inning.   What a great way to end the season.  Congratulations my big man!

A Pitcher Full Of Joy

Connor pitched his first EVER baseball inning tonite and it was scoreless. It was awesome to see. He looked like a real ball player out there. He was even spitting. It cracked me up. I love this kid.