USTA Nationals 2016, Mobile, Alabama

A spent this past week competing at the US National Baton Championships in Mobile, Alabama. She competed in National dance twirl, strut, and solo, as well as three groups routines and intermediate level strut, dance twirl, and two baton.  She also competed advanced presentation. How did she do?  Extremely well! She finished her national events with a 5th place in dance twirl, and 3rd place in both strut and solo.  In her intermediate events she finished with a first place for presentation, 8th in dance twirl, 4th in two baton, and fifth in strut.  The team finished with a fourth, a second, and a first place win!

A has worked extremely hard this year.  Her twirling continues to improve with every practice and competition.  She's really starting to become a contender and is close to breaking out and making her mark in the twirling world.  Her twirling goals  include winning a national title and someday making the world baton team.  If she continues to work hard, I have no doubt she'll achieve those goals.

Next up she'll be competing at Notre Dame University at AYOP(Americas Youth on Parade).  This is the nationals for the National Baton Twirling Association and includes the prestigious Miss Majorette of America event.  A will be competing for juvenile Miss Majorette of America.  She'll also be competing her baseball themed show twirl, solo, x strut, and two baton. Until then we're enjoying some time vacationing with family and friends until we hit the road for Indiana!

Hitting the Road For USTA Nationals

Monday morning A and I, along with my mom, will head for Mobile, Alabama where A will spend the week competing at the United States Twirling Association National Baton Championships.  This competition is the first of three national events that A will compete in this summer, ending another outstanding season of twirling.  She has worked hard all year long to improve and grow in a sport that hooked her at the age of 5.  This s A's fifth season twirling and it amazes me to look back ad see how far she's come.  At ten years old, she is competing at the advanced level in most events and more than holding her own.  She's worked hard to get to this point and is excited to have the opportunity to compete at the national level this summer.  This week she will compete in advanced dance twirl, solo, strut and presentation, as well as intermediate dance twirl, two baton, and strut.  She will compete in two group routines and one trio with her teammates.  The competition will be tough and A will go out on the floor and give it her all.  Last year at nationals she exceeded expectations when she ended with a top eight finish in advanced strut, earning a spot to compete in the prestigious Twirl Mania Gold invitational this past February.  She'd love a repeat of that but is going in with the desire to do her best, maintain a positive attitude no matter what happens, and above all represent her team and her sport with class and sportsmanship.  I'll be posting updates throughout the week so stay tuned to see how our little twirler does at her first national competition of the summer!

Hitting the Road For USTA Nationals

Monday morning A and I, along with my mom, will head for Mobile, Alabama where A will spend the week competing at the United States Twirling Association National Baton Championships.  This competition is the first of three national events that A will compete in this summer, ending another outstanding season of twirling.  She has worked hard all year long to improve and grow in a sport that hooked her at the age of 5.  This s A's fifth season twirling and it amazes me to look back ad see how far she's come.  At ten years old, she is competing at the advanced level in most events and more than holding her own.  She's worked hard to get to this point and is excited to have the opportunity to compete at the national level this summer.  This week she will compete in advanced dance twirl, solo, strut and presentation, as well as intermediate dance twirl, two baton, and strut.  She will compete in two group routines and one trio with her teammates.  The competition will be tough and A will go out on the floor and give it her all.  Last year at nationals she exceeded expectations when she ended with a top eight finish in advanced strut, earning a spot to compete in the prestigious Twirl Mania Gold invitational this past February.  She'd love a repeat of that but is going in with the desire to do her best, maintain a positive attitude no matter what happens, and above all represent her team and her sport with class and sportsmanship.  I'll be posting updates throughout the week so stay tuned to see how our little twirler does at her first national competition of the summer!

Steps to Broadway: High School Musical

Two summers ago N signed up for theater camp at our local community playhouse.  He was a singing, dancing ape in Tarzan and fell in love with the magic of the theater.  Since then, he's performed in four other shows and worked tech on three others.  Three of the shows he performed in and all of the ones he worked tech on were at the local theater.  The fourth show he performed in was the spring musical at his high school.We're fortunate to have an amazing community theater right in our town.  The productions are always top notch, including the summer shows put on by the kids.  Kids in 7th-12th grade stage a full on musical.  The program has become so popular that this year they are having two camps.  Yes, N is attending both! Last night was the opening night for the first summer show, High School Musical. N had his first lead role as Ryan Evans and he knocked it out of the park.(We can't get away from the baseball terminology in this family)

To say I am blown away by N's talent is a gross understatement.  He quite simply amazes me every time he steps onto the stage.  He acts, sings, and dances with such enthusiasm and energy.  No role is too small for him.  Whether he's a lead or has a small part in the ensemble he gives it 110%.  I have no idea where he got this talent.  But he has it in spades.  At least in my totally biased opinion! And judging by the number of people who take the time to tell me they saw him in this play or that play and how much they enjoyed watching him and how talented he is, I'm not the only one who thinks so!

We had front row tickets for opening night and as I sat there watching him up on that stage last night I felt myself tearing up.  (Big shock there!)  My middle baby, independent, determined, wickedly smart and funny, and who has always followed his own path in life, has found his niche. A niche where he is comfortable and happy, that has shown him the path he would like to pursue in life, wherever it may lead him.  Once again, I have a kid intent on pursuing what some would call a crazy dream.  Perhaps.  But I am enough of a dreamer myself to encourage him to pursue it as far as he can so that he never has any regrets.  In the meantime, I'll look forward to enjoying every minute of this crazy ride with him.

 With J and A after last night's performance

No I didn't fall off the face of the earth

Wow! Almost two years have passed since my last post! Guess life got in the way of blogging! Happy to say I'm hoping to rekindle my posts since i do enjoy the outlet blogging affords me.  For now, I'll fill you all in on what's been happening since my last post. Which really means updating you on my kids because everyone knows that's what this blog is all about.

I'll start with J.  My oldest baby is now 20, yes 20 years old! He went off to Belmont Abbey College and was quite happy there.  He loved the school, the baseball tram, and college life in general. Unfortunately, things didn't go as well as they should have and he has spent his second year of college back at home attending the local college.  He's done well and is set to return to Belmont Abbey for the spring 2017 semester.  Baseball is even still on the table which gives him great motivation.  In addition to school, J has been working at our local Publix and helping to coach his sister's Little league team.  He has a real knack for coaching and  think he may be considering a coaching career.  Time will tell.  So keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a successful return to the Abbey and the ball field!

N has discovered his niche in the theater.  He go involved in the excellent community theater in our town two years ago and has appeared in several productions.  He' not only an excellent singer and actor, he also loves working the tech side of shows.  He thoroughly enjoyed his first year of high school.  A big change is coming for him this fall though.  The other high school in town is starting up a fine arts academy.  N applied and was accepted.  He's so excited about getting to immerse himself in theater.  This summer he has his first lead role as Ryan Evans in High School Musical at the community playhouse.  He'll be turning 16 in September which hardly seems possible.  He's starting to think about college and talks about his future on the stage all the time.  I seem to have a knack for producing kids with crazy dreams!

That brings me to A.  My sassy girl is 10 years old and as sassy as ever.  She loves playing baseball, though she is considering a switch to softball.  And she is still heavily involved in competitive baton twirling.  In fact, this past year and a half has been a time of tremendous growth for her as a twirler.  She's twirling at an advanced level and holding her own against some very tough competition.  This summer she'll be competing in three different national competitions for three different twirling organizations, in three different states.  Stay tuned for updates from the road as we travel the country!

School just ended for us and we're enjoying our summer.  In addition to the baton trips, we have a trip planned with my family and a weekend trip with an awesome group of friends.  We're also hoping to sneak down to Miami for a quick visit with Coach C.  He just finished his second year of law school at Georgetown and is interning with a law firm down south for the summer.  So the summer is sure to fly by and it will be time to return to school before we know it. In the meantime, I'll be posting on a regular basis.  I hope you'll enjoy sharing our summer adventures with us!

Abbey Bound

The time has come.  In approximately twelve hours, hubby and I will be driving J up to North Carolina to college.  All the plans have been made, his stuff has been packed, goodbyes have been said.  All that's left to do is make the trip.  Move in day is Friday, followed by orientation weekend.  We are staying until Sunday, then it will be time to hug my little boy tight one last time before leaving him to begin this exciting new chapter in his life.  He may be 18 and college bound, but he is still my little boy.  The same little boy who was born with a sweet disposition and a heart of gold.  The little boy with the big dream that he never gave up on.  The same little boy who gets to live the next stage of that big dream now.  He's ready, a bit nervous, but so excited to get on the field.  To prove himself worthy of the opportunity he's been given.  In his heart, he's already a Crusader, ready to give his whole heart to this new team he'll be a part of.  So even though my heart is full of tears, I can't truly be sad.  I know he's doing what he was meant to do, where he was meant to do it.  And even though I'm not a t-shirt girl, I'll wear my Crusader baseball mom t shirt with pride.  Because once upon a time, my little boy told me he was going to be a baseball player.  And he did it.  He became a baseball player, never letting anything deter him from his dream.  He's made it to college ball.  Who's to say the pros aren't right around the corner.  My tortoise is winning his race, slow and steady, one game at a time.

Summer Update

Kind of left everyone hanging after my last post!  Sorry!  My only excuse is that April and May were a whirlwind, filled with lots of exciting moments and milestones.  A recap:

J wrapped up his senior season mid April.  His team was knocked out of the district tournament after one game and he hung up his high school cleats for good.  The team banquet followed on May 4.  After four years of ups and downs, he was ready to bid high school baseball farewell and move onto the next chapter of his career.  On May 6, J officially signed with Belmont Abbey College to play baseball for the Crusaders.  He had a signing party at school with friends and family in attendance.  It was one of my proudest moments as J's mom.  Knowing how long and hard he had worked towards his goal, and to see the joy in his face as he signed his letter of commitment was so very special.  Here he is with Coach C at his signing party.

And a shot of all of us, including my parents and brother,Coach C, the school athletic director and two of his high school coaches. 

Next up was A's First Holy Communion on Mother's day.  My last baby has reached this important milestone in our catholic faith, which is so hard to believe.  She should still be crawling around in diapers and here she is, eight years old.  I so enjoyed taking her shopping for a dress and veil and was pleasantly surprised when my often times rough and tumble little girl chose a very girly dress and veil along with a tiara and gloves.  Here she is on her communion day:

Two weeks after A's communion, J graduated from high school.  I'm trying to figure out where 18 years went!  We were able to celebrate with many family and friends, on both his graduation day and with a big party the day after.  My aunt and cousins were able to make the trip from Virginia to be with us which meant so much to J.  Here are a few photos from the weekend:

 Our graduate

 Hubby and J

 Me and J

  

A rare shot of the five of us

In the few weeks since J's graduation we have been settling into our summer routine.  N is attending a three week theater camp at the local playhouse.  He will be performing as a singing ape in eight performances of Tarzan at the end of the month.  A has two baton competitions this month.  The first is the regional competition that is being held about an hour away from us.  The second is a big competition in Myrtle Beach.  J is training with Coach C to get in the best shape possible before he leaves for college.  Speaking of Coach C, he graduated from the University of Florida last month and is headed to Georgetown for law school this fall.  We're so proud of him, even though we're going to miss him like crazy!  Luckily, my aunt and cousins live right outside DC, so it will be easy to visit him while visiting them. For now, we're all just enjoying spending time together, knowing that the summer will fly by at the speed of light.  All too soon it's going to be time for me to pack up the car and drive J up to Belmont Abbey, eight hours from home.  I get weepy every time I think about it, though I always knew that his dreams of baseball would likely take him away.  I have mentally prepared for it as best I can, though I know my heart is going to crack into pieces when he actually goes.  But I know he'll be doing what he loves and that will make it easier.  And I'm already making plans for us all to be in the stands for his first game as a Crusader!

More words from Coach C

In the weeks since my last post, a lot has happened for J.  He was accepted into Belmont Abbey College. BAC is the school that is interested in having J play for them next year.  In fact, we've progressed to the point that they are putting together a financial aid package for him.  He's thrilled to have this opportunity and is looking forward to hearing from the coach there soon.  In addition to being accepted at BAC and being offered the chance to play baseball there, J has also been accepted into Saint Leo University here in Florida. We're not sure yet if baseball will be a possibility there; we're waiting to hear from the coach.  In the coming weeks, J will have some big decisions to make regarding his college plans.  Which brings me to the point of this post.  Two years ago, I asked Coach C to do a guest post regarding his thoughts on J's training and progress.  If you missed that post the first time around, you can read it here: A Word From Coach C.  So much has been happening for J lately that I thought everyone would enjoy hearing from Coach C again.  He was all set to do another guest post when he sent us the letter of recommendation that he wrote for J.  He sent it to me via email, which I opened and read while sitting at dance class waiting for A.  It took approximately 15 seconds for the tears to start pouring.  As a parent, one of the things I hope for is for my children to be fortunate enough to have people in their lives who appreciate their gifts, support them in their dreams, and above all else, love and respect who they are.  When I read Coach C's letter, it only reinforced what I already knew, that J has all of those things in Coach C.  So instead of having him write another  guest post, I asked him if I could simply post the beautiful letter of recommendation he wrote for J.  He agreed, so I will let it speak for itself.  I omitted J and Coach C's full names for privacy.  Other than that, the letter is exactly as Coach C wrote it.

To Whom It May Concern:

            The dictionary defines the word superlative as being of the highest kind, quality, or order. Surpassing all others, and in doing so reigns supreme. I define the word superlative as J.M.: an ambitious young man of the highest kind, quality, and order. A person whose dedication to the betterment of humankind surpasses all others, and whose compassion for his life and the lives of those around him, reigns supreme.

            I first had the pleasure of meeting J when he tried out as a freshman for my travel baseball organization. As both a catcher and a corner infielder, I was thoroughly impressed with his arm strength, soft hands, and seemingly advanced knowledge of the game for someone of his age. First and foremost, J is one of the last of a dying breed: a true leader of his peers. His happy go lucky attitude and fierce playing style inspired his teammates on numerous occasions to push themselves to limits they never knew they could reach. He displayed a love of learning that was refreshing to me, and in him I saw much of myself at his age. From day one I was very excited with his unyielding drive to better not only himself, but also all those who surrounded him. At the plate he led a fairly young 16 and under team by example, constantly coming through when his team needed him the most.

Over the past few years I have come to view him as a young person with tremendous potential—a guaranteed future leader. His intellectual and scholastic success, coupled with his commitment to his team, masterful leadership abilities, creative drive, and unshakable will, form a foundation for future full of possibilities.

            However, while his accomplisments are outstanding to say the least, they pale in comparison to his most shining attribute: his awe-inspiring ability to inspire. From my experience with this exceptional young person, I have come to learn that J does not purely plan, but acts. Does not simply succeed, but excels. Does not solely enhance his own life, but enriches the lives of all he touches. To truly understand what makes this remarkable young man so successful, one must only look to the words of Mr. Mark Twain: “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” J.M. is among these select few that we deem as great in our society, not merely because of his wide array of impressive accomplishments, but because he has been blessed with the capacity to inspire the ordinary to aspire to the extraordinary. He has been endowed with an unparalleled ability to make others feel through example that, they too, can become great: and in a world where it is quite easy to get caught up solely in the affairs of one’s self, this level of maturity is unrivaled and of incalculable value.

            If you have the opportunity to meet this incredible young man, please do so. I promise you will not regret it, because words simply cannot measure such an immeasurable degree of character. We owe this shining star all the support we can give, because the world deserves, desires, and desperately needs leaders of his kind, quality, and order. I assure you that your program emulates all the values that make him the remarkable young person he is today, and that in any tasks you require of him, he will reign supreme. With all this being said, I recommend to you, unconditionally, Mr. J.M. I know that he will make as large an impact on your lives as he has made on my own. Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,

Coach C

Head Coach Top Prospects 16u

Play For Him

J recently made the varsity baseball team at his school and is poised for his junior season.  For some reason, this season has me more sentimental than usual.  Perhaps because I know J only has two school seasons and two TP summers left before he hopefully makes the next step in his baseball career, partially fulfilling a dream he's had since he was tiny.  To be a ball player.  He's worked so hard to get to this point that I think he sometimes forgets some of the memories that have accumulated over the years.  I haven't forgotten a one.  I thought it would be nice, at the start of this all important junior season, to look back at J's baseball career to this point.  To share some of my favorite moments along this journey that has both the possibility of being over in a blink or taking a whole new direction that J dreams of.

J was born with a love for baseball.  Or so it seems.  I suppose it's really more accurate to say my dad nurtured that love from the cradle.  I have fond memories of J propped in my dad's lap as a baby watching the Yankees on TV.  Of my dad taking him to his first minor league game when he was about two years old and to his first Yankee game by the time he was 5.  When he was three, my dad couldn't wait any longer to get him playing and we signed him up for a little team at the Y.  They played for an hour every Sat, a half hour of practice, followed by a half hour game.  I don't think my dad could have been prouder had we been in a major league ball park somewhere.  Not too long after that J told me for the first time, "Mommy, I'm going to be a baseball player when I grow up."

Next came the Little League years.  Those were years that had too many good times to count.  For my dad and J those years are the ones that cemented the bond they share over baseball.  Every spring brought a new team, new friends, some familiar faces, and happy times spent watching J develop as a player.  During those years, we called him our tortoise because he wasn't always the fastest, or the showiest, or the best player, but he was always the most hard working and dependable. When he was young, nothing and nobody could tarnish his love for baseball.  Those years also brought J his first taste of heartbreak when he was passed over for the All Star team more than once.  Even then, our boy kept his chin up and didn't let it get him down for long.   He just kept playing, and he kept telling me that someday he'd be a ball player, just wait and see.

After the Little League years, he moved onto high school ball.   Again, there have been triumphs as well as disappointments.  It's to be expected I suppose.  If everything in life came easily, things would have less meaning.  Last year, J wrote an essay for English class about his dreams of baseball.  I posted  about it at the time and will share it again here:  In His Own Words.  And of course, along with the high school years have come the TP years.  It was at the end of his freshman season that J tried out for Coach C and began what has been one of the best parts of his baseball journey.  A year ago, Coach C did a guest post sharing his thoughts on J's training and dreams.  You can revisit that post here: A Word from Coach C.  We all continue to be so grateful that J has Coach C, who continues to train, coach, and mentor him through this phase of his baseball career.  And I sincerely hope that at some point in the not so distant future I can ask him to do another guest post.  This time sharing his thoughts on  J's successful attempt at playing college baseball.

So here we are, on the cusp of J's junior season. And he's still telling me to wait and see. That he's going to be a ball player.   Immediately after the school season ends, the TP season will begin.  And while I'm looking forward to watching all those games, it's a little bittersweet  knowing that those games are getting numbered.  That all too soon,  it will be his senior season.  And then his final TP season.  At that point I hope that all the years of  hard work pay off and J will realize the next stage of his dream.  And that he'll know that every minute he spent on a field instead of with his friends or playing video games or going to parties will have been worth it.  And even if it doesn't work out exactly as he hopes it will, he'll know that he gave it everything he had and then some.  And that all those years, all those moments, all of the triumphs and disappointments led him to where he is.  The other day I came across the following quote and it fits J perfectly.  It's something I hope he'll keep in his mind  and in his heart when he takes the field for the first game of the season.

Somewhere behind the athlete you've become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little boy who fell in love with the game and never looked back.  Play for him.

Turning 7

Tomorrow A turns seven.  I can hardly wrap my mind around the fact that my youngest baby is seven years old, but there it is.  The past seven years have been quite the adventure.  I thought it would be fun to do a picture review of A's life.

Here's  our princess at a month old in her baptismal gown.  Is anyone surprised to know that A screamed throughout her entire baptism?

On the beach in Ocean City, NJ as a toddler.  She's always had that boundless energy and spirit.

Visiting Disney for the first time at two years old.  Note she liked to pose even back then.

Capturing ducks at the petting farm as a three year old.   I can't remember if she was screaming or laughing in this picture.

Four years old, running tame at the Little League field.  She went to the ball field for the first time when she was three days old.  Is it any wonder she's such a little baseball fan now?

This was taken in Hawaii when she was 41/2.  It captures her sassy spirit perfectly.

For her fifth birthday, she had a princess glamour party.  

At five she met Coach C and decided he was the object of her affections.  She continues to make us laugh on a constant basis with this one.  This was the first picture ever taken of the two of them and resides in a frame on her night stand.

Her brothers have adored her from day one.  Even when she aggravates them, they can never stay mad at her for long.

Her Christmas dance recital when she was six years old.  Yet another picture that clearly captures her sauciness.

Taken a week ago at her baton competition, our sassy girl just shy of seven years old. Whatever she does, she does it with sass and style.  She keeps us on our toes every minute of every day.  And every day with her is a pure joy.  To know A is to love her and I for one love her to the moon and back.  Happy birthday baby girl!

Kicking Off the Baton Season

As everyone knows, I spend a good portion of my life at baseball fields, watching J play.  I truly love every minute of it.  Well, maybe not washing loads of stinky uniforms, but even that doesn't diminish my enjoyment of watching J do what he loves the most.  However, I'm a girly girl at heart, and there are times when I just need to indulge that side of my nature.  And nothing fits the bill better than spending the day with A at baton competition, dressing her up in numerous cute costumes, fixing her hair, and watching my sassy girl strut her stuff.  This is A's second year on the baton team, an activity she thoroughly enjoys.  Yesterday was the first competition of the season, and A had a fabulous time, coming home with several trophies.  For those that don't know, baton competitions are an all day affair.  The day begins with group routines, followed by individual events in marching, modeling, and twirling.  A was in three group routines yesterday: a pom routine with ten other girls, a small group twirling routine with three other girls, and a large group twirling routine with the entire team.   She then competed individually in dress modeling, costume modeling, basic and military marching, and for the title of Strut Queen, for which she had to march and model a costume.  I'm pleased to report that the girls took first place for their pom routine, and second place for both the small and large group routines.   Our team also had other small and large group routines that all placed as well.  Individually, A took third place for dress modeling, 2nd place for costume modeling and basic marching, and 1st place for military marching.  She also took 1st place for Strut Queen in her age category, which really thrilled her.  She also loves all of the costumes, hairstyles, and accessories that go along with each routine and I have to admit, I do, too.  She wore a total of six different costumes yesterday, plus a fancy dress for dress modeling.  Each one is cute in its own unique way but I do have two personal favorites, simply because they suit A's personality so well.  The first one is her baseball dress, pictured here:

A is quite the little baseball fan, as everyone knows, and this baseball dress fits her sassy personality perfectly.  She modeled this yesterday for the costume modeling portion of Strut Queen.  She decided on a sassy modeling walk and strutted right up to the judge, cocked her hip, and blew a kiss.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera ready to capture it.  But let's just say the performance cemented her title as the baseball princess.

Which brings me to my absolute favorite costume.  She got this one for Christmas, so yesterday was the first time she wore it in competition.  Here it is:

Is this not the cutest thing ever?!  Not only is A a baseball fan, she's become quite the Florida Gator fan as well.  Her daddy likes to think it's because he's a lifelong Gator fan.  But we all know it really has more to do with a certain baseball coach who attends the University of Florida.  A had been saying she wanted a Gator twirling costume and this one couldn't be more perfect for her.  I ordered it from Kenerly Kreations, who make the most beautiful custom baton and figure skating costumes. You can't see it in the picture, but she has a coordinating hair accessory in her hair.  The majorette boots were also part of her Christmas gift, and I think I love those even more than I love the costume.  The entire ensemble is just so A, if you know what I mean.  She wore this for marching yesterday, though in the future it will also be for her presentation routine, which is a short solo.  In the meantime, our little Gator girl strutted her stuff in style during her marching events.  And everyone loved the boots.

Yesterday was my 40th birthday, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending it with my little girl, indulging our girly sides.  She's becoming quite the little twirler, so I expect we'll be participating in baton for many years to come.

Pageant Traditions

Today our school had our annual Christmas Pageant, which is one of my favorite days of the entire year.  I tend to be a very sentimental person, and the pageant brings it out big time.  This simple retelling of the story of Christ's birth, in which every child in our school participates, is as much a part of our Christmas traditions as pajamas on Christmas Eve and leaving cookies out for Santa.  I can still vividly remember the first time I saw it, when J was in pre-k.  I was amazed at how much this humble little performance touched my heart.  Twelve years and twenty four performances later(two shows each year), it still moves me to tears.  I have loved watching my babies grow up participating in it.  Each year is a little bittersweet, signifying the passing of time and the speed at which they're growing up.  The first grade angels are my favorite part and tonight I watched my last angel make that walk down the church aisle, sassy smile in place.  I've been the head homeroom mom since J was in 5th grade and N was in kindergarten, which means I'm responsible for overseeing a lot during pageant week.   I, along with my dedicated group of homeroom moms, assist with costumes  rehearsals, and prop repair.  The day of the pageant, we set up for the reception that follows the evening performance, assist with dressing kids in costumes, and generally do anything that needs doing to ensure the pageant goes off without a hitch.  Pageant week is both exhausting and exhilarating, and I love nearly every minute of it.  During the reception, I enjoy standing back and watching families come together, kids congratulating each other on another great performance, alumni having mini reunions and reminiscing about their own pageant years.  At the end of the evening, as I'm locking up the parrish center, observing the school and church in the dark and quiet, I'm struck how much I love our school family, and how lucky my children have been to grow up surrounded by the love and faith our little school has in such abundance. 

Obstacles to Overcome

I rarely write more than one post in a day, but this one has been brewing in my mind for several days since I've been unsure  whether or not I wanted to write and post it.  Since this blog is as much a journal of sorts for me as it is a place for family and friends to keep up with us, I decided to go ahead and write the post.  Here goes.  I warn you, this may get long.

A few weeks ago I posted about J's rapidly approaching future and some of the decisions he'll have to make regarding college and baseball in the next few years.  Since then, a situation has come to light that could threaten the dream J has held dear for so long.  J is certainly a good ball player.  As I stated in that previous post he has a mixture of some God given talent, a love for the game, and a work ethic that is second to none. He's not that one in a million player, but he's determined to make the most of what he has and achieve his dreams.  So what's the problem?  Coach C had hoped that by this point, he would be seeing certain improvements in J's game.  Subtle things like how he fields the ball, how smartly he plays the game, his approach at the plate while hitting, etc.  Unfortunately he wasn't seeing those improvements.  In fact, he realized that J was missing some fundamental mechanics in his game altogether.  How could this happen?  How did none of us notice this before?  That's easy.    Last summer J did well playing for TP and Coach C fully expected that his school team combined with his training program would help him make the necessary improvements needed to take his game to the next level.  Keep in mind that Coach C was away at school and had not actually seen J play in many months.  Fast forward to the current TP season and the alarm bells started going off.  J seemed to be at a plateau with his game, lacking the finesse that would carry him further.  During last weekend's tournament, J had a pretty rough game, making three very costly mental errors that forced Coach C to pull him from first base for the remainder of the tournament.  That alone was enough to shake J up, but the worst was yet to come.  Coach C told him if he didn't manage to pull it together, he wouldn't be able to play first base at all this summer.  Not only that, if he continues to plateau, his dream of college baseball could end before it begins. Needless to say, J was devastated, I was heartbroken at the thought that my firstborns dream could be crumbling, and it was no picnic for Coach C either.  Remember that he and J have shared a special bond from the beginning and I know it wasn't easy for him to have to be so tough on J.   Many serious discussions and gallons of tears(mine) ensued.  So again, where did J miss learning these mechanics?  Coach C says he should have been being taught these things at the high school level.  It isn't something he would have learned at the Little League level.  That brings me to something that until now I've avoided talking about on the blog except in the most general of terms.  J's school baseball program.  To be blunt, it's terrible, probably one of the worst if not the worst in our county.  It's really nothing more than daddy ball, a hot bed of brown nosing and politics.  The boys really are not taught anything at all.  It's simply an extension of Little League.  Coach C flat out said J's school program has failed him.  However, all of the blame is not at the feet of the school program.  J shares some blame in this, too.  We knew that the school program was nothing great and warned J he needed to be very careful not play down to the level of the program.  It may have been sub conscious but I believe he did exactly that.  His JV coach usually told him he was doing a good job, he was hitting decently, and managing to play a couple of positions that were not his usual.  It was a very short season, only eight games for JV, so J had a lot of time between the end of the school season and the start of the TP season.  I won't spend a lot of time harping on the poor quality of the school program.  I've done that, bending Coach C's ear numerous times throughout the season, as well as hubby's.  Bottom line is there is really nothing we can do about the school program.  But we can do something about J's problem.

One of the things I respect the most about Coach C is the fact that he always plays it straight with J.  If J's having a problem or not getting something right, he says so.  He doesn't pump sunshine and tell J that  he's the greatest thing baseball has seen since Babe Ruth.  He's honest with him, both as a coach and a friend.   This is no different.  Once Coach C had talked to J and to hubby and I about the issues, he set out to do everything he can to help J get over this hurdle and continuing on down the road to his dream.  So what's the plan?  It's simple.  Good old fashioned hard work, along with a crash course in the mechanics that J's missing.  Coach C has enlisted the help of the entire TP coaching staff,which includes himself, Coach K,the assistant coach, Coach P the infield coach, and Coach C Senior, the speed and agility coach and Coach C's dad.  Also on board is Coach C's roommate T, who plays on the club team at UF and is the son of Coach P.  Got all that straight?  They're all doing everything they can to give J extra time in practice, working with him on the things he is missing, and encouraging him.  Last Tuesday night, Coach C, Coach P, and T spent two hours working exclusively with J on his fielding mechanics.  Watching the session, I felt a huge weight lift from my shoulders.  In the back of my mind I think I had feared that the mechanics J was missing would be so huge that he'd never catch up to where he needs to be.  But that's not the case.  By the end of that session, he'd already made improvements.  Coach C is pleased with him and keeps assuring me he's going to be just fine.  J will be working daily on the things that the coaches are going over with him because repetitive practice is what's needed here.  This weekend, he showed improvement.  The differences are subtle, but are evident even to my untrained eye.  He fielded the ball with a little more finesse,  he's a bit more graceful with his footwork, and most importantly his confidence is up and he's determined to be where he needs to be very soon.  He's been struggling some with hitting, too, but did quite well there this weekend as well.  Overall, we're all pleased with how he did and as always are extremely proud of him.  If sheer heart and hard work could achieve his dreams, J would have this thing sewn up.

I do want to say that I am so thankful that J has a coach, role model, mentor, and friend like Coach C.  It's no secret that Coach C is a dear friend to us all, which made this situation both easier and more difficult.  Easier because  it's so evident how much he cares about J and wants him to succeed.  Another coach might have blown him off or given up on him but not Coach C.  He's in this with J to the very end, wherever that may be.    In one of my more tearful moments, I suggested that perhaps if J's difficulties were going to make him a liability to the team it would be better if I pulled him.  Coach C did not take kindly to that idea and promptly let me know exactly how he felt about it. It made me cry when he said that J will always have a place on his team and that he most definitely has a lot to contribute to the team. Then he forbid me to ever try and pull J from the team which made me laugh and lightened the moment. On the flip side, that very loyalty and affection for J makes the situation harder.  I never want Coach C to be put in the position of having to defend himself to other players or parents for the decisions he makes regarding J.  I never want him to feel like his friendship with all of us would be in jeopardy if things don't turn out exactly the way J dreams they will.  I told him he means too much to all of us for that to ever happen.  The fact that he would move mountains for my kid simply makes me love him more, for I do believe he will do everything in his power to help J achieve his dreams.  He also said something to me while I was weepy and sad, not knowing what to do to help J turn things around  that really helped put things in perspective for me.  "Mrs. M, J is so much more than just baseball.  He's going to go far in life no matter what he does because you and Mr. M have raised him right."  And he's absolutely right.  We have done our very best to raise a son who is kind hearted, compassionate, full of life, and not afraid to dream dreams that are brighter than the stars.  J may achieve his greatest dream or he may not.  But no matter what happens, he's going to know that he gave it his all.  And that he had more love and support than most people could ever imagine.  Which is why I decided to go ahead and write this post.  Our family and friends have been so supportive of J as he takes this journey, it only seemed right to share the hard times as well as the good.                           

A Surprise For A

Regular readers of this blog know that A is crazy about Coach C.  She's been impatiently waiting for him to be finished with school for the year and get back home.  He got home a few weeks ago, but A has not gotten the chance to see him since I don't usually take her along to TP practice.  For a while now, she's been saying that she wanted Coach C to pick her up from school one day.  Well, today he did. Sort of.  Several weeks ago I asked Coach C if he would be willing to come and do a little baseball clinic for my daisy troop so they could earn a baseball fun patch.  He agreed and we decided that we would keep the clinic a secret from A.  All she knew about today was that Coach C was coming for dinner,which is not an unusual occurrence.  I always pick the girls up from the dismissal line on meeting days and today when I arrived, Coach C was with me.  When A looked up and saw him, she was actually speechless for a minute, her little mouth dropping open and her eyes blinking in disbelief.   She recovered quickly and happily gave Coach C a hug. Once in the classroom we use for meetings she was quick to announce to all the other girls that Coach C would be coming over to our house for dinner after the meeting.  I guess she wanted to make sure none of the other girls tried to take him home!

The baseball clinic was a success.  Coach C taught the girls about pitching and hitting, then played a game of wiffle ball with them.  Here's a group picture I took at the end of the clinic.

      

Still Crushing

Several months ago, I wrote a post about A having her first crush on Coach C, Her First Big Crush.  In the months since then, A has continued to crush on Coach C, providing us with a lot of laughs along the way.  In her usual sassy style, A has decided Coach C is the one for her.  She writes him letters at school, has me deliver messages via text and Facebook, has a framed snapshot of the two of them in her room, and enjoys every opportunity she gets to see him.  We're never quite sure what she might say or do.  The last time Coach C was  at the house, she went into her room and came out dressed in a fancy dress and shoes, wearing jewelry, and carrying a purse.  She then went outside, knocked on the door, and when hubby answered, announced she was there to pick Coach C  up for a date.  The two of them ate apple dumplings at the kitchen table along with N, hubby, and I.  It's a wonder none of us choked trying not to laugh.  She accompanied hubby and I to UF when J attended camp in December, and was thrilled to spend nearly the entire day with Coach C after not seeing him for several  months.  She often claims the two of them will be getting married, and has planned the wedding down to the last detail.  In case you're wondering, the wedding cake will be yellow with vanilla frosting, the TP boys will serve as groomsmen, Coach K will be best man, and two of my friends will be bridesmaids.  The color scheme will be blue and orange since Coach C is a Gator fan. I manage to listen to all of these plans with a straight face, but once out of her sight, I admit to laughing til I cry.  She's just so innocent and cute and I get a kick out of watching her in the throes of her first crush.

You might be wondering how Coach C feels at finding himself the object of A's affections.  At first he was shocked, especially after hubby revealed A's crush by asking him if his intentions were honorable.  That's a story for another post! Once the shock wore off, Coach C has been a terrific sport, humoring A by playing along and always being conscientious of her tender little heart.  He's a wonderful friend to her, and I'm glad her first crush is on someone as terrific as Coach C.  He takes all of hubby's razzing about the situation with good humor, and treats A like a little queen.  The day before her birthday, she announced to me that she couldn't wait to talk to Coach C the next day.  She was sure he'd be calling since it  was her birthday.  After a quick text from me giving him a heads up, he did exactly that, making my baby girl's birthday extra special.  J has gotten past his initial embarrassment over A's crush and laughs along with the  rest of us.  He also helps keep her crush a closely guarded secret from the team.  If it were to become common knowledge, Coach C would never have any peace.  The boys  would razz him unmercifully, so we keep it on the down low with the team.

A is currently disappointed because Coach C is unable to come over for  dinner while he's home on Spring Break.  Between his schedule and ours, it just didn't work out and she spent a short time being pouty and sad.  But in true A style, she perked up quickly and started making plans for the next time Coach C is home. She can also accompany me to the parent meeting for TP this weekend and give Coach C the hug hubby refused to deliver at work. I've included a few photos of A and Coach C below.

    

Dream Birthday Celebration

J's birthday was at the beginning of the month.  Originally he wanted to have a big blowout party to celebrate turning 16.  Hubby and I were okay with that plan, but then we came up with an alternative that appealed to J far more than a big party.  A trip to UF to see a college baseball game.  We let him invite a few friends; he chose his girlfriend A, his best friend R, and of course, Coach C.  N and A stayed home with my mom while my dad joined us.  We made the drive to UF and met Coach C for lunch prior to the game.  J has been to several pro games to see his beloved Yankees play, but it was the first time he'd attended a college game.  Actually, it was the first time any of us, with the exception of Coach C, had been to a college game.  The day was beautiful weather wise, the game was excellent, and everyone had a good time.  Following that game, we attended a game at the high school where Coach C is a coach.  Our friends K and K were able to join us with their three kids, and again, we all had a good time.  Oh, both the Gators and Coach C's team won their games!

The best part of the day for me was watching J enjoy himself so much.  And seeing the dreams so clearly reflected in his eyes.  Sitting in the stadium I know J was picturing himself down on the field, living his dream.  He's worked hard for the past 27 weeks on his training program and hopefully yesterday inspired him to continue his efforts at achieving his goals.  Coach C did bust him for slacking some the past few weeks on his eating program, which made me laugh, and J vow to make a renewed commitment to not only his eating plan, but his entire program.  If he continues to work hard and stay focused, in a few short years we could all be attending another college baseball game.  Only this time, J will be down on the field, playing his heart out while all the people who love and support him cheer him on from the stands.

Music in the Middle

This week I had the opportunity to accompany N's class on a field trip to the symphony.  It was a special program that the symphony puts on for fifth graders every year.  N loves music, so he was particularly excited to hear the symphony perform.  During the performance I sat behind and a little to the right of N.  I was able to observe him during the performance and what I saw touched my heart.  He was completely absorbed in the music, never taking his eyes from the conductor and musicians.  N's love of music has been growing steadily these past several months.  He loves performing in both his school choir and the community children's chorus.  He received a keyboard for Christmas and has been asking to take piano lessons.  After hearing the symphony he has become interested in learning more about the various instruments.  It makes me happy to see N finding an interest that brings him such pleasure.  As the middle child he often times feels a little lost, struggling to find his niche, the way J has with baseball.  Music is giving N not only the enjoyment of singing, but the confidence and courage to embrace life to the fullest as he discovers who he is and what dreams he wants to pursue.  It won't surprise me if music ends being one of those dreams.

The First Sixteen years

February 1, 1996, the day that forever altered the course of my life.  It's the day I became a mom for the very first time and embarked on this journey that I've been on for the past sixteen years.  And it's the day that I met the first person I'd love unconditionally for his entire lifetime.

J was truly the easiest, happiest baby any mother could have hoped for.  He was always sunny, smiling, and good natured.  His heart of pure gold was evident to everyone who met him and we all took pleasure in spoiling him.  Even now as a teenager, he's still my easiest kid.

For the past sixteen years, J has filled my heart with so many wonderful memories.  And tonight, on the eve of his 16th birthday, those memories are running like a silent film through my mind's eye.  J as a baby barely able to sit up, holding the tiny plastic baseball bat my dad bought him. His first day of school. Becoming a big brother.  His first Little League game.  The first time he said, "mommy I'm going to be a baseball player."  School pageants, dances, and field trips.  His 8th grade graduation.  His first day of high school.  Swim meets.   Countless baseball games. Trying out for TP.  The list of memories goes on and on, and I hold each one near and dear to my heart.

The older he gets, the more bittersweet the passing of time becomes for me.  I'm so thankful to have a healthy, happy son who is living life to the fullest, pursuing his dreams, and rapidly approaching adulthood.  But I'm also reminded with every passing day that we're getting closer to the time when my baby will spread his wings and leave the nest, changing my world forever once again.

Winter Classic Twirling Competition

I've written a lot of posts about baseball tournaments on this blog.  I do enjoy watching J play and thoroughly enjoy all the time we spend at games.  However, I've always been a girly girl and this weekend I got to enjoy something that definitely falls into the category of girly.  A began taking baton last summer and yesterday her team competed in their first twirling competition of the season.  What a fun and enjoyable day we had!

Having never participated in anything like this, I was unsure what to expect.  My mom and I headed out with A at 6:00a.m in order to make the 7:45a.m.  reporting time.  The competition began at 8:30.  When we arrived there was a lot of activity as girls ranging in age from 5 on up to probably 20, hustled to get ready.  My mom and I immediately set about getting A ready for her first event.  She was entered in a group pom pom routine, military marching, and the title event of Strut Queen.  (More on that later)  Once A had her hair done in the style specified for the routine by her coach, and we had applied her make up, she went off with her group to warm up.  Group routines were first, and A's group did excellent with their pom pom routine.  Other girls from A's team competed in group twirling routines and they all did great, too.  Following group events, it was time for the modeling categories.  Entrants in these categories could choose to model a dress or costume.  A was modeling a costume as part of the Strut queen event.  She modeled a little pink and black flapper style costume with her usual sassy flair.  She then changed into a plain black leotard to do compulsories, a series of twirls she performed in front of a single judge and was graded on.  Next she changed into another pink and black costume and got ready for her marching.  She did military marching both individually and as part of her Strut Queen.  She also did basic marching as part of Strut Queen.  After that, A was finished with her events and enjoyed watching the other girls compete in presentation, strut, and solo routines.

Awards for groups were given out at the conclusion of the group routines.  A's group got first place for pom pom.  Throughout the day, results for the modeling and marching categories were posted and athletes could pick up their trophies and ribbons from the results table.  A was thrilled when she got a second place trophy for military marching.  Late in the afternoon, awards were announced for the title events.  A's little face lit up when her name was announced as the winner for Strut Queen in the 0-6 year old age division.  She proudly stood on the winner's block to receive her sash and trophy.  I will report that she was the only contestant in her age category for Strut Queen.  She doesn't know that.  She thinks she rocked it, (which she did!) and is now eager to compete again in the next competition.  As for the Strut Queen title, I admit to entering her in that event simply because the name not only made me laugh, it suits A's personality down to the ground.

A enjoyed yesterday very much and so did I.  She definitely is looking forward to continuing baton and competing in more competitions.

My Birthday Girl

After N was born, hubby and I debated for a few years on whether or not to add a third child to our family.  Hubby was content with two, but I never felt like our family was quite complete.  Eventually hubby came around to my way of thinking and we found out A was on the way in May of 2005.  I can honestly tell you I would have been thrilled to have another boy but I was over the moon excited when we found out at 20 weeks that A was a girl.  My mom and I lasted less than 48 hours after the ultrasound before we were out buying all the pink and purple we could get our hands on.  And on January 18, 2006, A made her debut into the world, forever changing our family.

Even before birth A was full of sass.  She was the toughest of my three pregnancies and deliveries, giving me everything from raging heartburn to gestational diabetes.  She was feisty, stubborn, and independent right from the start, often earning herself the nickname the cranky princess.  As a toddler she was lightening quick and had a fondness for pouring everything from lotion to syrup onto the floor the second my back was turned.  More than once I found myself both exasperated and amused at her antics.  She's never been shy about letting us know what she wants, when she wants it.  And she protests, loudly, when she doesn't get her way.  A's sass and vinegar as I like to call it, is a large part of who she is. But there's also a softer, sweeter side to her personality.  She's a little girl who loves her stuffed bunny, reading bedtime stories, and tagging along after her big brothers.  She is equal parts tomboy and girly girl and part of her charm is never knowing which facet of her personality will be evident  at any given moment.  She's wickedly funny; we never know what she's going to say or do next.    Whatever it is, it usually makes us laugh, even when we probably shouldn't.

For six years, A has been turning our world on end and we wouldn't have it any other way.  She completed our family in a way that only she could.  When she was a few weeks old, I was changing her diaper  when hubby came into her room.  "You were right," he said.  I asked about what.  "About our family not being complete.  I can't imagine our lives without her."

Happy Sixth Birthday my sweet, sassy girl!