Play Ball

Baseball has started for Cody.  This year Cody is playing on the kid pitch team.  It's definitely been an adjustment from the previous years.  There is certainly something to be said for the learning curve that comes from the comfort of having the coach pitch all the time to having 9/10 years old's throwing balls at you with so little experience. 

Cody's expressed interest in pitching and 1st base, so that is where he's been spending his time.  Even with just two games under his belt, we can already see improvement.  His pitching is improving and he's feeling more comfortable covering 1st.  I think it's going to be a great summer!

 Pitching

Pitching

Pitching

Give it a ride, Cody!

Running the bases.  Awesome number, Williams!  :-)

On 3rd.

Rock and Fire, Code!

Playing 1st Base

What's Happening?

It's a reoccurring theme around here...  Busy, busy, busy!  That's the name of the game for now and I don't look for it to change anytime soon.  And to be very honest, I don't know if I'd know how to handle "boring". 

So, here's the run down on our busy and fun-filled lives:

Chad is doing great.  Loving his job.  Changed to a new position.  Graduating in a few weeks with his Associates degree.  Will continue on to UCM this fall to get his Bachelors in Industrial Technology. 

I am doing well also.  Love my job. :-)  No new position for me.  I have one more semester left before I graduate with my Associates in Business Management.  I've decided to continue on after I graduate to get my Bachelors in Business. 

Cody is playing baseball this summer.  Looks like he'll be rotating between the pitchers mound and 1st base.  Archery is done for this school year.  He had a blast and plans to continue with the Archery team in the fall when he starts 5th grade (WHAT?!).

Samantha Grace just finished her Spring Soccer season.  She continues to love drawing.  We've bought her three drawing portfolios and she has filled two of them already.  She definitely has a gift for drawing.  Can't believe she'll be 9 in a few weeks and finishing up with her 3rd grade year!!

Chloe Faith also just finished up with her Spring Soccer season.  She absolutely loved soccer this season!  She scored a few goals and was able to kick around the ball quite a bit.  Kindergarten Round-Up was a couple weeks ago, so she is all ready to start school in the fall.  It's definitely going to be a change for all us, but very exciting too!

Bubbles is doing great.  He doesn't move as fast as he did a few years ago, but then again he will be 13 years old this August!  He's getting a bit more sassy in his old age, but we love him more and more everyday!  Such a sweet "furry" soul. 

Well, that about does it for the updates.  I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!!

Spring Soccer for Samantha

It seems as though Samantha has tried many different sports.  Dance, Gymnastics, and Baseball to name a few.  However, none of them hold a candle to the love she has for Soccer!  She loves it and she is getting better with each passing season.  This season especially seems to be a turning point for her and her understanding of the sport.  She's scored numerous goals, played many positions and has become more aggressive.  It's really exciting to watch her grow and find her place within the team and on the field.  Way to go, Samantha!!

Chloe's First Soccer Goal

This is Chloe's 2nd season of soccer.  Last season, she spent most of her games just getting a little running in.  Occasionally, she would run after the ball but that was far and few between.  Sometimes she would just leave the field to come ask me if I saw her running.  I would say, "Yep, honey.  I see you running, but you have to stay on the field."  It was a warm up season.

This season is much different for Chloe.  She is aware that the ball is important.  She is starting to understand that putting that ball in the net is the ultimate goal.  And, that is exactly what she did in her first game!  She was so excited!!  As soon as that ball hit the net, she turned around with the biggest smile on her face and jumped up and down.  It was adorable!  (I sort of missed the Kodak moment since I was so overwhelmed with happiness and was also a little busy cheering, but I have all the frames up to that moment and a few after.) 

Such a great job, Chloe!!  We are so proud of you!!

That may or may not be an elbow thrown by Chloe....

Yeah, Baby!!!

Chloe's 2012 Spring Soccer Team

Playing Basketball

Cody's basketball season is well underway.  Actually, we only have one game left before tournaments begin.  It's been a good season.  The team is made up of 3rd and 4th graders.  For many of the boys, this is their first year of playing basketball.  There are lots of new lessons to be learned for all of them.

It's been fun to watch the progress that each of them make each game.  Chad, as the coach, has enjoyed getting to work with the boys and help them learn the fundamentals of the game.  Cody has also loved having his dad coach this season, except for that one practice when Chad made them run lines....  :-)

Cody, 2012

Chad with all of the boys.

Shooting around before the game.

Cody at the free throw line.

Move those feet.

Bringing the ball down.

Cody playing point guard.

Other team shooting free throws.  Cody checking out the score board.

Huddle it up.

Fall 2011 Soccer Teams

These are the kid's soccer teams for this fall.

Cody's team

Samantha's team

Chloe's team

Cody's Soccer Game

This year, Cody was moved up into the Major league soccer teams.  The majors are for kids in the 4th - 6th grades.  It's a bit of a change from last year.  Last year, Cody was the big guy.  He played with 1st and 2nd graders.  Not so much this year.  The kids are bigger, faster and a little more intense.  And, he loves it!

His coach is awesome with the kids.  The kids are really working hard together.  I think Cody is learning a lot this year about different plays, positions and strategies.  It's fun to watch the progression of abilities.

Coach is talking with the kids before the game.

Cody with his teammates and Coach.

About to start the game.

No action shots.  I was busy cheering.

At the Ballpark

Many nights this summer we have spent at the ball park.

Cody and Samantha are close enough in age that they are able to be in the same league, but we opted to give them their own team/own time to just be themselves.

It's worked out great.  Just means a little more time running kids to the ball field for practices and games.  But, that's what summer is all about!!

Rules in Missouri are a bit different that Nebraska, so both kids are still required to be in coach pitch.  They've done great.  Cody's had lots of home runs and Samantha got her first home run this last week.  

Cody's also made a few double plays, which he was so excited about!

And, of course Miss Chloe comes along too.  Usually, she is the kids' biggest fan.  Other times, she just finds a nice shade spot and relaxes.

Spring Soccer

Spring soccer is in full swing.  Cody and Samantha are on the same team this year, which this "taxi" mom loves.  They have been doing great and playing really hard.  They've played three games so far and have about four left. Luckily, we've had some fairly decent weather for the games.  The kids are having a blast and it's been fun to watch their progress from last year.

Warm up before the game.

Miss Samantha

Code-man looks like a giant next to some of these kiddos.

Ready!

Huddle time.  Cody is #11.  Samantha is #12.

Our smiley Samantha.