Game Ball

Elisha earned a game ball on Saturday for getting an in field home run. He didn't hit it very hard, but the other team kept overthrowing the bases and he ran as fast as he could, resulting in a home run!

I didn't get to see Bethany's game on Saturday because we had snack shack duty, but I took this great picture of her while she was playing during Elisha's game.

Batter Up!

Here's that video of Bethany batting that I said I would post when I posted her playing catcher. I think she looks so cute!

Another Game Day

Another weekend, another game day. I just wish that somehow my kids' games were not scheduled at the exact same time every Saturday. I really get tired of running between the two fields. But I guess that's just how it goes, huh?

Bethany got her long awaited Player of the Game award today. It's been kind of hard to watch her improve so much, so quickly, and get overlooked week after week, and I think it's been hard on her too. I see the looks she gives her coach, but she has never said anything and always is quick to give high fives and congratulate the other little girl. Today she just played like she always does, which is with her whole heart, and her coach said how proud he was that she always gives 100% with a big smile on her face. You know she is truly enjoying herself.

Elisha gets a pep talk from Coach Adam before batting. Without a doubt this has been Elisha's best year yet and we believe a lot of it is his coach. I scrambled to take this picture when I saw his coach talking with Elisha because it really captures the kind of coach he is.

This is Elisha on Wednesday night. He got a triple on his first time at bat. For those of you who don't know what that is, it means he hit the ball and ran all the way to third base, which is a very big deal, especially for a kid who has been struggling to hit all season long.

Easter

I hope everyone's Easter was great! We are truly thankful for all God has given us this Resurrection Sunday.

I can't believe how well this picture turned out. This is only the second shot (in the first one Elisha had his eyes closed). Normally I'm getting after someone for moving around or giving me some goofy smile or they are doing something off the wall. Last year Elisha kept sneezing every time I took the picture (we do have some pretty funny pictures from that day though!).

Here's Bethany with her basket after the Easter Egg hunt at the park across the street from our church. Our church sponsers this Easter Egg Hunt for the community, donating over 10,000 stuffed plastic Easter eggs. What takes a long time to set up for is over with in seconds.

Here's Elisha with his basket.

A Day of Pride!

Both kids had a great day out on the fields. Bethany as usual was great at bat, but also got a chance to play first base and actually made an out.

Here's a picture of that out, I barely caught it because I was so excited for her.

Yes, Elisha finally got a hit today. But it wasn't just any hit, he actually hit off the kid pitcher and not his coach!

One of many "Heroes of the Game" in today's very close, very intense game, was Elisha!

Exploratorium

Because the kids and I both had today off we went to the Exploratorium in San Francisco. We actually spent the whole day there as there was sooo much to do and the kids have declared it the funnest, bestest day ever. Of course at this age, tomorrow could easily top it, but I'll take it.

This is a static electricity experiment. Elisha didn't really like getting a shock from it, small as it may be, but Bethany kept doing it over and over again.

The kids learned that if they pedaled as fast as they could, they could turn on a light bulb or a radio.

Elisha enjoyed learning how to plug wires into a powersource to make a connection.

Boom whackers were a big hit with a lot of the kids there. Elisha and Bethany actually got to sit down and "learn" to make a rhythm with them.

The bubbles were by far the kids' favorite exhibit and we had to keep coming back to them.

It's too bad I cut Yohn out of this picture, but you can still see what he is trying to do. The bubble popped the second it touched her head.

Of course, Elisha had to try to do it too!

I think Bethany was getting tired of me taking so many pictures of her and the bubbles.

I love this picture! The air blower is actually for an experiment with a beach ball, but of course Bethany had to put her face in front of it.

I love this picture too! I had Elisha copy Bethany just to see his expression. Too bad I cut the top of his head off rushing to get the picture.

Facial expression masks, two kids and a mirror. Yes, we were at that exhibit for a little while.

Don't you just love Bethany's princess crown she made? How about the attitude that goes with it?

That's My Girl!

Or should I say our girl, cuz' if Yohn reads this he's going to tease me. Bethany had a game tonight and I managed to get a few video shots of her.

This is Bethany playing catcher. Unfortunately there was an error uploading the other two videos, so I'll have to post those later.

The Games are Underway!

And I missed out. Both my kids had games at 10:45 today and I had to be in the snack shack for Elisha's team from 11 - 2. So the following pictures were taken by Yohn who was running back and forth between two fields. I don't think he did too bad of a job if I do say so myself.

Elisha actually got to run the bases today, although he got an unusual hit. Apparently the ball bounced off the bottom of the bat, but it counted as a hit and he was excited about it, so whatever works!

Bethany as always was very excited about her achievements in softball. I love this picture Yohn took of her leading off the base. This is the first time I have seen her do this. She's usually bouncing around because she's so happy to be on base. (That's Bethany's coach on the left side)

I like this picture Yohn took of Elisha in a brief moment while the players were situating themselves in the field.

Bethany touches home plate!

And of course I had to include this picture Yohn took of him and Bethany together as they sat and watched the end of Elisha's game.

Common Sense

This was a forward I received a month or so ago and I really liked it cuz' it's so true so I decided to post it. It's an obituary supposedly posted in the London Times.

Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers - I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Build a Bear Field Trip

The kids had a field trip to Build a Bear today and I got a chance to go with them. Elisha picked a kola bear and Bethany got puppy. We didn't buy clothes for them because I forgot to bring extra money, but they still had fun stuffing and playing with their new "pets".

Elisha helps with the stuffing machine.

Elisha and Zack

Bethany didn't like the sound of the machine and kept covering her ears. Somehow I got this picture of her smiling instead of scrunching up her face.

Bethany and Chloe