Superbowl 2014...

Broncos Vs Seahawks.  Although it was a horrible game, we still got some great memories and new shirts out of it. We pot lucked with the Porters and the little kids played outside or watched Frozen.

Rusty got the big boys real jerseys and I made bronco t-shirts for the littles (and one for Rusty too) There's always next season. Go Broncos. 

Opening Day 2013...

It was a super exciting day in our household. Both Braden and Berkley are finally playing the same sport.  It's gonna be a challenge with two kids on two different teams, with two games and practices a week per kid.  Bring on baseball!!!

Braden- Minor League the OWLZ

 Batting and stealing are my favorite things to watch.

 Braden is playing Third base a lot this season.  He's great.

and later that day we did it all again for Berkley!

Berkley- Coach Pitch Mariners

His very first at bat ever he hit a triple.  He was so excited.  If it weren't for the mean third base coach (his Daddy) it would have been a homer. Rusty is helping coach, its been so fun. 

Playing third like big bro!

 These pictures aren't actually from the opening day, but they were better than those.  These crack me up every time I look at them.  Every single time.

Play Ball!

Misc November...

As I am frantically trying to catch up the blog I came across a series of pictures and realized I need to make sure I put them in. So here is a random collection of our November.

Berkley finished his first season playing with Arsenal, he and Max Robison were both on team Swansea. He learned a lot this season, can't wait to see how his talent for soccer develops.

Of course, getting a medal at the end of the season made all the hard work payoff.

We also tried to warm Boston up to baths by giving him an impromptu sink bath.  It worked, he loved it and he finally warmed up to the idea of taking baths with his brothers!

Loving the head massage from his Dad!

Each month Berkley gets a project from school, this month it was to disguise a turkey. I looked on trusty Pinterest and saw a grainy idea for a peacock. This is what Berk and I came up with.  We liked it so much we did Braden's the same way a week later.

Rusty ran in a Half Marathon for Shun the Sun. He did a great job, and it is just the beginning of race season for him.

 Ami and I were faithful Baseball Mom's this season, From scorching heat to freezing cold, fall in AZ can be curious!  The late games were a challenge since they started at 7:45 so Rusty and I had to alternate who went to which game, since the other kids were in bed.

Braden finished his Fall Ball season with some nail biting games. I wasn't sure my heart could take many more games like the last 3 of the season! They made it into playoffs and were one game from winning, but lost in a tight game.  

Stratton and Braden have been playing baseball together since age 7, they have come a LONG way.

Gilbert American Little League

Fall Ball 2012

White Sox

The coach we had was great. Very positive. At the end of the season he gave each player a "game ball" and told a little about how they had improved. Braden has become an avid base runner, he can steal a base before I can even blink! He is much more comfortable in the outfield, but held his own at 3rd for a lot of the season.

Braden's Fall Ball...

We decided to give Fall Baseball a try this year.  We signed up with a different league than we played with in the past.  So far GALL (Gilbert American LL) has been a great experience.  Braden and his buddy Stratton are on the White Socks.  Fall ball is a nice change from the pressures of Spring ball.  It's a lot more laid back and focuses on the fundamentals.  The only down side is that most of his 2 hour long games are played at 7:45pm.  It makes for really long days.  He has been playing outfield and 3rd base and is an amazing base runner. He likes to steal home!

We Have a Bear in Our House...

This has been a busy season for Braden.  4th grade requires tons of homework. Lots of reading and then more homework.  He also started piano lessons in January, not sure if I ever blogged that, he is taking from a great lady in our ward named Hollie Lunt.  He has already advanced to his second set of books.  This last Thursday was a particularly busy one for him.  He got home from school at 3, had piano 3:30 until 4:15, then he had to eat and get ready for a baseball game at 5.  The game started at 5:30, he played for an hour and then we raced over to the church so he could change and make it to pack meeting at 6:30!

 His brothers love the ballfields.  A little too much! Brenner didn't get the memo that we had somewhere to be later...

He had to wrestle a bear (aka his Dad) it was hilarious. They basically took the tent down, it got a little (LOT) rowdy. Everyone was laughing.  It was for sure a moment at pack meeting to remember. 

 He received his Bear, and a gold arrow and two silver arrows.  Plus a belt loop or two.

He is moving on to Webelow's where he will be one of two for a couple months, which is crazy since there are about 18 wolves.  So proud of our boy.

Spring Baseball...

Well, we survived our first season in kid pitch baseball.  The Minors were a learning experience to be sure.  We had a group of great kids, coaches and parents.  Braden got so much better through out the season.  He generally played outfield but he also played Third base a number of times, as well as second.

 Here was the cheering section.  Our boys were such troopers and went to almost every single game.  Not that they payed attention to most of the game, but they were happy to be there and cheer for Braden!

We ended the season about middle of the pack.  We lost our first play off game and were out of the tournament. But it was the BEST those darn boys had ever played! Here are some pictures from a bunch of games. Go RiverDogs!

Opening Day!!!

Braden is playing Little League again this season.  He is old enough that he is playing in the Minors this year. That meant he had to tryout to see what team he would be on.  That made me so nervous! He has played on the same team as his buddy Stratton each season, and every sport! We were happy to discover that the coach he had just finished playing under for basketball was one of the minor coaches!

So the day of the last b-ball game Coach Dave told Braden and Stratton that they were going to be on his team again! It was such a relief! Minors has been intense! Two to three practices a week for nearly 2 1/2 hours. That on top of piano and scouts has made for a very busy Braden, and Mom. So happy that we have the Betheas to share car pool with.

 Number 4 again this season, that's what happens when the numbers are based on the tshirt size, hee her.

 With the patch on the LEFT (after much googling) his uniform was all official!

He is playing on the RiverDogs. 

Opening day was on the hottest day of the year so far, at his 3:30 game it was over 90 degrees! We are in for a long season if this keeps up.