It's Baseball Season!

Last Saturday we had Jack's first baseball game.  This year he's playing farm ball, which is little more like baseball as you probably know it--except that the coaches pitch.  He loves baseball, and he is pretty good at it too, so it's fun to watch him.  He achieves a feeling of success when he catches a ball, or hits a pitch, or gets an opponent out, and you can see it on his face.  When he finished his game last week he walked up and saw his audience and had the cutest grin, because he knew that he played well and that his family had watched him.

Will and Caroline were pretty cute watching the game together.

Ready!

I WILL get to third before the ball does!

Hustling Home.

One of my favorite sights: watching Trace
feel well enough to help out.

I took a few pictures, but mostly I watched the game.  There's more to watch this year as they attempt to field the ball and make a play.  You need to know which base to throw to, and what to do if a fly ball is caught.  The mental part of the game is a lot more complex this year, and I think Jack learns something new each practice and each game.  Where is the shortstop position?  How to always cover your base.  Which is the only base you can run through?  What is a foul ball?

Jack works so hard at school, and he does well, but I don't think he often has a feeling of success.  In baseball he has that feeling, and he knows that he can do it: so it's a joy to watch.  Go Red Sox!

Summer is coming . . .

Watermelon salad.  Sure, it's not yet the season,
but I  was evoking summer! 

I am truly a summertime girl.  I love all the seasons, and especially the cycle and the movement as we switch between them.  But the warmth of summer, with her promise of an abundance of fruits and vegetables is my favorite.



Today was the first day this year that has said summer is coming.  It actually felt warm outside (and there were eight inches of snow on the ground a mere week ago!).  We didn't resurrect the outdoor cushions yet, but we put the glass back in the patio table, and we ate dinner outside.

Around here we call these "big fat nasty burgers"
The rule is: once you pick it up, you can't put it down!

It was lovely to send the kids in to wash their hands, and to otherwise not stir from the back porch.  Both kiddos were filthy--they'd been playing outside for hours in the dirt, and the evening finished with baths for all.

Caroline's strategy was to eat her burger in pieces:
first the bread, then the meat.

In other news, we're looking forward to Jack's first baseball game on Saturday, and it appears the weather is going to cooperate.  He's on the Red Sox this year, a farm team, so the coach pitches to them.  Trace has been helping with the team a little, and Jack loves to play catch in the yard.

Can you fit that in your mouth Jack?

I hope wherever you are the the weather is sunny and there's a hint of summer in the air!