Baseball Season Over...Sort Of

Carson had his last game of the season a few days ago. This was a GREAT game....certainly the best of the year. His team was the 2nd seed in the tournament and they were paired up against the #1 seed for all the marbles. I think that Tara and I were more nervous about the game then Carson was.

At any rate, our team came out sluggish as they usually did all year and the other team hung 3 runs on our guys quick. The rest of the game was back and forth. In the top of the 6th inning (the last inning for this age group) our guys came back from slightly behind to take a 9-7 lead.

When the other team was up to bat in the bottom of the inning, our guys recorded two quick outs and began to 'celebrate'...they were hugging and high-fiving, and pouring champagne over each other's heads (not really...but they were excited). Then, the other team loaded the bases and brought their best hitter to the plate.

All of the parents, including Tara and I, were nervous. Their best player lined one to the 2nd baseman who snagged the ball for the last out....and our guys really began to celebrate! It was the best game all year, by far.

Here are a couple 'action shots' taken of Carson during his last game as a Junior Saltdog:

This season is in the books HOWEVER, Carson tried out for a select baseball team and made it. Now, he plays for the Dominators, a very competitive select baseball team made up of 8 year olds....and they've already started practice gearing up for fall ball and a winter tournament.

Great game and season Carson (undefeated)....and good luck with the new team.

Interesting Questions for a Grandpa

This past week, Grandpa Steve from Columbus made the trip to Lincoln to watch Carson's baseball game. On the car ride home, after a significant route of the other team by Carson and his team of 8 and 9 year old professionals, Hannah overheard Tara and Steve mention something about Troy, her uncle.

'So, you know Troy?' Hannah asks Steve.

This made everyone laugh and reminded us of the time that Carson was sitting at the dinner table with Grandpa Steve in Columbus. Out of the blue, Carson asked Steve, 'So, do you have kids?'

Looks like Carson and Hannah are even when it comes to trick questions for Grandpa Steve.

'Cept They're Old

We have another Hannah-ism that reared its head awhile ago...

She was talking about The Landing again, a retirement community where their school travels from time to time. Hannah was telling Tara about her day.

She said that 'they' do the same things that she does. About that same time, she saw one of her drawings on the floor.

'They color too, just like us....'cept their old,' Hannah said.

Not very politically correct but she is a sharp one.

GOOOAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!

Carson had his last soccer game this afternoon. They played about 8 or 10 games this season and the other teams got progressively more talented. So today's game ended up being a good one. Despite the weather being somewhat hot and windy, the boys played hard and ended up with a win. Score: 4 to 3.

Before the game, we talked to Carson and told him that it was his last game. He needed to give it his all and hustle when he's on the field. Carson did his usual 'I know, I know' comment....so we weren't quite sure how much he heard but when the ball was put in play, Carson brought his 'A' game. He played great defense, passed the ball well, hustled back to thwart a few scoring opportunities by the other team, and scored a few goals. 4 goals to be exact....and the last one was the best one of all:

The score was tied 3-3. About 5 minutes left in the game. The intensity began to pick up with both teams trying to break the tie. Carson stole the ball from mid field and dribbled around a few defenders toward the right side.....then hammered a shot from the right edge of the box past the goalie.

Great season Carson! He scored at least 2 goals in every game, played aggressively, is continuing to improve his soccer skills every game, and had lots of fun. I can't wait until fall soccer starts up to see the show.

Going to the Dogs

This past weekend was host to neighborhood garage sales in our area. Once our kids found out about it, they were asking to do a lemonade stand...and have been asking about it for about two weeks! So, Tara and her friend purchased some lemonade, tea, pop, and cookies for the stand, made up signage for the kids, and helped them set up. Pictured above is Hannah, Carson, and their friend Lillie peddling their inventory.

The cool thing about this pop stand...all the proceeds will NOT be going towards video games, soccer balls, baby dolls, or candy. It's going to benefit the kids' favorite charity...the Capital Humane Society. The kids were excited for the stand because they were excited to earn money to give to the dogs.

It's really important for the kids to learn generosity and they have really taken to the Capital Humane Society. So, in about 4 hours work (which has to be close to the Guinness World Record for 3 kids sitting in one place selling drinks) they were able to earn a whopping $23 which will be taken to the center sometime this week. Great job, Hannah, Carson, and Lillie!!!

That's My Boy

I snapped a photo of Carson one morning this week. It's a typical morning for him....get up and get dressed, brush his hair and teeth, and catch a little ESPN Sportscenter (in the toy room) while waiting for me to make him breakfast.

That's the kind of thing that makes a Dad smile!

Mother's Day Weekend

Hannah, Tara, and her mom decided to plan a girls getaway in Kansas City this past weekend. They booked a hotel room, planned to shop until they dropped, and drove down on Saturday. I talked with them often and it sounded like they were having a great time. In fact, I couldn't get Hannah off the phone when she called Saturday evening to tell me about the day's events.

On Sunday, they decided to do a bit more shopping and on the way out of town, they made a quick stop at Cabela's. Now, anyone who knows Tara would realize that Cabela's isn't her first choice in stores...and it isn't JoAnn's either. And Hannah doesn't know the difference...

So before going into the store, Tara prepped Hannah for what she might see. Of course there are several trophy animals stuffed and mounted in Kansas City Cabela's and this can be a tough one to explain to a four year old whose only experience with these types of animals is in a zoo...where they are alive. Tara explained that hunters donated the animals that they shot so other people could see them. They look real but they are not alive.

They started their tour looking at raccoon and wolves, bears and deer. Hannah was pretty inquisitive asking who shot all the deer....and they continued the tour until they came across this: And Hannah says matter of factly, 'And that's the person that got shotted.' Yep folks. Cabela's stuffs people as well...it's only fair.