Family Fun!: 2008

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Last Day to Be Six Years Old

Okay, so I am sooooo far behind on this journal (thanks Wendy for giving me that push I needed to get back). Hayden is absolutely thrilled that he will be 7 tomorrow. I am not so sure about all of that. I am trying to figure out where the last years went. Seems like not so long ago, Aunt Sara was here with me spending the night to go to the hospital to have this little fella of ours. We were eating brownies and anticipating what this new little person would be like. Then all of a sudden he is two years old and loving baseball. Then he is almost four and playing baseball. Next thing I know he is turning 7 and about to enter second grade. So yes I am a bit melancholy this evening. I know this is the plan and that he is growing up just like he should and for that I am so proud. I just wonder why it has to happen so fast?

Right now Hayden is playing with his favorite person in the whole world....Mattison. Aunt Sara let Mattison come and spend the night and those two are just enjoying the world being nothing but them. They are playing with the Wii and I am sure Hayden is driving Mattison a bit nuts but he is so good with Hayden.

When Hayden was first born, Mattison could not wait to come here and hold his baby cousin. Keep in mind he was just over 4 years old when Hayden came in the world. I think from the moment Hayden laid eyes on Mattison the hero worship began. It is such a cool thing to see them together.

This is from this past Spring at Wye Mountain in the daffodils.

From Amelia's 6th birthday party. By the way, Hayden is thrilled that tomorrow he will be older than cousin Amelia again for a few months. HA

At Amelia's soccer game in April

It is wonderful to hear them laughing and having such a grand time.

Now for some photos of the kiddo while he is still six. These are from the Old Mill a few weeks ago:

(Does this one just scream of mischief?)

It's been a great 6th year and I am so looking forward to all our adventures of the 7th!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Last Pitching Machine Game This Season

Tonight was Hayden's last baseball game of the season. He is bummed because he loves playing. (Harold and I are just glad it is finished. Sorry we probably should not admit that). The team lost tonight but they played hard. Hayden had a triple and a single. He scored a run and had an RBI. We all think maybe the triple could have been an in the park homerun but you know Hayden he has to slide at any given opportunity. :-)

He will miss playing ball with Ethan. I think he has made a friend for years to come though. They are so cute together and enjoy each other's company. Besides they need to be friends because Harold and I enjoy his parents company. What would I do without getting to hang out with Ms. Scarlett? (She is Ethan's little sister and she is just adorable). Her mom thinks she talks my ear off but I enjoy every minute of it.

Hayden's Aunt Sara, Cousin Mattison and Cousin Amelia came to see him play tonight. The boy was psyched about that. He was so proud and he tried so hard the whole game so that they could see him play and do well. He just adores all three of them. Thanks Sis! You made my little guy's night (actually season by being there)

On top of that Mr. Robert and Mrs. Susan came to see him play. You know what the best part of them being there was? Christopher came! Hayden thinks he is it. Thanks guys. It meant the world to all of us that you were there.

(waiting to bat)

(watching Ethan bat)

(Ethan batting)

(my buddy - Ms. Scarlett)

(hitting his triple)

(going home on Neal's single) - wonder what it would have been like had they thrown the ball to the catcher. Don't think we really want to know.

(Finishing the slide in home)

(Second at bat)

(hanging out with Ethan after the game)

Monday, June 23, 2008

Baseball Game June 23, 2008

The Rangers had their next to last baseball game this evening. All the boys played really hard and did well. They won 6 - 5. It was fun to watch all the boys do well and enjoy playing baseball. Hayden had a single and a triple. He sure would have liked to have legged out a homerun for Poppaw again but the child in the outfield made a great play and almost got the ball in the field in time to make a play out of Hayden going into third. Coach Carey was really yelling about Hayden getting down and sliding. :-)

(resting before the game - yes he actually sleeps from time to time)

(in the field)

(Ethan in the field)

(Aaron in the field)

(Ethan - on deck)

(Hayden after his triple)

Dallas in Memphis - June 20, 2008

We took Hayden to Memphis to see the Isotopes (read - Dallas) play the Redbirds tonight. The weather was great on the way to Memphis. Sky was beautiful when we got there too. (Do you see where this is going?) We got to the park when the gates opened and waited. Hayden was so excited that he was going to see Dallas again this year. He waited by the dugout.

He waited some more....

And some more....

Then they announced the starting lineups. You guessed it...Dallas was not playing.

We started watching the game and of course, the Isotopes were "us" for Hayden and we were all about cheering for them. Then this happened.....

Can you see the rain and the tarp?

We waited for it to let up. Hayden played in the rain and then he went to the Isotopes dugout. Dallas was good enough to come out in the drizzle and talk to Hayden for a bit. Hayden was, of course, thrilled.

As you can tell - Hayden was one happy fella when we got back to the hotel even though the game was rained out...

Baseball Practice Thursday June 19, 2008

Hayden had baseball practice this evening. You would think he would be tired of baseball after all that he has had this week, but oh no... He was ready to go by the time it was time to go.

They had a great practice. Coach Tony had them hitting off the tee and Coach Jack had them moving around the infield and outfield working on their fielding and throwing. It was a fantastic practice.

Travs' Win First Half Division Title June 17, 2008

We went to the Travs' game tonight. They were playing for the first half division championship. Hayden was so excited because Ethan and his family sat with us at the game. We were actually walking around the park looking to see if they were there when they sat down with Harold. It was so cool for Hayden to be able to have Ethan and Tate there. Ms. Scarlett, Ethan's little sister, was there too. She is just a doll. I got to visit with her during the game. She is absolutely precious and very insightful for a five year old. The Travs won the game in the 11th inning. It was amazing. Great baseball, great friends, family and fun times - what could be better on a summer evening?

Travs' Baseball Camp June 17 - 19, 2008

Shhh!!! Hayden skipped Summer Quest to go to the Travs' baseball camp. This might have been a secret had the photographer who put the photos on the DemGaz website not have taken several with Hayden front and center. Oh well.... You know our boy and his baseball. He loves his Travs almost as much as he loves his baseball. He was so proud because his new buddy Ethan was there. He loves hanging out with Ethan because Ethan is a "real" ballplayer too. He also met Tate, one of Ethan's friends and he really likes him too.

(Hayden during the catcher drills)

(Ethan during the catcher drills)

(has this kid ever seen a base he did not want to slide into?)

(bullpen session)

(Ethan in the bullpen session)

(talking to Ryan after the last day at the camp)

It was a great experience for Hayden!

Baseball Game Monday June 16, 2008

Hayden had Summer Quest this morning. He is still enjoying it very much. This afternoon I had him rest so that he would be able to go to the baseball game and do well. He did not really want to rest but he did so and rested well. (So much so that when I tried to get him up, he told me he was VERY tired).

They got beat tonight pretty soundly. It was okay though because it was a baseball game and any time Hayden is on a baseball field, he is happy.

(pre-game stretches)