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)

 

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...

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_8

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?

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_3

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! 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_6

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)

 (waiting for his turn to bat - did you know that waiting is his least favorite thing in the world?)

 (taking his cut)

 (going for 1st - gotta work on that looking at the ball when we hit it.  Poppaw is really gonna have to talk with this fella about that)

 (Congrats from Coach Jack)

 (Getting some tips from Dad)

 (Best Buds!)

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_7

Father's Day Sunday June 15, 2008

Today was Father's Day!  Hayden is so blessed to have a Daddy that loves hanging with him and doing all the special things Daddies and sons do.  They are so great together.  Most of the time I think they are just two peas in a pod!  We got up this morning and went to church.  That is always a special time for all of us.  Hayden loves Sunday School at the new church and Harold is very much enjoying the service we attend.  I have to tell you all of that makes this Mom / Wife very happy.  Hayden had gifts for Harold this morning.  He was most tickled that he gave his Daddy underwear.  (Can you just hear him snickering now?)  He also gave Harold a watch that says "My Dad My Hero".  Harold had not worn a watch in a long time but he sure is proud of this one.  Hayden also gave him a money clip with a little boy engraved on it and his name.  There is a nice inscription on it too but for the life of me right now I cannot remember what it is.  :-)

 

After church I took Hayden to the swimming pool to give Harold a little break to just rest and enjoy his Father's Day.

 (out little fish)

Of course the day was not over then.  We went to the Travelers game and Harold and Hayden got to go on the field and play catch.  They both loved it.

We, of course, stayed for the Travs game.  Hayden did the game "Fish or No Fish" with Aaron and Brent.  He thought he was as big as they were.

All in all I think it was a wonderful Father's Day for a great dad!

 

 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_5

Free Baseball

Free baseball -- this is what we had last night at the Travs game.  The game went 16 innings.  Yes, we stayed until the bitter end.  It was a messy game most of the time.  I think there were seven errors between the two teams (and truth be told probably some of the hits should have been counted as errors).  Here are 10 things we learned last night:

(1)  Yes Hayden does actually get tired at ballgames from time to time.

(2)  NWA and Springfield was postponed because of rain ALL night long

(3)  Clouds can go from beautiful at 6:15 to downright scary around 11 pm

(4)  At midnight the reported scores from the Major League quit being scores and start being the time for the games to start THAT DAY

(5)  The die hard fans always remain the same

(6)  You will sing take me out to the ballgame twice when there are 16 innings

(7)  Mr. Robert will gets loads more plastic bottles than he might like when the game is over five hours long.......

(8)  You will get the sillies sitting that long at a sporting event

(9)  You will unexpectedly cheer for a relief pitcher you NEVER thought you would (might have something to do with #8 above)

(10)  You will realize even more that hanging with your baseball family is an AWESOME way to spend your time

 Hayden and Ryan

Dana, Hayden, Katie

 

Can you tell how happy he is for having been on the field with Ryan?

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_5