Minor League Baseball

This summer we took the boys to their first minor league baseball game. 

The weather was perfect (80's, low humidity, sunny). 

We had seats between home plate and first base. 

 My little sports enthusiast was in heaven. Ali, when you gave us those old YMCA soccer shirts I bet you had no idea how often Aaron would wear them. He loves them! Thank you. ;)

Luke had seen a picture of his cousins enjoying cotton candy, so before the game he said, 

"Daddy, do you think I can taste cotton candy before I turn 20?" Darin made his dream come true at the ripe old age of 9. The boys were happy to share one cotton candy. Too bad Luke thought it was too sweet and sticky. Now he knows. 

I was pleasantly surprised by their patience and focus during the entire game. 

It happened to be a special kids day, so the Luke and Ethan got to run the bases and high five Nutsy the Flying Squirrel mascot. Aaron was too scared to go! What?! Oh well. 

A fun summer family memory!

Useful Buckets

Aaron spends as much time as possible dribbling his basketball and shooting hoops in the garage. 

Darin made a makeshift hoop for him from the rim of a bucket and it has been a hit! 

Don't you love his outfit? Borrowed soccer shirt, tall soccer socks and always a tongue hanging out! :)

Meanwhile, his brothers drum and drum. It's almost like we're at a real basketball game... almost. 

Luke & Basketball

This winter, at Luke's request, we signed him up for Upward basketball. It's his first team sport and I'm so proud of him for trying something WAY out of his comfort zone. He is a lot more aggressive with his brothers then he is on the court, but he is having a great time.

I love how they all run through the red sign at the beginning of the game as their name is called. Can't seem to get a picture of Luke coming through, but you get the idea.

Each week he is gaining a little more confidence and is a little less intimidated by the ball. ;)

I'm thankful for a great team and a laid back coach. Darin is the assistant coach. 

You should see the confidence he has when he practices with his brothers.

Sometimes it seems like he is dancing while dribbling and 

I'm sure he is hearing a Toby Mac song running through his head!

Sporty

This Christmas as we simplified gift giving for the boys (and Irina), we settled on three packages for each of them. One package with some books, one package with an outfit and one package with a toy. I found these awesome sporty outfits at Marshall's for a great price and the boys love them. (It's hard to get Aaron's in the wash. He has a hiding spot he puts it in after he wears it for the day!)

Yes, we were playing basketball in the driveway in the dark!

He posed like this all on his own! Oh my goodness!!!

Can't catch my little sport!

EVERY morning Aaron wakes up and puts on his #4 shirt, his "three stripe shorts" and his SHIN GUARDS. Seriously, he wears them ALL day long EVERY DAY! I'm not sure what he needs the shin guards for, but he loves to wear them. Maybe in case his brothers kick him in the shins? :)

He pulls this outfit out of the dirty laundry basket every day and puts it on. He will only settle for another pair of sporty shorts and some other sporty shirt. Okay..let me remind you... it was 31 degrees out this morning, but to Aaron it doesn't matter. "I like to be cold," he says. The only way I can convince him to put on pants when we go outside is if I let him keep his shorts on underneath. Some battles are just not worth fighting. ;) So we compromise with a little bulk from the shorts under his pants.

I tried to catch a picture of him this morning and he was too fast!

I love my sporty guy! He cracks me up. He told me today that some day he is going to play on the USA Basketball team or the Virginia Tech Football team. Those are some great aspirations little guy. 

 

Tennis Camp

This week Luke has been participating in a local tennis camp for a couple hours each afternoon.  

Here he is on the first day wearing orange. 

It's his first experience participating in tennis camp. 

His first experience at a camp without good friends, 

without his brother and without Darin as an assistant coach. 

I was a little nervous for my tentative and shy guy. 

It has been an awesome experience! He is LOVING it. 

The coach is great and Luke comes home each day with a HUGE grin. 

If you are a local friend, email me and I'll give you more information 

about the camp. I highly recommend the coach and his approach. 

 I've hung around for a bit each day at drop off just to watch them get started. These two spectator monkeys below have found all sorts of ways to entertain themselves. Here they are climbing the fence. 

To let them climb to the top or not... that is the question??? 

It is irresistible for Ethan, especially since he could plainly see that there are no hornets hiding. 

(He has promised to never climb a tree again because of his experience last Wednesday.)

I'm very proud of my timid guy for embracing this adventure with such a great attitude! 

Should have known

Whose idea was it to get Aaron a football helmet for Christmas? Ahem... that would be me. (grimace)
I should have known this is what would happen. I left the boys happily playing in their bedrooms on Monday afternoon while I did some work in the school room.

And then I heard the hooting and hollering and loud thumps.

I raced upstairs to find them in their football "uniform" running some plays in our bedroom! Of course I had to take a few pictures before I discouraged them from throwing their football and tackling one another inside the house.  "It's just a small ball, Mommy." "We're not really throwing it hard." oh my! And no... nothing broke this time.

It's a little blurry from all their movement!

Gotta love the school spirit! Go Hokies!

* And just to clarify... I love that they were bonding together and having a great time. 

Just a little nervous about them getting hurt and/or breaking something inside (again!) :)

Sporty

Who would have thought that out of three boys we would only have one sports fanatic? It's amazing how much Aaron loves sports. He's obsessed lately with wearing "sporty clothes." We have a VT football jersey hand-me-down that neither of his brothers would wear (too itchy, too hot, etc.). 

It is one of Aaron's favorite shirts! He is constantly changing into something "more sporty." 

Last week, he found a pair of cleats I bought for him at a yard sale and he was in heaven. 

He asked me to take all of these pictures of him.

This is his football pose.

Football?

Last Thursday afternoon we prepared to complete the next phase of our yard work project. We had our flower bulbs and pansies and were ready to plant! However, this time my eager workers were much more easily distracted. They helped me with some digging, watering, dropping in bulbs but then disappeared to the back yard. I was grateful for their help, but was also pleased to find them playing their own version of football.

They were both so happy. Laughing and yelling and having a great time. It was a beautiful afternoon.

Tackling was the one skill they seemed to understand about the game of football. 

Physically they are pretty evenly matched. Luke has more height, but Ethan is strong and feisty! 

(Don't worry...there were no tears! Just happy laughter.) 

They tackled and wrestled every chance they could and then they'd jump up and go back to the 

home base and start again. Clearly they were mixing several sports all into one. :) 

 It was hilarious to watch. I found myself mesmerized watching their game. So thankful to see them enjoying one another and tiring each other out. I wish I snapped a picture of Aaron. Surprisingly, he stood in the corner of the yard just watching his brothers. Considering he is the sports fanatic of the family, maybe he was displeased they weren't playing the game right? :)