Friday, June 28, 2013

Baseball

We wrapped up another fantastic sport season last night - specifically the NW CO Rec League 8-10 baseball season! - and I hesitate to say that I'm glad it is over. 

Granted, no more long, hot uneventful games and no more out-of-town trips. But then also no more exciting plays being made when you least expect it and no mare car trips with several cute boys in their baseball uniforms singing pop tunes in the back seat! 

I think I will kind of miss it.... and I know Hamp will! He loved baseball this year (winning nearly every game helped!) and in the second-to-last game of the whole season he finally got his hit - a beautiful double! I have never felt so proud for him. And I know that he finally felt worthy of his team when he sent that ball sailing into the outfield! 

Consequently we had a perfect tournament week. We stayed in the winner's bracket and then managed a very exciting win last night for the championship! It was one of those feel good games that made the whole season worth it, where every kid really shined and played their very best. (I am not afraid to admit that I was even brought to tears when our sweetest & youngest kid on the team got his first hit! Oh what joy we all felt for him as he ran to first base!) Hamp made a perfect play at second base to get an out, and everyone was happy to go out on such a high note.


Highlights from the 6-week season:
perfect evening for a baseball game in Meeker!
Hamp played 2nd base...
... and 3rd base sometimes!
even with only 7 players - we pulled out a win!!!
the best part about out-of-town games:  the post game fun at Taco Bell!
CHAMPIONS!!!!!


Clearly, Hamp was happy about a good season and about playing ball.
Once awarded with their CHAMPIONS hat, Hamp declared he was never going to take it off...
... I guess he was serious, because this is how I found him this morning in my bed!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Sam's favorite shirt

Once upon a time, on a random afternoon of running errands, Sam found a treasure.
While dropping off items at the local thrift shop, the boys were given the opportunity to pick out a new shirt.
While Hamp predictably selected a brown sports tee, Sam chose a beautiful, lavender, velour, long-sleeved, embellished shirt which he has worn enthusiastically ever since!


So far this summer, Hamp & Sam have enjoyed many adventures that 6 & 9 year old boys normally love - baseball, rivers, camping, bike riding, friends, swimming, forts, and of course on hotter afternoons: the water hose!
Well a few days ago the boys certainly found a new adventure in their own back yard... and while I was irritated at having a mud pit in the yard, I couldn't help but delight in hearing and seeing their joy from getting dirty!
Which brings us back to Sam's treasured purple velour shirt... 
As you might notice from the pictures above, he wore it right in the mud pit and as it turns out, mud really clings to velour!
So Sam had to say goodbye to his favorite purple shirt.

But never fear, the thrift shop is near!
And while making another donation yesterday, Sam was able to find a new treasure...

Monday, June 17, 2013

A happy Father's Day

We took the weekend to get away, unplug and play in the forest!
It was a much appreciated escape - we took a little hike, played by the river, read books, roasted S'mores for dessert and wondered about what animals were creeping outside our tent at night!
(don't worry, it was just a chipmunk!)
The best part was waking up Sunday and realizing it was Father's Day - so the boys each jumped up and gave Dad a big hug over some cereal for breakfast! That, and teaching his sons how to make a proper camp fire, might have just made his weekend!


The elk were out by the river and we saw hundreds of them in the valley - with everything so green and the sun shining just before setting, it made for some beautiful moments!


I'm just so grateful for Jason and how he is raising these boys - I hope they grow up to be as good as their father one day. ♥

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Last day!

So... an update!

Lest you think this week - given Hamp's behavior! - was all bad,
I offer you a modern-art video creation from the mind of the delinquent himself... 
(oh, what little boys come up with when faced with the restrictions of being grounded!
Here's to hoping summer is filled with stuff like this!)



And once we were all rolling and back in the school groove - it was so quickly over!
Friday was the last day of school - and everyone celebrated in fine form:

Sam & his kindergarten buddies played at the park, had pizza for lunch, and a half-day of fun, games & dancing at school!

Dad & Hamp were having a blast up at the high school track:

Meanwhile, Momma & Gabe took a long hike up the mountain and stopped for a photo at the top!

With all the partying and celebrating and dancing and hiking, it was no surprise when we found these three curled up on the big bed at 8:30pm! Guess we'll have to ease our way into summer...!