baseball

Ahhhhh.... baseball!

The year ended strong with a great baseball season! 

Hamp played varsity in right field, 1st base and relief pitcher and proved to be a really great teammate both on the diamond and off...

John-Jefferson chose to go out for yet another new sport - America's pastime! - and his athleticism and positive attitude made him a great junior varsity teammate.

photo credit: Bobby Gutierrez

photo credit: Bobby Gutierrez

photo credit: Ben Quinn

what we've learned

 I dropped John-Jefferson at the Grand Junction airport for a weekend trip to L.A. to visit a dear friend of his family. As he walked through security I realized that in less than a week he would be doing the exact same walk to end his stay in the United States... and it made me think about how precious our time together has been and how much we have all grown.

As a parent, having a third teenage boy in my home tested my patience and my parenting abilities... and I admit there were some days I did not pass the test! The boys were like true siblings - they picked on each other and wrestled and their dirty clothes and dishes and bathroom was exponentially worse. But they also danced and laughed and took care of each other and I felt privileged to witness and help foster their relationship.

In order to keep our minds open, our household adopted a motto for our year together:

~ Just because it's different, doesn't make it wrong ~

This phrase kept all four of us connected on many occasions when it would have been easy to judge or condemn one another for the slightest differences in taste, opinion or style. It turns out cultural differences are much deeper than just language and regional cuisine. I discovered that the nuances of a home's culture include where you sit on the couch or what you talk about at the dinner table or when you prefer to shower or what you put on your toast!

This is where the learning truly stemmed - from putting aside personal preferences and allowing for something different to become possible. Clearly, John had it the hardest... being comfortable in a new home where there were different foods, habits, language, music and customs. As a 16 year old boy, I imagine it requires a great deal of confidence to accept this and adjust accordingly! However, Hamp and Sam were not exempt from learning - they shared their once private and personal space with a veritable stranger who brought new habits, language, music and customs. They graciously accepted his idiosyncrasies and realized that at the end of the day we are all family and nothing else really matters. And beyond that, I saw them deepen their understanding of and appreciation for their own customs and way of life.

I hope that all three boys take this lesson, bury it deep in their souls and let it grow into a major character trait for each of them: 

to know that our differences are many but small, and to be patient and kind with one another... after all,

just because it's different, doesn't make it wrong!

first year of track...

Sam found a new passion this year.... track & field!

He ended his regular gymnastics trainings in December (his choice) and I was sad that he was no longer part of a team. But then track season began and he found a way to channel his strength, flexibility and power from years in the gym onto the field.

He really enjoyed jumping - including long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault - but also proved to be pretty fast so he got to be on a relay team. While it was a short and intense season with only 4 meets, he managed to rank first in the region for triple jump!

Looks like there may be a few years ahead of time on the track....

photo credit: Bobby Gutierrez

a busy month of May

This time of year is typically packed with activity - sports, awards, end-of-year parties and concerts. Perhaps because last year we weren't able to have any of those activities and celebrations it feels like we are all making up for lost time! There haven't been any quiet weekends in May - we were lucky to have an open weekend to hold Prom! - but it has all been fun and we figure maybe we can rest when summer rolls around?!

The first adventure was a unique opportunity for me to be a guest vocalist with the Symphony In The Valley annual Swing concert! It was a great weekend with fantastic music and I was thrilled to be surrounded once again with talented musicians and concert vibes. 

The other adventures included:

• a couple of band concerts... where Sam & friends enjoyed being on the drumline and getting everyone hyped up with pep music

• several HS awards assemblies where Hamp & John-Jefferson were recognized for their high grades and their athletic achievements this year!

• middle school track meets where Sam has seen success at the high jump, triple jump, long jump, pole vault and even some running relays!

• and of course.... baseball! Hamp is starting Varsity this year and John-Jefferson decided to try out America's pastime on the JV team. With the season being pushed back to May we've all loved being outside in the nicer spring weather for the games! More to come....

Prom!

Could not have asked for a more beautiful evening - and a more beautiful group of teenagers!

Getting ready for Prom!

 

Can't wait for this weekend!

Happy Easter weekend!

The big boys took off to explore Chicago for the weekend - staying with family and good friends and touring the city together! I am so grateful for people who open up their homes to take in 3 shaggy, funny teenage boys and then show them the city and let them be an integral part of their family Easter celebrations. (also eternally grateful that they send photos of the boys doing fun things!)

I believe it was great for them to travel on their own, and I fully expected them to come home and regale me with stories of skyscrapers and deep-dish pizza. But all I got was a fart story and many bizarre inside jokes involving barely discernable sounds and weird facial expressions!

While the big boys were out - Sam & I played well at home... I took long hikes each day and he hung out with friends, managed volleyball games, watched wrestling matches, rode bikes around town and went bowling! But the best part was spending Easter Sunday on the mountain for their closing day - the snow wasn't great at all, but the sun was out and friends were there so we enjoyed both.