Florida Fun

This year we had planned to go on a cruise for our summer vacation. We made an appointment in March for the boys to get their passports so we could sail off into the sunset in July. And then, COVID hit. We kept the appointment for the passports, and are looking forward to using them in the near future. We debated whether we should still go on a vacation and decided we could still socially distance while having fun at the beach. So this past week we headed off to the boys favorite vacation spot, Panama City Beach. They wanted to stay in the same place we stayed last year since it was nice and convenient to all our favorite spots. 

When we arrived in Florida on Monday it was cloudy and rainy. After checking in, we went and ate dinner and then went shopping for new body boards since the boys (namely Casen) out grew their body board from last year. 

When we woke up the next morning, it was cloudy and you could see the storms rolling in. It rained mid morning and finally cleared up enough before noon for us to head out to the beach so the boys could do what they had been waiting to do - body board!

The boys were able to do what they love for about an hour, and then there were black skies on the horizon. I am not a fan of the rain, but there is something quite captivating about watching a storm roll in at the beach. 

Since the rain cut our fun short, we all showered up and the went and had a good seafood dinner, did a little shopping and then the boys did a little night swimming in the pool. We didn't stay up too late so we could be good and rested for another day at the beach.

We pretty much spent the whole day Wednesday on the beach. Unfortunately, there weren't many good waves for the boys to body board on, so they instaed played in the sand, played frisbee in the water, and search for shells. 

This picture cracks me up - you have Casen
acting like he is swinging a bat and Camden
is being a photo bomber!

That evening we went out and ate and then headed out for a little putt putt golf. Despite playing in rain part of the time, we had a fun time!

On Thursday the boys got up with hopes of good waves for body boarding. It started out not looking very promising, but luckily as the day went on, more waves started forming and they were able to spend quite a bit of time riding the waves. 

I had fun playing with the camera. :)

Before we headed out to dinner, we of course had to take beach pics. I swear one year I am going to hire someone to take them . . . 

We woke up today to a beautiful day, unfortunately it was time to head back home. Even though we have some tired boys, we had a great time making more memories! Until next time Panama City Beach!

First Time On the Mound

I was not ready for this weekend - not at all. You see, we have been told since the beginning of this baseball season that we would play coach pitch tournaments up until the very last one and then we would play in a kid pitch tournament so the boys could see what they would be doing in the Fall. I was fine with that and had no problem with that. We were scheduled to play two tournaments this month, the first being coach pitch and the second kid pitch. Well fast forward to a week or so ago when they tell us we are going to play a kid pitch tournament this weekend. Wait, what???? I am not ready - I didn't realize the last tournament we played in June was our last coach pitch and don't think I absorbed it the way I should have. . . I have heard the horror stories of going from coach pitch to kid pitch . . .  I just wasn't ready!!!!!

But, who asked me, right???? I am just a mom who sits in the stands for every game not only rooting on my kid, but every other kid on the team. My opinion means jack . . . so, I suck it up and I show up yesterday to the field as nervous as can be. Will Casen have to pitch? Does he know what to do or how to act? I mean, I know he has been learning the signals from the paper coach gave them on Wednesday, but does he really know them???? 

The game is about to start and Shane informs me that Casen is pitching the second inning. Wait, what? Really, the second???? OMG. I am panicked. My stomach is nauseated. I take deep breaths . . . Luckily my sister and her family are here so she can video him while I take pictures. Probably not the best game for them to come to (which I fore warned her ahead of time). So we make it through the first inning. Casen hit the ball and got on base - awesome. Hitting off of a kid is different than hitting off his daddy who has been pitching to him during every game for the past several years. 

I am doing everything I can to learn this whole new set of rules. Bless these poor kids, they are trying to pitch for the very first time, deal with kids stealing bags behind their backs and figuring out how to try to pick them off without balking. It is so much all at once. I feel like when they start pitching, there shouldn't be stealing too. I mean, let the kids at least get the whole pitching thing down before you have kids stealing on them. But, again, who asked me???  

Time for the second inning. Casen walks out to the mound. I am a nervous wreck. He throws his warm up pitches, and they look ok. I am thinking he just might do ok. Deep breaths Casen, you got this. Deep breaths Melinda, you got this.

The top of the inning comes and goes and I will have you know, Casen did not let one kid score off of him, he didn't hit anyone (one of my fears) and he picked a kid off trying to steal second base. Woo Hoo!!!! I was one proud momma!!! Despite his great inning, we did end up losing the game. 

Stealing 3rd base

Stealing home

Now, the second game we played yesterday as well as the game we played today were down right painful. Unfortunately, we had to play the same team for both of the games and they are a 9U Elite team. They obviously have played kid pitch for a year and their coach was just a turd. You would think he could show some common courtesy since it is obvious this is all new for our kids, but heck no. He had his kids stealing bases before we could even get a pitch off the mound. I honestly can't remember our score yesterday against them, but today, it was 19-0. Just brutal.

But have no fear. Once our boys get the swing of all the new things that kid pitch entails, they are going to be a great team and I can't wait for Fall Ball.

Annual Fun at Grandma and Grandpa's

This past week, Camden attended art camp. I love that he is artistic since that is a trait I do not seem to possess. They did some fun activities, and he came home with some cool artwork.

 

Since art camp was Monday through Thursday, we met Grandma and Grandpa on Friday to drop off the boys for them to spend their annual Fourth of July with my parents. We decided to take Nina with us and bless her heart, she vomited 4 times the whole trip. Apparently our baby girl gets car sick . . . 

As they do every year, the boys participated in all the fun fourth of July activities including the parade, games, rock painting and fire works.

After them spending almost a week in Kerrville doing things they love to do, like shooting BB guns, swimming, playing pickle ball and just being outside, Shane and I headed up so we could spend a little time there as well and also go visit my grandma. 

 

Ice cream floats by the pool

Casen was happy to see his baby girl.

Our family portrait (in the reflection)
with grandma

Homemade ice cream was sooo yummy!!!

Smores by the fire pit

I know my boys truly enjoy their time with my parents. I am glad that they have that set time to look forward to every year. I have such fond memories of spending a month with my grandparents in the summer. I pray my boys will reminisce about these times with their grandparents when they are older just as I do.