Another Week in June

Yes, these are all from the past week.  June 14 through June 21.  It is exhausting and there have been a few times in the past month that I thought I might lose my $#!%.  I have to admit that June has been a lot tougher for me than I thought it would be in every way possible, but we're almost through it.  So many highs and lows with a lot of learning, I hope.  For everyone.

Last week started with normal workouts for both kids on Monday, then work and normal things. I think we actually to to have a meal together.  At home.  Cooked by us.  It was great.

Tuesday night we all went to Owen's baseball game, then Gracie had a softball practice until almost 10pm.  I'm pretty sure I was asleep by the time Nick and Gracie got home.  I thought it was a little crazy considering they left again for KC the next morning by 5:30am for a TEAM 1 camp put on by the Aces organization.  But whatever...  

More baseball for Owen

This guy had one last game for his regular season

Owen got to pitch 3 innings during his last game against a team they had not beat yet this season.  That changed on Thursday.  Owen did great and threw 7 strikeouts in 3 innings.  The other team did have a few hits off of him, but Owen only allowed 2 runs and we ended up winning 3-2 in 5 innings.  What a great way to end his season with this team!  

Owen pitching

More pitching

After pitching, he went to first base for an inning and did just fine there, too. Now that this season is over, he wants to try out for All-Stars.  I just learned today that the age rules for baseball are completely different than softball and the cutoff date is August 31, so that makes this his last year to qualify/make it on a 12U all star team competing to go to the World Series.  Silly me.  I thought he would have one more year.  Tryouts are this Saturday, so we'll see how he does.  There is a lot more competition on the baseball side of things.  There are probably more than twice as many boys involved in the program than there are girls in the softball little league program.  It is set up a little differently also.  There are district games before state competition.  But again, Owen would have to make the team first, before we would start worrying about that.  However, after the team(s) have been formed, they immediately start practices next week.  Kind of crazy.

Gracie and her teammate Sadie at the Team One Camp in KC

Each of the 300+ athletes there worked out that day with their own graduating cohort, so Gracie got to be with all 2026 softball players all day.  There were a lot of college coaches there to evaluate and recruit and this was a camp, so they were allowed to talk to any of the athletes there.  They did position groups, hitting, infield, outfield and then a scrimmage at the end of the day.  During BP, Gracie hit a couple out, and then hit one out in her only at-bat during the scrimmage.  She had fun and had a pretty good day.  She was tired, and the tournament associated with the camp started the next day.  They drove home to stay in their own beds, and then got up again the next day to go back to KC to play a couple games of softball.  Nick and Gracie spent Thursday night in KC and had two more early games on Friday before coming home.  It wasn't the best performance of the season; 1-2-1 in pool play, leading into 0-2 in bracket.

Gracie brought these home on Friday night after playing 2 games on a dirt field.

Thanks Gracie.

After doing some laundry on Friday night, I think we were all home for the evening again and got to eat together.  Yay!  Then we left Saturday morning again for an 11am game in KC.  I got to go this time, but Owen chose to stay home and sleep.  It was a really close game, that we ended up losing in extra innings.  I wasn't expecting that and it was not a fun ride home.  Our next game wasn't until Sunday morning.

However, since we came home earlier than expected, Gracie got to compete with her basketball team in a tournament in Jeff City.  They only had 7 girls for the first game, but ended up with 9 by the 3rd game that night.  I'm glad Gracie was able to go and play.  She played a lot in the first and second games, and not as much in the third game.  Her team ended up winning the tournament, which was fun.  

Gracie during the 2nd game

Another basketball pic of Gracie stealing the ball.

Winners!!!

This team has fun together.

Back to KC for more softball

Since we lost the day before we had our next bracket game at 9:45am on Sunday morning.  If we had won we would have kept playing, but it just wasn't in the cards this weekend.  No one played well.  We had another quiet 2 hour ride back home.

After a couple of frustrating weekends, it can be so hard to stay positive and supportive.  There are times when I question what we're doing and if it is all worth it.  Are we doing the best thing for our kids?  What about us?  We are spending more time away from home and still trying to work and do the "normal" things that we are obligated to do as responsible adults. Are we "those" crazy parents?  And then Owen... when does he get our attention?  Are we doing enough? Are we doing too much?  These questions were resolved or at lest quieted when I went downstairs to find Gracie watching recordings of the Little League World Series from last summer.  We all watched for a little bit, remembering how fun that was.  We are creating these memories for our kids with each opportunity we provide for them.  Some days are tougher than others, but they remember and hold on to the really great experiences they have had.  Gracie knows her happy place.  Owen also has his memories from both Gracie's opportunities and his own with wrestling and other adventures he has had.

Regardless, here we are.  Another week and more activities.  Father's Day was pretty insignificant this year and we spent most of it in the car and at softball.  The following day is probably my favorite day that I have spent since mother's day.  We got some things done at home on Monday (Juneteenth holiday), had dinner together and then went back to the field as a family to have some fun. Owen wanted to play catch and hit, so we all went.  Nick hit infield/outfield to the kids and I took throws at first base.  Nick pitched to us - yes us.  I hit the ball.  I can still hit, harder and better than I actually thought I could (being so old).  Good thing Nick was using a screen to pitch.  😂  What a great evening!  I wish we had pictures from fun stuff like this.  A warm evening, but not sweltering with humidity.  The sun was bright and starting to hide behind the trees that surround the field.  Time was standing still despite the continued reminder from the shadows that it would soon be too dark to continue.  We have happy kids, and for that moment, all was right with the world.  When I have doubts and insecurity about my competence as a mother, wife, daughter, coworker, and all the other roles I play, stepping back and taking a look at the bigger picture can give such a different perspective.  There are so many things to be thankful for.

 

They are on the road again...working to make her dreams come true while Owen and I get some bonding time in the evenings this week.