Busy, Busy Weekend

We have a busy, busy weekend ahead of us. It is the start of the neverending Baseball Season. Colby's tournaments start this weekend. Tonight Colby has practice. I'm going to hang out with my baseball mom friends. Tomorrow Colby has a 9am game and I have a 10am dentist appt. We'll all head BACK to Grapevine for Colby's 1pm game. I just found out about a surprise b-day party tomorrow at 5:30. I'm not sure if we'll make that.

Then, tomorrow evening, my sister-in-law, Haylee and I are heading to Divine Cosign, which is a huge baby consignment sale. We actually get to go to the First Time Mom's pre-sale. I'm super excited. Although we don't know the gender yet, I can at least look for some things that are gender neutral. I'm not really looking for clothes. I'm more looking for the gizmos and gadets Baby Hopper will need. In other baby news, we had the name discussion again last night. Boy this is going to be hard. I thought we had made some progress the last time we talked names, but we are pretty much back at square one. I have a boy name that I like and he has a boy name that he likes. Neither one of us are crazy about the other's. Then there is a boy name that we both like, but isn't our #1 choice. Girl names.....is pretty much the same way. I'm 99% sure we already have the middle name for either one down.

Jason is making a lot of progress on his Beetle. My guess is it will be close to complete within the next month. I really hope I'm right. I'm ready for that thing to be FINISHED and I'm pretty sure Jason is ready for it to be done, too.

Other than baseball, babies, and the beetle, not much else is going on. We are planning a camping trip with several friends for the first weekend of spring break. Yes, I will be camping when I'm 5 months pregnant. LOL!

So busy....

Busy, busy times in the Hopper House. I haven't had the time to update the blog. I have our Memorial Day Vacation blog ready to go, but I'm just need to add the pictures. Sitting down, sifting through the pictures, and putting them on here is the hard part. Actually, finding the time to do all of that is the hard part.

Colby has had either baseball practice or a game almost every other day. Work has been insane with 2 major events coming up. One is tonight, so that will be out of the way. Friday, we leave for Round Rock for Colby's baseball tournament and we'll be there through Sunday. We'll return on Sunday and then I have be up and bright eyed and bushy tailed at my department's Annual Golf Tournament. I need another vacation already.

Tristen tried out for the Wind Symphony band and he made it. While I don't fully understand what the difference b/w Wind Symphony and the Symphonic band is, the Wind Symphony band is the 'better/more advanced' band in 7th & 8th grade. Both bands are combined with 7th & 8th graders, so we are proud of Tristen making the 'more advanced' band.

School is out on Friday! Wooohooo! Colby has his '5th Grade Memories' ceremony on Friday and Tristen has Final Exams today through Friday. Things don't seem to slow down though even once Friday hits. Next week, Tristen has football camp, Colby has a foot Dr. appointment for an ankle that has been bothering him, and then the following week Tristen has a dentist appointment and soon after that an Orthodonist appointment for braces.

Our covered back patio was started the Friday before Memorial Day and it should be finished by early next week. The rain has postponed them working on the patio a couple days, so I'm hoping for no more rain until the patio is done. It is looking great and we can't wait for it to be done. Jason will have his hands full with reviving the grass in the backyard. It is pretty much shot from all of the materials laying on it. Oh well. It will be back to good in no time! :)

I promise to update the blog soon with pictures and our vacation post.

Our All-Star Baseball Player

Last weekend, Colby played in his 2nd tournament with his new select baseball team. He came home from practice last week telling us that he was going to get to pitch in the tournament. As always, I told him, 'That is awesome, son, but remember, just play wherever the coach puts you.' Coaches have a tendency to tell a kid one thing and then do another. Colby has been eager to pitch for quite some time. He has only pitched 3 or 4 times in actual games. He just have never been given the opportunity to fully develop as a pitcher. The kid has some amazing arm strength (even for a small as he is).

Anyways, so Saturday, 2nd inning comes along and Colby is placed on the pitcher's mound. I could no longer sit. I know most of the people who read this don't have kids our boys' age (so you don't really understand), but the feeling you get when your child is the 'center of attention' whether it be on stage, on the field, on the court, etc. your stomach just turns in knots. You get nervous and excited - all at the same time. I got up and paced back and forth b/w the bleachers and the dugout. Colby did AMAZING. He struck out several batters. He had 2 ball hit straight back at him. One he dove and caught for an out, and the other one he snagged as it flew right by him for another out. It was so great to watch him finally get his real chance to prove that he can pitch. After the game, while we were at the concession stand, he had several parents from the opposing team come up and tell him how great he did.

When the tournament was over on Sunday, each player was presented with small little wooden home plate in memory of the girl that the tournament was benefiting. Along with the commemorative home plate, an award was given to one player on each team. It is called the Barnabas Award, which is given to athletes who encouraged others to strive for their best performance athletically and personally. Colby was selected as the player from his team for this award! Of course, my camera died as I was trying to take a picture, so I missed the picture of him being presented with the award. Below is a picture of him at home in the backyard with the award.

Colby - Update

Colby has tried out for 2 different Select Baseball Teams and we just got the call that he made one of them! He is now a North Texas Titan!!!!!!!!!!! Jason and I are beyond excited, thrilled, proud, and everything else! For the past 3 years, Colby has played recreational baseball through the City of Flower Mound. He has been ready to take it to the next level, and we finally made that step. Fortunately, Colby made a team. Many select teams are fully formed and if/when they have tryouts, they are usually only looking to fill one or two positions. It does come with a financial obligation, but nothing that will kill us. Colby aspires to be a being a Major League Baseball player. Although he has big aspirations, we try to do our part in helping achieve those goals. Select Baseball comes with a bit more qualified and talented coaching and stiffer competition, so hopefully this will allow Colby to learn, grown, gain experience and most of all have fun. We are looking forward to the 2008-2009 season.

Nervous Mom

I'm a nervous Mom this morning. Colby is trying out for his 2nd Select baseball team. I filled out his paperwork and the coach was explaining to me how they were going to run the tryouts. After he was done explaining, I told him I was just going to drop him off. I asked Colby if he wanted me to stay and he said he didn't care. I decided it would be better if I didn't stay and watch. Jason stayed and watched Colby's first round of tryouts, but Jason is at work today.

I'm not sure what happened with the first team he tried out for. They had tryouts, and said there would be a 2nd round of tryouts for kids who weren't able to make the 1st round of tryouts. The first round were held on July 31st. 2nd round isn't held until next Thursday, August 14th?!?! I emailed the coach for more info and did not hear back. (MAJOR Pet Peeve of mine....communication, rather lack thereof.)

Send good thoughts our way! Colby is very talented and passionate about baseball and we would love to have him on a tournament team! Of course, we probably won't know the results of the tryouts until the end of the weekend or middle of next week!

**UPDATE**
I picked Colby up from his tryouts and his previous Coach (who coached him for the past year) was there and Colby did exceptionally well. I'm not sure how many returning players the team has, but Colby was the only catcher that was there today. The team may have 6 spots open or it may have 2 spots open. Either way, Colby did his best! :) We were told that we should know by Tuesday or Wednesday! :)

Texas Rangers Game

Jason and I went to the Texas Rangers game on Sunday. It was the first game we've been to all season, surprisingly. Jason is the biggest Texas Ranger fan! He doesn't miss a game on tv. If he does, it is DVR'd. Anyways, we went for a work function of mine. We got to watch the game from the Nolan Ryan Suite! It was awesome! Thank goodness we were in a suite b/c it was steaming hot on Sunday.

Outside the Nolan Ryan Suite

A view from our Suite.

We won!!!

Excuse the wind blown hair.

World Series Final Game

After a long week of baseball games, Colby's last game was on Saturday morning at 8am. He had to be there at 7am, so there was no sleeping in for us. Up to this game, his team had not won a game yet. They had a heartbreaker of a game on Friday and lost by one point. Saturday's game was a nail biter. The boys played exceptionally well! It came down to the last inning. The game was tied and we had last bat. We had 2 outs, a runner on 1st and a kid at bat. The runner on 1st was stealing 2nd when the catcher tried to throw him out at 2nd. The ball was overthrown and it went into the outfield. Our runner that was on 1st made it all the way to home on the error. The boys were so ecstatic. A lot of us moms teared up. It had been a long week, and although nothing seemed to damper the boys attitudes, we all wanted a WIN so bad. The boys finally got their hard earned win and it was a great way to end the week.

Colby getting ready to play catcher.

The team tackling Kyle out of excitement of scoring the winning run.

Colby attentively listening to the coach give his post-game speech.The team after they received their medals.

World Series Update

Tonight we play game 5. It has been a rough week for Colby's team and they haven't won yet, but we are still hopeful. They are having FUN and that is what counts! We play again tomorrow morning and again on Saturday. They will have played 7 games in 7 days. After this tournament, we are going to re-evaluate what we are going to do in terms of teams and leagues. We can 1) stay on the same team in FMYSA, 2) go back to the draft in FMYSA, 3) switch over to Lewisville's Baseball Association, or 4) have Colby try out for a tournament team. I'd love to do #4, but we are letting Colby decide.

World Series

Colby is playing in the World Series in Flower Mound. I just received the tournament schedule and HOLY MOLY! There 60 teams in Colby's division. I'm not sure how many games they are guaranteed; I think it is at least a 5 game guarantee. They have 3 games of pool play to determine their place in the tournament bracket. Starting tonight, they have a scrimmage. Tomorrow is the Team Registration. Saturday, there is batting practice and then the Opening Ceremony parade and trading pin event. Sunday, the games begin. As of right now he plays on Sunday at noon. On Monday, he plays at noon and at 8pm, so it looks like I am just taking Monday off. I'm not about to come in to work for a few hours. It just isn't worth it with the way gas prices are. Wednesday - Saturday games are yet to be determined b/c the pool play will determine the bracket placing for Wednesday. Glad that I have a flexible job! Jason cannot take off of work b/c he hasn't accumlated any time off yet. So, our next 7 days are consumed with baseball. Not to mention, we have a rehearsal dinner and wedding on Friday and Saturday. Looks like I'm going to have to get creative with scheduling and calling up my brother to see if he can help out, if need be. What REALLY sucks - there is a $10 gate fee per person per day for the tournament! I can buy a gate pass at registration for $35, but if you buy it thereafter...it is $40/person or $10/person (daily). Luckily, Tristen is free, so we won't have to pay for him. Thus the life of what we could expect for Select Baseball.

Colby at the Opening Ceremonies.

Colby and one of his good friends, Hunter.

Colby's towel with all of his trading pins from the World Series.

End of the Opening Ceremonies.

Baseball....

A little late....but here are the boys baseball pictures. I wasn't really pleased with the quality this year, but oh well! Tristen's look really dull and Colby's is tad bit too 'up close'. I wish they would've gotten a full body shot of him actually crouching like a catcher. Either way....they are my adorable kids.

Colby & Tristen

Colby has a baseball tournament this weekend in Celina. Luckily, his games on Saturday are afternoon games, which means we don't have to wake up crazy early to get there. Celina is about an hour away from our house. Hopefully, the team will do well and not get Seed 8 or 9 after pool play b/c Seed 8 and 9 play at 8am on Sunday, which means his coach would want the team there at 7am - YIKES - (which means we would have to leave our house at 6am)!! Ah...the life of a baseball mom! :) I do enjoy watching him play and excel in a sport that he loves!

Colby's Team Party

Colby's regular season baseball team had their end of season party at Sun Valley Water Park on Saturday. He received his trophy and game ball. His coach commended his excellent performance playing catcher and being at the top of his team in stealing bases, runs scored and his batting average.

Colby, Conner, Dylan, Matt & Tristen (at the bottom)

Colby & Coach Joe

Pictures

...Colby getting ready to catch...

...Tristen....STRIKE 1, but he ended up hitting the ball...

...Jason....coaching Colby before he got up to bat...

...Jason & Daisy at the RoughRiders game...

...Jason & I at one of my events for work at the RoughRiders game...