Well baseball finally ended.  It's actually been over since the 31st but I enjoyed a break and now I'm catching up on everything that needs to be done.  Oldest came in 3rd place.  We were proud of him and his team.  He had a double header on the 30th to determine who would be the 2nd place team and go to finals.  We won the first game but lost the 2nd.  It was a long night and Oldest couldn't make it through all of the 2nd game.  The coach for the other team was throwing some hard, fast balls and Oldest (as catcher) just didn't want to dodge them anymore so he ended up quiting.  We had a talk after the game that you can't quit but that he should have talked to his coach about what the problem was.  I think most of it was that he was tired but he told his coach he WAS NOT going back out there; so they had to put someone else in.  He apologized to the coach and team for quiting and once the reason was known everything was fine but hopefully next time he'll try to resolve the problem before giving up.  We are looking into some better catchers equipment for next year.  He had no shin pads this season and so he was a little afraid of being hit (I would've been too.)

Youngest came in 2nd in his league!  There team did really good and Youngest played catcher for the last 3 games.  He was so excited to actually get to play and not just stand in the outfield.  They also had a double header for the championship.  It was so exciting to see them receive their runner up trophies.  They all felt like champions for sure.  Youngest did catch on to the fact that they weren't the 1st place team and told me "Momma, we were almost champions!!"  He said it with excitement, it was so cute.  We told him that to us and to his coach they ARE champions.

Youngest as catcher in last game of playoffs

Youngest receiving his runner up trophy.

Youngest with runner up trophy.                      Youngest with Coach

                                                                      and "big" trophy.

After Youngest game we had a birthday party to attend and then we took a week to relax.  I had to get ready for a book sale that our homeschool group was having and we went to the library story time but for the most part we just hung out and relaxed.  I did pretty well at the book sale but not as well as I hoped and so I volunteered to attend another booksale hosted by a group in a nearby town and to take some of the other ladies books to sale also.  So I spent last Friday selling and I will spend this Friday selling also.  After the book sale I came home and took a deep breath and then we went to Oldest's team party at the local pool.  It was really nice.  The team had rented the pool area so it was a private party and the boys had a blast.  There was a huge water slide that they both loved going down.  Then we had pizza and cake and then Oldest got his team trophy.  It is shaped like a ball glove and will hold his game ball.  The coach made sure that throughout the season each boy received an actual ball from the game.  He tried to make sure it was an important game for them and Oldest's was from catching his first pop-up foul and gaining the last out of the game.  He was so excited.  I have a few pictures of the boys at Oldest's party and I did have one of him getting his trophy but I decided not to post it as several of the boys on the team are shirtless. 

Oldest swimming under water.

Youngest coming down slide with lifeguard ready to catch him since it was over his head.