Obsession

Devin, now 8, is completely obsessed with baseball. Redsox games on tv, player/team stats and sports news, baseball movies, baseball documentaries, baseball video games and his most favorite- playing baseball! There's is no shortage of baseball around here and that proves  evident when Devin wakes durning the night asking for his baseball in his sleep so that he can "throw a strike" too funny! 

Devin was able to move up to AA level this spring (his birthday falls the day after the cut off) after a successful try- out. The AA level is when the kids begin pitching the ball with coach assistance after four balls thrown. Little did I know that Devin would really thrive in pitching this year! I could see he had potential in the beginning of the season and I did some asking around until I was able to help Devin with his pitching technique. By the end of the season he didn't even need any coach assistance and was throwing most pitches in the strike zone. 

He did so well, in fact, that he received MANY compliments from coaches. Including an opposing coach chasing down our car to tell us that Devin "was the best pitcher his team faced all season!" What?! We were both so proud with huge smiles plastered on our faces. 

Devin just finished a week of baseball camp. He loved it, even with the 88* with high humidity temps. 

I pledge that I will do everything in my power to help Devin foster this passion and talent. ⚾️

Milestones, Milestones, all the Time...

Yesterday marked the last day of Instructional T Ball and the end of the "first loose tooth" era. My big boy was so excited for both! He was shocked (his new vocabulary word! haha) that he was given a trophy. The other exciting part of the afternoon was that his team actually played against another team. It was very friendly and encouraging (no scores, coaches from both sides helping the kiddos). It was maybe the cutest thing I have seen in a while!!
Devin had a lot of spectators yesterday- Papa, Abuela and Grandpa, and Uncle Brian and Aunt Courtney all came to cheer him on!
The Tooth Fairy brought him a dollar and a quarter during the night. Devin couldn't be happier about that!

Sunday Afternoons

We've all been enjoying Sunday afternoon T- Ball.

Devin likes having the opportunity to learn and grow and be with the other players. I have seen Devin hit the ball, catch, and throw the ball (what an arm!). I've also seen Devin write his initials in the sand at short stop, stand on the bench in the dugout while waiting for his turn, and sometimes trot, sometimes run the bases. Erick is enjoying his role as an Assistant Coach. I've seen Erick struggle to keep the attention of 5 4/5 year olds (I think he better appreciates MY job now- ha!), give players the encouragement that they need to "stick with it" and just enjoy himself while he helps the kids.I love watching it all.

There are only 2 practices left and I am sure that Devin will be asking for more when its done. He will have to wait for fall, though, when soccer will begin on Saturday mornings!

Phone Photo Catch-up

A flower and card given to me by one of my cute little first grade students for Teacher Appreciation Week.


Daddy and Devin's gloves....I love this...its so precious!Devin and Mommy :)

Sports Mom

Its official....I am a sports Mom! And I couldn't be happier :)

Devin had his first practice/scrimmage on his birthday, Sunday. He was so excited and looked so cute in his shirt and hat uniform. He played first base...(one of) the assistant coach did a great job showing him how to play the base. He has a little work to do on running bases since he currently likes to stand on the base and watch his ball go flying into the field. (haha, its kind of cute to be honest!) He was such a go-getter...running from 1st base passed 2nd to near center field to get a ball! I love his determination and excitement. He already is looking forward to going next week-end and playing on the "big field."

Ok, I have more pictures but it is not letting me upload them here for some reason! I will try to post more pics in another post.....(grrrr!)

Fireworks

Before school got out for the summer I purchased 5 Fisher Cats tickets from my Teacher's Union to take in a ball game at our local minor league. Monday night was game time...set to be complete with Fireworks and all. Well, there were fireworks, but not the pretty kind!

When we got there the sky was clear and beautiful. Here is Devin with my parents in the background.
Not sure whats up with the head tilt...but he's so cute I can't resist! See the sun in the background?
A little bit of Devin's photography...
Just before the first pitch (7:05pm) there was an announcement that due to the "small storm cell" headed our way the game was going to start late. The clouds moved in quickly and we all huddled under the cement awning area (near the concessions) to stay dry. The "small cell" never showed...it was a HUGE STORM CELL!! For 2 hours we stayed huddled in the crowded, hot, and sticky landing while it down poured with thunder and lightening. There were even tornado warnings (we didn't know it at the time). At 9:00 the game still had not started yet and we decided to leave. We later learned that the team got creamed by the visiting Sea Dogs and the fireworks were cancelled. BOO!! We also learned that we can use our tickets to get us into another home game sometime this season. Hopefully with better weather!! Yay!!!

At least Devin got a souvenir out of the deal...Maybe one day he will get to see a game.

Big Papi

Today we went to lunch at Big Papi's Grille in Framingham, Mass. We all dressed up in our Red Sox/David Ortiz shirts (yes, we are corny like that!). The food was great and all of the David Ortiz paraphernalia was interesting to look at. Devin was such a good boy in the (semi) fancy restaurant- he even loved the Crab Bites starter we had, and he was REALLY into the pictures and bats all around.
After lunch we went over to Jordan's Furniture in Natick. This Jordan's has a Mardi-Gras theme so we were all given beads upon entering (we didn't even have to flash!). Then you walk down the hall and all around you it looks like you are in New Orleans- very cool! We even saw a Mardi-Gras show. Devin loved dancing/running around under the strobe lights to the fun music.

Here are Devin and I in front of the Streetcar Named Dessert in "New Orleans"
OF COURSE, Devin noticed ALL of the Toy Story 3 advertisements!! June 18th~ can't wait!
We also had a lot of fun just walking around looking at the different pieces of furniture. Devin tried out all of the cool kids' chairs. I think he settled on this one to be his favorite:


After we found our favorite bunk bed set and sectional chaise lounge sofa we headed out to Ben and Jerry's for some delicious dessert. Devin and I both fell asleep on the way home :)

Papa Time

Devin has been working on his batting skills with Daddy the past few days. So over the week-end when we visited my parents, naturally, Papa (being a former sports Dad and Coach) tried his hand at teaching Devin.
Devin is doing very well at batting for only having a few day's practice. (Especially if the pitcher is accurate- me, not so much!) He also has one heck of a throwing arm! Here is a quick video of his skills:

See You Next Year

My beloved Red Sox lost the last and final game in the ALCS series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last night. Their season is over. It is the Devil Rays who will match the Phillies in the World Series in the coming days.

The Red Sox are now forced to surrender their World Championship Title.

So long Sox, see you next year!

~

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Today I thought I would do something different with Devin. I saw a sign at Holman Stadium, next to my work, saying that today was Kid's Camp day at the Pride game. Noon game just for the kids...perfect! It was Devin's first outing to a baseball game and he LOVED it! He was enthralled with everything going on....the players, field, all the people, Stitch the Baseball mascot, food stands, and even the recruiters from the ARMY who were there handing out free goods.

He kept insisting that he wanted to go out on the field!!! It was tough to explain to him that he couldn't go be a Nashua Pride player, just yet! Devin also kept calling the players "Papi" as in Big Papi- David Ortiz. He would yell, "Yay Papi!!!" It was so cute but again I had to try to explain to him that these players were not Papi or the Red Sox. It was a great time for me and Devin to spend some nice quality time alone with each other, but we've both already decided that next time Daddy should come because he would like it too!

Devin, someday we will bring you to a Red Sox game!!! I promise!