Catchin' Up

As we close this school year, we also close another chapter...Baseball and Softball. The past four months have been crazy to say the least. So much so that I am worn out(Matt works 3 or 4 nights week so I am generally on my own running around!). I can't imagine how my kids must feel. Even though it's been chaotic, it's been the BEST kind of chaotic. I used to see moms with multiple kids, in multiple sports, running from here to there and everywhere. I swore long ago, I wasn't going to be that mom.  Too stressful. Too tiring. Just too much all around. Well, I am now that mom. Funny thing is, I can't imagine my life ANY other way. When I'm watching my babies do what they love, I find my happy place. My sense of calm in this demanding world. When I watch them, I'm at peace. A kind of peace I've never known before. True, beautiful, hopelessly overwhelming peace.

This season was Taya's first time not only to play softball on a team, but it was her first time to ever even hit the ball. Her team did awesome. She was on the 6U team(5 & 6 yr olds). Their record...8 wins, 1 tie and 3 losses. They did so well they made it to the End of Season tournament. Out of 11 teams, they came in fifth. After regular season ended, we jumped right into the All-Star tournament(the very next week!). The all-star team is typically made up of the best 11 or 12 players combined from the two teams of that age group. You have to try out to make this team. Our town, however, is so small we only had one 6U team so therefore all our girls "made" the all-star team. They went to the tournament with heart and within the first two games were eliminated. I was sad...Taya was not. She said she will play again next year but for this year she is done(her words, not mine).

 Our lil' catcher!

Cutest thing ever!

The Ladycats

This was Corbin's third year to play baseball and I have to say, probably the funnest for me, as a mom, to watch. With his age of 10, he should have been on the 10U(9 & 10 yr olds) team. However, we signed him up late(whatever, no we didn't) so that team was full so they put him on the 12U team(11 & 12 yr olds). The 12U division had two teams. One team with all fifth graders and one sixth grader(kids he's used to playing with) and the other had all sixth graders, one fifth grader and one forth grader. Guess which Corbin was...that's right, the forth grader. Due to birthdays, some of the boys he was playing with and against were 13 years old! He's only 10! He just turned 10! After my shock wore off, I asked Corbin if he still wanted to play and he said yes.He(and myself) are used to him being a starter and truly one of the best players on the team. This season due to the age and experience of his other teammates, he sat the bench a bit and didn't get as many hits(when he normally hits anything and everything).  I have since asked him if he is glad he did that or would he have rather not played at all. He said he's glad he played because it all only made him a better player. Yes, that's my boy. Mr. Humble.

His team did so well(11 wins and 2 losses) that they also made it to the End of Season tournament. This was a BLAST! They kicked butt. He had a tournament game last Wednesday night, Friday night, Saturday night and two Monday night(Double header). They won four of those five games and made it to the CHAMPIONSHIP! They played the championship game last night(Tuesday) and lost 3-0. They played a hard, rough game and did their best. They came in second place overall! That's a pretty wonderful accomplishment!

 Watching the other team get their Championship shirts.

Tomcat team picture

 Our Champion

Corbin and head coach, Brian

Love him to bits!

Love them both to the moon and back!

Corbin getting his shirt

Now that regular season is over, we move into All-Star time with Corbin. Due to his age, he couldn't try out and be on the 12U all-star team, so fortunately, the coach for the 10U team was kind enough to take a look at Corbin and see if he felt he was good enough to join his all-star team. Of course he was and now is back playing with kids his own age. At practice tonight, I can really tell how much him being on an older team helped him. He is way ahead of the boys he is now playing with and against. He also got to try out for pitcher and made it with flying colors. It's safe to say he's on cloud nine.

In more Ramey family news, Ethan has joined the school band and has decided to be a percussionist(drum line and such). He recently had his spring concert and I couldn't be more proud. During the concert he played the symbols and did awesome, if I do say so myself(I have video of the performance on my phone but my computer apparently doesn't like it). 

Well friends and family, that about sums it up. Our life the past few months in a nutshell.

We now get ready to dive into summer...full speed ahead.