7/365: Put Me In Coach

I suck at taking photos inside of a gym.

But, Cameron loves playing basketball and I just had to document it.

Day 151 - Opening Day 2011

Saturday was opening day parade and ceremony for Laconia Little League.  Some of the younger players wore their cleats to walk.  I wouldn't let Cameron because I thought he would be more comfortable in his sneakers.  He was not pleased because he loves his new cleats.  The players who are in their 6th or 7th year of Little League would agree with me though.  All of them had their comfy sneakers on.  I took this photo during the Opening Day ceremony:

Now that's what I call comfort!  I'll call this my 365 photo today, but let me show you some of my son, because that is why I went :)

OK, so my kid is not in this shot, but you get the idea of the parade.  I wish I had gone to the top of the parking garage and got a shot of the length of the parade.  It's pretty impressive!

Cameron started out in left field.  He has already improved from his one season of Tee-Ball.  He knows that even if he is not fielding the ball he should be backing up third base or backing up the infield play.  He is catching on!

This is one of Cameron's four coaches.  They are all fantastic and doing a wonderful job instructing the kids through every part of the game.  I am impressed with their kindness and patience.  Olivia took this photo, by the way.  The girl has got talent!  Time for her own DSLR?

Cameron got to be catcher.  As he was coming off the field I asked him to stop so I could take a photo.  The coach laughed and said, "He's in there somewhere!"  Do they make this equipment any smaller?

Olivia was thoroughly entertained and entertaining during the game.  I am saving those photos for tomorrow.

Day 148 - Did We Just Skip Spring??

I'm not one to complain too much about the weather.  I do live in New England, so I am used to crazy weather changes.  It snowed on Saturday and was 40 degrees.  Yesterday it was hot, humid and 80 degrees!  Spring is one of my favorite seasons.  I'm trying really hard not to complain, but is Spring becoming extinct?  60's and sunny with a cool breeze.  That is what I remember Spring being like.  Please come back Spring.  I miss you dearly.

I had a really hard time choosing which photo to put on here for my 365, so I will bless you with the top three.  (OK, it's five, but the last one is a collage so I am counting it as one)

My kids donned their summer clothes today.  In fact, I switched all of our closets and put our Winter coats away.  Olivia comes to all of Cameron's baseball games and she has such a fun time.  She plays with Nana and Grampa, runs around in the grass and helps me to take photos.  Toward the end of the game she put a blanket down and posed for me.  She had her hands under her chin as her pose, but my favorite one is when I caught her in-between poses.

Earlier that day we played outside with Grampa.  The baby got to enjoy some fresh air with us.  Cameron just adores this little guy.  I wish we would be around longer to see him grow.  

Cameron got his first hit in his first game of the season.  His first two at bats were unsuccessful, and he was getting a little discouraged.  Then he connected and he was so happy.  The first baseman for the other team, Sam, was just as happy.  The two just smiled and giggled at each other.  Then Sam started to knock on Cam's helmet.  It was funny to watch and to photograph.  The two had never met but you would never have known you were watching their very first interaction.

Now, do you see why I had such a hard time choosing??

"Spring" Ball

Cameron is playing baseball this year.  It is strange not calling it "T-Ball".  He has graduated to coach-pitch baseball.  He is one of two six year olds on the team.  The rest of the kids are seven and eight and really really good.  That is not to say that Cameron is bad, he's just six and doesn't have as much experience as the others.  I know in a couple years he will catch on a little more.  It's fun to watch the eight year olds who actually know to cover bases and lead and some of the other rules that are lost on the younger kids.  Cameron was hesitant about playing this year, but once he got there he remembered how much he loves playing.  Damien and I do not try to push sports on our kids.  We play catch and help him hit when he is into it, but as far as rules and "drills", we know to not pressure him.  He will like it or hate it and I don't want it to be because of us that he hates it.

Soccer Boy

Yesterday was Cameron's first day of soccer practice.  I just adore him in his little soccer shorts and socks.  This year Gilford has enough kids for five teams.  It should be an exciting soccer season!

He does really well dribbling the ball.

I bought myself a planner.  With school, soccer, dance class, my work schedule, my husband's work schedule, my husband's football games, play dates and family events, I really need to stay organized!  

Let's Play Ball!

On Saturday Laconia Little League celebrated Opening Day of baseball and softball season.  I really had no idea what a huge event it is for this city!  I took a ton of photos, but I'm going to narrow it down to a few of my favorites, just because there are 15 more games and a lot more photos to share.  I don't want any overkill :)

The day started with a parade down Main Street all the way to Opechee Park.  I think it's at least a mile, if not more.  That's a long way for people with tiny legs!  I had Olivia in the backpack and we walked from the park to the start of the parade and then back again.  What a great workout!

I LOVE Cameron in his little baseball pants with no bum!

Too cute!

When the hundreds of kids made it all the way to Colby Field, the opening ceremony began.  I don't want to post photos because there are other kids' faces in the pictures and I don't have permission from their parents, but I can post these pictures.  One of the founding fathers of Laconia Little League passed away and they dedicated this bench to him.  Two of the other founding fathers were in attendance and one has the field named after him.  It was pretty emotional and I didn't even know any of them!

Our Mayor, Mayor Seymour and one of Laconia's finest.  They are 

public figures, so I can post their photos.

Cameron enjoys a pre-game doughnut thanks to Coach Brian.

I almost said no, but every other kid on the team was 

having one... and so it begins!

Cam takes center field.  No balls ever made it that far, but

he did a great job backing up every other ball that was hit.

First at-bat.  He doesn't miss and made it all the way to 

first base (everyone does!)

His next position was catcher.  I love these photos!  These kids love

equipment, Cameron included.  If they can wear a helmet they are

the happiest kids in the world!

The proud Daddy looks on.  He has to try really hard not

to coach from the sidelines and I have to constantly remind him.

It's hard, but these kids need to learn to listen to the coach!

Olivia played with Grammy and Paw Paw and

ate a lot of snacks!

Cam's last at-bat.

Cameron really enjoys t-ball.  I only want him to do what he enjoys.  When I sign him up for sports I always keep in mind that he might not actually like it, and if he doesn't, it's OK.  Sometimes, when we parents act overly interested in our kids joining sports, we are greeted with resistance.  The sport becomes for the child something that we (the parents) want them to do instead of something they want to do.  Before we sign our kids up for anything we ask them if they want to do it.  They usually say yes, but sometimes they say no, and that's OK.  I watch Cameron playing T-Ball and I don't think, "Oh, he could be a great baseball star one day if he keeps at it," I think, "Wow, he sure is having fun!"  

It's the same with everything he does.  When he draws a beautiful picture I don't think "Wow, maybe he'll be an artist."  Instead I am thinking, "Wow, what a beautiful photo from my beautiful boy."  It's about living in the now.  It's about my Sunday Citar quote, "Little Boy, you remind me how so much depends on days made of now."  We are learning to live in the moment, not the past or the future.  It makes our days more magical.  Enjoy your moments!

Opening Day!

Today is Opening Day for Laconia Little League!  Cameron is soooooo excited.  Yesterday we went to the field to practice fielding balls, hitting and running the bases.

All the kids were ready to catch the ball.  Cameron was 

the only one with a glove, though!

He's getting pretty good at fielding.

Hey, Little Cameron, where are you going?

Get back here!

Olivia sat down and bossed Jackson around for a little while.

Jackson didn't listen.

Cameron practiced running the bases for when he hits a home run tomorrow!

This pair ran the bases holding hands.

It was pretty cute!

OK, that's enough.  Time for a break.

Checking out what's going on over at the playground :)

When we got home Cameron had to try on his uniform.  I got a 

little teary-eyed.  It suddenly made him look all grown up.  I am so

not ready for this!  

Yup, #1 because he's the shortest kid on the team, ha ha!

Looking forward to Opening Day festivities.  Game time, 10 a.m.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home

No, this is not a post about a funeral home.  That is the name of Cameron's T-Ball team.  Awesome!!!

Cameron is absolutely loving t-ball and I am absolutely loving watching him love t-ball.  He's so stinkin' cute.  Today was adorable beyond words!  The coach tells him to go play second base.  Cameron gets excited and starts running, then turns around and says, "Over here?"

He has the ready stance down.  We practiced at home.  Can you tell?  If you are wondering where his glove is, the first half of practice was spent using kick balls.  

See?

His mouth always seems to be open.  He had better watch out during black fly season!

Eventually the coach will get to the part about how they are all on the same team and it doesn't matter who gets the ball first, as long as someone gets it!  But for now it makes for some pretty good laughs!

On the sidelines, Grampa taught Olivia how to do jumping jacks.  She also watched Cameron play ball for about 22 seconds before she got bored and made Grampa chase her around the field. 

Opening Day is April 24th.  Family and friends, come watch the parade through downtown and join us at the field for Cam's first game vs. Laconia Firefighters (not the actual firefighters, but the team sponsored by them, as if I had to explain that!)

Who's That Hottie?

The kids and I took in a football game this afternoon.  Winnisquam versus some green team with an N on their helmets.  When we were there I saw this guy in a black and white striped shirt and he was sooooo hot that I couldn't stop taking photos of him.  I think the rest of the crowd was about to call the cops.

We had a fun time at the game, the kids and I.  We cheered on the referee, watched a girl pass out from not eating, watched the ambulance, police and fire truck pull up, watched a little of the game, tackled each other, and I did a little knitting.  We left at half-time and the kids and I went out to supper.  My kids ate all their dinner, so I treated them to ice cream sundaes.  To top it all off, the guy in the black and white shirt came home with us :)

The Olivia Show

OK, so it was really Cameron's rec soccer program, but Olivia did her best to steal the show.  This week Grammy and Paw Paw came to cheer Cameron on (and apparently take photos of Olivia).

Cameron played a game called Sharks and Minnows.  Cameron had a lot of fun being a shark.  He got to kick the ball away from all the other kids.

This time we left Cameron's soccer ball at home.  Last week, Cameron was so worried that someone would take his ball that he was having trouble concentrating on anything else.





While Cameron played soccer, Olivia was busy entertaining the crowd and her Grammy and Paw Paw.  Since she is potty-trained, none of her pants quite fit her well.  While last week she tried to tear my shirt off exposing my ugly blue bra to all the other Moms and Dads, this week she was mooning all the spectators and players.  Every time she ran, jumped or bent over her pants (and underpants) would fall down.

After watching her brother play for a few minutes she decided it was time for Paw Paw to take pictures of her. 

 "Now take one of me doing this." Commence silly pose.

Of course, with ALL the photo taking we were sure to capture a few really cute ones.

Cameron pauses for a water break.

Goal!