We went to Charlotte on Friday to see Coleton and Anthony play baseball (Anthony plays T-ball) on Saturday and to celebrate Anthony's 5th birthday. Friday evening, we got to spend time with Tony and Marie at a local restaurant for drinks and dessert. They have a nice, young lady who babysits for them and she was willing to take care of Dixie, too.
By mid-November, Tony and Marie will have a new screened in porch directly off of the dining area. It's going to be really nice, 22 x 16 feet, with fans, heating, a TV, sectional couch, separate chair seating and a dining table that can seat 10 people.
Eventually, there will be a patio off of the porch, a fire pit and new landscaping. We can't wait to see it all finished.
And so, on Saturday, we headed to the ball field. Coleton's game was first. He usually plays first base, but the coaches try to rotate the kids to all of the positions. He did very well. He hit a home run and a triple. They won, 13 to 2. Coleton has a good game sense. He keeps his eye on the ball when hitting and also where the ball is when he is on base. He really pays attention when he is playing first base. He has his eye on the batter and ball and has caught some line drives. He got the game ball on Saturday for the home run!
Anthony's game was entertaining. From a grandparent perspective, I think that Anthony could probably play with Coleton's team (the 6 and 7 year olds) because he, too, is very good. His father says he's a "natural" and I saw why. Many of the kids had to hit the ball from the "tee." But, Anthony has been hitting coach pitched balls for awhile now. He hits, he runs and he runs fast. He also runs with his tongue out, which I find endearing.
Most of the kids on Anthony's team didn't know much about baseball, especially when playing the field. At one point, one of the coaches picked up the ball and a little boy who was playing center field and ran him over to where the play should have been made. The coaches are really good with the team. They give them lots of encouragement and at the end of the game, have them slap hands with the other team and say, "good game." Then they have their coach meeting where the head coach tells them how they have improved, what they need to work on and then recognizes someone on the team who played well with the game ball. Liam, who was playing third base got the game ball. He was hit in the right elbow with a line drive. The ball missed his glove and hit him really hard. He started to cry. (Yes, everyone was saying, "there's no crying in baseball!!") I think getting the game ball took away a lot of the pain.
Not only did I enjoy the games, I enjoyed the names of the team members. There was Hunter, Porter, Austin, Liam, Jax and Weston. No Jimmy's, Bobby's or Ben's. Of course, in 1976, few people had heard of the name, Jenna, either!
Owen watched Coleton's game and you can tell, he'll be out there soon--if the trend continues, I'm guessing his name will go well with the other players! He still likes to eat, more than anything, but he is spending more time playing with his brothers. It's been three months since they lost Tyson, but for whatever reason, Owen was afraid of Dixie. He would only pet Dixie if someone was holding her face away from him. She spent a lot of time upstairs in the guest bedroom or on her leash, attached to something. But, she did get to run around when Marie, Anthony and Coleton were playing football in the great room. They called her, "Jaws," because she would get the nose of the football in her teeth and not let go. I think she scored a few touch downs!
After that, it was time to give Anthony his birthday present and then go home. It was a fun and as always, loud visit.
On Sunday, we went to the Brown's Backers at the Reel Cafe. It was an exciting, but difficult game. I think there were at least two times when the officials stiffed us, but, they wear the stripes, not me. It was fun to be among other Brown's fans and in downtown Wilmington. I am always pleased to see so much activity on Sunday, unlike when we were in Cleveland. Sunday in downtown Cleveland was quiet and empty. In Wilmington, the restaurants are open, you hear music playing, the horse drawn tours are taking people through the city, the Cape Fear River is busy and people are all over the River Walk.
Rose and Joe will be in soon and next week, Sam will 11 years old and Zach will be 8. I thought I told them not to grow!
David, Brenda and Alex will be in for Thanksgiving and that will end our visitors for 2019.
Check out our photos:
Owen, Mr. Hungry
Doing "slap hands" with Papa
Our newest 5 year old...
...stealing raspberries from the fruit salad!
Notice Owen's look. Coleton is holding Dixie is just out of the frame,
but Owen wants to make sure she's not coming after him.
Owen watches Coleton's game
Coleton up to bat...
The batter's stance
Keeping his eye on the ball...
...And he connects. You can see the ball in mid-air,
just under one of the bats hanging on the fence
Getting ready to run....
...And there he goes...
....Jumping on home base! It's a home run!
It's Anthony up to bat across the field...
He hits....
...And he's off
....Passing second base.....
...Heading to third!
Standing on third, where he scored on the next pitch
The many faces of Owen.....here, with Papa
Mommy is behind me, cracking Owen up!
Thoughtful
Watching college football with brothers
Coleton takes his sports very seriously
Anthony, my heart...
Opening the "Slammin' Sluggers" game we got him
Dixie attempting an interception during the Swegle Bowl....
but loses the ball to a forward pass to Mommy from Anthony....
Mommy does a quarterback sneak, with the ball behind her back...
And throws the ball......
...To Daddy. Dixie does a leap and attempts to force a fumble....
Dixie intercepts a throw to Coleton....
....they don't call her "Jaws" for nothing....
Coleton acknowledges the Dixie touchdown so she will release the ball....
Enjoying the score, before she got into the back
seat of the car and slept all the way home!
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