The Orchard Team Huddle

WARNING: THIS POST IS ABOUT BASEBALL. IT IS ALL WE DO RIGHT NOW. I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO WRITE ABOUT. I just thought I would get that out of the way so if you are completely sick of my baseball stories you can click over to another blog:). If you are kind enough to read on, I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into our world. Be sure to take a 7th inning stretch. You are going to need it! Tournament time! I can't imagine forgetting the fun of a super league tournament but I am going to document it none-the-less. For our family, holidays usually mean baseball. The first tournament is President's Day in St. George followed by March Madness, also in St. George. Over Spring Break we did the Pizza Factory tournament and just this weekend was the Memorial Day tournament. Next weekend will be Idaho Falls, followed by the Fourth of July, followed by the Tournament of Champions (this one you have to qualify for). We usually have a big end-of-year tournament that we play in as well. We di...

Bases loaded, Wilson on third, a few shoulder circles with bat in tow and Stockton strategically places his toe in the dirt. With a side to side motion he plants his feet just inches from the plate. "Knock your cousin in," yells mom.  A few wiggles of the bat and the first pitch is thrown, ball.  Next pitch, strike.  "That's the one you want to hit," (mom has a very hard time keeping quiet during the game!).  One more pitch and CRACK .  It's going, it's going, it's over the left fielder's head.  It rolls to the fence!  Stockton is rounding second, he is rounding third. "Go Stockton, GO!" His lightening speed is no match for the Cubs as he safely slides into home, his first ever HOMERUN which also happens to be a Grand Slam .    Grinning so hard it must have hurt he enters the dugout to a team of hysterical boys, all cheering for him.  He looks over to see if mom saw.  A little tear appears in the corner of her eye as she gives him thum...

At the age of 11 months and 1 day, Mason decided it was time to join in with the rest of the family and walk on 2 legs instead of all fours. I thought we would have a warm up period where I held on to his fingers and walked him around but he decided to go at it cold turkey. He climbed up to the table and took off. First it was 4 steps, then 10 and now he can make it from one room to the next. He is still a little wobbly but I would have to say he is officially walking. He can even turn and change directions. I guess in no time at all this walk will become a run. I have been amazed at the things Mason has learned this past month. The biggest thing I have noticed is how he is mimicking so many things that I can't believe he has noticed us do. For example: Y He got a hold of an empty water bottle and crawled over to Maggie's bowl to pour water in it. Y He took a paper cup over to the fridge and lifted it to fill from the water dispenser. Y He tried to swipe my credit card at Tar...

This is Douglas' best baseball buddy, Hunter. (And Douglas' awesome dad!) They have been on the same team for 7 of the eight years we have lived here.  They have sweat together, frozen together, been drenched together, laughed together, cried together, helped each other, traveled to just about every region in Utah, Idaho Falls, Steam Boat Springs and New York, won, lost and lived this great game of baseball together.  (Winning a tournament at about 11 p.m. in 2005) They still play together on the weekends but during the week they are on different teams.  It makes for an exciting little rivalry.  Last week I picked Hunter up to take him to the field.  He got in the car and said, "Hello, enemy," with a smile on his face.  I am sure the games have been a topic of conversation on their walks to and from school. No doubt they have even exchanged a little friendly banter.  But, when it comes right down to it there is no way I can not cheer for both of them.  I want both of ...

PROBLEM: Piano recital May 4 th , 6:30 Baseball Game May 4 th, 7:45 SOLUTION: Super juggling mom calls piano teacher and arranges for both boys to be first on the list, breaking protocol of newer students first, more experienced ones last. It is worth it to get teenager to game so he doesn't throw a fit about hating piano lessons. Still plenty of time to make the game. Just might miss warm-ups. NEW PROBLEM: Light's not working at field. Game moved up to 6:30. BIG PROBLEM!! NEW SOLUTION: Ponder dilemma for a few days. Ask dad's opinion, knowing he would give anything to miss piano recital. Make decision on your own! Stick with original game plan but be super tacky and rude by not dressing up for the recital, leave 5 minutes after it starts and get teenager to game 30 minutes late. That is the only way to avoid a complete uproar. He doesn't love this idea and failed when he said "Mom, I will have a lot more piano recitals!" Something is wrong with this e...