Michelle is loving her dance classes and had her first team bonding, this one at Water World. We got to take a couple other girls who had moms that were out of town and I brought Natalie along to have fun and keep me from bothering my 12 year old during the day. We had a blast and the weather was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold and no rain storms. But that happened later while Michelle & I were at the Stake Carnival. She was seen running around in the downpour making people smile but eventually we decided to run for the car and head home. For the record, Michelle's favorite ride was Voyage to the Center of the Center aka the dinosaur ride (that Natalie refused to go on because she heard there was a long line) and Natalie's was the Ragin' Colorado River (left side). We later learned that the dinosaur ride made a girl Natalie's age cry while Michelle was on it so I was glad we had chosen not to go on that one.
While Michelle and Natalie and I were at Water World our boys headed to Danny’s first tournament of fall ball ‘22 (and Kate stayed home getting over a cold). Then the next day I got to take Danny and the weather was perfect. (Dan and Michelle and Natalie joined us later.) After a tough couple losses the day before and knowing it was a single elimination tournament Danny didn’t think we would be there longer than one game. But the boys came ready to battle! They won the first game 8-3 and came back to win the second game 7-6, giving them a spot in the championship game! I’ll add what the coach messaged below to tell you about the team they played to earn their runner up medals. We all knew one of our best pitchers was in Hawaii and we were going to have to bring in boys who don’t usually pitch. Danny got to try pitching for the first time at the end of the third game. These boys (on both teams) had such good attitudes and put forth great effort. I’m so proud of them and it was a kick seeing Danny smile on the mound and pretty much the entire day. Oh baseball, how we’ve missed you.
From Coach Clayton:
“That was a heckuva tournament to got to play in. It took a day to get our baseball bodies and baseball brains going, and today we settled in. Kept our composure and just kept going for two come from behind wins, and then battled with a really good team in the championship. That Grizzlies team is a top 4 team in the State, D1/Majors. So part of what made us look rusty in the first game on Saturday was really playing a talented opponent. Then today, their starter was legitimate. Looking at his Perfect Game profile (for showcase players) his fastball is 99% percentile for 8th graders in the nation. We got better this weekend and gained confidence.”
After work one day the art teacher told me she had to show me something. She had put up a display of what her students said art was. This year Danny is taking photography instead of art like last year. We got a good chuckle out of what one of his best friends wrote.
My birthday celebrations lasted for days this year! I got spoiled by Hubby leaving shoes I had really wanted waiting for me in our closet for when I got dressed that morning. My coworkers bought me GF Oreos, which was a real treat b/c not only do they know me well & were thoughtful but also because Target had been sold out of them the day before. That night I got to watch my high schooler get court time on the JV team with my own two eyes. (She had gotten some time when Hubby was watching the day before while I got Danny to flag football practice and Natalie to softball practice & was able to stop in for a little bit.) It was a blast to see her out there. Check out this vertical I caught on camera during warm ups! I didn't want to have the camera out while she was actually playing. I also had sidekick Natalie there watching while Hubby took care of Michelle going to & from play practice & picking up Danny from baseball practice. And the timing worked out perfect that when the JV volleyball game was over Natalie got to come with me to the high school back to school night where I was able to meet all of Kate's teachers except her journalism teacher (who wasn't there that night). Luckily I was able to drop Natalie at home during the time that was the journalism teacher's turn so that she didn't have to stay the whole night. I feel so grateful I was able to watch volleyball and meet all the high school teachers I could so I can get a taste of what Kate is doing every day. Back to school night ended just in time for me to watch the last little bit of the varsity game and take Kate home. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday but then the fun continued!
Hubby stayed home from work the next morning so that we could go paddle boarding together and it was great. But we may have to give up on Maisie ever enjoying SUP. lol. We left the house at about the same time for him to go to work and for me to join my friend B, who was taking me out to eat at our local Peruvian restaurant. It was so great to catch up with her! That night I got to attend back to school night at the middle school and meet Danny's teachers. (I focused on his because all of Michelle's teachers have been either Kate or Danny's teachers before.) I also know she will never have to have help getting in my co-workers good graces. lol. Then on Saturday I got to enjoy my friend L's birthday lunch and we share a birthday so it felt like I just got to keep celebrating! I simply adored her friends I got to meet and we talked at Cafe Mexicali from noon until almost 4pm! Oh, and I had helped pack lunches for children in need as part of a ward service project that morning so I was pretty much gone all day. But, when I got home, Natalie decorated my birthday cake and after dinner our family got to watch Top Gun Maverick in our basement. So fun! I also had neighbors & my ministering sisters drop off gifts (the dish soap and handmade scrubber came just in time -- inspired), and my parents took me out to eat lunch at Red Robin one day I had off work as well. If this week is any indication, this should be a great age for me!
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