Spring weather has arrived. The day I got to help with softball practice it was so warm the girls were sweating and then two days later it was snowing again. It was half rain and half snow as I walked most of Natalie’s friends home from school for her birthday party. Natalie had originally wanted a camp out in the back yard but I told her if she wanted that kind of party she would need to wait until summer. Instead, we had a Bluey themed party (thanks to Instagram telling me Target now carried Bluey party supplies). I was so grateful to be working part time as I cleaned the house and prepared for the party almost all day long. While they waited for Natalie’s last bestie to arrive after an appointment they raised the pantry for snacks, talked about which Bluey character they would be, and played with the Bluey Play Dough set I accidentally found at Walmart the day before. The 8 girls were a barrel of laughs as they played pass the parcial, Bluey charades, Bluey paw game (like musical chairs) and freeze danced in the play room. Turns out the official Bluey website has great stuff to download! They binge watched Bluey in the basement and went through the obstacle course I had made them over and over again. Sprite and popcorn fueled the tv show watching. Hubby brought home tons of pizza to eat along with the veggie tray I had almost forgotten to buy. Natalie chose Red Velvet Nothing Bunt Cake and I easily decorated it with a Bluey character set. I had no idea Bluey had so much merch until this week. Lol. The girls broke into full on play mode in the basement and eventually I had to tell them it was time for cake and presents at 8:00. Their parents would be picking them up in half and hour so they had to be ready. Every time Natalie opened a present I could tell how well these girls knew her. I was so grateful for their thoughtfulness and the support of their parents. My one hope was that everyone there could just have a good time for a few hours together after suffering loss. From what I could tell, that goal was accomplished. Such a wonderful group of humans Natalie is growing up with. I am lucky to know them through her. I was more than happy to see them smile and laugh and be loud. And kudos to the teenagers in my house for putting up with it all and lodging zero complaints. Teenagers can be wonderful!
Oh, speaking of teenagers, while some of the girls waited for their parents, Michelle showed them the record player that had finally arrived as her 13th birthday present. Hubby picked out a good brand entry level model that matched the speakers he had been using at his computer. To make sure it was working, Michelle borrowed a couple records Kate had bought at the thrift store to hang up in her room. I almost cried listening to someone I didn’t recognize the name of singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” in the way my mom’s dad used to sing to me. What a gift of a memory. Hubby also took Michelle shopping for vinyl at Arc and Target. The real winners of the day were how beautiful Taylor Swift’s Lavender Midnights album was and how fun the red and yellow Guardians of the Galaxy music was. As Michelle got ready for her dance competition the next morning she listened to Midnights quietly playing on her record player and it just seemed so Michelle. I am glad we could give her a nice gift that she is enjoying so much. (She opted not to have a birthday party so this took the place of what we would have spent on that.) And here is proof Michelle is taller than me!!!
While Michelle took part in her last competition Danny had another baseball tournament. This Saturday it was Dad on dance duty and Mom’s turn for baseball in the middle of nowhere. We drove an hour northeast to where there wasn’t snow on the ground. There was massive amounts of fog at one point and I realized after we were in the clear a cop had been behind me for who knows how long. You know it’s spring baseball when you’re sitting in the bleachers with sunscreen on, a winter coat on top of your hoodie, two blankets around your legs and a winter hat under a baseball hat to watch. Danny walked into his first game knowing they were up against a really good team. Our boys fought hard and hung in there but fell 7-9. The second game Danny was a sub since he jammed his thumb hitting during the first game. We stuck it out in the wind that had come up and it was a blast to watch C’s home run. At first it looked like it was going to be an easy win but the guys fell behind and weren’t able to catch up. Strangely enough, that score was also 7-9. Danny had high hopes for the 2nd day of the tournament after we scored him a required drop 3 bat that had been returned to Scheel's for less than half the original price (allowing him to use it instead of his wooden bat).
It was Hubby's turn to take him the next day while it was my turn to take Kate to her last volleyball tournament of the season. Both Kate and Danny started out with wins. Danny's team won 7-5 but the next game was pretty horrid. Danny's bestie dislocated his shoulder sliding into 3rd base. When they couldn't get him settled in a car they decided to call an ambulance. Turns out he had to be sedated to get his shoulder back in place properly. From what his dad told us, C is even more C on medication. lol. Sadly, C ended up sharing that ambulance ride with a player from the other team. While he was at bat he fouled a ball and it bounced back to hit him straight in the face, breaking his nose and probably a TBI as well. Poor kid. I felt so sorry for all the players and families at that game. I was sad my hubby had to be there to see it since it reminded him of Danny's injury last fall. They kept playing the game and our guys lost 12-4. I kind of wondered if they were ready to go home after all that and it was just as well they were out on single elimination day. (Good thing his baseball coaches don't know about my blog or else they would wonder how committed to the sport I am.)
For volleyball our team was competing against another team from the same club (Navy vs. Red). At one point it looked like the non travel team was going to beat the travel team and I was about ready to ask for a refund. But our girls pulled ahead and showed them what experience can do. There was plenty more volleyball to be had, though. Our Navy won the first set against their second opponent 25-19, then lost second set but won a heart pounding 3rd set 15-13. I sometimes think this team just doesn't like winning by a lot.
The next team made our girls work real hard. Winning by most of the second set 16-16 back and forth with an eventual loss 24-26. I thought we were done for the day but it turns out they were doing crossover so the girls needed to ref one more time and got to play one more time. This set started off slow but ended 22-25 just like T & E’s dad called it. Next set was the reverse of 25-22 after leading by a lot the most of the set. Navy did win the 3rd set after scaring the parents by letting the other team go on a run right before scoring that winning point for us. So their last tournament of the season they took 2nd place. They seemed to be having a lot a fun together and had quite the day to end the season. I'm so proud of them!
The first night Kate didn't have volleyball practice it seemed like she had all the time in the world. Ava came over and later Kate hung out with her little sisters. I think this is a well deserved break for her!
P.S. Trying to fix our washing machine after dance and baseball on Saturday. Darn thing is having a lot of trouble draining properly again but what we did last time isn't working this time. Hubby has a part ordered so hopefully that will do the trick.
P.P.S. I had a goal this year to spend less time listening to YouTube videos and more time listening to books as I did things like housework. The Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking was silly but fun. I listened to Michelle’s favorite book, Dance of Thieves, and can see why she loves it! I felt like I learned a lot from Mosquito Bowl even though it was heartbreaking. Of course when I saw there was another Maisie Dobbs book available I checked that out. The character is now solving mysteries during WWII so I had two WWII books in a row. I accidentally kept up with the war theme when a book I had placed on hold became available: Home Front by Kristin Hannah. She is such a good author and of course I wondered how she could describe things so well without experiencing them herself. Of course I cried because how can you finish one of Kristin Hannah’s books without shedding tears?
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