Speaking of basketball, a couple of days after he went to the doctor for a check up (pictured here was brunch at First Watch afterwards), Danny got to play in a one day “tournament” with his high school. They played some amazing teams and that’s exactly how you get better! We were making fun of how it was simply a triple header and that baseball tournaments were a very different experience. It has been so strange to not see him play baseball this summer. I feel like I’m forgetting something, almost like phantom pain.
Which brings me to Natalie’s final tournament of the season. We started with a double header on Monday, which the girls played well and were able to pull off two wins 7-0 & 8-7. With being a double elimination tournament, we then knew they would be playing one game on Wednesday and one, two, or three games on Thursday. It made me smile that when I told Natalie that yes, we could go see Inside Out 2 on Tuesday and did she want to bring anyone with us, it was A. These girls can play softball three days a week and still want more time together and I am here for it! Wonderful movie, btw. I personally liked it more than the original.
On Wednesday it was Hubby’s turn to take Natalie and boy, what a time they had. A thunderstorm had come through, delaying previous games and causing their 8pm game to begin over an hour later. You should have seen hour tired Natalie was when she came to say goodnight to me at 11:15pm (since this venue is about a 60 minute drive there and 45 minute drive home depending on the time). This team does like playing on turf so they don’t mind the drive and usually do well at these fields but they got beat pretty good 0-9. On Thursday we played in the first games of the day so no delays but after a nail biter (so close at 4-6), these girls were done playing together. It’s definitely not how they wanted to end the season, and there may have been a teardrop or two shed in my car on the way home, but oh, how we have loved this softball team! These coaches and these players and families have been amazing. Four of the girls are aging out, Natalie included, and we are so sad to leave this wonderful experience behind. But, which was so very nice of them, the coaches threw the girls an end of season party at the Main Event where they got to go bowling, play laser tag, play arcade games, eat pizza and cake, and exchange small gift and cards. They had so much fun and there were so many cute hugs! I didn’t want to be a creeper or cramp Natalie’s style so I ended up checking out the nearest Goodwill and Arc thrift stores with still having lots of time to talk to a few of the parents. I will miss this team too!
Michelle is home! During the basketball and softball tournament week our middle daughter was at the music camp she attended last summer and loved. Sounds like she had a great time again this year!
Hubby got to drop Michelle off at orchestra camp while Natalie and I got to hear a missionary homecoming talk and I subbed her primary class again. We were thrilled that she got to be roommates with one of her good friends this summer and recognized quite a few of the campers. Natalie and I told her how much we would miss her and she promised to FaceTime us, which she did the very first night. It was so cute to see Natalie hug my phone goodbye when it was time to hang up. It was so great to hear her stories and see smiles like this taken by another camper. I’m glad she had such a wonderful time. I truly wished I could be in two places at once Thursday night while I was at Natalie’s last softball game and Hubby was at Michelle’s end of camp performance. He did a great job taking video for me, though! I am so grateful for him and for all we are able to do for our children as a team.
And after all that excitement, Hubby and I took the children who love the Renaissance Festival back after missing last summer. The weather was perfect and the crowds were impressive and we had a wonderful time. Word to the wise: get there BEFORE it opens or else it might take an hour to exit the interstate and park like it did for us! And don’t see the new “Witch Trial” show if you have children with you. But “Blades and Bravery” and “ Jacques ze Whipper” were great 100% of the time “Craic” and “London Broil” jugglers were great even from a distance. I would call “Zilch, the Torysteller” good brain exercise too. And eating Steak on a Steak is a must for lunch with the cinnamon almonds for an afternoon snack. The crowd and artisan creativity wowed once again and it was great to be there. Of course, we should have taken photos on the way in instead of the way out because it was very dusty. I had to crop out our feet because I wore sandals and they were literally so dirty. lol
And what was Kate up to, since I don’t have any photos of her? Lots of spending time with friends and babysitting and a dentist appointment that I got to take her to get a smoothie afterwards. It is great when I get to spend time with her, even if it’s for the dentist!
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