While Michelle was in Asia, Hubby and Kate worked and Kate hung out with friends doing things like paddle boarding (it is great to hear her work stories!), Natalie and I watched the Women’s College World Series when we weren’t running errands or she was playing with friends or at her own softball games, and Danny also hung out with friends, did yard work, and had a week of basketball scheduled for every day, ending with a team camp at UNC.
My dad was able to join Natalie and Hubby and I at one of the FLL games. Turns out Natalie is way better at taking basketball photos than I am.
Natalie and I got to visit Kate and her friend, A, while they were working at the farm stand right after a Karen had left. I think our delivery of Noodles had perfect timing.
Natalie and I also got to watch Danny play one of his UNC camp games. We were amazed by the high school they played at and the championship banners that went back over 100 years. We really liked the coaching we saw the team getting, especially from the guest coach, who happens to be the grandson of Michelle's tour leader. I'm pawning half of my kids off on her family this week! After getting big, sweaty hugs from Danny after the game, Natalie and I headed to Sheel's to pick out a new softball bat. Coach M had told me it might be time to get her a new one and we quickly realized she hadn't gotten a new bat for 2 years and she had grown 5" taller since then. We came home with a 32" bat to replace her 29" bat! Luckily the new bats had come out the day before so we were able to get the one she liked at a discount and bring it home to break it in. She says it's much easier to hit with!
The next day it was Hubby's turn to get to watch basketball at the camp while I took Natalie to see what she could do with a new bat that was actually the right size for her. I am sure Danny was relieved to know Hubby was the one going to be there for the last day of camp because I had been begging him to let me bring cupcakes for his entire team to celebrate his 16th birthday. He asked me to please don't do that but I was tempted to do it anyway! So yes, it's a good thing it was Hubby's turn to watch him play and pick him up from camp (since I got to drop him off too). I tink he got something even better for his birthday: his team won the silver division championship game! Danny was also really great about texting me throughout the day and since Natalie's games were scheduled for so late Hubby made him his steak dinner and let him have his card and presents. I didn't want him to have to wait for me and he was very thankful to get his own set of air pods engraved with his phone number on them even though we know what he really wanted was his own car. He has been very mature about giving up a Sweet 16 trip to help pay for competitive basketball and handling having to share vehicles very well. I am so lucky I get to be his mom.
Coach M was impressed by the singles Natalie was able to get with her new bat! It was obvious to those who had been helping her at practice that she was hitting better with this one after she got used to swinging it the first game. She struck out only once during all three games and she was certain that last strike was actually a foul ball. Natalie had gotten used to striking out once a game, not once a day. She is optimistic that with some more time working hard her hitting average with improve... and I'm feeling kind of bad I didn't notice she needed a new bat earlier.
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