6th Grade Promotion

School's out for the summer!  We celebrated Mason's end of elementary school last week with a brief ceremony at school and a trip to In and Out for lunch.  Like most things, it was over in the blink of an eye! As his teacher said, you have to love a kid who wears super hero clothes for the last day and ceremony.  It came in handy as someone needed to lead the flag salute as well.  

Hook and Ladder

Last weekend, Mark, Mason and Kendal made it down to Livermore to run in the 6th annual Hook and Ladder Run.  It wasn't easy to get down there, Mark didn't finish shooting until 9:00 Saturday night, and then they made the drive to San Ramon.  Then Mason and Mark navigated to the wrong location, but they overcame and  fell into line with 5 minutes to spare Sunday morning.  It was well worth it to be a part of this super positive event that Mark's brother Matt puts so much time and energy into each year.  I love that the kids and Mark rose to the challenge without any running preparation, and went out with smiles (mostly) on their faces to support a great cause.  And it makes me smile that they all immediately acknowledge the camera people at the race, although Kendal refused to hold Mark's hand for the photo op :)

http://www.active.com/livermore-ca/running/distance-running-races/6th-annual-hook-and-ladder-run-2014

Confidence

After 7 years living the dream with baseball fields basically in our backyard, Mason has wrapped up his last year in Majors at Westside.  The end of baseball season is always interesting.  It always ends on a loss thanks to the tournament style play, and usually your personal play is at it's best or worst.  Mason seems to rally for the tournaments, so he's lucky to usually end on a high note.  This year was no exception.  He had a great couple of last games, with solid hitting (5-5), base running (2 delayed steals at home) and fielding (pitching, catching, 1st and Center).  He ended the season behind the plate, which is usually his favorite spot on the field.  This year he also got a taste for pitching for the first time, and now loves that as well.  We wrap it up not knowing if Westside will have a Juniors program, or if Mason will want to play or if he will be throwing his energy into something else at this time next year, and that's ok.  We can wait and see.  And what will be, will be.  But 7 great years at Westside has left its mark on this young man for sure.  Confidence, I love it when kids find it and use it.

Giants Game

Like anything in our house, a simple birthday present and card doesn't cut it.  I look at wrapped presents and see more "things" to clean up and find places for.  We've been leaning towards "experience" gifts the last couple of years, at least for Mason and now for Delaney, Kendal still likes her "stuff" more than any experience!  So, Mason and Mark headed down to a Giants Game this week with Will and Flo.  They found great seats on the 3rd base line and got there when the gates opened to watch warm ups and take it all in.  Warm ups were great.   Mason collected 2 foul balls, they watched the pitchers warm up with Buster Posey and Panda waved to Mark as Mark shot some pictures.  Mark missed the wave, but the others saw it.  The game was a bummer - the boring type you'd turn off at home - 5-0 loss to the Braves, and to top it off, the next day's score was 10-4.  Ah, life.  Never know what to expect.  But I'm glad that Mark got to take a day off work and they had a good trip and visit with Will and Flo.  Memories in the making.  And the lady behind them was a VP in Marketing for the Giants and was happy to let Mason pose with the World Series Ring - talk about cool.

"You know this baseball game of ours comes up from the 

youth. That means the boys. And after you've been a boy,

 and grow up to know how to play ball, then you come to

 the boys you see representing themselves today in our

 national pastime."

George Herman

Keeping us parents off the streets

   "Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets."

Yogi Berra

The beginning of May means that the end of baseball and softball season is in sight.  It's been so much fun hanging at the ballpark this spring.  Westside Little League park is one of the few places actually near our house, so we always enjoy any event that takes us there!  Last week, both Delaney and Mason played games there on the same day, staggered so that Mark and I each got to watch some of both.  After a couple years of practices on alternate days, and games never together, this was a true miracle between work and coaching Delaney's team.  This spring has been good for our schedules, with most days seeing more than one kid at practice or games at the same place or close, and it's such a perk.  And Kendal loves this season, even though she decided not to play this year, because it's the one sport with an active SNACK BAR. Allowances have been earned and spent this spring for sure.

Warming up at shortstop - learning some fundamentals

Covering 2nd on a steal

Looking for a hit - Delaney does not take walks if she can help it

Begging to run

Mason at bat

Rounding 2nd on the over throw forced by a delayed steal

headed home on that same over throw

Favorite place to be on the field, behind the plate in the gear

Wishing the ball could get there faster!

A year or so ago, our family pictures transitioned from vacation pictures to activity pictures, and now I love having these frozen moments as the kids change so fast and develop new skills along the way.  And baseball and softball are always good!!!

Delaney is double digits!

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

Dr. Seuss

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/drseuss414098.html#ozAH1H1MxCGP7RbA.99

Happy Birthday to a very thoughtful, creative and dynamic girl.  Delaney, you are FABULOUS!

We celebrated early this morning be for school with powdered donuts and presents.  Delaney has joined Mason with the "experience" present, rather than actual items - her birthday wish was to go shopping and have a party with her friends.  (Mason's is routinely tickets to a Giants game) I couldn't let her get by with no presents, so we wrapped up her favorite snack foods - Tostitos Salsa con Queso, Chex Mix and flat pretzels.  We threw in some much needed binder paper and 2 Warriors books she hadn't read and she was THRILLED.  And that's why we love her - Mason looked at us like we were nuts putting Chex Mix in as a present.  She'll delight in a pack of gum in the same manner Mason will freak over high value gift cards to Dick's Sporting Goods.

Happy 10th Birthday Delaney ~

Another New Start

So many of our hours are spent attempting to balance work and family - it's hard to blog solely about work!

Walt Disney said it best:

"A man should never neglect

 his family for business."