Summer 2015 Part One Baseball

In just a few short hours the three big boys will already begin another year of school. So I figured it is about time I share a little about what we have been up to lately.

June had a lot of baseball. This season we had three boys and seven teams by the end of the season. First,  Liam and Colin started skills teams in February. For Liam he had a practice every Sunday through the end of March and two games on the last day. Colin's skills was a bit more in depth. He also had a practice every Sunday in February and March. His team then had fifteen games throughout April and May with a big tournament over Memorial weekend.

Colin Skills

Liam Skills

Second we had the regular season where Tristan, Colin and Liam all had about 20 games scheduled with a variety of practices mixed in. This year was Tristan's first year in the Pony league which is 13 and 14 year old kids. He had a great year. It is often challenging to start with all new teammates but Tristan is pretty easy going so he did very well and worked hard to run fast, hit hard and focused on being a great catcher. The pony league had very few players this year, barley enough to make up his team so rather than playing memorial and hillside teams only he played teams from all over the area. He had games in Carter Lake, Blair, and Ralston. It was a little crazy going all over for games however, they were all still pretty close. Some leagues in the area play hundreds of miles away. I'm so happy we don't have to do that.

Colin was on TCU horned frogs team that included most of his skills team and the same coaches. Which was pretty much like having double games and practices just a different color shirt for the different teams. Colin's TCU team won the league championship! He really became a great pitcher this year. His coaches taught him how to be a strong closer pitcher coming in mid game to close the game with a hard throwing strong pitcher. He did amazing in this position and many games he would come in and pitch so well that no one would get on base. We cannot wait to see how he develops more as he gets stronger. (Omaha hosts the College World Series and the league we play in names their teams after the college teams that will potentially be playing. Which is really awesome especially when the teams namesake makes it to the CWS and the kids get to meet them)

Colin TCU 

Colin with his championship medal!

Liam was in the farm league this year and did amazing. He is so natural in the way he plays and has learned a lot "watching" his brothers games over the years. You think most of the time he was just playing around and not at all paying attention but watching him play now shows he was really watching. He is a really good all around player, He loves first base, pitching and catching but happily plays any postilion he is asked by his coach. Liam's coach was really one of our all time favorites:) Daddy was his coach, which he loved.

Liam Vanderbilt Team

Liam calling out to the team how many outs there are

Coach Daddy pitching and encouraging his players

Lastly, both Colin and Liam were asked to join the All Stars for their leagues. All Stars is an after season tournament where they play four or more games. The teams are made up of the top three or four players nominated by each coach creating two to three teams per level. Unfortunately, there were not enough players in Tristan's league to have All Stars this year. Both Liam and Colin's teams did very well.

Liam's All Stars team

Colin's was a great pitcher for his teams all year and continued into the All Star season. He also made some great plays in the pitching position where he'd quickly react to a hit snag the ball and get it to the first baseman. He did this many times during the games. He also had an amazing catch one game in right field. Colin has really progressed and worked very hard this year to become a great player. He was so proud when he'd be up to bat and the outfielders would back up in anticipation for a big hit.

Colin's All Star team

The very last game for us was a fun one. It was Liam's final All Star game and the league's umpires did not show up so Tristan was asked to be the home plate umpire. Here Liam was the catcher and Tristan as the umpire.

As the big boys played their games the little guys ran around the many ballparks playing with a variety of toys and many other siblings of players as well as enjoying a snack or two. We had a few really cold or late games the little guys were able to stay home with Tristan. However, for the most part they really like to go to games.

One of Grayson's favorite things to do was climb the fences.

You never know when Superman and Batman may show up to watch a game. 

We lucked out this year with the weather. We had many cold games and just a few crazy hot games but for the most part we had great baseball weather. It's always bittersweet when the season comes to an end. I love baseball (suppose that's a really good thing).We spend so much time getting ready for games, watching and playing games that once it ends there is a little bit of what shall we do now. Of course there is plenty to keep us busy.

Delayed End of School Post

Well, I just realized Colin and Liam have been out of school for a month now! We now have a third grader, seventh grader and eight grader. Oh my!
Possibly the favorite day of the year for Colin was the last day. For sixth grade the school does a graduation and then the class get to go to a fun place for the rest of the day. This year it was The Amazing Pizza Machine. Which is a place with lots of games, rides and pretty bad pizza:) It is always a highlight of sixth grade to go to the send off party. Before the fun day there was the graduation. Colin earned a few awards this year in attendance, community service, the UN (our schools student council) and the best award of all, the Presidents Gold Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence. The award was only given to two students in his class. They handed out the silver Presidential award first and he was pretty disappointed he did not receive one until he heard his name called for the gold award. He was shyly excited and proud. We are of course very proud and happy for his great success and are looking forward to what middle school will bring him.

 Colin with his teacher Mr. A very proud

Liam amazes me every day with his joy of school. I love that every day when I pick him up he has a smile on his face and always has something fun to share. I absolutely love the dual language program he is in. I am in awe of his ability to switch between English and Spanish with out skipping a beat. I can not wait to see how his language skills develops as he gets older. It is such a big step going from the primary grades (k-2) to the intermediate grades (3-6). Liam looks so little in his first day of school picture. Once again I love how excited he looks as he heads off to school both the first and last day of second grade.

first day of second grade

last day of second grade

Tristan's year as a 7th grader is done his last day of school was four days after Colin and Liam's which was a little hard for him but he did great. He has done so well this year in his new school ending the year with seven A's and one B! He made a new friends and tried out different extra curricular activities. Tristan participated in chess club, outdoor club, archery, track and basketball at school. He says he is excited to try out more activities next year and even wants to try football.

I am so proud of him for jumping in and trying so many new things. It is so amazing to watch him grow.  Just as he began the first day of school with a posed picture for Mommy and riding off on his bike to school.

13

Thirteen

We have officially hit the teen age years here at the Shockey house.  While he was sleeping I added a few decorations to his room and covered the door in streamers. When he went downstairs he had 13 balloons with a little surprise ($1 bills) inside waiting for him.

He was excited to take donuts to his homeroom.

 We spent the evening at Liam's baseball game where Tristan helps with the dug out.

After the game we went to dinner of his choosing.

Which he chose B&G Tasty Foods. Gramma, Uncle Brendan, Laura and Papa joined us. Unfortunately, Colin was not feeling great and fell asleep at the table. 

Tristan and his apple pie made by Gramma. 

Tristan you are our super hero. Happy Birthday!!

Last time

          Good Night and Farewell 12

The last moments you are 12! For in a short six hours you will officially be 13!! A teenager!  Sweet dreams my baby who first made me a mom. I love you double infinity.