Closet Re-Org

This was an afternoon devoted to organizing and cleaning.  Owen's mess of a closet turned from this...

to this....

Pay no attention to that mess on the top shelf.  We were only focused on the bottom half where he could reach.  :)

Baseball Try Outs

We had been hoping Owen would choose to do soccer in the Spring.  And he had.  Until he remembered his best friend Tayden started saying he wanted to play baseball.  So another season of baseball it is for the boy child.

This year we arrived earlier and waited less than 20 minutes before Owen got to show off his skills.

He knew a couple of other boys ahead of him in line.  One was Preston and another was on his team last Fall.

Owen warmed up while the boy ahead of him finished his try out.

He got to swing at several pitches and knocked an impressive one into the outfield. 

Then he ran as fast as he could to second base to show off his running skills.  Owen is still one of the fastest kids his age and outruns the others (and older kids!) in little races.

Once on second base, he got to catch some pop-ups and grounders, as well as show off his arm when throwing the balls to the first base kid.

Owen was asked if he wanted to pitch. 

Of course, the answer was yes! 

Owen only got to pitch for part of one game last season.  He is hopeful he will have more pitching opportunities in Spring ball.

He was pleased with his whole tryout.  

As he should be.  Owen did awesome showing off his baseball skills for the coaches judging from the outfield!

Owen Races to Evan's Birthday Party

Evan's parents threw him a surprise party for his 9th birthday.  We surprised Owen with it, so he had no idea he was invited until the day before or where it was until we pulled into the parking lot of Andretti Speedway.  Evan was surprised and Owen was thrilled to see his friend.  So much so that he had to lift Evan right off the ground.

The Three Musketeers.  Owen, Lou and Evan.

Owen had quite the blue tongue after eating birthday cake.

He was excited about racing in a gokart by himself.

So.  Very.  Excited.

Bunny ears are quite popular around here.

Once Owen was in a gokart, his feet didn't reach the pedals.  So he had to switch to a two-seater and ride shotgun to his Momma.  He giggled the whole way around the race track.  And giggled louder as our helmets knocked together going around curves.

After racing around the track, the kids were given cards to play arcade games.  Owen used up the majority of his card on games like the claw where you use a joystick to move the claw before it drops and feebly attempts to pick up oversized toys.

As we walked out to our car through the parking lot, the tears started and didn't stop for some time.  The boy said he didn't have any fun.  None.  He could have fooled me.  I think he was a bit tired from a full day and over-stimulated from the raceway.

Owen's Report Card - Semester 1

Owen brought home a fabulous report card.

A's in spelling, language arts, science, social studies and math.  Awesome job, smart boy!!!

Afternoon at the Library

We get to the library at least once a week.  Most of the time we finish homework at home before going.  Today, we brought it with us to finish before running around to pick out new books. 

Afternoon at Play

This afternoon we took the kids to Play where they can jump on trampolines.

And flip into foam pits.

Games with Friends

Owen had his friend Tayden over for the afternoon to play.  They had fun playing the wii while Ruby stayed close.

These two are best friends and have fun together every day at school.

The Help Portrait Project

Kelley's local photographic society volunteers their time, experience and equipment to participate in the Help Portrait Project each year to photograph foster families before Christmas.  Owen went with Kelley to help and he handed out candy canes to all the kids after they were photographed.  Kelley helped with posing kids and editing, but did get a chance to photograph Owen hamming it up on a background under the lights.

Sand Gnats Season Ending

The boys finished strong and won their last game of the season.  They also got a season baseball which the coaches had signed for each boy.

Coach Thad is standing on the left and is the one Owen had been asking all season if he could pitch.  Coach Jeff is on the right.

This sometimes felt like an extremely long season with late night games and many school night practices combined with slow moving games and more walks than hits.  There were tears over being struck or thrown out.  But the smiles on this boy's face after every game and practice won out and keep him asking to sign up for baseball in the spring.  Owen has learned more about the game and has amazed us at his perseverance through his frustration, as well as his dedication to practicing hitting, throwing and catching at home.  Way to go, Owen on a fabulous first-ever season of baseball.

Owen Got to Pitch!

This was our last night game and in the second to the last inning, Owen was put on the pitcher's mound.

Coach Jeff stood out there while he warmed up with the catcher.

During his initial pitches, Coach Jeff made a video of Owen to send to Todd.

I heard several of the dads discussing Owen's pitching form and they were impressed.

He pitched for almost the whole inning and did so great!

Owen threw so many strikes.

When the other team had scored a few runs and the bases were loaded, Owen was swapped out with the third baseman.  He was beaming from ear to ear over being allowed to pitch.

 He liked playing third base, too.

Owen's next time up at bat, he got a hit.

And made it to third base before stealing home and scoring the final run for his team.

After exchanging high-fives with the other team, Owen ran and slid around third base with excitement.

Awesome game, Owen!  Way to hit AND pitch!!!

After the game, Owen went up to Coach Jeff and Coach Thad and thanked them for letting him pitch.  He was immediately told, "Owen, we didn't let you pitch.  You earned it.  And you did great!"