All 9!

There are 9 positions in Softball. And now, Renee can officially say she has played all 9 in game situations!

 

She had started her career as many rookies do, in the outfield. She played all 3 outfield positions. When they are young these positions aren't as important, but as they get older they become crucial to your defense.

 

By her second year, she focused on 2nd base. By her third year it was clear that the team needed more pitchers. She and her Dad worked on it, went early to practice and showed the coaches, and the next Saturday she was the starting pitcher for the team. She was always calm and cool on the rubber. Last Spring, she did nothing but pitch. She was a total work-horse.

 

This Fall, they had another girl who could also pitch. They shared the pitching responsibilities. She played a lot of 1st base. She guested with some travel teams who used her as a 3rd baseman and shortstop (that's 8.)

 

The last Saturday of the season, the catcher went North to visit family. Renee finally got her chance to catch! 2 games on Saturday, a game and a half on Sunday, a game on Monday night and 2 more games the following Saturday. Can you imagine?! I was worried about sore muscles after the first Saturday. She loved it!

We have had more than 3 coaches tell her Father and I that they "wish they had 10 Renee's on their team." We always knew she was wonderful...but, it's her willingness to do the job, no matter what it is, that has made her the Team Player she is today.

Way to go Renee!!

Sluggers on Three!

 

Go Sluggers!

 

Lauren and Rod had a great season this Fall. Rod's sister, Shari, and her husband, Michael, were Rod's Assistant Coahes. Renee also was a huge help at practices. This season was truly a family affair. The girls always come together and made thier own little "family."
Back row: Madison, Lauren, Tanisha, Erica, Jessica, and Kara. Front Row: Noelle, Oreanna, Maddie, and Kayla.

 

Rod gave them a little Thank You and I'm Proud of You speech that about had all the grown-ups in tears. He truly was so proud of these girls. They were young and inexperienced and always played against very good teams. We didn't have any easy game all season. They managed 3 wins and improved tremendously!

Sluggers on three! Sluggers on three! One, Two, Three, SLUGGERS!!

Roadblock! New Route!

 

So, lately I've had a hard time posting. I've mentioned that we only have dial-up, which makes everything take sooo long. It's slow for me to do this and slow for Renee to socially network. Many evenings, I would want to update things on-line only to find the above situation.

No more! Yesterday we hooked ourselves up with some high-speed Internet and a wireless router!! Granted, Rod had to wait for the guy until 11:45 for our "early morning" "appointment." But, now Renee can go into another room and network and Lauren can be in another room and feed hungry diners and I can go on-line and do "whatever it is Mom does."

I will be doing some updates here very soon!

Super Softball Weekend!

On Saturday, Lauren's team had a double header. The first team they played is pictured with them at the end of the game. Can you tell that they are a bit bigger than many of our girls? We were short a player, so they played with only 2outfielders. But, our girls came out on top! This was only their second victory! We were very proud of them. They ended up losing the second game to an even bigger team who kept nailing it into center feild. Our 2 outfielders just kept at it chasing down those balls and getting them back in. The one needed her inhaler, but kept plugging away!

 

After Lauren's games Renee was scheduled for 2 games. They were going to be short 2 players. Lauren and Kara from the 12U team stuck around to play with the 16U team. They played so well!! Renee had to pich both games which is a lot of work. Having a 10 year-old on 3rd and her 11-year-old sister on 1st actually made the game easier for her. The girls were nervous about the older, faster pitchers, but, they both managed to have nice hits and got on base in both games!!

Rod and I were very impressed with our Green Girls, as the older girls kept calling them. They were both given game balls, a lot of thanks and earned a ton of respect from girls 5 years older than themselves. Not to mention that they also played 4 games. My family slept like babies that night.

 

On Sunday, the girls participated in a mini training camp. Renee is shown here with University of Michigan all time hits leader Traci Chapman Fischer. She is a former All-American and Professional Softball player who put on a 4 hour clinic with 2 other All-Americans. The girls showed themselves well. One of the coaches who was helping with the program told both Rod and Renee that she should be playing travel ball. She excelled in the outfielding drills and hit the ball the furthest off the pitching machine.

 

They need more words for me to tell you just how proud I was of my girls this weekend. Is there a superlative beyond proudest parent? That was Rod and I this weekend.

Way to go girls!!!

Zombies!!

 

Here is the shot of Renee and Janie.

Mandy, I need to know how to put up more than 4 pictures at a time. I had 5 saved, but it only took the first 4.

Happy Halloween!

The girls had lots of fun gutting their pumpkins!

 
 
 

Lauren was Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. We recycled this from last year, but couldn't find the Moon headpiece or the bow and arrows. Renee was a Zombie. Janie was a pirate wench zombie. They looked pretty creepy.

 


Rod and I sat home to wait for the Trick-or-Treaters. Trick was on us - no Treaters. Maybe next year we will have to put out a sign or a flyer to the homes with little kids. The houses in our neighborhood are so few and far between that the kids all go to more tracitional neighborhoods. But, they all drive past our house, so maybe we need to do something more than have the porch lights on, the pumpkins lit and 5 bags of candy waiting by the front door. We'll try harder next year!

Incredible!

 

It's so fun to remember these different looks from my girls over the years! Aren't they eincredible!

Memories!

 

 

 

 

As the girls get older, it's fun to look back at the incredible little girls they were! They are more incredible every day!

Victory!!

 

As I mentioned before, Lauren has a very young team. They finally had their first victory!! They were down by 2 going into the the bottom of the last inning. They had the tying run on third and 2 outs. Our fourth girl in the line-up was up, our power hitter, Kara. She took it to a full count before blasting a rocket between first and second. The outfielders chased it to the fence. Home Run for Kara! Victory for the team! Go Sluggers!

We had lost to this same team twice already. We had just gotten beaten by them 15 to 1 on Saturday. So, Tuesday's victory was extra exciting!

Happy Birthday Mummy!

Last weekend was Lois and Shari's birthdays!

 

 

 

It's always fun to get together with Lois, Don and the Slentz's. We all got together over at Lois and Don's. We played some cards, ate some food, opened some gifts and of course, ate some cake! Don has grown to love this crazy little game we taught him called...Euchre!!!

The girls had a blast hanging out with Janie! Now that Mike and Janie live in Oveido, we don't get to see them like we used to. Janie is attending UCF (University of Central Florida) studying Digital Media & Film and Mike is learning to fly. He is enrolled in a 2 year intensive flight training program through Delta. He just started in August, but is already qualified as a private pilot.

Mount Dora Craft Show

One of my favorite events is the Mount Dora Craft Show. Mount Dora is normally lots of fun for shopping and treats. But, when they close down 6 blocks down town for crafts and foods of all kinds...Woo Hoo! 

You never know what you're going to see. Apparently, one couple thought bringing a monkey was a great idea. Honestly, they were barely able to move through the crowds.
 

Lauren and I walked all over. We thought these framed letters were kind of cool. We thought Joel could do something like this with Konrad's name. He's good with the camera and has the artistic eye.
 

Last year we did lots of our Christmas shopping here. We found a few cool new things this year too. In February they have a jurried arts festival that shuts down the streets the same way. We took Flat Kelcey there a couple of years ago. Lauren is interested in being a photographer when she gets older. We all go to the Art show to see all of the fantastic things the artists create.

Fall 2009 Softball!

 

Lauren's team is the Sluggers! They are a young 12 and under team. We have 2 12 year-olds and 3 9 year-olds. We have 3 girls who have Never played before. So far they have lost their first 3 games, but we are so proud of them! They are really playing well. We were prepared to play older, more experienced team. Yesterday they played games at 9am and 11am. It was their first double header of the season.

 

Renee's team is High Energy! They are a group of girls from 12 to 16. With older girls come a whole new batch of issues. The good news for Renee is that this season she is not the only pitcher on the team. We have witnessed some rough practices. But, they are playing tough in the games and so far are 2 and 1! Yesterday they played games at 1pm and 3pm. (If you're doing the math, that is an entire day spent at the ballpark in a neighboring town.)

 For a day spent in the sun and heat (low 90's) I have fabulously tanned feet in the pattern of my flip flops. Renee has earned herself her first ever Game Ball! She was always passed over for a girl who had never performed well having the hit of a life time, a team that just didn't win (so never had a game ball to give out), or a coach who never recognized anyone with a game ball. I know she has deserved to be recognized for all of her heart and talent. We are so proud of her!

Both of the girls are off to an exciting season. Most Saturday's will be spent at double headers for each of them. Next Saturday they are both playing in different towns. Even though days like yesterday are long, at least we get to see their whole games.

Go Tavares!

She said "Yes!" to the dress!

 

So, Renee finally relented and agreed to go dress shopping with her Mom. My niece, Janie and sister-in-law, Shari were going shopping at the same mall. We looked at several stores and finally found one just full of great dresses. We sent her into the dressing room with about 10-12 dresses. She narrowed it down to 4. She wouldn't let me take pictures at the store. But, I got a shot at home. This is the dress she chose! We are very happy with her choice.

We asked her how she wanted to do her hair. She said just like it is. But, when I suggested getting nail polish to match the dress, she was instantly in favor of a pedicure! We'll see. The dance is Friday after the football game. They go to the game and then have an hour to change and get to the dance.

Dress Up Day!

So, we go from softball to dresses in no time at all!

We were driving to the sporing goods store and Rod asks Renee, "So, has anyone asked you to Homecoming?" Just kind of joking around.
"Yeah," was her response.
Everyone of us turned to her in a full family double take.
Dad's eloquent response, "Huh?"
He regains his composure and asks her who, when, do we know him, and now what?

His name is Ryan and we do not know him (yet). She has made no plans beyond saying yes to his invitaion. We think Homecomming is 2 weeks away. She thinks one of the dresses she already has will do fine. She does not want to go dress shopping with her mom very much. She dislikes anything pink or with bows. I have heard that the girls wear dresses similar to prom, but not floor length. We are putting up these on to get your opinions. I am willing to go dress shopping, but we are running out of time.

We are not prepared for Renee to date yet. She is not 30 yet. Can I get an Amen on that? She does not look at this as a date. They are just going to a dance together. They do not chat on the phone or text constantly. I think this is casual, but it still caught us off-guard.


 
 
 

August 2009 Collage