Christmas celebrations in the South!

Now, tell me what Christmas celebration is complete without a rousing performance of Cotton Eyed Joe!

 

We were celebrating Christmas at Lois and Don's home with his children and grandchildren. For some reason "Cotton Eyed Joe" came on and Renee & Lauren and Crissy & Tommy needed to show off their moves. This was taken on about the 4th time through by Lauren.

Just struck me as funny.

Well, looks like my first attempt at video didn't work. I guess I'll need to set up a YouTube account. Check back later.

Only in the South!

Do you remember what you were doing Sunday, December 20th, 2009 around lunch time?

We do... Lauren had just finished playing her second softball game of the day.

 

It was cold, but she hadn't yet acquired an appreciation of softball pants yet, so yes, she's wearing shorts. It may be Florida, but there was a bitterly cold wind blowing and it was in the low 50's. Our blood has thinned, we were COLD! Renee proved to be the smartest Stendel, she watched from the car.

 

But, onto the second half of the South topic. The jersey. Yes, folks it reads Rebels. We are not proud or condoning of the idea that it is an acceptable name. Lauren was guest playing with the team.
We have been looking into a travel softball team for Lauren to play with this Spring. The teams we were most interested in were the Future Tour, the Xtream and the Rebels. Location, was a big factor and how far they traveled to play in the weekend tournaments. These were all local and the Rebels actually played in the most close tournaments. The Future and Xtream practiced closest to our home. We know a lot of girls that play for the Future and so were let in on the secret that the Future and Rebels were going to combine for the Spring.
We had taken Lauren to 2 workouts for the new Future Rebels, when they asked if Lauren was going to play with them that weekend. They only asked 2 girls to play with them from the workouts. So, we let Lauren play on Sunday. She has mostly pitched and played 1st for the past 2 years. They put her in Right Field. She caught a fly ball for an out and stopped 3 other balls and held the girls to singles.

We are still in the process of trying out, but Rod has told the Recreation League that he won't be back to coach this Spring. Lauren has been looking very good in the work-outs. Tuesday was rough because it was only 39 degrees. On the plus side, she will now wear the pants!

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.