Rattler's Baseball

Parker's Little League team this year is rockin a 14-1 record this season! Last night, sadly, they were handed their very first loss :( The only consolation being that the team that beat them is the second best in the league. I wish I could say I am happy with the way this season has gone, but unfortunately I have become less and less happy as the season has progressed. We've been with our coach, who for the most part is a really great guy, for 3 seasons now. But for some reason, this season has been different. All the boys on the team, except little Parker, will be moving up to the next division in the Fall. Parker will have to say goodbye to his Little League buddies because he is not old enough to move up for another whole year. That said, because the other boys are advancing, they have been playing a whole different game this season. Their coach has seemed to be a little more focused on winning then teaching, which is the exact opposite of the way he has coached in the past. Parker has been banished to the outfield all season, and truth-be-told, he's not a bad little infielder! He's got a quick scoop on the ball and a good arm with decent accuracy. I'm sad that he has not had his talents utilized/explored:( Next year, my hope is that he will find a team that will allow him to practice more then 1 position....

That said, here are some pictures I've snapped throughout the season. Nothing brings me more joy than watching my boy do what he loves. I hope he continues to love it for many years to come, and the only way that's going to happen is if he has some good coaches :)

Of course, I had to throw in some pictures of his beautiful little sister who goes to support him at EVERY game :)

My favorite cowboy...

Meet my big brother Mark. In the last decade, he's successfully transformed himself into a fullfledged cowboy! Who would've thought this California surfer would trade in his Van's for Roper's, his board shorts for Wranglers, his trucker hat for a cowboy hat!? I, for one, would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes! Can I just say - well done big brother! I am impressed! You wear our dad's rugged good looks very well! Can I also just say that I love my big brother more than all the grains of sand at the beach! He's always been my hero, my friend, my roll model.

This weekend I got to watch him baptize my nephew. It was a moving experience in more ways then one. First, I felt very sure that our Father in Heaven was very pleased, I felt a beautiful spirit there. But more than that, I was moved to tears because watching my big brother baptize his son, was like watching my Dad baptize me all those years ago. The resemblence he bears to our Dad is almost uncanny, and I could not help but shed some tears for the daddy I lost almost 30 years ago. Mark is just a year older than my dad was when he baptized me and I looked at little Marcus, so young and innocent, and relived some of the pain I felt at his too young age. I know this is why I hold so much love in my heart for my brother, and I hope he knows that. How cute is his daughter Abby? A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!! Hailey got her very first ride on a horse! She was smitten! I'm pretty sure I know what's going to be on the top of her Christmas wish list this year!