All-Star Baseball 2009

All Star Champs...Jody and Jackson



The Little Trooper...a full weekend for Lilly Claire



The team with their 1st Place tropies

Jackson and Tate celebrating after the game

Jody had the opportunity to be the head coach of the 5-6 year old Pottsboro Dixie All-Star Baseball team this year, because his won 1st place in the regular season. Jackson was chosen as an All-Star player...and so our All-Star season began about 3 weeks ago. The team consisted of Jackson, Tate, Cooper C., Ryan Kennedy, Cole Copeland, Montana Reynolds, Titus Lyons, Jarrod Reeves, Gage, and Tagan Connary. The team practiced A LOT for 2 weeks straight and then headed to the district tournament. Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday was spent in the hot sun cheering on our boys. They won the tournament...undefeated! It is now Thursday and I am just now starting to get my voice back. Yes...I am one of those moms.

Pottsboro chose not to go on to the state tournament, because it is T-ball at the state level and our league plays coach pitch. So the season is officially over for Jackson. It has been one fabulous baseball season for our little guy! He played pitcher all season...catching several pop flys, throwing runners out at first, tagging runners before they ever got to first, and chasing numerous players down at home plate. He didn't strike out all year and he hit well over 30 homeruns. (Jackson, the scorebook is in your keepsake box.) He always gave 110% effort, was a team player, listened to his coaches intently, and never caved when the game was tight or the team was behind. He is self-motivated and he simply always rose to the occasion. It was simply amazing to watch him. I am so proud to be his mom.

One of Jody's dreams in life has always been to be his little boy's baseball coach. This is the second year he has coached Jackson in baseball and I can't imagine a more perfect ending to this season. To say that Jody is a great coach is an understatement. He is so positive and encouraging. I have never, ever heard him say something that could have even been construed as negative to a child on that field. He works them hard, expects a lot, keeps very cool under pressure, and spends HOURS thinking and rethinking the line-up. He's living the dream and it is very, very fun to watch. I am so proud to be his wife.

Congratulations, boys. It was a season to remember.

National Dance Competition in Branson

Miss America's....Chloe, Trinity, Savannah Grace, Jesi


The Girls were having a great time before their performance



The Mommies and Daughters...I spent a lot of time with these moms this year and they are fabulous! I loved every minute of it!

We stopped at Build-A-Bear...of course

The fountains in Branson

Savannah Grace's dance team competed in the National Finals in Branson this week. She came home with 3 trophies...Achievement Award for "Diva" team, a High Gold Performance trophy, and Overall 9th Place in the 12 and under age group!

MaMaw Lipscomb came and stayed with Jackson and Lilly Claire at home while I took Savannah Grace to Branson. Jackson had All-Stars baseball practice and couldn't leave town. SG and I took full advantage of this rare opportunity to have a "girls week". We spent our days in Branson swimming, shopping, watching shows, taking naps, eating out, cuddling, watching dance performances, and of course getting her ready for her 2 minute dance. :) We went to several shows in Branson...the Acrobats of China, Spirit of the Dance and Noah. All were very, very good. We actually came home a day early because we were missing the family so much!

I hope that Savannah Grace looks back on this trip someday and remembers a wonderful few days spent with her mommy...who loves her more than words could describe.

The Boy Loves to Fish

Jackson and his fish

Savannah Grace and Lilly Claire...enjoying watching the fish.

Jackson, the fish, and Savannah Grace...notice SG has her eyes closed

Jackson, Mamaw, Dad and Lilly Claire started fishing in the pond in our neighborhood this week while Savannah Grace and I were gone. MaMaw is really good at putting worms on hooks and taking fish off of hooks! They caught approximately 20 fish in two evenings!

Tonite, they took Savannah Grace and I fishing and we caught 6 fish in about 15 minutes. It was so fun! Lilly Claire squeals with delight everytime Jackson pulls a fish out of the water. Then she says, "Um Um Um"....which means "let me have that."

Saturday Morning

We've been up for 53 minutes this Saturday morning and here are a few things that are going on...

A conversation between Jackson and Savannah Grace about getting a puppy.

"Saaaavaaaannahhhh Graaaaace......we are going to Target in a little while to pick out a newwwww pupppppppy." Jackson uses his best big brother...I'm gonna get you voice....for this statement.

"Noooooo! That is such a bad idea!" She so doesn't want a puppy. We are NOT in the market for a puppy...mommy already has 3...sometimes 4 if you count the daddy. Jackson just remembers that there are often puppies for sale in the Target parking lot on Saturdays and how much Savannah Grace despises the thought.

Jackson talking on his new phone...

Yesterday we got Jackson a phone. I realize this is a controversial move in today's world of parenting....but that's ok. Savannah Grace and I are leaving for Branson soon and I wanted Jackson to be able to call me anytime he wants to while I'm gone. All that said, the rule for the phone is that he can call mommy and daddy anytime he wants to. He has to ask before he calls anyone else...he wanted to call Samo LATE last nite. So...all that said...this morning, he has called Jody at work numerous times. Haha. Seriously, we've only been up for 53 minutes.

Savannah Grace playing with her doll...

Lilly Claire is finally old enough...and sturdy enough... to take on the roll of the baby doll in

Savannah Grace's world.

The Gainesville Zoo

Isabella, Elizabeth, Savannah Grace, Zander, Lucas, Jackson, Dax

and Lilly Claire

Last Wednesday, we headed to the Gainesville Zoo with the Cole's and the Lira's. The kids love the big, fancy playground even more than the zoo itself. We topped the day off with a trip to the Gap outlet. It was a very fun day!

Soccer Camp

Well, unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures of Jackson and Savannah Grace during soccer camp this week. That really is a sad thing, because I don't know if we will ever see Savannah Grace in soccer gear again...haha.

I signed her up for soccer camp to see if soccer was something she would enjoy doing in the fall. After gearing up in hot pink and a side ponytail at her request, we headed to Austin College for a 3 day camp. Well, about 20 minutes after camp started, my decision was solidified. "I'm too hot....I'm hungry....My knee is bleeding(seriously, I couldn't even see a speck of blood)....my ankle hurts....I'm all sweaty.....I'm just going to watch." Oh well, soccer just isn't her thing this year. Those sure were some cute pink soccer shoes, though.

Guess Who's Walking!!!!!!

Lilly Claire started walking this weekend and she can take about 7 steps in a row! Today she is 14 months old!

First Trip to Six Flags

Savannah Grace with her arms in the air! She held her arms up on the real roller coasters, too!

SG, Lana, Evan, Elizabeth

Lucas, Thomas, Jackson

Our Group

We have known for a long time that we have some "roller coaster" kids and so when we got invited to go to Six Flags with the Lira's and the Wynn's last Friday, I was so excited! Uncle Wil very willingly came all the way from Texarkana to babysit Lilly Claire ALL DAY on Friday, while Jackson and Savannah Grace and I headed to Arlington. We had a great time and we stayed until well after the park closed! Thanks, Uncle Wil...you are the best!

Super Mad

Jackson and Savannah Grace before the recital

Mrs. Lesa's Piano Students

Ahhhh....Piano Recitals. Tonite was Jackson and Savannah Grace's very 1st piano recital. They played their pieces just beautifully...music to a mommy's ears. The recital was wonderful, I just loved watching those kids play that music so beautifully. Wonderful, Wonderful. The recital ended with students getting awards that they had won over the past year. Mrs. Lesa had prepared Jackson and Savannah Grace that they would not be getting any awards, because they have taken less than 2 months. I thought all was well.

As we were walking out to the car, Jackson had this sick look on his face. I asked him if he had a good time and he said, "No." Uh-oh. I was assuming the worst, that he saw all this piano stuff as kind of wimpy, and that it just wasn't for him, etc., etc. However, about that time in my thoughts, he starts sobbing and saying, "I didn't win a trophy." The boy was seriously distraught. A promise of a Target toy or a Braum's ice cream couldn't calm him down. The boy wanted a trophy.

We finally got them into the car and as we're driving towards home, Savannah Grace starts crying, too. "I really wanted a trophy, too." I tried to explain to them that those kids had worked all year to earn those trophies and that we had only started less than two months ago. About that time in the conversation, as I'm trying to reason this out with them, Savannah Grace says, "Mom, we don't want to hear that. We are just SUPER MAD. We didn't win a trophy and we are super mad about it."

Spring Dance Recital 2009

The princess and her daddy

Man, I love that girl

Chloe and Savannah Grace

Googie and Savannah Grace

Miss America

Mommy gives Savannah Grace a Madame Alexander Doll before every spring recital

Grandfather, Savannah Grace, and Nee Nee. They gave her a trophy...her favorite thing these days...for the recital

Savannah Grace performed 3 dances in this year's recital. Her ballet was to "Beautiful Rose"...her tap was "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" and then she performed her competition dance to "Miss America." Googie, Pappy, Nee Nee and Grandfather all came for the recital. Savannah Grace....go back and look at your recital program...you are one spoiled, I mean loved little girl.

A Baseball Weekend to Remember

Champions!

Tate, Michael, Cooper, Leo, Hugh, Travis, Ryan, Landon, Jackson

Coach Marshall, Coach Jody, Coach Chris

Daddy and Jackson

In 10 years, when I look back on this blog, I hope that the memories and emotions that were a part of this past weekend, come flooding back. It was a weekend...a day...a moment that I don't want to ever forget. And while I realize that baseball is such a small part of life, Jody says that last Saturday was a life changing moment in Jackson's life. A moment that he will remember forever. A moment in which he did something good...and everybody around him started throwing him in the air cheering. A moment that is surely etched in his mind. A confidence building memory...a character building memory...simply a memory from his childhood that will always bring a smile.

Remember when....

Your 5 and 6 year old baseball team had won 1st place in the league and therefore got to play in the end of the year tournament. The other 3 teams included Copeland's Pottsboro team, Whitewright and Bells.

Remember how...

We beat Whitewright on Thursday night of the tournament. Off to a good start. Mom left Lilly Claire with a babysitter Thurs afternoon and I took SG to her dance dress rehearsal. The babysitter then brought Lilly Claire to the rehearsal and stayed with SG while Mom ran to watch the game. A crazy life for sure, but a great one.

Then...

Your team lost to Bells on Friday night. Your lucky charm...Mommy...wasn't there. Savannah Grace's recital was tonite and it is the only game mom has missed all year. It's also the only game you've lost. You and Dad showed up for the finale of the recital.

Remember...

Playing Saturday morning at 10am, and beating Whitewright 16-1. Now your team has to play at 11.

One loss and the tournament goes to Bells.

Your team squeaked out a win...something like 12-11 against Bells. Now you have to play Bells again for the championship. You have to play them now.

Your team starts their 3rd game in 3.5 hours. It is 90 degrees, but the team is still in high spirits. I'm not sure if you know the championship is on the line. Knowing you, you probably do.

The game starts. The score goes back and forth, but then they get ahead by 7 points with only 15 minutes to play. Our scorekeeper has informed all the moms and dads that we can't win. The Bells coach asks Dad if we want to just call the game since we can't win. Dad says, "no way...there is 15 minutes left." Another inning starts and ends....and we are behind by 2...but wait...there is still 30 seconds on the clock....so another inning starts. Oh my goodness...we still have a chance to win. Our team bats and scores 4...we are up by 2. This is the Bells team last at bat....

They hit the ball into the infield. Cooper, our 1st baseman, tags him out.

They hit the ball and the runner makes it to first.

One out...a runner on first....

Never forget this, Jackson......

They hit the ball....it's a high pop-up....Jackson catches the ball in the air and runs and tags 1st base....a double play....game over...WE WON!

Coach Marshall runs to you and starts swinging you around in the air, the mommies start crying, the crowd is going wild. My boy did that. Our team did that. The perseverance never ended and it paid off. I've never been more proud.

We get in the car to go home, after we've had a picnic lunch with the team after the game. You ask me...."Mom, did you see me catch that ball?"

"Sure did, Bub. You did real good."

The Aquarium

LC, Lucas, Jackson, Isabella, SG, Elizabeth

Lilly Claire was the only kid in our group that didn't mind getting close to the bird on the rail


Jackson, Lucas, Savannah Grace, Elizabeth

Every year, before the kids are out for the summer, I make a list of things we have to squeeze in before summer is over. The Dallas Aquarium is on the list and it was the kids' outing of choice for last Wednesday. The Lira's went with us, making it a super-great day!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Jackson playing in the kids area at the Rangers game

This pic just makes me laugh.

Houston and Savannah Grace

The view from our seats...fabulous.

Lilly Claire was not real excited about having 6 inches on both sides of her to move around.

Last weekend we went to watch the Rangers game with our friends, the Rehmets. They had generously given us tickets that were 8 rows behind home plate. The seats were so great! Before the game started, I was seriously touching up my lipstick...because we were so going to be on TV. Well, the game started and Lilly Claire, Savannah Grace and Houston lasted all of about 6 minutes. I'm really not sure if it was that long. It was so hot and they were just miserable! So, the girls headed up to the windy area...kind of where they sale hot dogs. We just plopped ourselves down on the concrete and ate a lemon ice. That lasted about 10 minutes. Still the 1st inning.

It was a fun day! :)

Gymnastics

The pics are so blurry....but this is Jackson doing a backhandspring

Savannah Grace in the harness doing back flips

Jackson and Savannah Grace have taken gymnastics all year at the Gymnastics Sports Center. While I initially only signed up Savannah Grace, once Jackson saw all the guys his age participating, he decided it would be cool to take the class, too. The year was filled with small group rotations of balance beam work, bars, cartwheel practice, tumbling, trampoline and flips in the harness. Lucas, Tate and Houston ended up taking gymnastics with the kids and that made it even more fun! Here are some pics from there last day of gymnastics. I already signed them up for next fall....we have got to get a headstart on Savannah Grace's back handsprings. :)