Final Havoc Tournament

With COVID messing up our whole spring, baseball season got pushed way out.  The boys usually end on Father's Day, but this year they played in a couple of tournaments in July.  It was definitely hot, but they were all happy to be playing.  Their last tournament was in Oxford, with their first game at 8am.  Pres and I rode over their bright and early, while Steve stayed back with the other two until the second game.

They started the day, like every other game day.....saying the Lord's Prayer.  It was early, but they managed to be awake and play pretty well.  They all made some good plays, but in the last inning, the bases were loaded and Preston was up to bat.  He managed to hit a solid triple, but when they threw the ball in, the third baseman missed the ball so Preston got home!  It was a great way to pull out a win!

Rocking one of Steve's old baseball shirts - vintage!

After resting and having some lunch, the boys started warming up for the second game.  The rest of the family came to watch the Havoc.  The boys tried to hang, but the other team started off strong, and then the lightening and eventually rain moved in.  They would get off the field for 30 minutes, get back on for a couple of batters and then get another 30 minute delay.  After the bottom fell out, they called the game for 2 hours, so I left with B and W. Once they were able to play again, they had weren't able to rebound. 

The following morning, we all got up early to watch them play the 8am game again. They played ok, but let one inning get away from them which ultimately ended up costing them the game.  Just when they were getting momentum and coming back, they ran out of time.  Even Walker had fun at the game with all of the younger siblings.  Sadly, we never got a family picture.

Homewood Havoc

Pres is lucky to be playing on a baseball team with so many of his classmates and friends.  He is with the same core boys and coaches, and the Homewood Havoc was ready to play hard this spring!  They were able to get in a lot of practices, many during the cold and rain.  However, just when the season was starting, it ended.

Preston's team only played one game and a couple of scrimmages, but they showed a lot of promise and we were all excited to see what they could do this season.  Sadly, the coronavirus put an end to their spring season.  Thankfully, Coach Hicks arranged a scrimmage the day before we knew the season was ending with the other Homewood team of boys their age.

The "other team" has always been viewed as the A team, the better team, but our boys beat them that Friday night.  I know that these are all children, and really....all friends of each other.  But our boys, the Havoc, needed that win.  They needed to prove to themselves that they had the skill set, the determination to play hard and win.  It was great to end on a high note, but I hated to have it end at all.  I love baseball, and love watching Pres and Walker play.

Then the state of Alabama started reopening slowly, so the boys entered a couple of tournaments.  They hadn't been practicing, so it started off fairly ugly, but they did ok in the end and had fun.  It was definitely a short season, and one that we will never forget.

Through it all, they decided they wanted to keep playing as a team and enter a big tournament next year.  After some discussion as a team, we decided that we are heading to Branson, MO for the Ballparks of America tournament in June 2021.  They are officially registered, and now the fundraising efforts begin.  Our goal is to raise $12K!  The parks will give us $3K, and the rest will be used for tournament fees, new uniforms and some extra for the families going to watch. 

The boys and coaches will stay on the campus for a "stay and play" experience, while the families will stay at a nearby hotel.  We are only one week into it all, and we have raised our first $1,000.

Six Flags Over Georgia

School has been out for over three months now, and so much of our country has been shut down.  However things are slowly reopening, and the troops are restless.  So when Six Flags announced that they would be reopening, but at a limited capacity and only for season pass holders while they tried out all of their new procedures, we wanted to go.  

Shannon and I made reservations to take all of the kids for the day.  We got there and immediately started riding the rollercoasters.  It was overcast, and not very crowded for the first couple of hours, which made it perfect.  However, as the afternoon went on, the clouds burned off and crowds picked up.  We got in a lot of rides, and all of the kids had fun in between all of the cleaning and waiting.  

Memories were definitely made that day, and we can't wait for our next visit!

Busted out of Homewood....finally!

Bennett and Mary Ellis

We were finally able to break out of Homewood!  This quarantine has been kicking our butts, and with every trip that we have planned for the year slowly falling apart....we needed a change!  Thanks to Shanon and Brian Jarmon, our whole family went to Highland Lake for a little fun.  Shanon's mother has a home there, and with all of the kids and toys.....everyone had a blast!

We all met up there Saturday morning.  It didn't take long for the kids to start swimming, fishing and snacking.  It was a hot and sunny day, and they didn't stop until the sun finally started to set.  All of the kids drove the jetski, made tiktoks, the boys fished, and we ALL snacked a lot!  We fully enjoyed the day, not coming inside until the sun went down.  We enjoyed a great steak dinner, and then went outside to lie in the grass and wait for shooting stars.

The next day, the kids started early riding the jetski and fishing.  The adults had a slower start, but we all finally made it out there to supervise the fun before the clouds rolled in and the rain began. Fun times!

Beck loved hanging on paddle board.

Big fish if held closer to camera ;)

Buddies!!

So thankful for a couple of days away!

Happy 14th Anniversary to Us!

This year Steve and I celebrated our 14th anniversary.  Unlike past years, we couldn't go out and celebrate and have a little alone time due to the pandemic.  So we decided to make a delicious dinner at home (fillets, tasty grits, roasted veggies and a nice bottle of wine).  We showered, put on real clothes (since we have both been living in athletic clothing for the past 5 weeks), did our hair, and I put on makeup for the second time since we have been quarantined.

As I was getting ready, Walker asked if he could be our butler for dinner.  Side note....he has been OBSESSED with having his own butler for the past year.  In fact, last year for his birthday - he asked for a butler. So, when he offered to take care of us, I of course conceded.  Then he asked (really begged) if he could wear his bow tie for the night.

Since we have been showering infrequently, and Walker hasn't done his hair since school was cancelled, he had to shower too.  By the beginning

of our dinner...he was as cute as ever.  He served us wine on his hoverboard, got us water, cleared our plates and got us dessert.  He was the best part of our dinner....which we wouldn't have had if there wasn't a pandemic.

It was a great night, but I can't wait for the world to get back to "normal."  I'm ready to go out and have dinner with Steve, and travel with my honey.  Maybe our 15th year will be different.  Cheers to Miz and me.....to more fun memories, health, longevity, success and lots of laughs!

So I got dressed, but I didn't put on real shoes.

COVID-19, Week 4-5ish...

Watching church on Palm Sunday in pjs

It is still surreal that we have spent four weeks in quarantine!  Our poor state of Alabama has 2,229 confirmed cases, and 48 confirmed deaths.  We still haven't peaked, but our Governor is hoping that all of the social distancing is helping flatten the curve.

Thankfully the weather continues to be gorgeous so we can get out on walks, runs and bike rides!  But there is no doubt the strangest thing about this week home is the fact that we did not attend church on Easter.  We have been watching our church online each week, but not going to church on such an important day as Easter is so sad.  In addition, the kids were unable to decorate bunny cakes with Mimi this past week like they have done for the past 10 years.  However, Myra did send the kids over bare cakes, icing and all of the decorations....but they weren't the same without her guidance.

making palm crosses that were blessed from OLS

Easter Sunday baskets

Not very pretty, but they tasted good!

We showered for Easter Sunday!

Thank you for these beautiful people Lord!