10 Things That Happen At a T-Ball Game

I've been a soccer mom, a gymnastics mom, a dance mom, and now... I'm a t-ball mom! After being rained out for pretty much the entire winter ball season (hooray rain but bummer no baseball), we joined a new team for spring! GO WILDCATS! 

We had our first game a few weeks ago (against the Sparkling Cheetahs), and oh my gosh you guys, it was the cutest, most hilarious thing of my life! If you have never seen 13 five year old girls playing t-ball, you are missing out! I'm pretty much obsessed.

For most of the girls, it was their first year so obviously, some excellent and hilarious things happened.


10 Things That Happen At a T-Ball Game:

1. The coach's wife asks all of the parents to take their kids to the potty before the game starts. I'm pretty sure this doesn't happen when they're 12, or does it?

2. They run in the opposite direction of the bases. Home to third? Sure, that will do!

3. They take short cuts. Why run from 2nd base, to third base, to home, when you can just run from 2nd straight to home? Makes sense to me!

4. They play in the dirt. I can not count the amount of times I shouted to Kenley, "Kenley, look alive!". Apparently dirt is the most awesome to city kids.

5. The kids have no idea where to throw. "Throw to 2nd!" "Where is that?" When they finally figure it out, 4 kids have made it to home plate.

6. They don't know how to tag the other players out. Rather than tag with the ball, they tag with their hands. These kids are 5, they generally don't play tag at the park with baseballs.

7. They run all over the field to get the ball. Shortstop running to first, outfield running to the pitchers mound, catcher running to third, you name it! Especially my kid guys, especially my kid.

8. The kids stay in their position when told. Literally, just stay there. At least they are good listeners!

9. The parents are ROWDY! I am super happy we are a part of this team. All of the parents get along, we are crazy spirited in our Wildcats shirts and hats and banners and pennants, and we rock out to awesome play lists before the games. "Who run the world? GIRLS!"

10. The parents have no idea what they are talking about. At least I don't. "Kenley throw to 3rd! I mean 2nd! Heck, just throw it wherever the coach tells you to throw it".


Pretty much all of the things you expect to happen, happen. And it is adorable! At this age, t-ball is just for fun. They don't even keep score. Although if they did keep score, I'm pretty sure we lost. But man did they look cute doing it!

Also, just a quick mom brag: Kenley received the first game ball! Her coach gave a little speech before announcing it, "This player was all over the field, hustling, and getting that ball!" Literally though, she was all over the field getting all the balls. That kid kills me. Maybe we'll figure it out by the end of the season in June. Maybe.

I had a bit of a mom fail and took almost zero photos at the first game. I was having way too much fun watching and cheering! So here are some from her second game.

I love all the Wildcats but this one, well she's my favorite.

Pink and purple everything!

"Go Wildcats!" This kiddo is the most excited to play in a few years.

2/3 of Kenley's biggest fans!

Dugout shenanigans.

Next up...number 14!

Killa' K up to bat! Also, home run!

Man, these Wildcats parents are LOUD! 

Blurry and far away but this kid just waves the entire game. My heart.

Please look at Kenley with the biggest smile ever. She seriously loves t-ball!

Hillbilly Eleanor with big Sis K. Future Wildcat with current Wildcat.

*Additional photos courtesy of coach Dustin's aunt:

Pre-game grounder practice.

K takes the field! 

A quick pow wow before 1st inning.

Hit toward 3rd base! Such a smart hit since they were prepped for it to go to 1st! 

That smile while she runs. Favorite.

Who run the world? Wildcats!

Good game, good game, good game, good game...

If Pneumonia Were A Person

The last 3 weeks have been nothing short of exhausting and emotional. Our entire family came down with the nastiest cold to have ever existed. It was the least fun. No one slept, our kitchen peninsula turned into a pharmacy, and we were consistently running out of tissues and medicine.

But this weekend, finally, we began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

As the cold of the century rippled through our family, the majority of us were still able to eat and play a bit. The solo member who struggled the most though, was Kenley. Sicknesses tend to hit her much harder than the rest of us and this time was no exception. I wasn't initially concerned, I mean, it's just a cold right? But as she continued to wither away, this mama bear started to worry. 

She lost 3 pounds in 5 days. If I lost 3 pounds in 5 days, you probably wouldn't be able to tell. Likely my saggy mom boobs would just get smaller. But on a 5 year old, well it's the saddest sight. Her shoulder blades and ribs poked out, all of her clothes were too big (in fact she wore her 2 year old sister's pjs one night), she was constantly on fire, her eyes were sunken in, and she had to be carried around as she was too weak and too frail. After finally taking her to the doctor (I have the most guilt about waiting), we found out she had a double ear infection and pneumonia. Now I don't know about you, but to me, the word "pneumonia" is scary.

We started her on medicine immediately but as we waited for them to work their magic, she continued to starve herself. I used all the tactics I could think of to get her to eat. Compassion? Nope. Threats? Nope. Pizza for dinner? Nope. Cookies for breakfast? Nope. Judge away but I was desperate.

Tuesday night was the hardest. At least I think it was a Tuesday. The last 3 weeks have been a blur. That night as John was giving Eleanor a bath, I held my frail child in her bed while I quietly sobbed, praying that she would get better soon. I reached out to a handful of family and friends and asked them to pray as well. Including friends who aren't religious. I was scared.

I was scared and I seriously wanted to punch pneumonia in the face. 

In fact, if pneumonia were a person, not only would I punch them in the face, I'd kick them in the shins, the balls, titty twist, eye gouge, and bite off their fingers Santa Clarita Diet style. Pneumonia, don't mess with me.

And honestly, this goes for any illness that comes after my children.

I have several people in my life who are dealing with much more severe illnesses. And as my child gets better, I feel super guilty. I have friends whose babies have been in and out of hospitals with no end in sight and I cannot imagine what they are going through. I'm 100% sure they have had moments much scarier than mine. And while I feel guilty and maybe I was overly worried, I was still scared. If not treated, even pneumonia can take a life.

So pneumonia, you better not come back or this mama bear will eat you alive. I'm a fairly passive person, but if you mess with my family, I'm gonna eat your fingers.

On the mend. John one night "You are strong like Moana".

School Tours Are Over and I Am Feeling Lots of Feels

The time has come y'all! The end is near! Within the next couple of weeks, we will FINALLY know which school K will be attending in the fall.

noticed this sign the day we went on our first school tour last october.

It's been a long, exhausting road visiting school after school over the last 5 months. So many schools toured, so many applications turned in (over 500 applicants for Kindergarten alone at one school), but we...are...almost done.

Several school lotteries are already underway and we currently know our placement for a few of them. Without mentioning the schools names (*see why below), we are happy to announce that we got into one of our top schools! We are extremely far down on the wait list for the others. Once the lotteries are complete, and we are officially offered a spot(s) at these schools, we will have to make some serious decisions regarding which school is the best fit for us. There are so many things I am looking for in each school (see full list HERE) and not all of the schools visited, have everything. So, decisions will have to be made.

The school we "won" seems incredible! But guys, I am feeling a little bit of guilt that we were chosen. Out of several hundred applicants, we got in. And in some ways, it just seems unfair. There is nothing we did better than anyone else, as the lottery is picked at random and sometimes, quite literally, the student names are chosen out of a hat. But still, I feel guilty. There are some families I know of who desperately need to get into one of these "top" schools. Because the school they are zoned for, for lack of a better word, is terrible. Whereas the school we are zoned for, is considered a great hidden gem. And when I toured it, I was able to see why. But still, I feel guilty. But I shouldn't feel guilty right? Even we, I think, deserve the absolute best school for our child. Even if we decided to give up our spot, the family behind us may be in the same boat, zoned for another good school.

I haven't personally attended a public lottery yet (and I don't plan on it). But from what I have heard from other parents, it is an extremely emotional room with lots of tears from parents who so desperately want to get into a school that isn't considered a 2. 

And while I feel happy, and excited, and guilty, I fully believe that even a 2 has potential to be great. It's totally possible that "bad" schools have great teachers. Just like a great school may have "bad" teachers. There really is no definite way to know. But I believe, no matter where a student ends up, parent involvement is key.

I hope that over the next few weeks, we are able to find and choose the right school for K. I also hope and pray that all of the other parents who are going through this process, find the right school for their child. Already, they are touring, and applying, and involved in the process. Which like I said before, I think is important.

So friends, family, whoever else may be reading this post, please wish us, and every other parent out there, luck!


*The reason I am choosing not to mention school names is because I know there are parents who will say things like, "Why did you even apply to the school if yours is already good?", "We need this school more than you do.", etc. And I just cannot put my family through that. I have enough guilt as it is that I am trying to work through. 

8 Things That Happened When My Husband Was In Utah

Let me first say, single moms are the most amazing women in the world. FOR REALS. How they manage to do it all is astounding! True warriors.

Last week, John went on a work trip to Utah to hang out with Michael Phelps and Elton John (he was doing "real" work too) and it was way tricky for me. I mean, he was only gone for 4 days and 3 nights (thank you for not staying to ski babe!) but it seemed much longer. I thank my lucky stars that I have a husband who rarely has to go on work trips and who is extremely valuable and helpful when he is home. We love him for other reasons too, but after this week, I am extra thankful that he comes home at the end of the day when I am barely staying afloat. 

8 Things That Happened When My Husband Was In Utah:

1. The friends I planned on bombarding and hanging out with all week were unavailable. One got pink eye and the other was in Ohio. God bless another friend who was able to play with us that first solo day.

2. No one slept. No one. My kids thought last week was an excellent week to go to bed extra late, wake up extra early, and take 10 minute car naps (CAR NAPS! - mom nightmare).

3. When my kids finally did go to bed, I didn't because I was panicked that a spider was going to find and murder us all. John found a black widow in his suitcase the night before he left (insert horror emoji).

4. More coffee was consumed than probably safe. Thank you John for making sure I had plenty of coffee and filters before you left! 

5. I lost my keys at K's baseball practice and then had a panic attack because John was out of town, it was dark out, and I thought my keys would be lost on the field forever (they were finally found in my pocket thank goodness). 

6. The Bachelor was ruined. I know, I know, who cares. John is usually in charge of getting the kids to sleep while I have a few minutes to watch trash TV. When he was gone, and I had to do bedtime, I missed Corrine getting eliminated (that girl was both crazy and hilarious!).

7. One million couch yogurt stains, crusty burnt noodles on the stove, and kid panty poo stains happened. Ain't nobody got time for cleaning that.

8. A single meal was cooked. I have more Happy Meal toys than I'd like to admit. 


But...I kept the kids alive and for the most part, happy. Really, I have it good. Like I said, single moms who do this all the time are heroes. 

Thank you John for making sure the girls' animals are positioned just right on their bed so I can watch Miss Abbey lose it, for cooking dinner the majority of the time so I don't burn it, killing deadly spiders before K decides it's her friend, and so much more! Next time I'm coming with you to see Sir Elton John kill it with "Benny and the Jets". 

I started the week by taking K to the doctor. Great start.

When she found out she wasn't getting shots this round. Instead anemia test - SO MUCH BLOOD and way worse. 

Supposed to be asleep.

Another night they were supposed to be asleep.

End of week attempting to stay afloat.

Waiting for daddy (at the wrong baggage claim).

Happy our main squeeze is home!