Lucky Jerseys...

So 3 of the 4 kids are playing ball this year - 2 in Little League, and 1 playing softball.

They got the uniforms which is a huge thing in our house...everyone wants to know what number they got, and I have to try and remember them from the sidelines, who-was-what. (Some days I struggle with first names, after all!)

So, why would I be surprised when the kids got the numbers Six - Six, and SIX???

You almost had to see that coming, no?? No other set of numbers would be quite as ironic and comical.

Too funny...we decided it's our lucky number. It's my bday, date and month, there are 6 of us in the family...right??? Pssh...sign of the Devil. Nah...they're just a happy bunch of six's that like to hang out together.

A Date With Mom

During my date on Friday night with Joe, he let me know that he is a masterful flirt, to which I laughed like a mom and pushed his hair aside in a "oh you silly boy" kinda way...He then cleared the dining room table, put out candles for me to light, took out the lovely china plates, and made half the meal.

As the food was nearing done, Joe asked, standing at one side of the big table that seats at least 8, where I would prefer to sit. (ok he's actually pretty good at this...how many guys ASK??) I pointed to the "head" of the table, nearest the kitchen - since I always make 22 trips in there to get whatever anyone needs anyway - and Joe makes note, placing my plate there. When I return, he has turned down the lights, and seated his chair, plate, glass, silver and napkin immediately beside mine, so that the chairs have become a little bench on the short end of a long, candle-lit table.

He said "I know most people would sit at the other end...but why would I want to sit so far away from you? This is much more fun."

Ok, he wins. The kid is a good flirt. We talked about how flirting works, and how making someone feel good about themselves always makes you memorable. The quote of the day was when he asked:

"Hey, Mom? Did you get Dad or did Dad get you?" Funny kid...

Extra Innings

Bryan's game yesterday went into a 7th - and extra - inning.

It is remarkable how climactic those repeated victories feel. It's not about winning...it really isn't, though that's fun and rewarding. It's something "going your way". Something you can contribute to. A way to make yourself believe hard work pays off. A way to believe you have some control over things. It's an aside that it's a load of hooey, since lots of teams work hard, play hard, and still lose a load (if not all) the games. Trust me. We've been on 'em.

This team of mostly 10 and 11 year olds are good, no question, but they are no "phenomenon"...they've been down by 4 and 5 runs in the beginning of the 5th or even 6th (and final) inning, and somehow just throw a few great plays, and mesh for long enough to have a triple, or a few lighting-strikes of brilliance, and they race it up.

Yesterday was no exception. They were down for the first half of an 8AM game (trust me, that's not usually when kids excel at athletics...they are barely awake). The other team was playing well. Bryan's team woke up in the 3rd, and were a few runs ahead going into the 4th. In the 5th, they started to slip with a new pitcher in, and in this, this 6th game, 6th inning, things tied up, 6-6 (uh, see 6-6-6 in other random baseball amblings) we are now headed into Baseball Magic...and the story unfolds with a Mets victory - a ball being bounced off a shoe but considered "live" by the umpire, and an undefeated season goes one game longer.

Tonight they play the 7th game of 13, and one more victory this season will assure a AAA Nat'l Div championship. The question remains: Will they lose some of the "magic" if a title/honor is attained by the half way point in the season? Will they still "fight" for every game? Will their little bodies tip over with oversized egos? I guess we will see...My Bryan turns 11 tomorrow...would be nice to turn 11 with a swelled head.

First Communion Luau

We have reached a milestone in the P'fam. The final First Communion has taken place! As with all family holidays, it wouldn't have been complete without the last minute "straightening spree", and imported food from Catering By Grandmothers...all our events are catered, or people go hungry...it's a fact of life.

Never-the-less, as we close in on the home stretch of the celebration (ie, the Beginning of the Post-Communion party), Joe and one of his cousins disappeared, off "riding bikes", but when they failed to return after 20-30 minutes, Chris and his Uncle went looking for the boys...after all, it is Joe's party n'all so people kept asking for them. And he's riding bikes in a nice dark pinstripe suit, crisp white shirt, and tie. How hard can he be to find? I mean, Needham is pretty tightly wound, but even that stands out...

Chris and Uncle B wander until they see bikes outside the local pizza place about a block away, leaning against the building. They walk down the block, and wander in to find the two boys hunkered down at a booth, eating Mike-n-Ike's. (seriously?) They get kicked back into play, and sent home.

As the story moves throughout the party, and grows increasingly comical - with incinuations of shady, young-mafia jokes are being made, Matt says "So you come to me on the day of my First Communion....and ask me for a favor??" I'd love to have been a fly on the wall to hear what the hell they were thinking, talkin about or doing...Silly weasels....