Teeball Season Ender

Here we go again for the last time! 10:00 AM the Dick's Sporting Goods found themselves on the big field.

The kids all played catch while the coaches scrambled to write down everyone's name and number.

There would only be one inning today and each player would be announced as they stepped up to the tee.

The goal was to make it a memorable close to the season.

The kids all enjoyed playing in the dirt and gravel while the other team was introduced (Shane filled his glove).

We were introduced second. Shane was third in the line-up.

I didn't measure, but the field felt smaller.

The dirt certainly allowed throws and hits to roll.

Outs weren't officially enforced, but we kept count. Our kids tallied five (3 at first base and two at the end when Shane threw it to our catcher, Matthew, and he tagged out two kids at home). I'd say that counts as a win.

The kids all lined up again at the end for a minor award ceremony.

Shane was excited about the medal.

Nor was he the only one.

If the kids were 12, a medal for participating would be silly. At this age, it's good to let the kids feel like they accomplished something (though remembering to attend and getting there is more on the parents...).

I told Shane the medal was for surviving the season. We started with 12 or 13 kids and finished with 10, so it's true.

Amazingly, they gave the coaches medals, too.

Maybe they were cheaper in bulk.

The big surprise was the free hot dogs. Anyone with a medal was entitled to one! Little eyes lit up. The eyes of all the parents around me lit up, too. Lunch was figured out for all of us!

I'm definitely thinking we'll do little league again next year.

I shifted into cleaning mode when we got home. I made Shane pick up his toys and then he got smart. He found ways to entertain himself that were quiet and didn't attract my attention (and the tasks that would have gone along with it). I played music in the background from a bunch of older sources to help broaden his horizons.

It seemed like a quiet day other than teeball, but it must have worn Shane out. He fell asleep when we went out on errands later. I had to carry him into the store.

He started to wake up and then smirk and pretend sleep a couple minutes later. I called his bluff and pretended to drop him. He tried to play it off and go back to sleep on the floor, but no one was buying it.