Baseball, baseball, baseball...

So I have two sons. And they both play baseball. Seth has played since he was 6 and Ian has played since he was 5. After a few years, Chris decided to manage his own team. And he never stopped. He managed Seth for 4 years and just finished his first year managing Ian. It's official. We're a baseball family.

We love it...myself included. I do. Baseball season is fun...it's hectic and crazy...but it's fun. But I have to say...there's a reason it's limited to a season. You know? Ever heard the saying, "too much of a good thing"? I have. But my boys haven't. There's no such thing as "too much" baseball apparently. Not only do we play during the season...and then are fortunate enough to be a part of the All_Star team...but then we even sign up for tournament ball...which involves traveling. Every weekend. Or at least every other weekend. But usually both days. It's a lot. But it's fun. And the boys do enjoy it.

Yes, there are times when I would really rather just stay at home and nest...cook, garden, create, read, write, rest. But, as you see, I am outvoted. Being the only girl in the house does have some advantages...but this is not one of them. Sports rule around here...no doubt. ESPN, Sports Center, pro games, college games, girls college games...you name it, they watch it.

And just when I think I can't take one more game...one more dirty uniform...one more, "I need new cleats" or "I forgot my bat bag!"...I remember that my time with my boys is short. Seth will be going off to college in a mere four years. That will be here before I know it. And Ian is already going to be in 6th grade...my BABY. I've heard people say that sending their first off to the next phase, be it jr. high , high school, etc., is the hardest and that each child after that gets easier. But I'm finding the opposite to be true for me. I send Seth off to the next step, knowing I still have another little guy a few steps behind. Sending Seth has been a good experience...exciting even. Yeah, I get a little misty and mourn for my little newborn...but he's so ready and so excited that I feel all of that FOR him. Not to mention, I so enjoy watching them both become young men. It's a fun process...and it makes me proud.

But every once in a while...even though I love watching them grow and mature and develop into amazing human beings...every once in a while I want to grab Ian by the heels and drag him back to kindergarten and make him stay there forever with a brick on his head. Or I have a little flash of little one year old Seth standing in the kitchen, looking up at me in his feety pajamas holding out his chubby little hand saying, "Pila peas?" (pickle please)

And all of a sudden...here we are...where does the time go? As my husband just said, "I woke up one day and he was a teenager. How did that happen?" I don't know...but we may as well go with it!