Quote of the Day: Baseball quotes found here.
You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you, too. ~Roy Campanella
Baseball was made for kids, and grown-ups only screw it up. ~Bob Lemon
I see great things in baseball. It’s our game – the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
Double the cake. Double the guest list. Double the fun. Double the volume (alright, the volume was more than double). My own Minnesota Twins turned 11 last Friday. It was a big birthday bash. Then invitations read, “and bring a baseball glove.” Thank God for nice weather. They all ran, walked, or rode anything with wheels down to the park and set up their game of baseball. When I got there, I suggested they turn the diamond around and hit towards the trees, not the road. They hit. They ran. They argued. I determined that middle school age boys still need an ump. I did not volunteer. I said, “Hey, I’m just here to take pictures.”
It made me wonder. Is the baseball field the first place where the male child tries to use his voice to get his way?
Your foot wasn’t on the base!
Yes, it was!
You didn’t tag me!
Yes, I did!
I got there first!
I caught the ball before you stepped on the plate!
And, so on, until I thought, How can this be any fun?
I stood up to leave and shouted, “I’m ordering the pizza.” Then, walked home, trailed by the pack of boys.
After the pizza, they used the football. I think this is a game of 500.
I usually get to supervise the high school boys playing games, so not sure when it was ever friendly, so competitive!
I love the photos! I’m so glad that the weather was good and they had a happy birthday!
What life lessons they learn in that rag-tag baseball game. Fairness, negotiating, compromising, friendships. Sometimes I think those spontaneous games are the best, the ones of fond memories, too.
Looks like your guys had a wonderful birthday bash! I grew up on baseball. I remember falling asleep on the couch to the sound of the Atlanta Braves playing. My dad was a HUGE baseball fan and I definitely inherited his love of the gave.
I think kids enjoy games more when they ARE able to voice their own opinion, being a game in the back yard or at the park. Organized, competitive games on teams do teach team work and discipline, but I honestly don’t think those are a good idea until kids are older and mature enough to handle the supervision. Not to mention the fact that not everyone can be winners. These guys giving out trophys to everyone…don’t get me started…
Happy Wednesday!
Jen
Those photos speak a million words, Mary. Just look at all the fun to be had. And TWO cakes. I should have found my way to your house. Two pieces of each please. 🙂
I love the journaling prompt. I think I’ll journal that one.
Mom, you threw a great party!
And thanks for displaying my blogfest button.
Mary,
What a great party and what an awesome time…boys and sports! Your pics brought back some really good memories of my son and his friends.
Thanks for sharing!
Great action shots, Mary. I love the flying hair! 🙂 Oh, and cake. I’m hungry! 🙂
Wow! Does this bring memories! Tons and tons of them! Thank you. And now you’ve given me a craving for the cake! Seriously, though, so much flooding back from the journaling prompt alone…and all these images of my time with my brothers and friends out in the fields and on the courts. Thanks again.
Diane
This looks like a perfect party for 11-year-old twin boys! You’re a smart Mom to know when to say no to umping and when to order pizza. Ha!
My Blog
Growing up I never played any sports. That’s probably why I always think I am right.
Happy birthday to your Minesota twins!