MLB and the young at heart

If you've ever wanted to play Major League Baseball, but you're past the prime age of MLB today, no worries - there is a division for you! Starting at age 35, you can play, go to the Championships and even to the World Series! Today we went to a game for the 65+ age group. My uncle (Arlo - my dad's younger brother) was called this week to come play for the team Dodger Town West - hoping to make it to the World Series in Cuba. My brother, Steven, and his kids met up with us and we went "out to the ballgame". There's something special about this league though. There's no sponsors, no overpaid athletes, no promotional gimmicks, no tickets to buy or parking to pay for, no 7th inning stretch, not even a working scoreboard. There is, however, the best of the best group of athletes who want to and enjoy playing the game. Not for the money obviously because we walked right into the park and probably doubled the number of fans for 4 fields with our small group (8 of us). It was amazing though - these guys are impressive and just as competitive as ever. They still get mad when they strike out, thrown out or hit a pop fly for an easy out. They still get upset with the refs for making a poor call, they cheer on their teammates and coaches can get away with calling their players "kid". And although they run a "little" slower than your average player, they love the game!

Arlo said he hasn't played baseball in probably 8 years - he's been playing slowpitch softball, but hasn't played baseball since he attended a Fantasy Baseball camp. He has his own baseball cards, jersey and wooden baseball bat. Aside from being an amazing and talented athlete, he's truly an amazing individual - happy all the time - just all around great guy! The kids cheered him on and called him "grandpa" "sorensen" and they loved missing school to go to a game.....shhhhhh, don't tell. :)

Quick side story: One of Arlo's teammates, asked where the kids' grandpa was. "Grandpa is in Norway." huh? They repeated it as I clarified we were watching Grandpa's brother and Grandpa really is in Norway. Oh, then he really is in Norway - yes he is. :) Smart kids!

First at bat - base hit

Playing shortstop

covering second for a base hit

Tanner with the help of Steven, retrieving a foul ball - the guy in the purple is NOT my brother - he's behind this guy holding Tanner, just happened to be in the shot - they were quicker than my camera to get the ball down.

One phrase comes to mind: "Please return all foul balls to the box on the third base side. Watch for cars, Thank you." Was spoken every time at my brothers' little league baseball games. Got a baseball gum if you returned the foul ball. SWEET! :)

ST-T-T-T-RIKE!

Swing batter, base hit!

My girls in pink! Go team!

Sorensen family fan section

gettin' a little exercise - our own 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, inning stretch

2-hand touch football and catch on the side

Stealing 3rd!!!!! Go, go, go! (He had just stolen 2nd on the pitch before) - SAFE!

Meeting the pro - way to go Arlo!

A future MLB player - Tanner Sorensen

The game was pretty intense - came down to the last inning, runner on 3rd for the tie run, runner on 1st for the go-ahead, winning run. Arlo's team was ahead 5-1, they went 3-0 outs and back to the field. The other team scored 3 runs off one stand-up triple. Score is now 5-4 Dodgers still up by 1. The guy who hit the triple and is on third is one of the quicker guys on the field and can easily score given the chance. Hitter up, swing and high pop-fly shallow infield, caught by the 2nd baseman - batter's out - game over! Dodgers Town West wins! IT WAS AWESOME!

Halloween preview

A little preview of things to come this weekend. Grandma Riz made the girls tutus for Halloween and to wear every other day they please. I wanted to make them with her when we went to the BYUvUNLV game, alas not happening as that was the 2 weeks of illness we endured and survived. It's lovely to have my house back to normal and healthy. :) Lucas got a water coloring thing and loved every minute of it. I think the wood absorbed a lot although the placemat he was using was completely soaked too.........inspiring creativity right?!

BYU trip!

ROAD TRIP!!! After reading about a friend's adventures to the BYU game in Texas, we (erin) had this great idea to go on our own road trip. Requires much effort when wanting to go anywhere with 3 children. We decided to take a road trip to the BYU vs Utah State game. It just so happened to coincide with General Conference. We were able to round up tickets for Conference and headed to Utah with the Beckers.

DAY 1:
We left at 3:30 am.....Friday October 2nd - had to be there for game time at 7 pm. Before the sun was up, we headed out.
Stop 1: Flagstaff for fillerup - 28 degrees and freezing!
Stop 2: The Gap (45 minutes before Page, AZ) - interesting, still cold and we parked next to Beckers, one care on their side and other a foot from our van - stuck in the middle of a domestic distubrbance, several "F"-words later - in a matter of seconds, we hurriedly backed out of the gas station and left!
Stop 3: - unscheduled visit with Kanab Police Officer - Lea took a picture of the police car, but the picture was accidentally deleted from her camera. Two tickets (both my Jeff and Geoff Becker) and $180 later, we continue to Kanab for brunch around 10 am at Wendy's in our fav gas station there.
Stop 4: By now - for us, we're 2 stops too many for our trip to Utah.
Stop 5: trade drivers for our vehicle, my turn - just before entering the I-15 from the 20. Right before Beaver.
Stop 6: Some construction, but whew, we made it to Springville Walmart for diapers and a long-sleeved shirt for me. It's cold! It's about 3 pm now and we're headed to BYU Bookstore - I love this place! Beckers are on their way to see family - we'll re-convene at the game.
Stop 7: BYU BOOKSTORE! On our way into the Wilkinson Student Center, I hear "Jeff! Jeffrey!" At this I turn around to see someone I should know holding the door open for me. I did a double take because he was in the group calling Jeff. It was Jeff's cousins (dave's girls) and their mom Jane. They were on their way to the bookstore too. Warm hats and new BYU shirts, we're back out the door to my aunt's house (my mom's sister, Marietta).
Stop 8: We're finally somewhere to unload and relax. The kids are free to run around. My cousins were there and their kids. My Aunt and cousins were kind enough to watch our kids while we went to the game. When I was younger, my family spent countless hours at Mare's house when we'd take our trips to Utah from Washington. Brings back a lot of fond memories being there and hanging out with family. Lea and my fav cousin Jenny... :) has a daughter Lea's age. They had a great time together and were sad to part ways the next day as we headed to Salt Lake to stay with Jeff's brother Nathan and family. We gave our Sunday morning tickets for Conference to Jenny and her husband.

Lea, Elise, Lucas

Stop 9: Off to the game! Grab dinner at Burger Supreme - now it's 6 pm and closing in on kick-off. If anyone knows Jeff, we don't miss kickoff - it's frustrating for him, me I don't care, but Jeff loves every second of the game experience....notice I didn't say the game....it's the game experience..... subtle difference.
Met up with the Beckers again, Jeff's brother Steven and Elise (not the same as the little one mentioned above) and still more Risenmays we found - Amy, Paul and their son. Quickly downing as much Burger Supreme as we can, we take the rest with us and head to our seats - 3RD ROW!!!! (from the top of the stadium...) After much heckling from Jeff and other disgruntled BYU fans, several rounds of the wave and the BYU fight song, BYU wins something to something... :). I was just happy to be there - feeling 20 again and carefree!

Walked to Steven's apartment and played Beatles Rockband for a couple songs while traffic dispersed, then headed to my aunt's house for the night.

 End of day one: it was a long day, but so happy to arrive safely and had a great time with family and friends. 

DAY 2:

Spent the morning with Marietta, then headed to Salt Lake. Jeff was going to the Priesthood Session of General Conference and we wanted to spend some time with Nathan and his family during the day so the kids could play. 
Stop 10: Nathan's and then to the park. Back for dinner and men to Priesthood (also had tickets for my nephew Brendan and his friends who were down from BYU-I) while Mandy and I watched a movie and the kids watched a movie downstairs. Worked out great and we enjoyed being with them. I saw them this summer for the Risenmay reunion at the Oregon Coast, but Jeff was unable to take work off and join us. It's been a while since they'd seen each other - April at Eric's (youngest brother) wedding.

Lucas, Anna, Lea and Abbey

Everyone had a good time at the park.....Jeff showing off his rodeo skills.

"Should I eat it?! Mom said 'No rocks, no dirt, don't lick the sidewalk, but she never said wood chips....'"

Nah! I'll just pick it up and throw it down - who needs toys?!

DAY 3: On the road again.....

Day 3 was much like day one. Back on the road again. Alot of stops: Panguitch, Cameron, us in Flagstaff, etc, but we made it home and it was a memorable trip. More photos from the Cameron stop:

Babies "driving", the kids running crazy between the vans to bust out some energy and on to the final stretch of the drive. Good times!

Choose this Day

From President Eyring - Choose this Day. My spiritual filling as we're home from church for another week - just in case we're still contagious for something. Lea had a low grade fever 100 and I was exhausted - thankful for a day of rest. Happy Sunday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cw8I8eukaI

Breathing is not optional

After almost 2 weeks of random illnesses, I still don't feel like I'm caught up on anything around my house. I feel like I haven't stopped long enough to relax and my legs are aching. And apparently I look as tired as I feel. :) Thank you Lisa for watching my kids during Super Saturday!! You're the best!

Friday was Jeff's turn at the doctor and the return for me to get allergy shots. Both were in adjoining offices - very convenient. :) Jeff has had asthma since forever. Although since we've been married, he stopped using any meds for it and has not been to any sort of doctor in the last 8 years. He finally had time to go and the specialist we (Lea and I) see for asthma/allergy didn't have an opening for 2 weeks - we needed it now. Another doctor was available and off we went. Turns out when you only use 58% of your lung capacity - not good. After a breathing treatment - up to 60-something% - still not good, but better. This could explain why Jeff has such a horrible memory - lack of oxygen to the brain will for sure decrease your memory. Or it could be the 3+ concussions he had when he was younger. Either way, the boy needs help! :)

Back on a bunch of new meds for Jeff to increase his breathing capacity - just in time to run a Ragnar Relay Race in February!!! The doctor told Jeff he was a passive something-or-other. (She didn't actually say that, but I can't remember what she called him) Basically he had gotten used to using such little oxygen or he was so sure he was "better" that it never occurred to him he might not have been better.

This whole breathing better idea will definitely help in the losing weight battle - he's losing inches and lbs and is getting back to the Jeff I first met - yeah! A happier, healthier husband! And hopefully a happy, healthy family - maybe with clean laundry and dishes if I can motivate myself to do anymore loads of either.

 

Aren't they cute?! Jeff was home for an entire week of work - this is absolutely unheard of for our family - although he was sick, it was fun to have him around. Jeff "styled" Abbey's hair too - she's finally back to normal and totally adorable! Aside from the crazy do.

Lea A., First Grader and the case of the extra tooth......

We like Junie B Jones, can you tell!? For weeks maybe even months, Lea has been asking when she'll lose her first tooth or at least have something to wiggle. All of her friends are starting to lose their teeth and it's a little disheartening for not to be in that club yet.

Well, today is different, she has a loose tooth! Only one problem, which I can see causing more problems in the future......................the tooth is not that loose and her teeth are very tiny. Okay, but the big problem: the next tooth has already pushed through behind the "loose" tooth..................*sigh*. Prediction - the tooth will have to be yanked and there could be future visits to an orthodontist if this is the pattern for all her teeth.......*more sighs*.

Lea and her cousins: Brianna and Ashley sitting by Lea. Wickenburg, AZ

PS: I tried to take picture of it and all I got was a black hole. haha! :) So you'll have to ask her the next time you see her - she will gladly show it to you. Although we're going to the dentist this week to get it figured out, so look fast! :)