Almost there...

It seems we pack so much into those last few months of school.

First a little back yard science.  As Owen called it an "sperimint"

Our boys faced off against their former teammate and good friend in baseball so we had to end the night with pizza.

Teammates or not, win or lose, these boys are the best of friends.

More baseball, more pool days....

World naked gardening day:

And then we got a jump on swim season

A few swim practices a week, a few baseball practices and a few games. Busy busy.

Thankful for friends who come and watch and cheer us on.

Towards the end of the season the Cubs were in first place.  But it came down to them not losing another game.  Before weeknight game Scott was playing catch in the backyard and came running in screaming - "Mom look at my finger".  His pinky was pointed sideways.  I grabbed my keys and we headed for the car.  Just before we hopped in to run to the doc I decided to give it a shot myself.  I told Scott to let me "see" it and before he knew it it was back in place.  We went and bought a finger splint and less than two hours later he was playing his game.  Pretty tough if you ask me. 

Writing teacher appreciation card, busted up finger and all.

A couple days later.  Thankfully it healed quickly.  And it never set him back.

Mother's day breakfast in kindergarden in the morning 

Followed by a baseball game for Scott in the evening.  The same day we had planned to leave for Joshua Tree for a weekend of camping.  Well we thought we had planned it all so well when we booked it because our options were to either miss the last game of regular season or the first game of playoffs.  Well that was until they scheduled us for a make up game friday night.  Scott was beside himself about missing not one but two games (remember at this point they had to win the rest to stay in first place).  So our compromise was that Brian and Owen left for the dessert as planned in the RV and Scott and I stay for his game and leave immediately after.  To which I wondered, who have I become?  Fully drank the kool-aid and am now a fully fledged little league Mom.  Thankfully it was a workable compromise that made everyone happy. 

So Scott and I stayed for the game (and I'm happy to say they won!) and then we hit the road around 7, arriving in Joshua Tree around 10.  And I have to say that drive is up there as far as some of my favorite memories.  Scott and I talked the whole time (2.5 out of three hours about the game or baseball in general) and if you thought he would fall asleep during this drive, you clearly don't know him.  We go to the park in pitch darkness and went straight to sleep, ready for the weekends adventures to begin the next morning. 

We started our adventure with a 6+ mile hike out of our campground.  The boys were troopers and it was stunning!  My favorite was hearing them all saying we "summited Joshua tree" (and saying submit instead of summit) - ironic since its literally the dessert.

After our long hike we hung around the campground the rest of the day and let the kids ride bikes.

Sunday morning we headed into the park for more hikes

Favorite boys

Nowhere I'd rather be on Mother's day than adventuring with my people

When we got back from Joshua Tree it was time for baseball playoff tournament.

Which meant more nights at the fields.  Not only for our games for our buddies games too.

Our little Cubbies supporting Dom and the Rockies (these two teams would end up facing off in the final with Cubs coming in second in the tournament, but who would you rather lose to than one of your favorite friends?!?!)

Baseball moms + baseball sister

Noah's birthday - basically a frat house, ice cream sandwiches in the jacuzzi

Beating the heat in the dugout

Coach Roland sending Owen over the fence for some foul balls. Amazing.

"Dress as your future self day" at school.....Scott: olympic swimmer (he didn't wear the speedos, it was just for the picture)

Owen: food critic

And turns out that Owen's future dream job couldn't be perfect because then I saw this in his journal.  "My goal is to eet."  (eat) hahahahahaha

Raising chickens in kindergarten

O even got this one to fall asleep his hands. 

More cubs playoffs

More baseball moms

And Coach James with the mascot.

A kindergarten field trip to the Moxi museum

A lost tooth:

A surprise sign for our favorite kinder teacher before she ran her first marathon that weekend

And then, finally, another Rincon trip

Truly our happy place.  It never gets old. 

Baby's first pop rocks

We got to share our favorite spot with some of our favorite people this trip.  The Fujis and the Loos headed out for the day and these boys had a blast!

Nothing better than smores with your besties.

And baseball on the beach.  Obviously.

City of LA field trip with first grade. 

This time we got to ride Angel's flight (last year it was closed)

And then another play off game.  Followed by a shared pizza party with both teams.  Exactly what little league baseball should be about.

Some video highlights from Jenn, Scott brought his A game this night and probably had his best game of the season.  

He was making play after play at second base (where he had been playing for most of the second half of the season) including a super clutch pop fly catch (above) and (FINALLY) tagging the runner as he went by (below).