Josh's baseball season!

My Josh has me smiling all over. Another baseball season is well on it's way. Josh is playing for the Pirates again & is loving it. He loves baseball, his friends, & his new found independence. Since the baseball field is just a few blocks up the street we decided that Josh could ride his scooter or bike to the field by HIMSELF! Ok, you may be saying this is not a big deal, and for some of you it may not be. BUT...this is my baby people!!! He is leaving home alone without us! What!!! When did this happen??? In reality, how this all started was when I WASN'T home. I was out & Lonnie was home w/ the kids. I THINK the two of them conspired to start this when I wouldn't be home to protest with a list of completely appropriate objections. Josh could be:

1. hit by a car
2. bit by a dog
3. injured from falling off his bike or scooter
   
4. STOLEN by a weirdo
5. kidnapped by aliens
6. confronted by drug dealers
   

Ok, well the last two are a stretch but I had to add some humor to my list. Lonnie knew that if Josh went when I wasn't home I would realize that Josh would live through the experience. It was just mind-boggling to me to be driving down the street & see my son riding down the sidewalk to practice by himself. It brought tears to my eyes. Up to this point we just haven't let him ride away from home or the neighbors parking lot. I know, I know....I'm overprotective. Funniest part though was when I saw Leah later in the evening & she says, "MOM, did you see Josh riding to practice by HIMSELF? I was in the car with Brent & I started crying when I saw it." WHAT???? Miss Independence is not READY for her brother to grow up EITHER!!!!!!!!!! Who would have thought??? Anyway, Josh is very careful, leaves VERY EARLY (this did not come from my gene pool), & feels like the big man on campus. He cracks me up.

Josh's Papaw always kept track of Lonnie & his brother's stats, newspaper articles, photos etc. so it was very exciting to have him bring over Josh's first newspaper clipping. Josh had played a GREAT game, & had won the game ball! My personal favorite was the next game he played when he had his first opportunity to pitch. I was never so nervous for him in my life. He normally plays 1st or 3rd, but on this particular night he also got to pitch. He pitched several innings & did so well. Their team is undefeated this year. I know "winning" is not supposed to be important, but I am so grateful that Josh is trying his best to play hard for his team. After that game when he pitched, he found out that he would be playing on the All-Star team. He was so tickled. We went to that game yesterday in the boiling hot sun!

Here's Josh playing 1st base. He brought in the last 2 outs to win the game! His All-Star team won but Josh was so hot I don't even know if he cared. He just wanted to "go to the pool!" All the boys received another game ball at the game. Josh was thrilled!

Good game boys!