May Days! Our weekends continue to be primarily dominated by Juliette’s sporting events, but I remarked to a friend the other day that while the soccer-softball mash-up feels hectic at times, I know this season is short, literally (it’s just eight weeks long!), but also more broadly as we look at how quickly she’s growing and how soon she and her peers will be channeled into next-level competition. So I’m here for it, while it’s still low-key fun and games. SWING, batter, batter!
Her pitching progress is kind of unreal – in March she could hardly get the ball over the plate. A couple of weeks ago, she struck a girl out, fielded a grounder for an out at first, and caught a line drive, all back-to-back. There’s an old Minnesota Twins announcer that Shane tells me would have called that a “Snapper Mow ‘Em Down Inningâ€!
Isaac generally isn’t the most attentive spectator, but he knows to head to the fence when his sister steps up to the plate.
We traded kid-cheers with the Rusts one Saturday when Juliette had a softball game next door to G’s track meet.
Once sister’s done batting, it’s off to the next-door playground.
We ventured outside the West Seattle circuit for a handful of games and made the trip to Vashon Island to take on their local team. Waiting in line for the ferry takes a little more energy these days…
(Juliette took a ball to the eye a couple of days prior while warming up with a teammate and ended up with a little shiner…the price she pays for the sheer love of the game!)
It was awfully hot and dusty that day, but Juliette’s focus was unflappable!
Ice-cold milk to get us through the final inning…
We hightailed it home after the game, all feeling a little spent after two and a half hours in the heat. We’ll be back, Vashon!
(We’ll be back real soon.)
Saturdays are for softball, and Sundays are for soccer. Strut that belly, Boy!
Sweet Isaac…constantly chasing after his sister and her teammates, not at all understanding why he’s not invited to the party. Someday, Buddy, you will rule the field!
Her rosy cheeks say it all…this girl runs hard.
Our little athlete unwinds after her games by…watching sports! Basketball, specifically – Juliette loves the NBA playoffs and is already teaching her brother everything she knows.
The Warriors lost all too soon, but Juliette’s Steph Curry jersey should still fit her next year…
We logged a lot of hours in the backyard last month, eating and playing and gardening.
Isaac likes to help me weed, but has proven he still can’t be trusted with a handful of dirt.
Nothing a little water can’t wash off!
Backyard breakfast…
And springtime strolls.
Mother’s Day 2023 was mellow and full of my favorite things. Kid-brewed coffee…
Snuggles with my littles…
And a quiet French toast brunch a la Shane while Isaac napped.
Some backyard chillin’…
And an afternoon soccer game, where Juliette scored a goal, “just for me”.
I was gifted a next-level coffee grinder…
And then we wrapped up the day with beachfront boba.
I love May.
