My Wee Little League-er Makes his Pitching Debut!

Malachy (9 years) was the first pitcher in the first game of the 2011 season.   He threw well!  He looked so small down there on the mound. It was a delight to watch this little man who has been throwing the ball accurately since he the first he held a ball as a baby.  His father has been working with him for a couple of years.......and now, we see the fruits.  Good thing his biggest brother Matthew created a pitching mound on our property way back when.  We need it!

In the first inning, he struck out three batters.  In the second inning, he struck out one batter, walked one, and his team made a double-play of a weak pop-fly.  He did not give up one hit.  They lost that game in a shut-out, but they had fun.

They have since lost two other games.  Malachy pitched well in one of those. He did get a chance to score the team's first run of the season, when he stole home.

Though I missed the game today because I went to a homeschool mom meeting, I hear that they won their first game.  Malachy said he had three hits and scored two runs.

So far, he has been able to make contact with the ball most every time he has been up at bat.  Looking forward to the rest of his season! 

Oh!  And one more thing:  one of Malachy's dearest wishes has come true...his dad is volunteering as an assistant coach!  With Garrett also working as a volunteer to assist Malachy's team.......the three boys are spending a lot of time at the ball field together. 

Enjoy this photo essay of Malachy's first experience on the mound......

...if you scroll the pictures fast, you can actualy "see" him throw.  :)

There were more pics.....but I cannot convince blogger to load them for me.....grrrrr.

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Did you know Malachy has an uncle who used to coach Babe Ruth and the local high school team here?  Well, all of those kids have grown and now have children the same age as Malachy and those grown boys are doing the coaching now.  They are doing a wonderful job....and I have heard them say they have definitely been influenced in their coaching style by Uncle David.  They do not put up with goofy kids and actually teach baseball.  Lovin' it!

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Malachy also has two cousins who have pitched professionally.......they are actually second cousins, of some sort.......and they both still play.  The two are first cousins, but about 20 years apart in age.  Keepin' an eye on their careers.  The older of the two won 2 games in a College World Series, including the final game of the series.  The younger one has just started his career.......

Baseball & spring blessings to all of you!

Love, Chari

Thankfulness Times Ten…….



Here are the guidelines I have for this thankfulness theme……

Just find ten things I am thankful for, in the moment. I have no rules...I may go over ten, if I cannot help myself......I may repeat myself.....and, I will write in no particular order of importance. If you feel inspired to do the same....do link yourself here in the comment section.

I am thankful for........

1. A husband who works so very hard for his family……. (I pray daily for his job security and job satisfaction)….and one who keeps asking once a week if he can make dinner for us (Uh….heck, yeah!). He is a natural in the kitchen and such an excellent example to his boys…all three of whom enjoy working in the kitchen preparing a meal. I am also grateful for his attention to the boys and their sports. St. Joseph, pray for us!

2. The chance my high schoolers have to receive a scholarship from the McConnell Foundation to attend the Yosemite Institute for a week in April. Matthew attended. Then Sarah attended. Maddelyn is there now. How exciting and wonderful to live in Yosemite for a week when you are young. I am not jealous. Not.

This is Sarah during her visit in 2010.

3. Wonderful friends and family to stay with when we travel up and down California. There are more than these listed, of course……but this is where we stayed on the latest trip…. We have our second home in San Francisco with the G-Family….and we love and adore their extended family as well. My Great-uncle Howard and my cousin Lynn (my namesake) live near the ocean and were so hospitable: making a birthday party for Garrett's 14^th birthday, taking us to the beach….and putting up with us! J With one evening's short notice (due to a big snowstorm that moved into my original travel plans), my brother-in-law Christopher and his wife Dana put the little boys and I up for a few days in their home in San Diego. It was such a nice visit. And quiet, for once…..not having to run all over the place to see the sights. The boys loved a chance to swim in the pool.

To the left of the pole we have

my Garrett, 14, my Malachy, 9, my Sarah, 18, my Anne, 22 & Charlotte, 5.

To the right of the pole, we have Clairemarie, 10, my Maddelyn, 15,

Clementine, 8, my adorable godson, Benedict, 2.5 and their beautiful mommy, Gloria G.

We spent a couple of wonderful hours at the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park.

A little pizza party for Garrett's 14^th birthday in downtown San Luis Obispo

with my Great-uncle Howard and his daughters, my second-cousins, Lynn and Claudia.

It was a wonderful night! Thanks for the treat, Unc!!

In San Diego at the grand opening of a piece of freeway in Santee.

Niece Julia, her friend, my Garrett, nephew Benjamin and my Malachy.

4. Living in a very long and gorgeous state that borders the ocean. California is something to see in the springtime!!!



5. The generosity of our friend Patty who has been tutoring my older kids in math for a couple of years now. They adore her method of teaching and all have blossomed under her tutelage. They LIKE math now! J



6. The generosity of our dear friends, Louise and Evan and their lovely and fun children, Miranda and Emileo. They fulfill that need of "family" that we all have when we live far from our own family.

7. The homeschooling lifestyle. I could rave on forever….but the fact that I get to spend so much time with my kids and that they have become each others' best friends is reason enough. Of course……the ability to travel whenever is a pretty awesome pro as well!


8. That my husband refurbished a computer for me so that I could move closer to rest of the world's abilities. It is nice to have some speed and space. I am not very fond of change…but I am being patient….and learning the updated programs…..one.step.at.a.time. Today I discovered how to write a blog post in Word…and publish it from there! This is so wonderful because blogger and I have a few relationship issues when it comes to writing drafts. Actually…..I have not done it yet…..still hoping it works!!


9. For the way Facebook allows frequent interaction with my relatives. Now, I do not miss them as much as I was without FB….we share more fun times and jokes…..and we can be there to celebrate or pray for each other. And most wonderful: we can watch each others' kids grow up via pictures and stories. Especially all of the sweet new cousins!


10. Our six wonderful and awesome kids. This picture will have to be worth the rest of the words…..

The first time all six kids were together since New Year's weekend.

Anne 22

Matthew 20

Sarah 18

Maddelyn 15

Garrett 14….in a few days from this photo

Malachy 9

Tell me about your blessings!

Love & prayers,

Chari

 

THE TRAGEDY OF ANTARCTICA

My wee fella, aged 9, and his "best friend", Clairemarie, newly 10.......are planning to "write" a book of tragedies.  Each tragedy is to be one page only.  Below you will find their first story.  They spent the most of two days WRITING this story instead of PLAYING.  Clairemarie did the typing and Malachy did much of the leading of the story, so I have heard.  I also was told that they had disagreements over the number of "shots" heard.......and that they finally compromised.  I want to get it out here, as is, because they are notice "errors" and are wanting to fix them.  I love it the way it is and I always want to remember it this way.

When you read this, I want you to read it as written, following where the punctuation, or lack of, leads.  :)   It is quote enjoyable that way!


In addition.....do notice the amazing plotline, the vocabulary, the sweet love of family.  I am really proud of these two little homeschooled kids, taking such an initiative at such a young age.  Please understand the violence is related to hearing stories of adventure, like Treasure Island, or what have you.  They imitate what they hear.

The next story will follow soon, written entirely by my little man.  In the meantime, I give you the first time in publication (without the authors' awareness)........

THE TRAGEDY OF ANTARCTICA

 

BY

MALACHY BRYAN & CLAIREMARIE GAZAVE

There once was a wealthy family who was blessed with three children. The first was Matthew the second was Kay and the third was Helena. The first was twelve the second eleven and the third was nine. One day the three children went on there daily horse ride by themselves as they always did. On there way home they heard gun shots then they heard screaming and voices crying out help!!! they rode back to the house to see if everything was alright but all they found was dead bodies and the ruins of there house then suddenly they felt a tight grasp on there necks some strange people had knocked them out . Next thing they new they were in a sell with two people staring at them one said I will get these three! the children did not know what he meant next they were taken to the strange peoples house they were richer then the three children used to be next they were locked up in a room with twenty other slaves then one of the people who bought them came in and said get to work! the children saw there chance and raised out of the room with five other slaves but just then the children heard gun shots they saw a slave fall to the ground but they did not stop running they could hear the gun shots getting louder and louder but they would not dare to look back finally they were out of the house then they spotted a little boat nearby they quickly jumped in just then they heard gun shots and one of the slaves dropped dead then they heard more gun shots and one of the slaves fell into the water dead .it was getting darker and darker as they floated out to sea it was almost midnight when one of them spotted a ship nearby finally they were right next to the ship when they heard a voice calling out do you children need help? Matthew answered yes we are completely lost can you tell us were the nearest island is? the man said why don’t you come aboard and I will tell you so the three children with the two slaves came out of the little boat and on to the ship then the man told them were the nearest island was he said that the ship was headed there too just then they heard lightning then thunder then the waves started to get taller and taller and then the man who was also the captain yelled there’s a storm then another person yelled look out captain a wave the captain was to late to dodge he was swept off his feet by a wave as the rest of the crew and the two slaves, the three children jumped off the ship before the wave hit they swam to a little ice burg the ice burg was only five by four feet ,they decided that they would have to live there since there was no way to get out of the strange place . one morning Matthew and Helena woke up to find there brothers dead body next to them Helena started to cry Matthew said we will have to find a way to live without Kay the next day Helena and Matthew went fishing sadly without Kay as Matthew was fishing he heard a scream it was Helena she had fallen into the water Matthew was to late to save her Helena had drown he had lost his two siblings which were the most important things to him. The next morning when Matthew was fishing the ice burg started to crack Matthew saw Kay who was frozen stuck to the ice burg sink down into the sea Matthew started to sink as well his last words were at least I will be with my brother and sister and that ends the TRAGEDY OF ANTARCTICA.



Blessings, my friends & relatives......

Love,
Chari