Big Boy

Well the picture is not so great but I did promise the kiddo. Hayden is SO excited to be learning cursive handwriting at school. He feels like such a big boy. Homework is always a "discussion" before I get home from work with Hayden and Daddy. Not today, he wanted to get this writing done and wanted to do it well. We are so proud of him.
Now if we could figure out where it is he could sit in class and not talk, talk, talk, talk, we'd be good to go!!!

Waiting His Whole Life

That is what Hayden told us about getting to be a part of one of the Field of Dreams team to go on the field at Dickey Stephens with the Travs. Oh he was so excited. As we were driving to the ballgame, it began to rain and then a few blocks more it quit. From the back seat of the truck, Hayden piped up and said "God gave me my wish because it stopped raining. He knows how much I always wanted to do this!"
I actually remember a little boy who would cry at Ray Winder Field when the Field of Dreams team would go out on the field and get too close to "his" players. Oh it woud just break his heart because he could not run out there. Then when he got a wee bit older he would feel bad about the players who did not have kids go to their spots. But now it was his turn and happy does not describe it.
So he waited...... Then he waited by the field.....
Then he waited with a favorite ballplayer....
Then he was off.....
He kept going......
And then he was there...his favorite spot...the hot corner....
Then it was time to come off the field.....

It was exactly as he thought it would be. He could not wait to tell us how cool it was, how big he felt, how much he could not wait to get to run out on a field like that for real!!!
I am glad it was worth the wait, son!

So It Continues

Fall Ball practices have started with earnest! Some of Hayden's friends are playing football and soccer but not this kiddo. He definitely has a one track mind. Football was not an option for us or for him. Ha (He actually chooses to not even think about. His very 1st baseball hero told him once not to play football because you would just get hurt and thank the good Lord, Hayden remembers it to this day.
With soccer, I just think maybe he does not get it or maybe it is because it would just interfere too much with baseball.
Coach Wes would be so proud of this photo. He is always telling the All Stars to get their gloves in the dirt when fielding a ball. I believe this happened here because of all the dirt trailing down from the glove. There is a very good possibility Hayden will play first base for his Fall Ball recreationl team.
Don't think Ryan would be too awful proud of the way Hayden turned out of the way of the pitch here. Don't really think this is what they talked about...hmmmmm
We went to the batting cages before practice and a coach from one of the older teams came over and watched Hayden for a while. He gave him a pointer on keeping his chin still, then asked me about Hayden. He wanted to know if he threw left-handed too. I told him no sir he is right handed. He wanted to know how we got Hayden to bat left handed. Told him we had nothing to do with that. The kid just walked up to the tee the first time and went to the left side of the plate. Such a silly little face rounding first base......
I guess he is practing the strong arm move already....ha
And what would a practice be if Hayden did not end up in the dirt at least once?
Too many of my pics are from this side....ha
Getting some pointers from Coach Patrick. He is so good with Hayden.....
Finally practice over.....

Finally

Well it has taken forever seems like but I finally have photos of the first day of third grade. Gosh, that still hurts to say.
This is Mrs. Pack on the night before school started. I am afraid she may have gray hair and wrinkles by the time this year is over. :-) Hayden is loving her and really liking 3rd grade but as she had to tell him on Friday, he is MUCH TOO SMART to talk all the time like he does. Gotta work on that. In fact, today I put sports tape on his wrist wrote I love you on one side and no talking on the other as a visual reminder. Let's hope it sinks in!! Here we are before heading off to the first day of school. Have I mentioned how much I adore this child?
He and Daddy before we headed off to school.
He had a good day, talked too much and enjoyed seeing his friends. After school, I took him to eat at a restaurant beside a pond so he could be outdoors and move around.
He did not like the cornbread at the restaurant. Can you tell?

Seeing Bobby - Being Spoiled ROTTEN

We took Hayden to Oklahoma City the weekend before school started for a last hoorah. He had no idea why we were going just that we were taking a mini vacation. He was so absolutely thrilled when he found out the Bees were playing the Redhawks and he was going to get to see Bobby.

Woo hoo, woo hoo.
With Hayden playing more baseball and all "his" players playing at far away teams, he has not gotten to make those connections as much this season and he has not liked it one bit. He is very partial to only a handful of fellas and they will always be "his" ballplayers and since we spoil him as we do, we will always take him as often as we can. There were LOTS of big hugs when we surprised Bobby too!

And as if we do not spoil this child too much already, Bobby took him on the field two nights. Good grief. He thinks he belongs on a baseball field and saw absolutely nothing unusual about being out there. This is one of his teams anyway.

Now going in the dugout, this was special. Hayden loved it. Wish I had gotten a picture of his face when Bobby motioned for him to come on over the rail and come in there. He had panic written all over his face. He did it though. (There was a teenager sitting down close to the field who was none to happy about this and wanted to know why "that" kid went in there. Oh well.....

They went and played a little catch before the last game we got to see for the weekend.

It was such a great way for Hayden to end his summer!

Thinking Outside the Box / Missing Special Hugs

Hayden has really been going through some withdrawals from not being able to see Mrs. Faith at school. He wants so much for her to see him in 3rd grade and be able to go talk with her and especially get hugs. Someone said to me today, you just never know what will come out of that boy's mouth and it sure was true after the first day of school. We were driving along and Hayden asked me why did Mrs. Faith have to move? I explained that her husband got a new job and they went to another State for it. Without blinking an eye, this child of mine wanted to know "did she ever consider divorce?" Completely aghast (ha), I asked him well would that have been good for her? In his most spoiled way, he said probably not but it would be great for me!

Times Passes By Too Fast While Life is Happening!

Well, this morning Harold and I have a 3rd grader in our home!!! How in the world did this happen so fast? It was just yesterday that Hayden started Kindergarten....I mean seriously.
It is simply amazing that sometimes the days are so long, but the years go by so fast.
There were no tears this morning but my heart aches knowing that my baby is growing up. I have been told so many times that 3rd grade is a transition year and a growing / maturing phase at school. I know that Hayden is ready to grow up but I miss my little baby sometimes too. Harold and I are blessed beyond belief that he still enjoys hanging out with us and even for all his bravado sometimes he DID hold my hand at the open house last night as we walked the halls of the school.
His teacher is going to be amazing. She is a very strong teacher who will bring out the best in my boy. Now, we understand also that she does not put up with a lot so the behavior is going to have to get in check quickly. :-)
Hayden believes wholeheartedly that God chose Mrs. Pack for him. When they met last night (and he had on baseball attire....), she asked him if he liked the White Sox (that was the t-shirt and hat he had on), his reply was I just LOVE baseball. She told him that they were going to get along great because she does too. I cannot begin to tell you how much that thrilled my fella.
This morning as Harold was finishing country boy breakfast for Hay and I was finishing up a note and basket of goodies for Mrs. Pack for the first day of school, Harold heard Hayden stirring upstairs. I thought that had to be wrong because we had not gone to wake him. But then I heard...."Good Morning Momma!" and there he was at the top of the stairs. He said "I set my alarm and got up with it this morning for my first day". Yep, my baby is growing up. I don't have a photo of Hayden from this morning yet but here are a few from the past years.
He and his Daddy as he went off for the first day of Kindergarten.

He and Mrs. Koettel on the first day of Kindergarten. My goodness he looks little.
Hayden and Momma on the first day of First Grade. I did not have a first day of school pic with Mrs. Parker (whom we LOVE and go get hugs from at school every chance we get)Look at him stretching trying to be taller. He does not like these shorts at all. He did not like them then and he certainly does not like them today. He so wanted to wear cargos but we are not sure they are allowed......Getting ready to head out for the first day of Second Grade.
Mrs. Faith and Hayden on the first day of Second Grade. We miss Mrs. Faith SO much.