Matt Holliday Press Conference

Sometimes we get to tagalong to some interesting things! Tonight? A press conference at Stillwater High School, home of Matt Holliday. They were retiring his numbers from his high school teams tonight. I'm not much into sports (as those of you who know me realize) but I find the "people angle" interesting.

I was impressed with this guy! He seemed very real and was more people-oriented than I expected. He had questions that gave him the opportunity to boast, but he was far from arrogant. Actually, I found him surprisingly humble. But not the slimy "I-want-you-to-see-me-as-humble" kind of thing ... genuinely thankful to be where he is and truly respectful of others. I always appreciate and respect that when I see it (and it doesn't feel like someone saying what he/she "should" for an audience).


My little one came prepared (little puppies in a carrier - one day they will probably be real!) but soon found herself stifling yawns and passing them around as we waited. She was so cute earlier ... she said she wanted to go so she could learn more about soccer. Soccer? She thought he was a soccer player. While we were waiting at the press conference, she asked who was going to be there. I told her, "Mr. Holliday." She said, "Who's that?" Of course, it got a laugh. And then she got shy.


Maybe one day my little Miss M will realize what a cool opportunity this was! I'm actually a little stunned my teenager decided not to come. He's the one who is into sports and even had Matt Holliday on his fantasy team last year! Hmmmmm ... maybe he's just tired of being cooped up in the house with 3 girls (me, M, and Daisy)!

For you fans ... a few more Matt Holliday photos are here (forgive me, I'm not taking time to edit much of anything tonight): Matt Holliday Press Conference

From One Camp To Another ...

Even my oldest has finally been able to get in on the camp action ... last week it was baseball camp up in Missouri! He was exhausted, but had a great time. He even won $50 from the coach that dared the campers to hit a home run off a 19 year old pitcher with some amazing curve balls. J did! He's pumped and ready for next year. I think I'll stay home, though! Evidently I become accident-prone in the presence of that much testosterone (see the "Not So Much Fun" blog entry)!

The secret plan ...

The coach walked up to the parents and absolved himself of anything about to happen. The guys got together and conspired to trick the other team. The third baseman hid the ball in his glove and went back to base. They called the runner out. LOL ... silly boys.

Baseball with the boys ...

A day with the Tulsa Drillers ... how cool is that? My little one got to be part of the fielding workshop. She is such a good sport! We shared the experience with all kinds of baseball teams from the area, and WOW are there a lot of little boys around! I'd share some of the photos from the stands, but I don't know that nose picking and face making are all THAT entertaining!

Baseball Duo

Here they are ... having a great time with baseball. I've found that it does a mother good to cheer! And I've had even a little more fun, too. A really great thing happened for my little one's team and I called the local Sports Editor of the Broken Arrow Ledger, Doug Quinn. As I told him about a "mystery donor" that blessed my daughter's team, I shared how she was enjoying baseball and didn't care that she was the only girl on her team. When I said that she even wanted a pink batting helmet so everyone would know she's a girl, he thought that would make a great story! So this weekend, I saw a little picture of my daughter in her pink helmet on the front of the paper and two big pictures in the feature! You can see the infamous pink helmet and read the story online at www.baledger.com (it even mentions her big brother) ... WHAT FUN!

With the Boys ...

In the dugout ... here's the most beautiful face in the bunch! Granted, she's the only girl (and she's MY girl)! Game 1 was EXCITING and we're all looking forward to #2 and hopefully a win to match the winners on the team! Tonight we heard the first rumors of a team mate with a crush on her. Oh boy! I never even thought about that! But she just gets up there and hits ... WAY TO GO, GIRL!

Big Pitcher

Sometimes I don't realize how much time passes until a moment like this ... He is pitching again! The last time he was in the lens like this (pitching), he was only 11 years old ... 3 YEARS AGO! My little boy is growing up!!! He's never been the small kid in the bunch, but boy does he seem big now! I can hardly believe it. Indulge my mom moment, won't you?


A friend from school was up to bat ... they had challenged each other earlier, so it's GAME ON!


I guess this is a significant moment for me (Can you tell? I've posted 3 photos!) ... I barely have memories of much in my "before" life, but this is one that is vivid ... taking pictures of my son pitching and being so proud. It feels good to see him doing something like this again. He's good! During the previous two years when I just couldn't make it happen for him, I felt awful and dreamed of the day when he could play again. Well, he is!

Little Batter

It's her first year in team sports. She's in baseball, just like her brother. Too bad I didn't realize that it was mostly BOYS! I laugh, though, because she doesn't care except that boys don't talk enough (in other words, not like girls). But she finally got her pink batting helmet "so they would all know she's a girl!" She wore her pink Cubs hat we got in Chicago, too, so she was definitely the only pink headed one on the field!

Yeeeeeeeeer OUT!

My baseball star is on the field again! This is the first game in three years, so I was holding my breath! Sadly, his elbow is a little tender and he didn't pitch the first game. But he made some great plays and got plenty of outs at first base. I think I'm finally feeling those "mom-in-the-stands nerves" ... especially when he would steal bases! But I play it cool behind the camera. Hehehe!