Game Day

Sunday...game day.  She couldn't wait to play baseball!  She was so excited, she was trying to push us out the door well before we needed to go.  Until we got outside and told her to get in the car.

She pointed to the yard, and said she wanted to play baseball on the grass, presumably like we did the day before (see yesterday's post).  Even after explaining that we were going to go to a real baseball field to play with other children, she wanted nothing to do with it, and refused to get in the car.  Finally we managed to get on our way, Samantha happy with her beloved books in the back seat.

I may have mentioned before how disastrous a car-nap can be when you get to your destination.  Notice the ball in her hand?  She held onto that during the entire ride.  How do sleeping fingers not release something like that?  I think she might have been just a little bit excited to play baseball...

She woke up kinda happy, still kinda excited, but a little bit less sure than she had been earlier.

Stepping foot out onto the field, her entire demeanor changed, the face squinched up, the lip went, the tears flowed... 

For anyone that may not have believed me when I described Samantha's award-winning ability to pout, here's another prime example.  Check out that lip - Oscar-worthy?  I think so.  Her stage name could be Princess Pouts-a-Lot.  Oy.  That look repeated itself intermittently throughout the afternoon.

Daddy was a real superstar, though, and stuck with her every step of the way, coaching and guiding her through the game.



Yay!  I see smiles!  Miss G., Sammi's Vice Principal, is in the background, cheering Sammi on.  I'm so happy we're on her team.  Some of Samantha's teachers have vowed to come out and watch one of her games this season (okay, it's on record now, M. & D. - you have to go!).  I love that.

On 1st base, plotting out their cunning plan to steal...

Running home.  (So many thanks to the West Springfield High School Varsity Baseball team, who came out and volunteered their time to play the outfield!)

By the way, how adorable are these baseball pants on Samantha?!  And please ignore forgive the fact that her team is called the Steelers, complete with a modified Pittsburgh Steelers emblem and colors.  Steve wore his Phillies hat in direct protest.

Go, Sammi!  Go, Sammi!  Get your game on!  Go, Sammi!

Sitting down on the job - no better time for a snack than when covering 2nd base!  Goldfish = pout reduction.  Now, if only goldfish = wrinkle/flab reduction, too, I'd be a super-happy mommy.

Samantha was presented with the game ball (okay, one of about 30 being used), as the player who came out of her shell and improved the most throughout the game!  Samantha initially refused it, as she was busy hunting down an after-game snack. 

Finally got her to take it.  Only to have her drop it a moment later to continue her search for a bag of Baked Doritos.  *sigh*

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No game this Sunday because of Easter, which is kind of a shame, since I think a break of even a week might make the transition a bit more difficult next time.  Darn holiday-where-kids-get-candy-and-find-hidden-eggs...

Tune in Monday for a recap of this coming Saturday's hair excitement (if I can get the pics edited in time)!!