Junior Dallin

We really debated on whether to let Dallin play little league as well as school ball this year. I thought it would be too much and just wanted him to play school ball. After many hours on the phone with his SKSLL coach, I finally gave in. To my surprise, Dallin loves little league ball 10 to 1 to school ball. He finds it more fun and seems to do better when he's at ease. School ball is very competitive and makes him nervous. He is still clueless as to his skill level. He is only in 7th grade and made the JV team of 8th graders. 9th is varsity. Pretty good, right? He is also the starting 1st baseman and pitcher when needed. As a 7th grader, that is pretty rare. AND YET...he still is nervous of playing school ball. I don't get it. So, he gets to have fun ball and "important" ball. Nice balance. I watched one of his school ball games last week and was shocked at the level of skill (lacking, that is). His little league team would eat school for LUNCH. Yup. I guess it has something to do with his juniors team having 13-15 year-olds on the team. He gets to play with some boys that have more experience and learn from them. So...in the end, Dallin is happy, Mama is happy, coach is happy, WE ALL HAPPY;) Go Cedar! Go SKSLL!

Pitchin'

Michael pitching in his first game of the season.

Scotty pitching in his first game of the season.

For you SK alum,...Michael's coach is Mr. Canton:) He's so great with the kids and has a wealth of knowledge to help them. He has such a great attitude...it rubs off on the boys. Their practices are held at the Bloomquist home...they still have a full size baseaball field and covered batting cages there, so the boys can really get some great practice in.

All three of my boys are pitchers this year. It is fun to watch them and all their similarities and differences. Dallin is just powerful. It's hilarious to watch the reaction on the batters' faces when the first meet up with his pitching style. He has no idea that he's a great athlete, though. It sure helps in the humble department, but it sometimes interferes with his ability to regroup after a mistake. Michael isn't quite as hard on himself, but he sure gets down when things don't go perfectly. Unfortunately, baseball is NOT the sport to play if you are a perfectionist. It is the one sport made mostly of mistakes and imperfections. If you hit 1 out of every 3, you're considered great. It's a tough lesson for these boys to swallow sometimes. Then, there's Mr. Scotty. He doesn't give a rip what anyone thinks of him. He laughs at himself and bounces right back into the game. I tend to like watching him more because I don't have the same heartache as I do watching the older two. He's such a goonie. He's only 8 this season, so he'll have at least one more year down here in Minors, but he'll be smackin em outta the park next year. He's just a big kid. I think he'll probably pass Dal and Mike. He is wearing the same size shoe as Mike this year and he's 2 1\2 years younger.

Briggs Boys

Uncle Mike flew in from Switzerland

Uncle Nate

Uncle Jeff

Torvin

Grandpa Briggs

Dallin

Tommy

Scooty

Michael

All the Briggs' family boys (including sons-in-law) were together this last weekend. It was so fun to see them all laughing and jokin' around. I know we don't get to have this often, so I really soaked it up.

Happy Green Birthday, Dal

Dallin loves green...I bought every green thing I could find for this party:)

Yes, I was a tad exhausted from this week, but he is my buddy!

We parked on the Purdy Spit and had some dessert on his birthday:) It was peezin' toad, Mama.

Aaaaannnddd...a birthday dinner out at Famous Dave's BBQ. Mmm. So tasty!

Oh, he's 13. "Mom, I don't feel any different." It makes me laugh that he thinks that he would change overnight;) What a funny kid. I am not sad one bit! I love that he is getting older, learning more, progressing through life. I love that I get to have more "adult" conversations with him. He is a kind, compassionate, understanding guy (unless it comes to his little brothers, but that is a tale as old as time). I love watching him get excited about little things...noticing little things...smiling at little babies...collecting little knives...silly comin' from a kid that has been anything but little. Here we go!!

The other B ball

It must me winter...time for a little peewee basketball. It is fun to watch AND it's indoors. I love how much exercise the boys get! It is also a much more forgiving game than baseball:) Scott and Michael played peewees this year. It's nice to only have 2 boys, not 3 in it. Dal played for Cedar, so he got his fill.

"Peezin' Toad, Mama!"

when Dallin was little he wouldn't say his "f" or "c" sounds right...he was probably two when he really got to play in snow for the first time..."peezin' toad, Mama!" He's out there right now, peggin' his poor brothers with snowballs. What a punk. Haven't heard any crying, yet, so maybe we'll make it through. I better go get a big pot of "hot juice" ( Michael's name for hot chocolate since he was tiny). Love days off!!!

Merry Little Christmas, Darlin'

Scotty on Christmas day! He was pretty darn happy.

This is the most beautiful cutting board that Scotty made for me with his Papa's help. I DO NOT think I can use this...too purdy.

Me and Bohunk. Love you, Baby!

My squishy boys in front of their work:)

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year. My favorite part is the little traditions that are continuing for our little family. Things that I did as a child and new traditions...LOVE THEM! We always get a fresh tree to decorate. The boys always do the decorating:) Christmas eve is always spent in new pajamas and reading the stories of Christ. Dad ALWAYS gets a new Christmas story that makes me cry...boys can't come out of their rooms until the music starts Christmas morning..Sharon's monster cookies that are as big as your head!...seven layer cookies for Tom...and (little known fact) getting my scotch tape for wrapping from my Mom. I don't think that I have EVER purchased my own tape for wrapping. Hmph. go figure. Thanks MOM!!!! Love you. I feel so blessed with the wonderful people that I get to share this life with. So blessed.