Rain delayed game

The boys baseball game on October 11 was scheduled for 9 AM.  It rained really hard during the night and the game was postponed.  Then the fun began.  The coaches tried to reschedule the game for at 5 PM later that day.  We had tickets for the NC State vs. Boston College game that was scheduled for 3:30.  However, most of other team was going to the game so the game was rescheduled for 12 PM on Sunday.  Then, a thunderstorm came through around 5 PM.  Therefore, the game on Sunday was postponed until Tuesday at 5 PM.  Of course it started raining Tuesday morning and the game was rescheduled again for Wednesday at 5 PM.  Then, it rained on Wednesday morning.  The game was rescheduled again for Thursday at 5 PM.

So, in recap, the original game was rescheduled 4 times.  That is unheard of.

But, when the game time occurred, the Volcanoes were ready to go.  Coach Keith was out of town so Coach Mike (who eats so many bananas that the boys have started calling him the Banana man) was the pitcher.  The boys really hit the ball pretty well.  Jack hit one screamer down the 3rd base line that was fair (but was called foul).  If it was fair, he probably had an easy triple or even homer.  He did hit a home run as the last batter of the second inning (he called it too).  Mark went 3-3 and really has started hitting the ball longer, straighter, and harder.

Another game, another victory for the Volcanoes.

Here are a couple of pictures from the victory:

Time for a hit.  See ball.  Hit ball.  - Mark

Hit the ball and follow through.  - Jack

Who is going to get the game ball?  Coach Mike is getting ready to tell the boys after the game.

Let me show you how to relax against the batting tee.  - Jack

Coach Mike listens to a question from Sawyer.

Volunteering at Cardinal Charter Academy

One of the line items of the parent contract with Cardinal Charter Academy is volunteering hours.  The rule is 20 hours a year for one child or a total of 30 hours if you have two or more children at the school.  The hours can be received in a variety of ways.  You can help with drop off at the car line, lunch patrol, mystery reader, etc.  Last week Mommy volunteered at Mark’s class and way the Mystery Reader.  Each week a parent from Mark’s class will show up on Friday to read to the children.  During the week, the teacher will give them one clue per day about the mystery reader and they can try and guess whose parent it was.  Mark didn't guess it was Mommy.  Mommy read a couple of books to them, including the boys’ current favorite, The Day the Crayons Quit.  Mark was really happy that Mommy showed up.  Then, Mommy got to go to lunch with Mark’s class and help out.  She also go to see Jack.  That was really great as Mommy loved seeing both of her boys at lunch time.

On Thursday, Daddy volunteered to help with Math Groups time in Mark’s class (no worries, we will be going to Jack’s class and volunteering later in the year…already scheduled).  He didn't know if it would be counting, addition, or calculus.  Each kid went outside with a piece of paper and a clipboard.  We counted items found around the school.  We counted cones, trees, letters (No Parking, Fire Lane), doors, and the number of children playing outside that had PE uniforms on.  Mark really enjoyed going outside to do some math.  We even got to see Jack as his class was outside doing the same thing.  Jack’s class counted the number of kids in Mark’s class.  It was cute.  We all had a good time while Daddy was helping out at school.

One thing that Mommy and Daddy always laugh at is that when parents check in, their driver’s license is scanned in and the visitor sticker is created.  Well, for some reason, the scanner can’t read letters as our names are always mangled.  For instance, this was my name when I volunteered:

Craig DeVault = Crmg Gevault?  Interesting scanner.

I am so happy you are at lunch with me.  - Mark

I am so happy you are at lunch with me.  - Jack

Mommy with her two boys at lunch time.

RED! HOT! LAVA! VOLCANOES!!!

The next Sunday Jack and Mark had another baseball game.  The game time was 1 PM so we went to early church and then went home after Sunday School for a quick change of clothes so we can be there for batting practice warm-up at 12 PM.  The boys love West Raleigh baseball so much.  The boys are improving so much.  It is good to see them really improve their fundamentals and yet have a lot of fun.  Coach Keith is a good coach.  He can be a little hard (but not real hard) on the team at times, but they all are really enjoying and improving at each practice and game.  Having Drew and Alex on the team as well is real enjoyable for Mark and Jack.  They can both see their friends several times a week from Children’s House.  They both love being catcher as they get to put on catcher’s gear.

Today, it was an extra special game as Mama and Roger came up for the baseball game.  The boys both played well.  As a team, they didn't hit the ball as good as some games, but they fielded much better.  The team won 24-16 and continued their unbeaten streak.

Here are a couple of pictures from the game:

The team listens to Coach Keith after the game.

Everyone listens intently to coach as he talks about the game.  

Grandpa, Mama, and Roger watch the game.

NC State vs. Florida State

The top-ranked Seminoles came into Raleigh hoping to leave their own personal house of horrors with a win. Florida State had lost 3 of the last four games in Raleigh.  We were all hoping to make it 4 of 5.  We had a great tailgate.  We had some good food and good company.  Then, Jack and Mark wanted to warm up for the game by throwing the football.  This season, they love to throw the football to each other.  The closest and best place for them to throw is the sidewalk near our parking area.  The only interesting thing there is that the sidewalk has port a potties every 50 feet.  So, at times, the boys can get a crowd of people watching them throw the ball.  This has led to some interesting and cool conversations from the people waiting in line to use the restroom.  Jack and Mark are oblivious to it as they are more interested in making good passes and catches.  They really have good arms.

After we finished tailgating, we went to the game.  The game started out great as State jumped out to a 24-7 first quarter lead against Florida State and Carter-Finley was rocking.  But FSU slowly came back and our defense just couldn't stop them enough as the Wolfpack wound up losing to the top-ranked Seminoles 56-41.  The future is starting to look bright for the Dave Doeren era.

Here are a couple of pictures from the day:

Warming up for the big game.  - Mark

Did you see that?  I caught that one.  - Jack

I am ready Jack.  Throw it! - Mark

Here is how you fake a hand off.  - Mark

Notice the concentration...and the open mouth.  - Jack

Chuck it deep.  Time for a Hail Mary! - Jack

I think someone enjoyed his dessert.

What to do when out of school

The boys were off of school on September 24-25.  Mommy and Daddy were taking these two days off so that we could have some good quality time with Jack and Mark.  We originally planned on going to the beach but between bad weather and the Florida State game that weekend, we decided to take it easy and just stay at home.  We asked the boys where they wanted to go.   They both said they wanted to go to Marbles.  But what did they want to do at Marbles?  They told us their two favorite things.  Play hockey and shoot basketball.  So we did that.  The boys had an absolute blast.  They love going to Marbles and playing those games.  They also found a new area of Marbles (at least for them) and were able to make pretend pizzas and play with some hydraulic pipes that they could put balls in and watch them go up, down, and all around.  They had a great time.

The next day we had to run to the mall to go to a couple of stores and the boys saw the Build a Bear store.  They all of a sudden really needed a new stuffed animal.  They were really proud of their bear.

Here are a couple pictures from our time off:

I think I want some vegetables on my pizza.  - Jack

Jack gets ready to pass the puck to Mark.

Scanning my Spiderman bear! - Mark

These Spiderman bears, dressed up as Carolina Panthers, are named Trea Turner and Carlos Rodon.

Kindergarten Sunday School Teacher visit

One of the coolest things about the boys moving up to the Kindergarten class, not only at school, but at church is that their Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Charlotte Cole, came to the house for a home visit.  She has done this for over 20 years.  And each year, she has a home visit for each child in the Kindergarten class.

She gave the boys a list of all of their friends in their class as a bookmark.  She also walked through  the typical class schedule that they will encounter on Sunday mornings.  The boys answered her questions well.  They listened really intently for her entire visit.  They did very well.

They were happy that Mrs. Cole came to see them.  Here are a couple of pictures of the visit:

Mrs. Cole discusses the class schedule with Mark.

Mrs. Cole answers a question that Jack has.

Prizes for Boosterthon Performances

As rewards for raising certain amounts of money by their classes for the Boosterthon run, the boys got to have some fun at school.  Simple things like extra time at recess, movie and popcorn time, etc. were some of the rewards the classes received.  A couple of other rewards was the boys could have a "pajama day", a "crazy sock day", and a "crazy hair day."  Jack and Mark really were enjoying it those days.  Check out how happy they are:

Fun times going to school

Woah!  Check out my hair! - Jack

Is my hair wilder?  - Mark

Do you need to see it up close?  - Mark

The hair makes the outfit, correct?  - Jack

Crazy Sock Day! 

Pajama Day!  I love it! - Jack

Uhh...I have different socks on each foot.  I am too cool!  - Jack

Very proud of my outfit! - Jack

Check out my crazy socks! - Mark

Wait, are those different socks?  Yes they are! - Mark

The next West Raleigh Baseball game

A couple of days later, the boys had another baseball game at West Raleigh.  They are really enjoying the higher level of baseball than when they were at I9 Sports.  They are getting better at their fundamentals every time they go to a game or practice.

Here are a couple of pictures from the game on this Saturday:

I am all smiles from the dugout.  - Jack

I slid into home and barely am safe.  - Mark

Getting ready for the post game handshake.

Mark and Jack listen to Coach Keith after the game discuss how well they played.

Jack leads the team in the RED! HOT! LAVA! VOLCANOES! cheer,

Jack was awarded the game ball from Coach Keith.  He got one out at first, went 3-3 from the plate, and was very vocal from the dugout in supporting his teammates.  Congratulations Jack!

Boosterthon Run

On Thursday, September 18, the boys took part of the only real money fund raising program that Cardinal Charter Academy has.  It was a Boosterthon.  The boys got Mommy, Daddy, Mimi, Poppy, Granna, and Grandpa to sponsor each kid.  The boys could run up to 35 laps in hour one.  A lap was about 50 yards long.  At the end of each lap, the boys would have their lap counter (a piece of paper on the back of their shirt) mark off one lap.  When they got to 35 laps, they were done.  There was a course for both Kindergarten as well as a separate course for first graders.

Jack and Mark had a great time.  They ran several laps together.  They really had a good time.  It was run early in the morning so it wasn't too hot.  All of the children were supposed to get some water every 5 laps.

They both ran all 35 laps.  Mommy and Daddy were very proud  that the boys finished all 35 laps.

Here are a couple of pictures from the Boosterthon run:

And we are off.  1st lap.  Jack and Mark are holding hands.  

I am turning the corner running real fast.  - Jack

Lap 5 - Time for a water break.  - Jack

Lap 10 - More water for both Jack and Mark.

I am ready to get some more water around Lap 15.  - Mark

I am running really fast.  Now I need more water.  - Lap 20 - Jack

I have been running a long time.  More water for me.  It's Lap 30.  - Mark

I just finished all 35 laps.  - Jack

I have a couple of laps left as the lap counters skipped me a couple of times.  - Mark

I am now done.  - Mark

Best friends.  - Jack and Mark.

3 guys who all finished 35 laps.  Looks like Drew ran 350 laps.  

Mommy and Daddy with the boys after finishing the run.

Granna, Jack, and Grandpa after the run is over.