Fun times on the Slip and Slide

That afternoon the DeVaults had nothing to do except to water their yard (and Grandpa’s) as it hasn’t rained at all since Granna and Grandpa had left for Europe.  The boys wanted to get out the baseball slip and slide.  No problem.  Therefore, the boys and parents had a great time for several hours on the slip and slide.

Look at these faces:

This is one way to get my head wet!

This is my wet but ready for more face! - Jack

This is freaking awesome! - Mark

Best friends, brothers, and wet all at the same time.

Ready for the baseball slip n slide!  First up, Mark!

Safe! - Jack

Again, safe! - Mark

End of Spring West Raleigh Baseball and the Closing Ceremony

The last Saturday in May was the last game for the River Bandits.  The team, which was 8-1 heading into the finale, had improved by leaps and bounds throughout the season (must be the great coaching…haha).  The River Bandits played a really tight ball game and managed to squeak out a win.

After the game, the closing ceremony took place.  As in the fall, they gave out a sportsmanship award winner for each team in the league.  For the River Bandits, it was Jack.  We were so proud of Jack.  It was deserved as well.  He has never missed a practice nor a game.  He always is one of, if not, the first player to start cheering on teammates.  One game, when we came into the dugout ready to bat, Jack told his teammates that he hadn’t heard any chatter going on so he said we needed to all start cheering on the batters.  Jack is always one of the first to be at his fielding position at the start of an inning.  He gets so excited pulling for all of the River Bandits.

Here are some pictures from the last morning at the ballpark:

Ready for the beginning of the closing ceremony.

Congrats from Coach Mike to Jack for winning our team's sportsmanship award.

The entire team signing baseballs.

Happy boy there with his medal.

I celebrate this with my brother.  - Jack

So glad Troy could come and watch our game.  - Jack and Mark

The family picture after the last game.

Mark, Daddy, and Jack

Mark, Mommy, and Jack 

The DeVaults, Byrds, and Kinders

ACC Baseball Tournament

The ACC Baseball Tournament was held during Memorial Day weekend at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.  We got tickets for the Friday night game against Miami and the Saturday night game against Virginia.  We also hoped to get tickets for Sunday’s championship game, but that would only occur if the Wolfpack was playing in it.

The Wolfpack beat Notre Dame on Thursday afternoon 3-0, more than likely sewing up a spot in the NCAA tournament the next weekend.  On Friday night, the boys were excited to go to the game.  Miami swept the Pack earlier in the year and is a very good team.  State played well and hung in there for most of the game.  Down 4-2 in the middle of the game, the Pack got a home run from Ryan Willard to cut the lead to 4-3.  Then, in the 9th inning, they tied the game up at 4-4 to send the game into extra innings.

After the 11th inning, the boys were exhausted and wanted to go home.  We tried to get them to stay at the game and just sleep in our laps.  They didn’t want to do that.  So we left and by the time we were heading onto the Durham Freeway, Preston Palmeiro lead off the bottom of the 12th inning with a inside the park home run, viewed here (if you look at the video below, you can see Denise Rogers, who is a friend from church as well as one of the boys Sunday School teachers, being excited, confused, and exhilarated all at the same time).  The 5-4 win put the Pack in the championship game.

On Saturday night, we went back to the DBAP to watch the Pack9 destroy Virginia 10-2, behind an 8 run 8th inning.  It was a lot of fun.

Sunday afternoon, we were there to see State take on Florida State and try to end the 23 year curse of not winning an ACC title in football, baseball, men’s basketball, or women’s basketball.  Alas, it was not in the cards as the Seminoles won 6-2.
All in all, it was a fun weekend.

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Friday night at the DBAP to see State beat Miami

Popcorn rules! - Mark

Rally caps/hoods on for the bottom of the 9th.  We need a run!

Saturday night back at the DBAP vs. Virginia.  Beat them bad, Pack!

Sunday afternoon for the title contest vs. Florida State

Having fun, even though the Pack wound up losing 6-2.  

Granna and Grandpa AKA World Travelers

The next Wednesday, Granna and Grandpa set forth on their 18 day European adventure.  Grandpa had never left the United States, unless you count the couple of times he drove through Chapel Hill.  Well, that, Tijuana, and Canada.  They were going on a trip that included times in the following countries:

• England
• Belgium
• Germany
• Austria
• Italy
• Switzerland
• France

We are sure they will have a good time, coming home on D-Day after spending the previous day in Normandy.

Here are a couple of pictures the night before they left for Europe:

Granna and Grandpa with Mark and Jack

Granna and Grandpa with Mommy

Boys Choir

On Sunday night, the boys sang with their choir as all of the Children’s choirs held a concert at church.  The boys are not currently really big into singing in a choir, but they do a good job.  They sang 3 songs at the concert.  We were really proud of them.

The next morning was Monday and the boys had to go to school.  Daddy drove Mimi back to Kingsport.  It was a really fun weekend and we were glad that Mimi could see all of it.



Here is a picture of the boys singing in the choir:

Moose Weekend

During the school year, Ms. Robinson wanted her class to each choose a weekend where they could take the class pet, Mr. Moose, home for a weekend.  Jack would take the pet as well as the journal.  He would need to take some pictures as well as write up a summary of where and what the moose had gotten into over the weekend.

This weekend was Jack’s weekend to have Mr. Moose.  Daddy was the mystery reader in his class on Thursday so Ms. Robinson gave Mr. Moose and the journal to Daddy when he left.  Great idea.  Now Mr. Moose got to go batting practice and then to his very first NC State baseball game (they were playing Louisville).  Friday night he went to fielding practice.  This was a rare treat for Mr. Moose (alias Mr. Housie as Jack and Mark renamed him) as the River Bandits had most all of their fielding practices cancelled this year, mostly due to Mother Nature.

On Saturday, the boys took him to the River Bandits game.   Mr. Moose was very impressed at how well Jack and Mark can play baseball.  He also enjoyed getting a picture of the team after the game.
Not to be outdone, Sunday Mr. Moose went to church with us (although he didn’t want to be a distraction inside the church so he stayed in the car).

Mr. Moose had a great time this weekend.  We were glad Mr. Moose could hang out with us and would love to have him come back anytime.

Here are some pictures that we put in the Mr. Moose journal:

Taking Mr. Moose home for the weekend!

First stop..batting practice.

Next up, Louisville at NC State

Glad to see that the Wolfpack is playing well.  They need to against a top 5 team. - Mr. Moose

Game time on Saturday morning.

The team celebrates another victory with Mr. Moose!

Mr. Moose enjoyed the game.

Night time and Mr. Moose is sleeping with the boys.

Mr. Moose went to church but stayed in the car while Jack and Mark were at church.

At lunch at McAlister's Deli.  YUMMY!

Having fun at the water fountain after lunch.

Mr. Moose is ready for another baseball game along with the DeVaults.

Granna and Grandpa with Mr. Moose

Mark, Mimi, Mr. Moose, and Jack ready for the boys' choir concert at church.

Mimi comes to watch a River Bandits weekend among other things

The next weekend, Daddy went up to Kingsport to get Mimi as she was coming to Raleigh for the weekend.  She was going to see the boys play not one, but two baseball games as well as see the boys sing in the church choir.  Also coming up for the games was Mama, Uncle Roger, Rachel, and Evianna.  Talk about a big weekend.

On Saturday, the River Bandits were sporting an unblemished 7-0 record.  The team continued to hit the ball well and powered through to another victory.  Everyone was impressed at how well the team played.   That afternoon we relaxed at home while watching the NC State vs. Louisville baseball game.  The boys were tired from playing so hard while Mimi, Mommy, and Daddy enjoyed some downtime.

That night, we grilled some chicken and it was very good.  The sides were great, and to top it off, Mommy, Daddy, and Mimi enjoyed some ice cream and strawberries.  YUMMY!

Here are a couple of pictures from the baseball game:

Mark crushes the baseball.

Jack swings for the fences!

SAFE!!!!!

No need to slide here!

Mother's Day weekend

This Mother’s Day weekend was pretty quiet, well for the DeVault family.  The River Bandits were off until Sunday afternoon and the Wolfpack was playing baseball on the road.  Therefore, we had a very relaxing weekend.  Jack and Mark enjoyed snuggling and loving on Mommy during the weekend.  They know how lucky they are to have such a special and great mother.  We are all very glad that she is in our life.    We took Mommy (and Granna) out to the Blackfish Grill in Morrisville on Saturday night for dinner.  It was a pretty good place to eat, even though Daddy had quite the experience.  His blackened chicken alfredo was quite cold when it arrived to the table.  So, they boxed that one up and sent it home with us.  They also made another one that Daddy could eat at the restaurant.  And finally the manager gave me a coupon for a free blackened chicken alfredo on the house next time we go there.  As Granna said, “I sure hope you like that because you now have to eat it 3 times.”  Well put.  Thankfully, the food was good.

On Sunday morning, we got up earlier than usual as we were going to early church.  The boys had a 1 PM start for their baseball game so with that meaning we had pregame warm ups at 12 PM, we needed to go early church and have eaten lunch earlier too.  No problem.

The boys had a good time showing what they had made for Mommy in school and church.  Between the cards they made, the cards they picked out with Daddy, and the flowers that they planted at school, Mommy could really feel the love of her kids and her husband.

We love you Mommy!

Here are a couple of pictures of Mommy and her boys: