Jayson makes the All Star team!

Since we have had to make several trips to and from Baldwin County over the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to watch many of Jayson's practices and some games.

5/28 First practice

6/8 1st game, 1st time at bat (second batter)

1st  run of the game

2nd time at bat...and it's a TRIPLE!!!

On his way to second base

Making his way to third!

Slides into 3rd...and he's...SAFE!

Waiting for 'the hit' to bring him HOME

On his way home, for another scoring run!

Unfortunately game two didn't have the same results, Jayson struck out each time at bat. And day two resulted in a rainout, which was rescheduled Monday, and then rescheduled again for Tuesday, which we were not able to attend.

Miracle League Spring 2013

Miracle Leagues spring schedule ran from March 23rd to May 30th, with Breanna's team, the White Sox's playing on Thursdays and Saturdays.

For those who are not familiar with the Miracle League programs, here is some info taken from Dothan's Miracle League website.

What is the Miracle League? 

It is hope, determination, and the display of human spirit that is unequaled. There is something about playing the game that lights up a youngster’s eyes. And of course…there’s baseball. The miracle league removes the barriers that keep mentally and physically disabled children off the baseball field.

•  Every player bats once each inning.
•  All base runners are safe.
•  Every player scores a run before the inning is over (last one up gets a home run).
•  Community volunteers (youth and adults) serve as “Buddies” to assist the players.
•  Each team and each player wins every game

“Every Citizen Deserves A Chance to Play Baseball.”
      
Our players may not be able to run the bases or hit the ball as well as their healthy peers, but they have an incredible amount of determination to play baseball.  We want to help them achieve that dream.

The season started with a bit of chilly weather but by the end of the season the spectators were wishing we had the cooling fans from the dugouts!

The Miracle League dedicated this years games to James Poland who was killed in February while trying to save the kids on his school bus, and Ethan who was taken off that bus and held hostage for almost a week

4/4 still a bit cold to shed the coats and sweatshirts

4/6 Breanna waiting for her game to start

4/20 Bre and some of her teammates

5/11 Our team was a little short on 'Buddies' so Eric helped out

Bre likes to wander, instead of watching where the ball goes when the other team hits

Individual/ Team Spring 2013 picture

Awards

We have another teenager!

The Brady Bunch house is happy to share that we have another teenager in the house! Ms Jordyn turned 13! Her birthday didn't start off quite as she wanted, Jayson had a scheduled baseball game, which about an hour after she arrived was cancelled due to heavy rain.

In hopes to make her day a little more for her, we took just her (well Bre too) for some frozen yogurt. But our first stop was to Eric's parents so she could get her presents from them, which was a silver charm bracelet and a pearl bracelet.

The staff made her a flower for her birthday

Boys and their proms

Joey's prom was on April 6th, unfortunately he spend the majority of his day with his baseball team as they had a double header. He then went over to a friends house to get showered and changed. Joey and a group of friends and their dates went out to dinner at Ivy's.

Theme: A Night of Lights
Location: Baldwin County Coliseum, located in Robertsdale, AL

Joey and his prom date, Emmy

Jarom's prom was on April 30. Jarom and a group of friends started their day at 10am and went hiking, followed by a few games of laser tag and lunch. Mid afternoon the group went their separate ways to get ready prom. Four couples then met up at one of Jarom's friends house, Austin, whose parents had a catered dinner waiting for the couples. After dinner the couples made their way to their prom.

Theme: A Knight for a Princess
Location: The Castle, located in Layton, UT

Jarom and his girlfriend Heidi

Motivation Monday

 

Pineapple? Did someone say pineapple?

I decided I wasn't growing enough in containers already, so I thought I'd try to see if I could grow a pineapple tree from the top of a pineapple we recently purchased.  I am following the instructions I found on wikiHow, where they provide 9 steps (which I have listed below). Today I did step 4.

Step 1: Obtain a pineapple with firm, green leaves (not yellow or brown). The fruit skin should be golden brown. Make sure it's not overripe by gently tugging on the leaves. If it pops right off, the pineapple is too ripe for this purpose. Make sure that there are no scale insects (they look like small grayish spots) at the base of the leaves

Step 2: Cut off the crown and strip some of the lower leaves so that the stem is exposed. Trim any fruit flesh without damaging the stem (that flesh could rot your plant later).

Step 3: Turn it upside down and let it dry for about a week so that the cut end and the leaf scars can harden.


Step 4: Put the crown in a glass of water until the roots start growing out. Change the water every few days. Keep it away from temperature extremes.

05/01/2013

Step 5: Plant the crown in an 6-inch (15.2 cm) pot using light garden soil with a 30% blend of organic matter. Press the soil firmly around the base of the crown without getting any soil on the leaves.

Step 6: Keep the plant moist (but not wet) in a sunny, warm and humid place where the night temperatures won't drop below 65ºF (18ºC). If conditions are dry, mist the plant regularly.

Step 7: Water the soil lightly once a week.

Step 8:Fertilize the plant with half-strength fertilizer twice a month during the summer.


Step 9: Look for flowers. It can take several years, but eventually a red cone should appear from the center of the leaves followed by blue flowers and eventually a fruit. It takes about six months for the fruit to fully develop. The pineapple will grow from the flower, above ground, in the center of the plant.

How much weight are you carrying?

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. 

As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down! -author unknown