Bowling with the Scouts

This was the morning after the Vinsant Campout, but the boys and I are troopers.  Up in the tent at 6:30am, then breakfast at 8 (Denise made some biscuits with honey butter...sooo good), then home for a shower, and back out for bowling at 11.  John was able to make it and go with us, which was a big help, as I was trying to make sure all of the boys earned the achievements we were there for.  Davis was a little frustrated by the many gutter balls, Sam did fairly well, and I think almost beat John.  I had the curve going pretty well.  Sam will get his bowling belt loop for the activities done on this day.

Fall Baseball

Baseball...Fall Baseball.  A time for fundamentals.  A time for technique.  A time for laying in the grass pretending to be a scuba diver...Davis...What are you doing?  :)  This Fall has been a great season for both Sam and Davis.  Sam has improved a lot since he last played, and probably in the top half of the hitters on the team.  He swings that bat hard driving two into the outfield  this year.  Davis has enjoyed the season, but I think just enjoys playing.  Not as much the baseball part, but the playing part.  

Davis Plays Catcher?  Davis' Coach tells me that Davis cracks him up all of the time out in the field.  One day Davis was out in the field with a face that looked very serious.  The coach asked him "Davis, you ready".  "No" he replied..."I've got to go to the bathroom right now".  And off he went.

But the funnier story is the catcher story.  His coach said he about cracked up when Davis got ready to get in the field, putting all of this Catcher gear on, marched up to the coach with a little waddle in all that gear, looked up high at him through that big Catcher Mask, and said "Coach, Where do I play?"

Look at that swing.  Full extension all the way thru.  Just got to get him interested in the throwing and catching part.  He's still not too excited about that part, although his fielding is much improved.

I was so proud of Davis the other night at baseball practice.  I have been pitching a bucket of balls to him while we are at the ball field with Sam, and he is starting to hit a few more.  Most in the game he has to hit off of the tee.  He has some issues with focus.  Usually watching some kids playing near by even as the pitch flies by...then he swings.  Anyway, the coach divided them up into two teams of 4 for the practice, and they each got one hit per inning.  They got 5 strikes before the coach called them out, and Davis was the last batter for the team needing a hit to win the game.  He was of course at 4 strikes never really coming close to the ball, and the coach reminded him that it was all up to him.  The last pitch came in and boom, he hit it hard right up the middle past 2nd base and into the outfield.  Jumping up on first base as his team clapped that he had won the game for them.  

After practice, I gave him a big high five and told him he did a great job.  "Dave" I said, "That was an awesome hit, did you see how far it went".  "No" he said with excitement... "I had my eyes closed, did it go far?".  Dear me, I guess the blind squirrel did find a nut.  

Campout with the Church Family

Time for the annual Campout at the Vinsants.  It was another great day this fall to enjoy with our church family.  Our neighbors were able to join us, and many other friends.  Sam, Davis and I spent the night in our tent, and had a fairly good night with weather down in the 40s.  Lots of blankets, and a big fire to keep us warm till bedtime.  We sang some songs, ate some hot dogs, and had a good time of fellowship.  

Only bad incident was Davis getting bit in the eye by one of the Vinsant's dogs.  Luckily it just barely broke the skin on Dave's eyelid.  He was definately upset for awhile, but already back petting another dog there by the end of the night.  Found out later that some of the other kids were poking the dog with a stick and he was an old dog tied to a tree.  Davis, being a friend to all animals, reached down to give him a hug, and got a little more than he was looking for.  He had fun telling the story the everyone that would listen later though.  

Old Baker Farm (Davis Field Trip)

Magan says that she is tired of these trips to Old Baker Farm, but I think she loves it, and all these smiles make me wish I could go.  So far Davis gets all "starry eyes" (good grades) in Mrs. Garretts class, but I have a feeling he is a bit of a talker.