"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

We saved the best for last.  After seeing the sights of Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown and Washington DC, we got down to business.  Heading north to Philly, to watch some baseball. 

"Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game.  I feel that almost all Americans are summer people, that summer is what they think of when they think of their childhood.  I think it stirs up an incredible emotion within people."
~Steve Busby


Watching these boys play is pure pleasure.  They love the game.  They have fun, they are busy, they are close to one another. 

"The other sports are just sports.  Baseball is a love."
Bryant Gumbel

Taylor is a freshmen and is playing on the junior varsity team.  Can't believe how he's grown.  He's also very smart.  (hey it's ok for grama's to go on and on about grandson's)

"There have only been two geniuses in the world.  Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare."
Tallulah Bankhead

Jack is our lefty.  Fun to watch him pitch and hit.  Although he can switch it up.  His determination will take him wherever he wants to go. 

"Don't tell me about the world.  Not today.  It's springtime and they're knocking baseballs around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball."
Pete Hamill

Hogan plays all sports as if he were born to play that particular sport.  Yet, he chooses baseball.  He loves the game and it shows.  He's fun to watch because the knowledge of the game is just in him.  He takes the game seriously, yet there's always a smile on his face.

"Don't forget to swing hard, in case you hit the ball."
Woodie Held

Luke always swings hard, and seldom misses.  He loves to play catch.  I love to watch as he rips that catchers mask off and is ready for any play.  He's always ready for anything. 

And then there's the spectators.  James and Becky are constantly on the go.  They keep their boys on schedule, uniforms clean. Up at five for early morning seminary, off to school, homework, then off to the various ballfields for practice, games.  They pull it off.  James actually does have a full time job, and Becky is running (literally) from morning to night.  They are amazing. 
I'm so grateful, we get to jump into their lives each spring and take part in all they are doing. 

"It's root, root, root for the hometeam,
if they don't win it's ashame.
Cause it's one, two, three, strikes you're out
In the old Ball Game!!!!!"