Sascha starts Softball (T-Ball)

We actually missed the registration for Softball this year, not realizing that it happens in the month of December, but our neighbor Nicole was able to put us in touch with the right people in PQ little league and we were able to still sign you up. You only missed the very 1st practice, but were able to jump right in.

As with most things you were very timid and even a bit scared to go, but in just a matter of one or two practices you felt comfortable and actually really loved it. You were definitely one of the youngest girls on the team, so you had a lot of girls to look up to, like Coach Todd's daughter Emmy. She was very sweet to you when you joined, so you immediately felt very comfortable around her. 

It was really awesome to watch you get more and more confident and have such a great time playing. After a few weeks of practicing you received your uniform and we started to have 2 games per week. You really started to look forward to going to your games and even got to play some key positions like pitcher. Coach Todd even asked if you watched to play catcher, but you got really scared once we tried to put on the catcher's uniform, at one point you had eyes full of tears, so we didn't push it too much, but hopefully next year you'll feel comfortable enough to try it out. 

Cameron came to almost every practice and game, and was so eager to play as well, we had to keep him occupied by playing catch with him off the field. He also developed such an interest in the game.

We got a really awesome T-stand for you guys to practice on, and you both love hitting the ball and it keeps you guys busy for 30 minutes or longer.

You were super proud after having a great hit or a great catch at the games. Of course there were a few times where we had to tell you to pay attention. Lets face it we forget that you are only 5! Some days weren't your best for one reason or another, just like adults, you had a few off days, but overall you had a great time, and learned and grew so much. Baba and Deda came and watched just about every game and loved seeing you try hard and have fun with it.

Of course Daddy loved the fact that you both had such an interest in playing baseball. Given that it's his favorite sport that he played as a young boy and still as an adult, he is happy that it's something special that he can share with the kids by teaching them.

At the end of the season you received your first ever trophy. You were beyond excited and wanted to bring the trophy with you everywhere including to bed. Eventually we had to put it up high where you couldn't reach so that you could at least keep it in one piece and not loose it.

It was a great first experience at T-ball. Even though we signed up so late, and daddy was not able to coach, we all learned so much, but most importantly you had fun and really enjoyed yourself.

Spring Break in Big Bear

We've been waiting to take the kids to the snow for some time, however once again being hit with all sorts of sicknesses kept setting us back. We originally had plans for lake Arrowhead with a few friends, but Cameron and I both got the horrible flu that week, so we had to postpone.

Then around February my dad suggested we stay in Big Bear for the week of his birthday, so I checked out a few houses for rent and picked out a charming little home next to the lake. The amount of snow was a little bit disappointing, it was definitely the end of the season, being end of March, but it certainly didn't stop us from having a great time. It was Sascha's spring break and we all looked forward to it.

Our first day was spent on the slopes, it started out a bit slow and a bit frustrating, we didn't make it to the early ski school for Sascha so had to wait till the afternoon. Daddy took both Sascha and Aaron up on the bunny slopes. I couldn't wait to get on a normal run, but I quickly realized that's not what our day was gonna be about, and we really made a mistake by getting 2 lift tickets for us both... oh well, we live, we learn. So once we switched gears, had some lunch at the Lodge with the family, Sascha was ready to head to Little Bear Ski school while Cameron went back home with Baba and Deda for his nap. Sascha seemed tired, and scared at first, and I really had low hopes for this to work out... boy was I wrong! Once she started going, the grin on her face stayed on the whole time. They stayed on the little slope next to the bunny hill and learned a few basics and then were ready to go up the "magic carpet" that took them about 40 feet up to do a tiny short run... after all it was mostly 4-6 year olds there! Sascha loved it! Couldn't stop giggling, in fact they gave her a giggle girl nickname. To see the joy on her face made our whole day worth it. Once she was done after 2 rigorous hours on the skis, I didn't think she could stand up... When we took her skis off, she started to cry because she was upset that the mountain was closing and she couldn't go on one more run with us. :(
We promised her that we will be back... of course not during this trip since it's was much too short to do this activity the following day.
We went out on the dock outside our house to feed the ducks and walk around. The house had a little sea saw and a swing which both kids enjoyed, and no shortage of pine cones to collect.

Our next day was spent tubbing with the whole family! This was my first time on the tube, not counting water tubing of course. What fun!! Even Baba, Deda & Inna went along. The kids had a blast. Sascha was such a daredevil that she didn't want share a tube with me, only with daddy because he would put her on his back and do all sorts of other tricks standing on his knees. In the afternoon we went back to the tube park for a few more runs and then went for a hike around the lake. Once again, the day flew by and we had such an awesome time! Oh and we found the most awesome little ice cream and fudge shop that also had carmel apples, just to top off our day!

At night we hung out and watched a movie and even took advantage of the hot tub right outside the house.
The next day which happened to be Easter Sunday, we walked around the village, had more ice cream and fudge and finally headed back home in time to quickly put the kids baskets together and even have a little egg hunt in the back yard.

Fun little trip with the family! I am pretty sure we have a little skier on our hands, I can't wait to put Cameron on skis as well. He might even be ready in a year or two :) considering he just wants to do everything Sascha does.