Burrill Sports Page

Full Hockey Game, Half the Amigos

2012-01-23T02:42:00.003-05:00

I'm still catching up on things, so bear with me. Last weekend we celebrated Brian's birthday, but unfortunately he couldn't make it to the game with us. Neither could Trevor, as they were both sick with the flu. Poor Brian got sick right during his party. They did announce his name and birthday over the loud speaker, though, which was really cool. And the Lakers were able to hold on for a 4-3 win over Miami, so that was good, too. At least Papa could join Lily and I, as he was up for the party.

Bowling and Wrestling Resume

2012-01-16T01:38:00.008-05:00

After a few weeks off from bowling, and a week or so off of wrestling for the holidays, the activities resumed last week. I'm trying to play 'catch up' with some of this, as we've been pretty busy. Lily bowled pretty well in her first game back, and she finally recieved her bowling shirt. She also earned a couple of more patched. Congrats Lily!!! Trevor is doing better with wrestling. We're hoping next week to make it to a tournament down in Rudyard so Trevor can show off his stuff a little bit. Exciting weeks ahead for us, for sure!!

2012 Kicks Off With Lakers

2012-01-06T00:41:00.007-05:00

We kicked off the new year with Laker Hockey on Tuesday night. The Lakers skated to a 3-2 win, so it's a good way to start a new year (good riddance to 2011, anyway). It was a cold night, but the kids were tough and waited outside to give the team 'high-fives' as they rang the victory bell. It was an exhibition game, so there wasn't much of a crowd, and not much going on (no band or mascots). We'll be celebrating Brian's birthday on the 13th, and taking him to the game that night, too.

So Much Fun....

2012-01-02T03:12:00.003-05:00

After a few hours of frustration and colorfull adjectives, we finally got the stick-hockey table together. Here's a crummy pic of Brian basically going nuts on it. We're definitely going to have tons of fun with this together. I'll take some better pics soon and add them here.

Ready To Rumble

2011-12-26T00:32:00.009-05:00

Trevor had his first taste of 'in ring' competition last week. The Sault Youth Wrestling program held it's intramural tournament, and there were three kids in Trevor's weight class. He fought well, but in the end he lost to both of his opponents. Both of the kids he wrestled have been in the program for four years, so they have lots of experience over him. Once he learns his moves, he will be tough to beat. He had fun and learned how to keep fighting, which is the important thing at this point. There was also very good sportsmanship between the competitors, too. All the kids shook hands and really helped each other out.

Pink In The Rink

2011-12-21T02:12:00.005-05:00

Last weekend was our last Laker game of 2011. It was the 'pink in the rink' game, with the Lakers wearing their pink jerseys to auction off after the game. Lily also got her face pained, and there was some other events going on to help battle breast cancer. Lakers beat Northern Michigan 6-3 to end the year on a high note.

Amigos Meet More Former Tigers

2011-12-06T01:34:00.007-05:00

Set on another adventure, the kids and I travelled to Traverse City to a baseball card to show for some shopping, and to meet two former members of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 World Series Championship team. The kids wanted some baseball and hockey cards, so Papa and I hooked them up with those, and Brian got a couple of Hot Wheels cars and comic books. The players, pitchers Dan Petry and Dave Rozema, were very nice to them and had a lot of fun with the fans. Rozema arm-wrestled Brian, and Lily and Trevor had their picture taken with Petry that turned out nice. We'll try to make it down to Grand Rapids in February for another show, since we had so much fun at this one!

My Little Devils

2011-12-06T01:18:00.003-05:00

On the weekends that the Lakers are out of town, we've been watching the Sault Blue Devils high school team play hockey to pass the time. It's really a lot of fun, especially for the kids who get to interact with thier freinds from school. We like hockey at the Pullar anyway, so this is a good chance for us to get out and have some more fun. At Saturday's game, they were selling used jerseys for only $1, so the the kids each got one (even Brian) to wear to the games. Pictured are Lily and Brian doing the 'chuck-a-puck' during the second intermission.

More Bowling And Wrestling

2011-12-06T01:09:00.007-05:00

Lily and Trevor are back in the swing of things after the Thanksgiving break. Trevor's wrestling practices have really picked up, and Lily is doing a lot better in bowling. Trevor is really trying to build his coodination and learn the wrestling moves. He actually pinned an opponent a couple of times in tonight's practice.

On Saturday, Lily broke her high score and bowled an 83!!! She followed that up with a sold 50+ game, but she had a couple of strikes that helped her out. She also recieved patches for bowling a 50 game, and 100 series. Next time she'll get more for her new high score. So proud of them both.

Lucky For Us, Lakers Win

2011-11-28T00:45:00.005-05:00

The Lakers faced the #2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish over the weekend, and the return of coach Jeff Jackson. JJ coached the Lakers back when I was in school, and lead them to National Championships in 1992 and '94. I was lucky enough to travel to Minnesota in '94 and watch them win that game 9-1.

That was then, and this is now, though. The Lakers dropped the Friday night game 4-1, and we missed that one because we were travelling back from Thanksgiving in Cadillac. We went to Saturday nights game, though, and the Lakers won that contest 5-2. Lily stayed in Cadillac an extra couple of days, so just me and the boys. Trevor spent a lot of time with his friend Alec, so mostly just Bri-guy and me!

Trevor-Mania!

2011-11-22T01:48:00.005-05:00

Trevor got his first taste of wrestling practice last night, and he really liked it. It's a lot of hard work, and he's doing a lot of exercise and conditioning he hasn't done before, but it is really good for him. I'm proud of him for participating, and know this will be a good experience for him.

Frosty and Frosty Jr.

2011-11-22T01:38:00.003-05:00

Lily and Brian took full advantage of the first snow fall of the season, making a couple of snowmen. It was fun while it lasted, as rain pretty much decimated both of them. I'm not too happy to see the stuff, myself, especially since the wet snow caused us to slide into the curb in the van. A cracked wheel hub and $185 later...ask me again why I hate snow.

Lakers Split With Future WCHA Foe

2011-11-10T05:07:00.007-05:00

A lot of history between the Lakers and Bemidji State. They used to play in the same league back in the late 60's and early '70. LSSU even beat BSU for the NAIA National Championship in 1974. This weekend was some really good hockey, too, and I look forward to these teams being in the same league in a couple of years. They lost the first game on Friday 3-2 in OT, but bounced back to win 2-1 on Saturday. Lily was at a friends house, so just the boys and I attending. We had a lot of fun, but left in the third period because I had to work and Trevor wasn't feeling all that well. Brian was really good, and played with his trucks in his seat, too. Lakers are out of town this weekend, but back home I think after that to take on former coach Jeff Jackson and Notre Dame. Should be some really good hockey in the coming weeks for the Lakers.

School Carnival

2011-11-07T06:53:00.007-05:00

Friday night the kids dragged me to the carnival at Lincoln Elementary. The kids had a fun time, and got to participate in games, a bouncy castle (Brian only, the other two are too mature, now), and got their faces painted. All the money goes back to the school, so it's a good cause and the kids really had a good time. Brian can be deadly with a hockey stick, though!

More Bowling For Lily

2011-11-07T06:18:00.005-05:00

Lily is still plugging away at bowling. Her scores haven't improved a whole lot, but once I can buy her her own ball, she should improve. She's still working hard and having fun, which is the important thing. We didn't have Brian this time, which made things a little easier, and didn't make it this weekend because I was still feeling sick (recovering from bronchitis). We'll make it up during the week, though. I tried to clean these pics up a bit, and brighten them.

Lakers Split With Falcons

2011-10-24T11:21:00.006-04:00

We enjoyed another weekend of Laker Hockey, with the Lakers losing 1-0 on Friday, and winning 4-1 on Saturday. The weather was nice, so the kids were able to 'high-five' the team after Saturday's game and watch them ring the victory bell. It was just the Amigos this week, as the kids didn't have any friends at the game this time. Next weekend they'll be on the road at Miami, but back in two weeks when Bemidji State visits.

Varsity Blues

2011-10-23T15:22:00.009-04:00

Trevor finally played his football game on Saturday, and he did a great job. His team, the Lions, won 14-8, and he played well and had a fun time. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for football, as it was 50 degrees and sunny. Trevor was effective as the starting center, but his team couldn't produce much offense. On defense, he did a great job and made a few 'tackles' Brian was a little reckless, but enjoyed seeing his brother on the field. After the game, Trevor got to hang with his team, and his opponents, for pizza and pop. Next year on to tackle!

Lily Still Knocking 'Em Down

2011-10-23T15:15:00.005-04:00

Lily is still doing a great job in her bowling league. She's a little discouraged because her score isn't improving a whole lot, though. Talking with some of the other parents, it looks like we'll have to get Lily her own bowling ball. Some of the other parents stated that the house balls usually pull to one side, throwing off her throw. I told her to keep trying and keep having fun, and things will fall into place for her. I'll get her her own ball within the next few weeks, and we'll see how her scores improve from there. Go, Lily!

Lakers Sweep Spartans Out Of The Sault

2011-10-23T14:35:00.005-04:00

Before we headed to Sudbury to see Avril, we had a busy weekend on Friday and Saturday. Friday we went to the Lakers game, with Michigan State reportedly making their last trip to the Sault. The Lakers beat the Spartans 5-4 Friday, and 3-2 on Saturday. Really good games by the Lakers, and as a family we had a great time. Trevor hung out with his best friend Alec, and Lily and Kassidy buddied up and sat with us. Brian was pretty good, but their was a huge crowd, so we really had to keep an eye on him. Lakers host Bowling Green next weekend, so we'll be there for sure. Lily did a great job bowling on Saturday, too, but Trevor's game was postponed until next weekend.

Avril....

2011-10-19T02:47:00.009-04:00

Sunday we made the trip up to Sudbury to see the Avril Lavigne concert. It was me, Trevor, Lily, and their friend Lilly. We had a fun trip up, and the color was great. It was only $2 for parking, which was nice, and right across from the arena. We had pretty good seats, and the kids were able to bring home a t-shirt for souvenir. Avril put on a fantastic show, and I still can't believe that I actually saw her! The kids had a great time, and enjoyed the show, but got tired toward the end (11:00 pm!). If she decides to tour Michigan, or anywhere else close, it will be worth the trip to see her again! Next time, though, I'll have to sneak my good camera in, as my phone took really bad pics of the show, and doesn't indicate how close we really were.

Brian And The Whale

2011-10-19T02:42:00.010-04:00

After a busy day of bowling and football, we still had the annual Lakers Blue/White game to look forward to. It's fun to watch the team play against each other, and they let us on the ice after the game to meet the team. Brian was a little upset that he couldn't go onto the ice BEFORE the game, so he showed his displeasure by throwing his toy whale onto the ice...Lucky no one was hurt, and he even got his toy back. We decided to watch the game from seats a little higher up, after that, and they gave us free pizza and popcorn toward the end. The Blue team won on a shoot-out, and we were on the ice. Brian still has fun skating around, and we were able to mingle with some of the team.

A Special Day For The Kids

2011-10-19T02:33:00.009-04:00

Lily and Trevor had a fun time in bowling and football, respectively, last weekend when their Papa and Nana came up from Cadillac to watch them. Also making the trip was their Aunt Carol and Aunt Judy from Battle Creek. It was a beautiful day, and they had a nice up north. Lily did great in the morning, bowling a 57 for her second best score to date. She's really starting to catch on, and getting used to not having the 'bumpers' on the side. It usually takes her until the third game of the day to really get going. We're so proud of her, she is so amazing! In football, Trevor had a solid practice, and they scrimmaged a couple of the other teams to get ready for 'the game'. Papa and Nana got to see him play, as the scrimmages are very similar to the game itself. Trevor was getting picked on a bit, this kids trying to kick him and jump on him, but he stood his ground and never backed down. He never kicked back or threw a punch, though, and we're so proud of him! Of course, everyone got a kick out of Brian, too, who made his presence made all day.

More Bowling and Football

2011-09-26T01:01:00.009-04:00

Lately our Saturdays have consisted of nothing more than Lily bowling and Trevor's football practice. Lily is really doing a lot better, and is adjusting to life without the 'bumpers' on each side. Last weekend, her top score was 29, this past weekend she ended up with a 62 in her last game. Great job Lily, with two strikes in that game, too. She is so awesome! Trevor is doing well at football, also. He will be the starting center on his team, which is now named the Lions. They got their jerseys with Saturday and he'll be wearing number 14. Next weekend, more of the same, and hoping for some nice weather. Papa and Nana are making plans to come up on Oct. 8, so the kids are excited that they'll be watching them then. I've been trying to attach a video of Lily bowling, but it won't upload for some reason. I'll try to post another pic of her, then.

Laker Hockey Picnic

2011-09-15T02:54:00.008-04:00

The Lakers kicked off the season hosting a picnic at Sherman Park, so fans could mingle with the team members and meet the rookies. The kids had a good meal of hot dogs, brats, and watermelon. There were some kid games, but the dunk tank is where we spent most of our time. Lily even took a turn getting wet to give some of the freshman a break. The kids showed off their throwing arms dunking the players, too. Even Brian really liked this, as he's a natural at throwing things. The Lakers have a blue-gold game on Oct. 8, and thier first home game is on the 14th.

First Football Practice

2011-09-15T02:43:00.007-04:00

Flag football practice also started on Saturday, so we were pretty busy. It was a hot day, and the boys worked really hard. They ran a lot, and were run through drills that covered all of the positions. It looks like Trevor will be a lime man again this year, but he's good at it. Lily, Brian, and I kept cool in the shade, but we all got burned a little. This is the start of some busy days for us, with bowling and football all on the same day. Their game this year is on October 15, and you can bet we'll be there cheering him on.

First Day of Bowling League

2011-09-15T02:27:00.005-04:00

Lily joined the local bowling league this year, and this is her first taste of competition. The first day was a little crazy, but we got through it and she had a fun time. She has a rough time adjusting to bowling without the 'bumpers' on the sides, but has some nice throws. In practice, she threw a real strike, too. He scores were 24, 16, and 17 for the three games she bowled. With the instruction she's getting, I'm better her scores improve by the end of the year. She will also be getting a team uniform, also, in the coming weeks. It's seems like a good league sanctioned by the USBC. It will be rough on me every Saturday coming here after work, but it's worth it for Lily. If she does well, I hope she sticks with it.

Friday Night Lights

2011-09-15T02:11:00.006-04:00

I've lived up here for he better part of eighteen years, and it may be hard to believe I've only been to one high school football game. That was about 12 years ago, when the Blue Devil were in the same league as Cadillac, and hosted the Vikings. I decided it was time to take in another game, and the kids were right there with me. They had a fun time, but spent most of the game socializing with their friends. That's what these games are to them, though, a social gathering, and I remember doing the same thing during my elementary school days in Gull Lake and Cadillac. Even Brian was pretty good, lasting three quarters of the game. Trevor got into a little trouble for taking pictures of the cheerleaders with his phone, but, hey, he's a guy, too, I guess. I hope we can get another game in, and I maybe even make it back to Central Michigan for a game this fall.

Labor Day Hockey Tourney

2011-09-13T03:40:00.008-04:00

This season we were able to get our hockey fix early, with the Soo Eagles hosting a Labor Day Tournament. The Eagles welcomed the Soo Thunderbirds, Blind River Beavers, and the Sudbury Cubs from their league, the NOJHL. They also had the Traverse City North Stars from the NAHL and the Wellington Dukes from the OJHL. The North Stars were the best team in the tournament, but that's probably because they have former Lakers guiding them (Anthony Palumbo GM, Mike Matteucci associate head coach). Not a bad deal, though, as $20 each got us into all the games over the weekend. We were able to see every team play at least once, and I was even able to enjoy a beer or two. Good to see hockey again, and can't wait for the Lakers to start in October.

Goin' To The Fair

2011-09-13T03:27:00.008-04:00

For the first time in a couple of years, we finally made it to the Chippewa County Fair. Brian was just a baby his first time, so this was a real thrill for him. He really like checking out all of the animals and going on his rides. Lily did some rides also, and Trevor played some of the games. The batteries in the camera died, so I really didn't get a whole lot of pics. I have some on my phone I'll try to upload later, but here's a few, mostly of Brian. This wasn't on purpose, it's just that his rides were at the front, so we did most of those first.

Birthday Bowling

2011-09-13T03:12:00.006-04:00

Trevor wanted to go bowling again for this birthday, just like he did a few years ago. This time we brought along Trevor best friend Alec, and Lily's best friend Lilly (no, that's not a type-o). The kids had fun, and even Brian got to bowl a game. Lily is really liking bowling, and is joining a league this winter. More fun for the Amigos.

Re-United..

2011-09-13T03:02:00.005-04:00

After spending a few days down in Cadillac with Papa, we got Trevor back when we picked him up in St. Ignace. Lily and Trevor might fight a lot, but it was pretty obvious that they missed each other. This is probably the longest they've been apart since Trevor was born. They played in Lake Michigan and Brian liked to watch the boats going over to Mackinac Island. The kids also celebrated their birthdays with Papa and Nana also, so they liked that. Fun day with summer coming to an end.

The Adventure Island Experience

2011-08-31T05:30:00.006-04:00

Last year when we came down for our 'last hurray' of the summer, they didn't even open up the water park. This summer we were able to take that in, but the rest just didn't compare to Pirate's Cove. The bumper boats and go-carts are just so much better in Traverse City. The water slide was different, and the kids liked the one here in Cadillac. That might be the only thing we do at Adventure Island in the future. The other aspects don't add up, and the staff didn't help us out much this year. I don't mean to be negative on stuff, but when you're spending money, you don't need to be standing around waiting for fifteen minutes for someone to let you on the bumper boats. Again, I'm thankful we were able to do the water park, and the kids had fun with that. Brian was still too small to go, so he through a fit. Next year, Bri-guy...

Quality Time With The Cousins

2011-08-31T04:06:00.010-04:00

I'm glad we were able to get the kids together with their cousins while we were downstate. They all wanted to do some bowling, so we let them have their way. It's always a fun time, and good to watch them interact. Libby and Shelby are so good with Brian, and love to fuss over him. It gives all of us a little break. They all bowled pretty well, with Lily winning the first game. They started getting bored with the second game, and we pretty much just threw the ball when and where we wanted. I wish we could have spent more time with them, but an afternoon is better than nothing. Next trip down I hope we can see them, too. We really love these girls.

The Last Ballgame Watching The Bums

2011-08-31T03:09:00.007-04:00

I did get my camera working in time for the baseball game, after banging it on the dashboard of the van. Pretty sad, as this will probably be our last baseball game of the season, this time watching the Beach Bums here in Traverse City. We met Papa at the game and had really good weather. The kids had to explore the playground some, but really watched more of the game than usual...looks like they're growing up a bit! Brian simply enchanted all of the fans around us, and even had one fan get him some ice cream. Must be nice to be super cute. Trevor hurt is ankle on the way to the playground, but the Bums staff took good care of him, and he was up and on it the next day like nothing was wrong. Tough kid. We had a good time, and I can't wait until the next baseball season. Maybe next year I can get them to a Tigers game.

Pirate's Cove, Without the Golf

2011-08-31T02:32:00.007-04:00

There's a lot more to the Pirate's Cove in Traverse City than mini-golf. In fact, we by-passed the golf part this time around to check out what other fun stuff this park had to offer. Unfortunately, I dropped the camera, so only was able to get a few shots of all of the fun we had. First off, the bumper boats there are the best. The pool is pretty big and had fountains to hide behind and that get you wet. I drove Brian, and he had fun squirting Lily and Trevor with the built in water gun. Next we hit the go-carts, and they are a lot faster than the ones we've been on in the past. Trevor is tall enough now to drive himself, which upset his OLDER sister who is about an inch shorter than he is. I drove both Lily and Brian around, though, and they had fun regardless. Brian was upset he couldn't go on the water ride (too short), but took him for another trip around the go-cart track and all was well. Lily and I did the 'zip line', and I would have loved to have gotten a pic of Lily 50+ feet in the air, but the camera, of course. We had a lot of fun here, and next year we decided to skip the park in Cadillac and spend a whole day here.

Youth Soccer Banquet

2011-08-31T02:15:00.005-04:00

Earlier this month the Sault Youth Soccer Association held it's annual banquet to honor the players for the 2011 season. Of course, Trevor was one of the few who didn't wear their jersey because our wonderful coach never bothered to call or even let us know he was supposed to. At least we got some free ice cream out of the deal, so Brian and Kassidy (welcome to the Blog, Kassidy!) were happy with that. Lily was at a friends house, so she missed out, but Trevor had a good time, and hopefully this season won't sour him on soccer totally. There's always next year.

Sault Girls Softball Season Ends

2011-07-30T04:38:00.015-04:00

As disappointed as I was with soccer, I was very impressed with Lily's softball league. They really stressed fun and learning the fundamentals of the game. Even during the games, there was constant instruction and encouragement. Like soccer, though, I wasn't able to put an entry on every game, but, like soccer, I was at every game and got some good pics. She did a great job this season, and really learned a lot. She hit the ball well, and got better as the season went on (that's what's supposed to happen, right?). She really liked playing catcher, and her coaches let her play their a lot. She also played some infield, but mostly outfield when she wasn't behind the plate. The coaches are the some of the high school players, and they really have a good rapport with the players. She already stated she wants to play again next season. That's my girl!!!

Sault Soccer Season Ends

2011-07-30T03:46:00.007-04:00

Ok, I've been so busy, and I usually try to have an entry for every game, but this season it just didn't happen. Trevor's team had a rough year, finishing last, but he still had a good time playing. He missed the last two games, one because his leg hurt, and the second because we didn't receive the e-mail about it until it was too late. I've stated how disappointed I am in how this league is run, and I think the kids were feeling it this season also. We had pretty high hopes at the beginning, since Trevor was on the same team as his best friend Alec, but with only a few practices, it was hard to compete in game. I'm not sure if he'll play again, even with his friends playing, because of his experience this season. Toward the end his team was often short-handed, which didn't give the kids a lot of time for a break in the heat. We didn't receive any calls or anything from the coach telling us about the last game...which wasn't on the schedule. It's hard to justify yelling at the kids for being out of position when the league hasn't put enough practice time in to teach this to them. My negative views aside, I hope Trevor enjoyed most of the season playing with his friends. I know he wants to play football again, and has even talked about playing baseball again, too. We have an ice cream social next week when he'll get his trophy. I know that there are more pics of Lily playing softball than Trevor, but that wasn't intentional. I'm usually busy chasing Brian around at the soccer games, and it's hard to get better pics, and he missed the last two games.

Fun In Mackinac

2011-07-30T03:32:00.007-04:00

Wow, see how far behind I am? Still trying to catch up from our trip a few weeks ago. Continuing up from TC, we stopped off at Mackinac City for some more fun. The kids were able to burn some energy off at the play ground and walking around the downtown. Lily and Trevor tried to climb the wall in one of the stores there. We had a fun time, and it broke the trip up a bit for the kids. We also had some ice cream to cool us off.

More Golf, Ye Land Lovers...

2011-07-30T03:04:00.010-04:00

On our way back home, we stopped at the Pirates Cove for golf again, this time in Traverse City. The one in TC has a lot more to offer that we'll explore next trip, but we had fun just golfing this time around. The kids did great, with Lily getting three 'hole-in-one's' and Trevor getting two. Brian was just all over the place, but still had a fun time. This is better than the one in Petosky, but that is a better break on the road. I'm still way behind on this stuff, so bare with me.

Star Wars Night: The Sequel

2011-07-26T04:09:00.010-04:00

I'm way behind on my blogging, but here's the pics from Star Wars Night at the Whitecaps game earlier this month. We had a great time, and brought Brian with us again so he could see the characters. He was a little intimidated by Darth Vader, but got in the pics with the rest of the guys. This is Trevor's favorite night for sure. The weather was beautiful, and the Whitecaps got a big win. The night was capped off with fireworks to the Star Wars theme. More pics and story at my other site M.I.B.:

http://burrilltalksbaseball.mlblogs.com/

Life's A Beach

2011-07-09T03:50:00.007-04:00

Continuing our trip down state, our next stop was Traverse City for a Beach Bums game. We had a fun time, and the kids got to spend some more time with their Papa. The Beach Bums won big, and so did the kids. They were able to play in the park at the stadium, and get some ice cream for dessert. Another fun ballgame, and we look forward to Star Wars night at the Whitecaps this coming weekend.

Golfing Pirates

2011-07-08T14:21:00.005-04:00

Last week while heading down state, we decided to

break out trip up with a little mini-golf. We stopped at the Pirates Cove in Petosky for some fun. Lily, Trevor, and I stopped here a few years ago on our way home, but this was Brian's first time here. He loved the shark and the pirate ships. I think he just wanted to explore more than actually play the game. Trevor had three hole-in-one's, and Lily had two of them. They were really playing well, and Trevor won a free game. We might stop by the one in TC on our trip this week.

Play Ball, Lily

2011-07-02T00:19:00.006-04:00

Lily is getting in on the action, too, starting her games this week. She's playing for Elk's Lodge, and is sporting #6 on her back this season. She's played various positions, such as first base, catcher, outfield, and even second base like her old man, here. She seems to be having a lot of fun and is hitting the ball very well. I think the coaches keep score, but it's really not important and don't even tell the players. Coaching goes on all through the game, is skill development and fun are stressed. I like this softball league that she's in now. Little League was great for her, but it was time she played in a league with all girls, and the coaches are high school players. No game on Monday due to the 4th, but a practice for her on Wed.

Wolverines Break Into Win Column!

2011-07-01T14:10:00.005-04:00

Trevor's soccer team broke into the win column on Monday, winning 5-3. Trevor had a good game on defense, and made some good plays. He's really kicking the heck out of the ball. He had to miss the game on Wed., because we had to go downstate, but will be in action next week with a practice. No game this coming Monday because of Independence Day.

Brian Tries His Hand At Putt-Putt

2011-06-23T01:37:00.006-04:00

We started our mini-golf season, and took Brian along this time. He's been looking forward to playing ever since the snow started to melt, and we've been talking about it. He did a pretty good job, but mostly just ran around and dropped his ball in the hole. Lily and Trevor did a great job of helping him out, and had a few good shots themselves. We had a lot of fun and plan on doing this a lot during the summer. We plan on hitting some courses in Cadillac, Traverse City, and Petosky, too.

First Week Of Softball

2011-06-19T04:36:00.004-04:00

Lily kicked off her official softball career last week with some practice. This is the travel team, which is separate from Little League she has been playing the last few years. I am really impressed with the practices, as they stress fundamentals and team unity. It might take her a couple of weeks to get back into it, but then I'm sure she'll be fine and have a lot of fun.

Brian's Debut With The Whitecaps

2011-06-18T06:12:00.014-04:00

I know, I'm really falling behind on keeping up on things. A couple of weeks ago, we took Brian down for his first Whitecaps game. We had to buy a harness for him, so he wouldn't run wild, but I think he adapted to it well and had a fun time. Lily and Trevor were a lot of help in watching over him, too. We were able to get on the field before the game to get some pictures and play catch. Brian had seen pictures and videos of Crash on the Internet, and was happy to meet him. We played around on the park, also, so the kids didn't have to sit still for long. It was a long day, but a lot of fun. I'm glad Brian was able to finally make a game with us. We'll take him to more next season for sure.

Wolverines Start Game Play

2011-06-16T00:52:00.010-04:00

Trevor's soccer team, the Wolverines, have played two games already. They dropped a tough one last Wednesday, 4-0, and lost to the Panthers on Monday, 8-4. Trevor played well, but is still getting used to his position. I don't know why they jump into games after just a few practices, but I guess that's how they do it. He's having a lot of fun and has a great attitude. He's happy to be playing on the same team as his best friend Alec. This week at practice, they were joined by members of the MLS Chicago Fire. They helped the kids with some great tips and drills.

The Sweet Oval

2011-06-11T05:03:00.009-04:00

One spot on our trip that I thought deserves it's own post, is our experience at the University of New Hampshire. One of our relatives Paul Sweet was a legendary cross country/track coach there from 1927-1972 (I think those were the dates, I know it was almost 50 yrs.). We were surprised that the indoor track was dedicated and named after him. When we mentioned we were related to Paul, we were treated like VIP's. The current coach ran for him, and is only the second coach since Paul retired in the '70's. There is so much respect for him still by everyone. I really like UNH, and there dedication to the student athletes. It reminded me of LSSU a little bit. This was a great experience to hear all the stories and learn more about our ancestry. Here's a link to the update on the Sweet Oval: http://unhwildcats.com/sports/wtrack/woutdoortrack/2008-09/releases/archivepage.cfm-pid=4914D681-FADD-B21F-96904975E5F5E487.htm

2011 Baseball Trip

2011-06-11T04:27:00.015-04:00

Whoa, ok, I know I'm running way late on this, but wanted to get all the posts up on my other site, http://burrilltalksbaseball.mlblogs.com/, Minoring In Baseball, first. There is a detailed entry on each of our stops, so check that out for sure if you're interested. I'm just putting some of my favorite pics on here. We had a great time out east, but lost a couple of games to rain. At least we got the game in at Fenway Park, though, which is just unbelievable. We also hit games in Portland, Manchester, New Britain, and back home in Grand Rapids. I can't wait until next year's trip.

WOLVERINES!!!!

2011-06-02T04:55:00.003-04:00

Ok, unless you remember the classic 80's film Red Dawn then the title will mean nothing to you. This season, though, it stands for Trevor's new soccer team. He's very happy to be playing again this year, and even happier that his best friend Alec is on his team. They had their first practice last week, and were able to wear the uniforms this week. Trevor's new number is 12, by the way. Trevor has the best attitude when it comes to sports, and I'm sure it will be a fun and memorable season. Go Wolverines!!!!!

Cool In The Pool

2011-05-26T00:14:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we were able to shake the crappy spring blues by going swimming at one of the local hotels. Lily is really doing a good job of swimming on her own, and really wants some swimming leasons this summer. The boys just like chillin' out and slashing around. If the weather stays cold, we'll be doing this a lot more often.

Lily's Art Show

2011-05-14T00:51:00.005-04:00

Lily's art work was selected to be shown at an art show held at the Sault Area High School featuring the local students. We are all so proud of her and of her artistic abilities. She definitely takes after her mom in this trait. We had a fun time looking at her work and the art of the other students. Trevor was a little upset his art didn't make the show, but he does a great job in other aspects of school and life, so he knows we are just as proud of him. Brian was pretty good, and only really tried to run away once.

Laker Softball Sweeps

2011-04-19T14:32:00.005-04:00

The weather was pretty nasty this weekend, but the Laker girls were able to get one double-header in on Friday, beating Ohio Dominican 9-8 and 18-8. The kids were troopers, and Brian spent his time playing in mud puddles. Go figure. Between games the girls took Lily and Trevor into the dugout and they were able to get autographs. Lily knows some of the girls through the softball clinics. They have a few more home games left, so we're hoping the weather holds up for them.

Opening Day

2011-04-16T03:15:00.006-04:00

Hurray, for opening day! Weather reports had us worrying, calling for thunder storms, but it turned out to be a beautiful day in the low 80's! We left the boys at my sisters (Trevor was sick) and Lily and I took Papa to the game for his birthday. We were able to get onto the field for some pre-game autographs and each got a free winter hat. Lily had a great time and was a trooper, but was tired by the late innings as it had been a long day. I'm looking forward to bringing Brian to his first Whitecaps game this summer, and Trevor is looking forward to 'Star Wars' night again this year.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

2011-04-01T10:34:00.003-04:00

Brian's rendition of 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame'

Sick Of Snow

2011-03-20T07:25:00.005-04:00

Ok, we have had some fun playing in the snow this winter, but it's time for it to go. Spring is in the air, and we're ready for some Summer fun now. Opening day of baseball season is on April 10 for the Whitecaps, so we're hoping for decent weather there. Sick of the snow, it's time for it to go.

Hockey Comes And Goes

2011-03-18T00:49:00.006-04:00

The Laker hockey season came and went this year. We had a lot of fun and created a lot of memories as a family. Brian's streak ended abruptly as the Miami Redhawks came to town and spanked the Lakers 8-1. We felt better the next weekend, however, as the Lakers swept the Ohio State Buckeyes out of the first round of the playoffs. Actually, we only saw the Lakers lose two games all season which is pretty good. We might try to catch a Soo Eagles game before their season is over, too.

Slapstick Softball

2011-02-23T03:58:00.006-05:00

Last weekend was the Laker Softball's annual 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame Dinner' to raise money for their trip to Florida to play the first part of the season. This is another one of our traditions now, and the kids have lots of fun at these. Lily even had the chance to throw a pie in the face of her favorite Laker player. Brian was a little tired after our trip back from downstate, but was pretty good. I hope events like this encourage Lily to play softball this summer, but we'll see. Good luck to the Laker girls this season. We'll be at the home games if the weather cooperates.

Roller Disco Lives

2011-02-22T03:46:00.009-05:00

Roller disco is alive and well, and, well, Brian has seemed to been crowned the Roller Disco King. I think he had the most fun of anyone while he was skating and 'dancing' to the music. Lily and Trevor had a good time, too, and got to spend time with their cousins Libby and Shelby. It was the first time I've been roller skating since I was pretty young, but I still have my moves. This is something we'll have to do more often, especially in the winter months. I'm not sure if there is a roller rink nearby up here, but I'll sure to be looking into it.

The 'Brian' Streak Continues...

2011-02-16T04:24:00.006-05:00

After a Laker loss a couple of weeks ago while leaving Brian at home, we knew it was crucial that he made the game last weekend. Brian and the Lakers didn't disappoint, either, with a 4-2 win. With me having to work that night and Brian being a little rambunctious, we could only stay for about half the game. His presence was enough for the victory, though. Lily and Trevor had fun also trying to keep their little bro from running all over the place. I'm thinking of changing seats so he can't run so much. The Lakers will need Brian's luck for their last home games of the season, as they take on top ranked Miami.

Bowl-O-Rama

2011-02-16T04:15:00.006-05:00

Nothing like bowling to shake the winter blues. We brought Brian along for his first bowling experience, and he had a great time. He tried rolling it by himself, but we finally got him a 'helper' to roll the ball off of. He even got a strike, and ended up beating Lily and Trevor. We didn't care about the score much but had a good time. Both kids were eager to help their baby brother. The event was put on by the Lincoln School PTO.

Fun At Winter Fun Day

2011-02-09T01:44:00.005-05:00

This year's Winter Fun Day was just as fun as the last, but I had to leave at noon, so jumping between Trevor and Lily's classes was challenging. I spent pretty much the whole day with Lily last year, so I spent a little more time with Trevor this year. Lily was ice skating all morning, so at least she was easy to catch up with when I took a break from Trevor's class. The kids did all types of activities. Besides ice skating, they had a special gym class to play games and also had a jumping castle. The kids liked Bingo a lot, too, as they always seem to win at that.

Laker Luck Runs Out

2011-01-20T06:37:00.002-05:00

Our lucky Laker streak ran out on Friday, as we watched the hockey team lose to Michigan State 4-0. We didn't have Brian with us this time, so maybe he's the lucky one. He'll be with us this weekend when they play Western. None of us was feeling well, and Trevor ended up sleeping through half of the game. Both of the kids ended up having an ear infection, but will be in top shape for this weekends games. Papa and Nana were up visiting, too, to take in their first Laker hockey game of the season.

Brian Turns Three, Already

2011-01-20T06:31:00.002-05:00

It seems like just yesterday I was on here blogging about bringing home our third child. Apparently, it's been three years as Brian celebrated his birthday last week on the 11th. The picture of him three years ago saw us bringing him home in his Whitecaps jersey, and as you can see, he's still a fan. In fact, he will be making his first appearance at a 'Caps game this summer. He already makes it to most of the Laker games, and has fun watching the hockey. He'll be ready for t-ball next summer.

Happy Camper

2010-12-06T01:53:00.004-05:00

Over the weekend Lily participated in the LSSU Lakers winter softball camp. Unlike the hitting clinics before Thanksgiving, she was able to work on her catching and throwing as well. The coaches wanted her to attend the pitching camp also, but she hasn't shown interest in that yet. I still hope she sticks with softball and gives it a shot this spring. Also this weekend, the kids attended a 'lock in' at the college, where they were able to participate in games, sports, and activities hosted by the college kids. They had a great time over the weekend. Always good when they keep busy.

Lucky For Lakers

2010-11-18T03:42:00.005-05:00

The last two weekends, and even opening night, we've been pretty lucky for the Lakers. Last weekend we watched them skate to a 1-0 win over Ferris State, and the weekend before a 3-1 victory over the hated Northern Michigan Wildcats. Brian has been having a pretty good time, but has been prone to running away and hiding in the gift shop. The fun of having a two-year-old. At least he finally built up the courage to 'high five' the mascots last game. Lily and Trevor are having fun, too, but we haven't run into many of their school friends so far this year. Next games are the first weekend in December, and hopefully Santa will be there. So far, the Lakers are undefeated when we're in attendance so we need to keep it going.

Lily Keeps Swinging Away

2010-11-15T04:54:00.009-05:00

Lily has been keeping up on her Laker softball hitting clinics the last few weeks. She is a big hit, and very well liked by the girls on the team. She seems to be having a lot of fun and is showing a lot of improvement. The girls do a good job of encouraging her, and I hope that she decides to play this next summer. The high school coach as also talked to me about her, and wants her to play maybe on a travelling team along with Little League. The decision is up to Lily, but she has so much fun and is doing so well I'd like to see her continue and see how far she can go. Trevor and Brian come, too, and like to play around in the gym while waiting for Lily. They like to play on the mats and Brian likes to play some ball as well. I keep taking the pics with my new camera phone, which is why they're so bad. I'll be getting a new camera soon, hopefully so they'll get better.

Le Carnival'

2010-11-10T00:18:00.007-05:00

Lily and Trevor had a carnival at their school last weekend, so they talked me into taking them. It didn't take much, as we always are looking for more fun things to do together. Lincoln School had all kinds of fun activities for the kids to take part in, like a bouncing castle, bowling, hockey, basketball, and bingo. Teachers and high school kids all helped out to make this happen. Brian pretty much stayed with the duck pond again, getting himself nice and soaked in the process. Lily and Trevor seemed to like playing bingo, too. They tried the cake walk a few times, but came up empty. We had a dinner of hot dogs and chips in the cafeteria to cap off a great night of fun.

Saturday Night Lights

2010-10-24T05:12:00.010-04:00

Trevor got his first taste of big time football on Saturday in the Sault Flag Football League. His team, the Wolfpack, played to a 24-24 tie in his debut. Too bad they on play one game...it would be nice for them to at least play each of the other five teams once. The weather could be a factor in that, though, as it's getting pretty cold and nasty up here. Luckily he played in the first game of the night so we didn't get rained on. Trevor was the starting guard on offence and defence, making some good blocks for his team. He had a lot of fun with this and stated he wants to play again next season.

TNA Wrestling Hits Cadillac

2010-10-24T04:24:00.019-04:00

Twenty plus years after I was watching the likes of the Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, and Demolition, I returned to the Wexford Civic Arena in Cadillac with the kids in tow to check out TNA Wrestling for the first time. The show certainly didn't disappoint, as we saw some great matches and got to meet some of the wrestlers as well. Before the show even started, the kids got autographs from the TNA Knockouts champ Madison Rayne and TNA X-Division champ Jay Lethal. Once the wrestling started...the kids were hooked. They loved all of the excitement and drama that comes with a good show. At the intermission we got to meet and get autographs from the Beautiful People Velvet Skye and Angelina Love also. Afterward, we were also able to get into the ring and get a picture taken with Rob Van Dam. I left that one in Cadillac, so I'll get that scanned and posted as soon as I can. For the second half of the show, the kids and I moved over by the rail so they could 'high-five' the wrestlers on their way to the ring. In all we saw: Rhino def. Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal def. Eric Young, Madison Rayne def. Velvet Skye, Motor City Machine Guns def. Generation Me, Abyss def. Sabu in a monster's ball match, and Rob Van Dam def. A.J. Styles. It was a really fun night for us, and we'll definitely go next time they are in town.

Lily Learns From Lakers

2010-10-24T03:26:00.006-04:00

Lily started her softball clinics at Lake Superior State this week. The clinics are on Thursdays for only an hour, but Lily is having fun and learning a lot. The new head coach actually called the house and asked if she wanted to attend the clinics. Nice to see she's already getting collegiate attention. We'll be doing this until the week before Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to get some better picks in the coming weeks, too. Go Lily!!

Gettin' Game Ready

2010-10-10T04:42:00.004-04:00

Trevor's football team the Wolfpack had another good practice Saturday afternoon. Trevor will be the staring guard when his team takes the field on Oct. 23 under the lights. The teams were able to do some scrimaging with each other today to get a feel for how the games will be played. Trevor did a good job of protecting his quarterback. The just have one practice left next weekend before its 'go time'.

Lakers vs. UMD Bulldogs

2010-10-10T04:31:00.006-04:00

Finally the Lakers start their season, and they did so taking on Minn.-Duluth in the Superior Cup showdown. The game was exciting and tied 6-6. The kids and I had a great time, and Brian was very good and will probably come to most of the games with us. I really like it when we're all together anyway. Lily hogged the camera and can credit for the good pics of Brian. She's such a good big sister. She even took Trevor to the bathroom once during the game, too, so I could keep and eye on Brian. The kids kept busy with the coloring books, crayons, and toys, but took interest in the game as well. Brian didn't like how noisy it got in the arena when the Lakers scored, but he never cried. More games for the Amigos for sure.

More Football For T-Rex

2010-10-04T03:16:00.009-04:00

More football practice on Saturday for Trevor. He wasn't a big fan of all the running, but they ran through some drills and actually split up into teams. Trevor is on the royal blue team and they ran through some plays together. It looks like he'll be playing guard and protecting his quarterback. The teams quarterback is really good, and Trevor said he's nice an helping him out some, too, which is good for the team. He said he's having fun and making friends which is the most important thing. Can't wait to see him play the game in the 23rd. Lily is my buddy, and she hangs out with me during the practices. We even play with some of the equipment, which we're probably not supposed to do, but nobody has gotten on us yet.

Lakers Open Thier House

2010-09-23T05:09:00.009-04:00

Last weekend was the first annual Laker Open House put on by the Blue Liners. The kids got to skate and interact with the hockey team. They played some games and some of the players were in the dunk tank. Brian got mad in the locker room because he really wanted to put the skates on like Lily and Trevor and the Lakers. Head Coach Jim Roque gave him a puck to calm him down, he was so upset. He also got really wet in the duck pond. We had a fun night and are ready for the hockey season to start.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

2010-09-23T02:01:00.006-04:00

We always knew that Trevor was a little devil, but now he's really a Little Devil. This is the first year of Little Devil flag football, and Trevor is glad to be a part of it. They had their first practice last week and he had a good time. Getting past the running and push-ups, he enjoyed a lot of the drills. They put them through drills at about every position to evaluate where they might want to play. Next practice they will split the 70+ kids into teams, and they will play in game under the lights at the high school stadium on October 23rd. More to come on this for sure.

Just Another Day At The Beach

2010-09-23T01:53:00.009-04:00

Last week we met Papa and Nana down at St. Ignace for some fun in the fall sun. It was cool, but the kids still had fun at the park. For me it was relaxing and always nice to see my kids having a good time and relaxing themselves. The kids played hookie from school so we could get a head start on some serious play time. We could only spend the afternoon down there, but made the best of it. Finished it off with subs for dinner and some more play at the park at Papa and Nana's hotel. This was only the start of a fun week.

CMU Football Fun

2010-09-06T05:48:00.007-04:00

Last on our agenda was the second outing for the kids enjoying Central Michigan football. We went down a little early to stop by the baseball field and shop at the bookstore. We battled rain, but it led up in the second quarter to become a beautifiull night. The Chips won 33-0 and we were able to get onto the field after the game. The kids aren't really used to football, as we usually attend baseball and hockey games, but still had a fun time with me and Papa. We'll see about taking Brian next year...we'll see....

Water Slide...Denied!!!!!

2010-09-06T05:19:00.007-04:00

Continuing our tradition of hitting Adventure Island to end our summer, we fully intended to have some fun on the water slide like the kids did last year. We didn't have Brian with us this year so I was going to have a chance for some fun, too. Unfortunately when we went there on Thursday, they told us they closed the water slide early because the boss didn't think anyone would want to use it. Nice. So the kids went on the bumper boats, and your truly put on a hitting display in the batting cages. We went back the next morning, just to be informed they won't be opening it at all because it's too cold. Hello..we're from the U.P....not too much is too cold for us. We were pretty disappointed, but the kids went on the bumper boats one more time and played in the arcade for awhile. We'll try our luck next year.

Last Ballgame Is A Bummer

2010-09-06T02:14:00.006-04:00

Our last baseball game of the season found us meeting up with Papa and Nana in Traverse City for the Beach Bums game. It was good to see the Bums win, and the kids had a fun time at the ballpark. We were lucky as it rained most of the day there, but cleared up before game time. We had them announce the kids birthdays over the PA system, too which made them feel like celebrities. They also had a chance to meet some of the players after the game. It was a fun night, and the beginning of our 'end of summer/birthday celebration.

Eagles Kick Off 2010-11 Hockey Season

2010-08-30T05:31:00.005-04:00

We kicked off our hockey season this year again with the Soo Eagles. The held a pair of exhibition games over the weekend against the Flint Jr. Generals. I felt good to be back at the rink, and the cool air felt nice inside as it was pretty hot out both days. Lily and Trevor got to play with their friend Sydney, who we've seen at many Laker and Eagle game. She moved to Cheboygan, so Trevor won't have her in class anymore. The hockey games will probably be the only time they'll all get to see each other. Brian had a good time also, peeking out onto the ice and admiring the Zamboni when it passed. We're glad the Eagles are around, too, since the Lakers don't start until October. This also starts a busy week for us including a baseball and football game later in the week.

Emotional Week of Baseball

2010-08-12T00:41:00.009-04:00

The last week of baseball season is always a bit emotional for me. The kids don't worry about it too much, but for me this is bitter sweet. This season was my last opportunity to coach Lily and Trevor on the same team. Lily will move on up to girls softball next season. She proved she can play with the boys, but has been the only girl in the division the last two seasons. Trevor thinks he wants to play soccer again. All his friends play soccer, so it's a tough decision for him. I'll try to bribe him next year with a new glove, though. We lost both of our last games, but had fun and saw some improvement. Lily ended the year in kind of a slump, was still able to get a couple of hits. Trevor ended the season on a tear, going 4-5 the last two games and making some nice plays in the field. If I coach next year, it will probably be an assistant on Lily's team, and two more years before Brian is ready to go. Speaking of Brian, he really wanted to be part of Little League Fun Day last Friday. Lily and Trevor got to hit some, and test their throwing speed. They wouldn't let Brian hit, but let him pitch off of the mound and run the bases.

Star Wars Night at the Ballpark

2010-07-27T06:09:00.013-04:00

Star Wars night at the Whitecaps game was something we'll never forget. The kids loved meeting all of the characters from the movies. They even had to watch them down state and back again. The game was a bust, as the 'Caps lost, bust still a fun time to be together.

Rain Out In BC

2010-07-26T04:25:00.004-04:00

So much for the kids first game in Battle Creek. It only rained for a little while, but it poured so much it flooded the field at C.O. Brown Stadium, that the game had to be canceled. I was pretty disappointed in missing a ball game, and my chance to throw out the first pitch. The Bombers were great about it, though, still giving me my birthday cake and a signed ball by the team. Maybe next year we can get this to work. The kids still had a good time travelling and seeing some family.

Gilmore Car Museum

2010-07-26T01:50:00.010-04:00

Down visiting family in Battle Creek, Papa and Nana treated us to the Gilmore car museum. Lot of old classic cars, muscle cars, and race cars for us to feast our eyes on. The kids had fun getting into the old firetruck and seeing the old gas station. Trevor gets into this stuff a little more than Lily, but she's a trooper and had some fun, too.

Busy Week of Baseball

2010-07-26T01:32:00.005-04:00

Busy last week with two games going down. The kids are adapting pretty well to the rules, strikes, outs, and so on. Monday's game we dropped 8-5. As a team we did a little better, but still striking out too much and leaving men on base. Trevor went 1-3 with a nice hit, and Lily went 2-4. Both were swinging the bat really well. Lily is making some nice plays in the field, too. Wednesday we went down by the score of 16-8. Not much defense for us, as the other team scored four runs in every inning. We hit better, but still striking out. Trevor went 1-3 again, but really hit the ball hard his last time at bat that hit a kid and landed in another kids glove right behind him. He tagged first, but I kept telling him what a great job of hitting he did. He made a really nice play in the field, too. Lily didn't feel well, so she went 0-2 at the plate and missed an inning in the field. She tried her best, though, and give her credit for being a trooper. Last games coming up this week, so sad for us.

Legion Baseball

2010-07-19T04:09:00.005-04:00

Between Little League games and our monthly Minor Legue adventure, the Amigos have been enjoying the local American Legion baseball team, the E.U.P. Travelers. The Travelers are comprised of the best players in the are from ages 15-19. They consist of players from Sault High, Rudyard, and Pickford/Cedarville. Yesterday they beat the Gaylord team before the rain started. The kids can play in the grass by the bleachers if they don't really want to watch the game, and I get to relax a bit. Too bad we didn't go to more games at the beginning of the summer, but it gives us something to look forward to. Next weekend is the trip downstate to ballgames in Battle Creek and the Whitecaps in GR.

'Almost' Like Real Baseball...

2010-07-15T20:57:00.004-04:00

Well, Monday we had a real good practice as a team. Only six kids showed, but, hey, it's late in the season and it's only a practice, right? We did need to get ready for Wednesday, which was our first 'real' type game. All the players were so excited...that only FOUR showed up. Yep, we played 4-on-9, and lost 10-1. Lily did well at the plate, going 2-3 including a triple in the second. Trevor went 1-3, but had the RBI single that drove Lily home from 3rd for our only run. In the field, Lily played first, and I put Trevor at the 'hot corner'. Both made some good plays, and kept the ball in front of them. Before the game, a league official asked how my attendance had been. I told him we've had nine consistently. I know my assistant coach was out of town with his son, and another had a tooth out, so I was aware we'd be a couple short...but only four? Oh, and the other team had four coaches, too. One at first and third while they were hitting and one even helped us out catching. The kids that showed really work hard and were given double snacks after the game. Hope next week we have a better turn out.

Beatin' The Heat With Baseball

2010-07-09T00:31:00.007-04:00

Rough week up here in the Sault, as the temps were reaching the upper 80's. Hard to get the kids motivated, but we're trying our best anyway on the baseball field. Lily and Trevor complain, but in actuality have played their best ball of the summer this week. Both kids had two great hits in Monday's game. Each of them hit a liner over third base, which are solid hits. We only had a handful of players since it was the day after the 4th, so each player got to bat around three times. Wednesday, I must have had a target on me, as Trevor hit a shot right at me on the mound, and Lily hit one right up by me, too. In the field both did well. Trevor is fielding the ball nicely, but just has to work on his throwing accuracy. Lily keeps impressing everyone with her all around play. Not too many games left, and next week we'll start playing with stricter rules and outs. It will be harder for them, but they both hit the ball within the first few swings, so I hope it goes well.

Also this week, we had the 4th parade again and took Brian to the park. He was more interested in running around on the baseball field next to it than playing on the swings and stuff. That's my boy. Left is just a gratuitous pic of Lisa just to get her on the site a bit...cute pic though...

Lily and Trevor Play Ball

2010-07-03T01:01:00.007-04:00

Papa and Nana made the trip from Cadillac to watch the kids play ball this week. Neither kid disappointed, either, and played a great game.

Trevor played catcher again, and Lily played a couple of different positions on the infield. Both hit the ball well in their at bats. It also gave me the chance to have someone else take some pictures, as it's hard to do that and coach at the same time. Papa took some great pics for us this week. We have the 4th of July parade this weekend we're looking forward to and games next week.

Cool Cars & Cool Kids

2010-06-27T05:44:00.007-04:00

This is becoming a tradition for the Amigos, for every June now, I think. Continuing with our busy weekend, we packed up and headed to St. Ignace for the day to check out the car show. Posted here are just a few of the great pictures we were able to get today. The kids got a chance to play at the park and in Lake Michigan for a bit, too. Brian even had fun checking things out. Trevor really enjoys this event, as he's a genuine 'car guy'. Seeing these really makes my miss my Firebird, though, and I can't wait to someday get another one (once we get out of debt, of course). Lily really enjoyed the 'purple' cars and the Volkswagen bugs.

Laker Alumni Hockey

2010-06-27T01:57:00.005-04:00

Wow, a hockey game in June. It's a treat we'll be happy to accept at this time of the year. LSSU is inducting NHLers Doug Weight and Jim Dowd into it's Hall of Fame this weekend, and the festivities kicked off with an Alumni hockey game. Unfortunately, Weight and Dowd weren't at the game, but a lot of other players who played pro and won National Championships were on the ice. It was nice to see some of the guys I went to school with, too. The kids had fun and Brian was being his busy self as usual, but really got into the game. He was cheering and clapping with Lily and was up on the glass checking things out. Trevor helped keep tabs on his little brother, too. Any excuse for the Amigos to spend time together is a good thing anyway.

Kids' Team Dodges Rain Storm

2010-06-25T00:43:00.004-04:00

Luck was on our side Wed. night, as we dodged a couple of rain storms to get our baseball game in. Papa and Nana were going to come visit and watch the kids, but thought it was going to rain. Hopefully they'll come up on Monday for the game. Lily and Trevor both did well at the plate. Lily got a hit on the first pitch, and had a good line drive toward third. Trevor hit a monster foul ball, but was able to get single on the next pitch. His second time up he hit a solid ball to first. In the field they are making some really good plays. Lily still gets frustrated when the person she's throwing to misses the ball, though. Busy the next few days with a hockey game on Fri., car show on Sat., and another game on Mon.

Bumming Around TC

2010-06-23T05:12:00.008-04:00

On our way home from Cadillac last weekend, we took a detour through Traverse City to check out the Beach Bums. We've hit at least one game here since they started playing ball in 2006. The kids have a good time in the park and we just enjoy watching the games together. Trevor was really tired out from camp, but still had a good time.

Not a lot of people, so we were able to move around a bit and the kids enjoyed meeting the mascots and getting ice cream. Our next game will either be in Battle Creek or seeing the Whitecaps in Grand Rapids on Star Wars night. Either way, you know it will be fun for us. I'd like to get Brian to a game, but he's just too busy being 2 right now...

Camp Torenta Reunion

2010-06-16T02:57:00.013-04:00

This past weekend was our Camp Torenta reunion, a children's camp in Cadillac that I worked at for three summers. The feelings that I had during the weekend are almost indescribable, but I'll do my best. I've never had a supernatural experience, but I expect it would be like this. Walking through an empty camp, I could literally feel/see/hear all of the children running around playing and laughing. Memories came flooding back to me at every turn. Even my name is still inscribed in the cabin we stayed in from back in 1989. Walking into the camps lodge, I nearly lost my breath as I remembered all of the dances and activities taken place there. The lodge was always where the staff would meet after hours, too, to hang out and spend time together. The people I worked with there became a second family to me. To see and talk to everyone again was a great experience for me and my kids. Lily and Trevor had a great time at camp and I think I'll try to send them there in the next few years. It was great watching them participate in the activities I used to teach while working there. I think they may have another reunion in a couple of years, and I definitely will be going back. This is just one of those sacred places that will always represent some of the greatest moments of my life.

More Little League Action

2010-06-10T06:03:00.007-04:00

We had the late game on Monday and Wednesday practice was rained out. At least we got the game in, a full three innings to boot. All the kids seemed to have trouble hitting the first time around, but picked it up in the last two. Trevor had some really solid hits and Lily is back pounding the ball like her old self. She is really playing well in the field, too, making some great plays and throws. Trevor is getting better but needs to keep his body in front of the ball. Everyone is getting better each time, though, so that's all that really counts. We'll be missing Monday's game because we'll be out of town, but will be back for the second game Wends day.

Playing With Bri-Guy

2010-06-10T01:53:00.006-04:00

Just a way of exploiting Brian's undeniable cuteness. This kid is great, and Lily and Trevor love playing with their little bro. Lily really takes a lot of pride in helping him and teaching him how to do things. She's a great big sister. Brian does pretty well at riding his bike, but his feet are just a tad short, so he can't always get around all the way. By end of the summer I'm sure he'll be unstoppable. Trevor is more likely to teach him how to get into trouble...boys for you. Can't say I wasn't the same (or worse) at that age.

'Orange' You Glad We're Playing Baseball?

2010-06-04T09:10:00.005-04:00

Well, we finally got our uniforms this week for the 2010 season, and our three year lucky run of blue jerseys has come to an end. This year we got...orange. Kinda makes me feel like I'm coaching in the California Penal League. Anyway, with Memorial Day on Monday, we just had our one game on Wed. Last weeks practice paid off as both kids hit the ball very well. Trevor had a monster hit and we finally got Lily hitting again after switching her bat. Lily also made some good plays at first base, which will probably be her position of choice as she gets older. We'll try to get to the park this weekend for some extra practice and maybe even get Brian involved, too. That kid likes baseball more than his siblings I think.