And Now, For the Sports:

As you may have guessed, with all our kids, weekends can be consumed by childrens' activities, especially sports. Our kids play, primarily, baseball and/or soccer. That'll change a little bit this coming Fall with the addition of flag football, but we'll deal with that when it comes. This time of year is especially interesting because, as the baseball season nears its end, tournament play begins. Tournaments always carry a little more weight than the regular season because this is where the rules change so that they match "real" baseball more closely, and the score counts. Winners move on, losers go home (which has its own appeal at times). the exception is travel ball (like Kenzie's softball), which is played at the competetive level all the time. I have to admit that these games are more fun to watch because of the added suspense caused by the fact that 'these games count', and they eliminate many of those stupid 'modified rules', which, in my opinion, only serve to confuse the kids by training them the wrong way to play the game. The bottom line is, I try to get to as many of them as I can, whereas I don't mind so much if I miss some of the more boring (ok, there, I said it, boring; it's sad, but true; who likes to sit there for two hours watching some kids daydreaming in the outfield, while the coach spends forever trying to hit each kid's bat with the ball), regular season games. Ok, enough introduction.

Tyler was chosen for the All-Star team at his, Coach-pitch, age division. His first all-star game was yesterday, at 9:30 am (be at the field at 9:00 am). Kenzie had a softball tournament in Easton, basically the home field, only half an hour away. She had three games, 9 (be there at 8), noon, and 1:30. Connor's dividion also started their tournament yesterday. His game was at 1:30.

My day went like this. Up at 7. Vicki takes Kenzie to her field at 7:30. I take Ty to his game at 9. I have all but Alex and Keary with me. Alex kept Keary at home until later. After the game we rush Connor to a friend's house (also one of his coaches) so he gets to his game on time. I rush home, pick up Alex and the baby, and head to Easton. We arrive about fifteen minutes late for Kenzie's game; luckily they are also running 15 minutes late. I watch Kenzie's second game, and spend a small fortune on lunch at the concession stand. I rush back to the Island, heading straight to the park to help coach Connor's game. We are 30 minutes late; luckily they were 20 minutes late starting; didn't miss much. After the game, we come for showers. Vicki and Kenzie arrive home, and we go to church. I'm assuming everyone grabbed something to eat for dinner as they got hungry beause I don't remember making anything.

This was a crazy day, but worth it. Game results: Tyler's team won! Championship game under the lights on Friday night. Kenzie's team won 2 out of 3! Their first win on the season; very cool, except her head coach was at a wedding in Seattle. Connor's team won! and advances in the tournament!

Now it starts again, as I head out the door for day 2 of softball.

Kenzie Summary

May 19: Softball collision. She complained briefly about her arm hurting.

May 20: Her best softball game of the season; no pain complaints.

May 29: Awoke to excruciating pain in right shoulder. Got Xrays that evening. Doc said probably not a fracture, but to get orthopedic's opinion.

May 30: Orthopedic Dr said it's fractured; come back in three weeks.

May 30 (later that day): We aren't convinced it's fractured, based on the original xray. Called for third opinion.

June 2: Third opinion, by Orthopedic specialist, was that it's not fractured. Throw away that figure-8 strap and sling. But, may be bone infection. Get blood work, bone scan, and MRI.

June 4: Blood drawn. Test results forwarded to Dr.

June 6: bone scan and MRI.

June 7: Dr. can't find anything wrong with her shoulder/collar bone. May be a pinched nerve. Come back in 30 days and check it again.

June 7 (later that day): Vicki locks her keys in the car. We're very relieved that's the biggest problem of the day (so far).

This Is Going To Get Me In Trouble

We have a weekly, local paper, called 'The Bay Times". In it there is a guy named Bill Evans who writes a weekly commentary that is almost always hilarious. Although I disagree, almost completely, with his politics, I have to admit I find him very funny. You ladies out there might not agree this week but, since he had me laughing out loud when I read this, I thought I'd share it.....I just read excerpts of this to Vicki, and she didn't seem to appreciate the humor the same way I do. Oh, and Kenzie's doing fine. She just had the dye injected for her bone scan, so they are going shopping at the mall while the dye circulates.

WOW

Vicki's Blog expresses our excitement about Alex and his acceptance and exceptional placement in classes at his new high school. I just needed to add my praise for Alex,as well. Again, when we started homeschooling four years ago, Alex was entering 5th grade, testing at 3rd grade in math. Four years later, a private, Catholic school placement test places him in Honors Algebra 2. WOW.

God has led us through this journey, and all credit goes to Him. I never would have dreamed of doing this on my own, and I thank Him, and pray that He continues to carry us through this homeschool experience. He has answered my questions concerning the continuation of homeschool for the rest of the kids. Despite the many failings that result from our human weaknesses, with Him we will continue to be successful. We only need to 'bend' enough to do it His way.

What Is A Conservative To Do?

I consider myself a very conservative person. Based on my religious and political views, I could even be called a "right-winger". Unfortunately, I live in arguably one of the most liberal states in the country, Maryland. Our current politcal leaders swept what little Republican resistence we had in the state capital, out of office last November: and they even campaigned on massive tax increases, stronger unions, huge increases in spending, and pro-abortion/pro-stem cell research platforms. It has not been a happy time for conservatives in this state.

That being said, what am I to do when, after almost ten years of battling my own Party on an issue (on the local level), I owe the positive resolution of said issue to the very folks that I oppose in so many other areas? We have been threatened by a development project so massive that one of its size has never been seen before in our state in the sensitive area called the "Critical Area", an area within 1000 feet of the Chesapeake Bay that is especially sensitive to environmental damage caused by over-development. Here is today's article in the Baltimore Sun, and a local tv news story. I wish I had more time for details, but time (unlike my wife's blessings) is not something I have in abundance lately.

Anyway, I've been thinking it's a very upside-down world around here. But I am very pleased with the result, so far.

My Birthday Present

Kenzie had another softball tournament this weekend. I was the official scorekeeper, so I didn't get a chance to take many pictures. I did snap a few good ones, though. Here's one of her getting a hit on Saturday, and another of her sliding safely home.

Today, for my birthday, I asked her to give me an error free game and two base hits. I changed that to one hit, since they were only guaranteed one game (more, only if they won, which they didn't), and yesterday she only got one hit (she says two, but who was scorekeeper?) in three games and made a couple errors at first base (her first time ever playing there). Well, she accomplished the error free game easily enough, but I was getting worried about that hit request as they entered the fifth inning. That's when she got a double, and I got my birthday present.

My Trip

I have been very derelict in my posting lately, I know. I wish I had more time for this because it has its therapeutic value. Hanging laundry is a good distraction, but it has its limits.

Vicki has been filling you in on most of the stuff that's been going on around here, and I can't really add much.

The Grand Canyon trip was great! Dad and I walked down the mule trail (Bright Angel Trail) on Monday. We walked 4.6 of the 6.1 miles (one way), and went down 3000 feet (from about 6800 ft. to about 3800 ft). The going down part was much easier than the going back up part, but I loved it. We were supposed to ride the mules down on Tuesday. My dad made, but I missed the maximum weight by about 6 pounds. I lost about 30 pounds for this trip, but it wasn't quite enough. Having walked the trail the previous day, I wasn't too upset about it. I walked about 8 miles of the Rim Trail instead.

Then we went to Zion National Park. This canyon, you could drive into, as well as hike several trails. We walked one on the easier trials because dad was feeling the effects of Monday's hike, and Tuesday's mule ride: two completely different sets of muscles, all strained in completely differently ways. We spent the night in Springdale, UT, where we had elk-burgers for dinner. Not the first time we've had elk burgers, but it was the first time we had elk burgers at a place that raises elk in their back yard (which got me thinking about what we could put next to our chickens in our own back yard). We were assured the elk on the premises were pets ONLY, and that the limping elk was not the source of our current, fresh, elk burger.

Next stop was Bryce Canyon, my personal favorite. I wish we had more than one day to spend there, but sometimes you just don't know what you're going to see until you get there. We spent a few hours hiking the rim of Bryce CanyonBryce Point to Inspiration Point (and back). Then we had to head back to Las Vegas for our flight home on Thursday.

I have to say, I don't see anything appealing about Las Vegas. We flew in and out of LV because of the cheap airline tickets. My dad loves the place. My mom totally loves the place. I was more than a little appalled at the place. Luckily, I was so tired from the week of canyon-hopping, I could tolerate the overnight stay until our flight out of there, but I could not find many redeeming qualities in that city. It's appropriate that it was built in one of the hottest places on earth.

Well, it was good to get home, even with Bekah's initial cold should. Now, I have to figure out how many elk will fit in our back yard.