Drawing the Season to a Close...

This past Monday night was Jackson's baseball celebration service/banquet whatever you call it. I call it a disaster. No, seriously. I hate to be harsh. I am so proud of Jackson and loved seeing his pride as he brought home a trophy AND a gold medal! He kept saying how he couldn't believe he got BOTH! A trophy AND a gold medal! However, the whole thing other than seeing my baby so proud and excited left a lot to be desired. Where do I begin?

First, I was disappointed Paul had to work that night, so I had asked my dear, sweet, wonderful mother-in-law to attend with me. I remember my exact words. "I don't really NEED help per se, but I just would like to have an extra set of hands so I can video tape it all for Paul since he is missing it." Uh, well, only part of that is true. I did NEED help, and I mean need help. I did videotape the whole thing (thanks to Connie's help) only to be disappointed in nearly 95 percent of it. And, without the extra set of hands I would have had to call it quits and walk out.

It was in the church sanctuary...where there wasn't enough seating for everyone (thankfully these smart women arrived very early...but remember how Preston was feeling by the end since he arrived early with us)...and I promise you the air was NOT on for a while...and when they turned it on it was too late to tell. Plus, you dropped off your player to wait outside with the coach to walk in where they would then sit with their coach the entire time. Have I mentioned what entire time means yet? It started at 6:30 and lasted until after 8pm. Now if you have taken two toddlers to church chances are they didn't sit in a church sanctuary for that long. Yes, imagine it (and I don't mean the museum!)

While they did introduce the teams (all seven hundred of them..and that night was only ages 3-4 and 5-6) and the cheering and the emotion when the director said for us to make them feel "10 feet tall" did bring tears to my eyes, I could barely see my little man even walking in. I felt so far away from him and desperately wanted to be WITH him during this important time. Little did I know he had fallen outside (yes, running even though the coach told him to stop...come on he's a kid who waiting outdoors for 40 minutes!) and had skinned knees. So, the little man I couldn't see was really a sad little man. I finally caught his attention to show my excitement and wave, and the poor child lost it when he saw me. I felt trapped. He wasn't supposed to sit with me, and I didn't want to make a scene. But, he was bawling for me. I was just rude or whatever you call it and went right over there. I held him in the aisle while he cried. He barely knows his coach. It's not like it's his teacher at school. Plus, it's a man. They should have never left those kids with him that long outside. :( Thankfully, cheering was still going on so we didn't make a scene. I finally got him calmed down. (Note: Imagine how this would have gone if Connie would not have been there to sit with Preston.)

Then..they played a DVD slideshow of the season. If you know me, you are thinking right up my alley, right? No. Not a single picture of our team. I was told later it was "thrown together at the last minute." Seriously? There's NO reason why someone could not have contacted the coaches or team moms to ask for our pictures we had taken to be included. VERY disappointed. And, I was videotaping the whole thing for Paul all at the expense of Preston whining for me. :(

THEN...(drum roll, please) we sat through a very long magic show. Yes, you heard me. Magic show. Granted, at the END there was an invitation and a magic trick showing us about our life with Christ and it's importance. Although it was over kids those ages heads, I still agree it should have been done because who knows what parents it reached. But...you remember this is Monday, right? A school night? A night period. These kids didn't need to sit through a magic show that late at night!

Finally, we were released to go upstairs to our rooms for our teams parties. Well, I wouldn't call it a party at bedtime. Anyhow, Connie could not make her way to the downstairs bathroom due to the crowd to change Preston's diaper so she followed us upstairs. There are children's rooms all over the place, so we figured she could find a bathroom suitable. Nope. She changed a 2-year old's poopy diaper standing up. I've NEVER done that. Kudos to her. She said Preston took it all in stride and laughed. As I enter the room, I discover that noone brought any decorations or tableclothes but me..and I only got one. The person who was supposed to bring the cups didn't bring any. The only drinks they had were sodas. These kids are 3 and 4! Juice? Water? Seriously. Tea even! I had to hike to a water fountain. I suddenly became the sole cake cutter when it was clear I had my hands full while other parents were sitting down and enjoying their pizza and cake and drinks. I didn't have any pizza, any cake, and managed to get a sip of diet coke at the end using the very last cup someone finally found around the church.

All this after as I am trying to take my own child's picture getting his trophy holding two cameras, other moms are approaching me to take their kids picture too because the battery on their camera is dead. Well, maybe you should have went to Wal-mart and bought the cups you were supposed to bring and the batteries that you needed, too! Sorry. Meanwhile, another kid is stealing Preston's snack, drinking out of Preston's sippy cup (poor Connie tried to block them...and said kid's mother is the same mother mentioned above..battery and cup lacking mother.) Then, Jackson decides to pose on the floor for a picture probably because it's 9pm by now, and someone steps on his fingers. The same person just had Preston in a corner shoved between a file cabinet and the wall. All the while it is 100 degrees because someone keeps shutting the door (if you know my kids, you know they do not behave well when overheated.) Oh, and I forgot to mention. I am now being asked to email the picture used in the coach's plaque (by the "team mom") and for business cards and website for my "cake business"???????

I left out that I was NOT team mom. Although I checked the box that I would be. I was notified early on someone else was though. Although wait. That person brought NOTHING to the party except maybe ice??? That's the only thing I don't know who brought it. AND, I told that person I would PRICE a plaque for the coach. Only at the next game, I was approached with a wad full of money and informed, "I don't even know how much it is." What did I get to do? Take a group picture, rush to get it developed, and go to the trophy store to order and later pick up the coach's plaque. Are you as confused as I am by now?

Long breath...

Ok! I'm done! I really needed that! Thanks!!! All I can say is I still haven't gotten the courage to contact someone to ask for a comments form or survey because if we play again, I don't want everyone to "hate" me and my kid. But, if I do play again, I will skip the celebration. I will pick up their trophies early, and do my own party at home. Or at least only join the team in the room. Or maybe be team mom (since I was this year anyway) and arrange our own team party outside of the church.

All that matters though is THIS...


I still get warm fuzzies when I see this, so that's what counts right? He had such a good time playing, and I really am loving this age. It is great all the firsts and the new stuff we are getting to experience with Jackson. I cannot wait to introduce it all to Preston, too.

I am one proud Mom!

And even though Daddy couldn't come he is also equally proud (and ticked about how it all went down at the banquet. :))

This face says it all. This was Jackson "watching" the magic show. He doesn't look too miserable, huh? Just really red-faced and hot. :) I love this little man. And, I will endure anything for him.