World Series Recap!

Whew...what a busy, fun, and exciting week! The 12 Year Old Dizzy Dean World Series was held in Moody, Alabama from July 18-23. There were 16 teams in the tournament from Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee. You were supposed to finish 1st or 2nd in your state to qualify but then there were some open spots for other teams to be invited, too. We usually take off work the week of the world series but because it was held so close and neither one of us could really take off, we just decided to stay in Moody over the weekend and then drive back and forth the rest of the week. Friday night we got to the ball park about 7:30 for opening ceremonies. All the teams went out on the field for a ceremony and then there was an AWESOME fireworks show!

Our first game was Saturday at 12:30 against the Rockdale Mustangs from Georgia. We beat them in 4 innings 10-0.
Our next game was Sunday at 1pm against the Sandy Springs Storm from Georgia. They were the State Champs in Georgia. We beat them 4-1.
Monday we played Jefferson Parrish Recreational Department at 2pm. We knew from watching their game the day before that their fans were loud and obnoxious and that they might give us some competition. Well, we were right! At the top of the 6th inning, we were losing 10-4! We were the visiting team so we had one more shot at scoring enough runs to tie or get ahead or that was the ballgame. I'll be honest, I just knew we were beat! We hadn't been hitting that well and it just wasn't looking good. But, we did it! We scored 8 runs that inning to make the score 12-10 and then we got them out before they scored any! It was awesome! We were so proud of our boys for coming back like that! It was probably 100 degrees that day at least and one of their players had a heat stroke during that last inning. He left in an ambulance and had a seizure on the way to the hospital. Scary but we've heard he's okay.
Tuesday, we played Northwest, Florida at 2pm. This team had some huge, grown men looking boys on their team and had pretty much dominated every team they played. They were cocky and we were a little nervous about it. We played for about an hour and then the thunder and lightning started so we had about a 2 hour rain delay. We ended up beating them 7-0! They were not happy about it and kept saying, we'll see ya'll again. They were wrong, they lost their next game so they were out of the tournament! This put us in the championship game on Wednesday.
Wednesday we played Panhandle, Florida for the Championship at 6pm and they had to beat us twice. We beat them 14-10! So we won the Championship! It was great! Chandler has played in this tournament every year since he was 6 and the closest they've ever come to winning was when they were 10, they came in 2nd! It was so awesome to see them finally achieve this! They went 23-0 for the all-star season! Thanks to all the support of our family for coming to watch Chandler play! My dad came Sat and Wednesday. His friend Rick came with him Wednesday. Ashley and Collin came Sat. I could not believe this cause it was so hot and she doesn't like hot weather! Richard's parents were there the whole week. Russell and Jill came Wednesday night. Thanks to other family and friends for your support from home! We are so proud of Chandler and for his talents and the good kid that he is!
This is the banner Richard made to hang on the fence at the games.

2008 12 year old Dizzy Dean World Series Champions!

Hudson was really tired one day on the way home from the ball park. Notice his wooden bat tucked under his arm! He had a great time swimming in hotel pools, playing with his friends, and eating lots of snow cones and dipping dots!
This is not a good picture at all but this is the dog pile right after the last out was made to win the game.
Our State Championship banner. They now have a World Series one, too. Their picture is on the changing billboard on the corner of McFarland and 15th Street (the side coming from Skyland) for 2 weeks. Check it out if you get a chance.

State Champs #2

Chandler's all-star team is still doing well. They are undefeated and won their area and state tournaments. They start the World Series next Friday and then will be done! Caroline, Sydney and John Evan game to watch the championship game. Don't you just love how Sydney poses on demand? (I've learned that she comes by it honest...Caroline:)
Chandler's team. Us moms were saying that it was about to the point where you needed to coaches to stand in the front cause the kids are as tall as if not taller than them!
Richard and Chandler after the game and trophy celebration. The Northport Nationals have won the State Tournament in all age groups that have played so far...5, 6, 7, 10, 11, & 12! The 8, 9, and 13 year olds play this weekend! That is really saying something!!!

Angie and Chris July 5, 2008

Caroline and I went to North Carolina this past weekend to be in our friend, Angie's wedding. We had a great time and the wedding was beautiful. We left on Friday morning at 6am and pretty much went straight to the rehearsal and dinner after arriving. We took one wrong exit and cost ourselves about a hour to get back on track but it made for some entertainment and laughs! The trip went by so fast! A lot different than traveling with kids! We had some interesting gas station experiences! Sorry these pictures are so small but I took them off Caroline's account because as I've said before, I just don't take pictures. My parent's were able to go and spend a long weekend up there. They stayed at a bed and breakfast. The town, Waynesville, was so beautiful! The weather was great and we really loved everything. After seeing the chapel and everything, we totally understood why she wanted to get married there.

Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen? This is Angie's nephew, Jhase. He was just precious!

Angie and Chris on the lake outside the chapel where the wedding was.
Us girls at the rehearsal.
On the Tuesday before the wedding, we all met at a local nail salon and manicures and pedicures. It was so great! Angie's boss/friend went also. We made reservations so we had the place to ourselves and it was a lot of fun. The day of the wedding, we had our make-up done at Clinique and our hair done at a salon. Getting pampered and hanging out with just the girls was a blast!
Me and Angie
Us at the reception. The reception was a lot of fun, too. It was at a Country Club so our scenery was a golf course and the mountains. Gorgeous! Thanks for a fun weekend, Angie and congratulations!

Russell and Jill June, 21, 2008

I am so late on this post but Richard's brother, Russell got married on June 21, 2008. He married, Jill Adams. I have known Jill for many years now from church. I couldn't believe they were dating when I found out over a year ago. They are really sweet together and I'm happy to have my only sister-in-law. I have been a part of Richard's family for so long now, I always thought it would be weird when Russell got married but it's not b/c I already knew her! I am so bad about taking pictures so I didn't take any at the wedding. A friend of ours was the photographer and she takes great pictures so I'm counting on getting some copies of hers! This is Russell and Jill at a Luau couples shower they had at her friend's house.
Richard, Chandler, and Hudson were all in the wedding and they looked so handsome in their tuxes! We got some family pictures made and I think they are going to be really good!

I can't tell you how many compliments we got on Chandler that day. This picture does not do him justice but he looked so grown up and cute! His eyes were so blue! The only time I cried during the wedding was when he walked down the aisle. I just can't believe how big he is! Hudson was the ring bearer and he was hilarious. I wish I had a picture of the look on his face when he walked down. He did not want to do it at all but he was a trooper.
My boys before the wedding!
Congratulations Russell and Jill!

What are little girls made of?

I sure don't know but it looks like we will be finding out! Yep, it's a girl! I still can't believe it! Richard's really had some funny things to say. The boys are excited...it's what they wanted. I was just so sure it was a boy that it really hasn't sunk in yet.

More baseball and other post to come later...just wanted to get his up.