And not only did I get to check another state off my list, I was able to spend some quality one on one time with Nick.
Nick's baseball team, the Utah Scrappers, had a tournament in Grand Junction. We were all planning to go at one point but then finances and schedules made it so I was the best candidate to drive down there. I was a bit nervous to drive by myself but it all worked out fine. And can I say thank goodness for modern technology. I love GPS. Most of the time.
We got there around 6 pm and checked into the lovely Rodeway Inn. I think we had the best room there...or else we are so used to staying in crappy rooms that we just didn't notice all of the things that the others were complaining about. Nick even said at one point during the trip: "Mom, this is a pretty nice room huh?" I just smiled and thought to myself: "Oh sweetie, I am so glad that you are so unaware of how truly gross this place is." But our air conditioning worked, our bathroom door closed, and there wasn't light coming through the bottom of the main door which is more than I can say about the other rooms.
We headed over to the JUCO (Junior College) Baseball Tournament to meet up with his team. It was the semi finals and we were rooting for the Iowa Rievers because if Texas won the series would be over. And to be honest, I love to root for the underdog. It was kind of boring though and it didn't help that it was super long, Iowa was winning by 5 runs, and I was exhausted. I am so glad that I have a responsible 11 year old who told me in the middle of the 7th inning that he wanted to be able to play his best the next day so he wanted to go to the motel and go to sleep.
Nick, Chance, Hunter, Tyler, Cooper, and Bridger at the first JUCO game.
The next morning we headed over to the first ball park and it was 88 degrees at 9 in the morning. They smoked the first team 14-6. Had some lunch and a break and tried to find the second field. This is when Miss Garmin let me down and whoever designed Grand Junction was on crack. It is a very confusing city. There is a 28th Street, a 28 1/4 Street, and a 28 1/2 Street but not necessarily in order. Streets will randomly change names and when you are at a main intersection there is one street name when you turn left and a totally different street name when you turn right when I would expect it to be the same all the way through. Where was Brigham Young when you needed him? Nick and I saw every square inch of that city driving around in circles. We even started renaming the streets like "28 and a Poop Street". Justin texted me right when things were getting a bit stressful and it said: "How are things?" We just laughed and texted him back saying we were lost. His response was: "Use the garmin." That made us laugh harder because we were following it and she was the one leading us all over creation. Luckily we ran into a fellow teammate's mom who was also lost but was on the phone with someone at the field and we finally got there right on time. We unfortunately lost this game 9-6 but were guaranteed a game the next day. Nick pitched 3 innings of this game and did pretty well for the first two innings but then not so well the last one. He starts worrying about how everyone else is playing and loses focus on what he needs to do. Luckily he pulled it together and played well the last couple innings. After the game Nick and I went to Dairy Queen for a yummy treat and headed over to the final JUCO game.
Hunter, Austin, Nick, and me at the second JUCO game.
This game was one of the best games of baseball I have ever seen. We rooted for Iowa again and by the time the game ended I was so proud of those players that I think I thought I was actually from Iowa. We were so excited when Iowa won and Nick was excited to see a team rush the mound in person. He told me he had seen it on TV and had always wanted to see it live and it lived up to his expectations down to throwing the hats up in the air. The added bonus was the coach who threw up his notebook and all of the papers scattered all over and when Nick retells the story he says "and he (the coach) didn't even care." I sat with Nick and a couple of his buddies from the team and it was fun hearing them talk and talking with them.
We always seem to go to Subway between games for lunch.
The next morning they played their first game at 11:00 am. It was super intense and they won 8-7. They played their next game right after that and won 13-6! At this point they were on to the championship game and qualified to go to the World Series in Steamboat Springs coming up in August. Great job Scrappers! They played their third game immediately following the second one which made 7 hours straight of playing baseball in 97 degree weather with no break and no food. They played their little hearts out but lost the third game to the same team they had lost to the day before. I am so proud of this team and was excited that they got a plaque and some awesome medals to commemorate their achievement of getting second place! We are lucky to have such an amazing group of boys on our team. I am glad that Nick is surrounded by good friends because he is seriously with them at least 5 days out of the week so it is nice to know that he is in very good company.
Look at that form! Yes, that is Nick. Get out your magnifying glass and you may see him.
Getting their medals at the award ceremony
Nick sporting his new bling
I loved that I was able to spend this one on one time with Nicholas. I have a pretty amazing 11 year old. He has a good, not to mention cute, head on his shoulders and he uses it well. One of his teammates was running around at the pool and gouged his knee and ankle pretty bad. Our room was on the top floor and as Nick started to run up the stairs he stopped and said: "Ooh, I better be careful. I don't want to hurt myself" and then just walked the rest of the way. He is polite, intense, quiet, goofy, and a great friend not only to his buddies but to his old mom. I can't believe that he is so grown up now but I can't wait to see what the future holds for my little man.
*Don't judge the pictures. They are super far away and you will break your neck looking at them but they won't rotate. That's what you get with a disposable camera.
5 comments:
You and Nick will remember that time you had together forever. I'm so glad that you were able to. And way to go Scrappers. It was worth the traveling, heat and everything - 2nd place. Congrats. And.....we will be there in Steamboat Springs for the World Series. I can't wait. I miss watching good baseball. It's been a long time since Clark played.
Ah, you look FABULOUS in that striped shirt! I love it, great color on you. And way to go Nick, I will get to a game someday :) I am glad that it was such a fun trip. He is too cute for words.
I am glad you got to have some fun one on one time with Nicholas. Sometimes it is nice to have that one on one time together.
You are such a good boy mom! Not only do you watch the baseball game, but you are so cute how you're into it! Sounds like way too much fun. Maybe kids are fun even as they grow up ;)
Even though I was completely jealous you got to go to this tournament, I am so happy that you got to experience this time with Nick and to see one on one what sports mean to our boy. You truly are an amazing mom to have given yourself to this weekend with Nick. When he got home and I asked him how it went he said "mom even knew what she was talking about, it was awesome!" Something not to often seen is an 11 year old boy wanting to hang out with his mom, what a testament to you that Nick wants to share these times with you! He is such a good kid but something or someone made him good and heaven knows it wasn't me!
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