Didn't Think Twice

Having 4 kids is hard enough. Having 4 boys has it's ups and downs. Yes, I don't have to buy all the prom dresses, and yes I won't have to pay for a huge wedding. I don't have to buy all the bows that match the tights that match the dress. Or the earrings that match the purse that pulls it all off. I won't have to tell my girls why that "dumb" boy didn't call her back, or worry that she didn't get asked to Homecoming.

But I'm guessing that a house of 4 girls won't go through a box of granola bars in one afternoon. I'm pretty sure that 8 pork chops wrapped in bacon could feed a set of parents and 4 girls ages 10,5, 3, and 2. I'm pretty confident that a house with 4 girls in it would probably be good with peeling just a handful of potatoes for dinner, that there would be no fighting over a pan full of rolls, and that thirds is probably left to Dad. I'm pretty sure that my grocery bill for the next 10-15 years will come pretty darn close to all those prom dresses I won't be buying. To tell ya the truth, I'm not so sure I got the better deal.
Having 4 boys is different. I'm sure most of it doesn't phase me because I'm a "Boy" Mom. I'd rather be at a ballpark than getting my nails done. I'd rather wear Under Armour pants than a pencil skirt. New Balance is my choice of shoe, rather than a 3 inch heel. And tailgating on a Saturday morning wearing a Pitt State sweatshirt and jeans beats shopping any day! So when I looked at my color coded calendar and saw that both Cade and Cooper had baseball games on a Saturday, one in Kansas City and one here at home, there was no question we were going to find a way to do both.

We're just beginning to see the consequences of having boys who love their sports. And while it's not completely crazy now, it's a glimpse of what's to come. Already a handful of times this summer we've had one kid at practice while one kid is playing a game. We've had two scheduling conflicts where one has a game in Pittsburg and one in Nevada, MO. (The 3rd time is in a few weeks.) And in a few more years it's only going to get worse. The problem is, how do you tell one kid who has grown up either watching his Mom coach or his brother play ball, that his game is less important than the other? You don't!

So, the Simmons family drove up to KC Friday night in 2 separate cars (Had to anyways because Eric left for Canada today.) to watch Cade play in his State Baseball Tournament at 7 and 9pm. We got back to the hotel, showered quickly, and were in bed by midnight. Woke up at 6am to shower and pack up Colton and Coop and begin the drive home for a 10 o'clock tball game. Texts were flying back and forth keeping one parent up-to-date on one child's game and the rain delay for the other's. Finished Coop's game at 11 and jumped back in the car to head back up to KC. The entire way there we prayed they'd win so we got to see the 1 o'clock game. It wasn't until we were 5 miles away from the ballpark that the first game ended 7-6 in favor of the Rookies and we were able to watch Cade pitch a great 3 innings in the next game. Had we just decided to stay home I would have missed it. And had they lost the game he was playing as we were driving up to KC, we'd have gotten there just in time to turn around and head home.
And while Colton is still at that "hard" age to have at a ballpark all day, or in a hotel room all weekend. And while I'd LOVE to just sit in the stands or next to the other moms to cheer and chat and actually watch an entire game without changing a diaper or taking someone potty. I realized that when I am finally able to do that, I'll probably be missing one child's game because I'm at another one's. And as I watched Cooper and Carston, and even Colton playing catch with all the Rookie siblings, I realized I'm probably going to have 4 ballplayers. When Cade is at JC ballpark, I'll probably have Coop at Wild Red Berry, Carston at Ted Carnino, and Colton at Deramus...all spread out. I'm sure I'll miss a great catch, or the go-ahead hit. But I can tell you this....if it takes driving to KC, back to Pitt, back to KC to watch both my boys play, I won't think twice about it. In fact, I never did!

Batter Up!

Summer at the Simmons house means one thing....Baseball! One week I think we had practice of some kind (Rookies, Rockies, Marlins) every night but one. And while that really makes preparing my 4 course dinners somewhat difficult, it just makes sense to be busy, I just don't know any different. Now ask me in a few years as I'm driving each one of them to different ballpark locations for games and practices. I'm already dreading it from the standpoint that I hate missing any of their games. (I make Eric text me play-by-play when I can't make it. Thank goodness for technology!)

The other thing I'm dreading....washing baseball pants. It is, by far, my least favorite chore. No wait...toilets are, but scrubbing ball pants is a close second. And then the thought of "the smell". You know what I'm talking about. The "Locker Room" smell. Yep, that will be what my house smells like soon enough. The other thoughts that make me nervous: these little boys will all be BIG boys with BIG bodies here before too long, their little ball bags will be BIG ball bags, their small, scratch that, medium appetite will become an even BIGGER appetite.

But I LOVE it. I can't get enough of it. (Must be the Tomboy in me.) I love watching them play ball. I love watching Coop aka "Crusher" get so pumped for a ballgame. Now, telling him every 30 minutes how many sleeps till his next game gets old, but seeing him dressed at 6am for an 11 o'clock game is priceless. (It's also the LONGEST 5 hours of everyone's lives.) It's been a blast watching Cooper become his own little player. You can tell he's been to a few games. The other day he asked me if I'd pack him the froggtogg for his game. (Froggtogg = a shammy like towel that helps you cool down quickly) LOVE IT! :)

Now don't think Carston and Colton are getting the short end of the stick. They, as well as Cooper, are spoiled rotten at these ballgames! They have tons of buddies to play with them, when they aren't actually playing their game. They also get the benefits of swimming with the team, eating with the team, and hanging with the team. The moms load them up on candy, pop, you name it. We bring toys, we park the car in rightfield so they can watch videos, we fill the cooler, play catch, bring tents and blankets, water-misting water bottles, and their own chairs.

And while I'd LOVE to sit with the other moms and just watch the game without taking kids to the bathroom or stopping a fight because someone ate the last Twizzler, I know that the day I do get to sit, means I'm probably missing out on one of the boy's games.

It's been a good summer in the Simmons house so far. And by the looks of it, we'll have many fun summers at the ballparks ahead of us. The cooler will be stocked, the chairs packed, baseball pants washed, and sunflower seeds bought. I love this time of year. BATTER UP!