Dixie Diehards Season opener!

We took a little field trip on Saturday! I took my girls out to the ballpark for a special ballgame!  Does the cap give you a hint?!   Look closely!
We went out to watch Team Melanie Massey Physical Therapy play ball.  They are in the DIxie Diehard League.
It is never very long before Ellie bellies up to someone and finds a new family, or in this case, mama, to hang out with.  She is definitely not a discriminatory kid.  She likes everybody and would just go home with anyone if I let her.  This is Shelbi's mom, Emily.
So, let's meet a few of the players.  This is Tucker.  He ain't playin for playin's sake!  He is playin' to WIN!  (Even though the league's motto is "Where Every Kid is a Winner" and there is no scoreboard.)  No one told Tucker that! 
This is Cole.  He was extra special to me Saturday morning!  Know why? 

Because he loved doing this... and I loved letting him! 
I've given up on strollers.  I prefer to take a wagon.  The girls love it, and even though there is no seatbelt, as in a stroller, they ("they"... ha!) don't seem to fight me to get out of the wagon like "they", that being ELLIE, do to get out of the stroller. 

Cole is Andrew's brother.  This is Andrew's first year to play.  In fact, this was his first game.  He LOVED it! 

Anna, on the other hand, is an old pro!  This kid can smoke it around those bases!  I said, "Hey, Anna.  Get in the ready position" and I bent down to show her how.  NO sweat!  She got right into the position for a photo op!   She is such a cutie!
As is.. Karson!  She was not quite as willing a participant for posing.  She is stylin' and profilin' with her pink glove! 

This is Blake and his coach.  I am so proud of Blake for even playing.  It is hard for him to stay in one place, and he was doing really well on defense! Way to go, Blake. 
Where's my kid?  Oh, there she is.  Ol scarface!  Bless her little heart! OH, and Mindy...like our tee shirt!?  We love that Believe shirt thanks to Trendy Mindy.  
Aw, sorry Gabbi.  I didn't mean to catch you all squinty and all.  But here are the girls all sitting pretty in their wagon.
And remember Cole and Andrew?  Well, their brother, Jack is somewhere running around the ballpark, and this is sister, Ella Kate.  They will be our neighbors across the street when we build our house.  That is mom, Cynthia.  Want to know a happy secret?!  Our hoodie across the street is EXPECTING!  NUMBER 5!!  
Ella Kate is the one that I have mentioned before.  Just imagine the hormones we will be hit with one day.  Maddi, Ellie, Gabbi, Ella Kate, and number 5 on the way.  We don't know if we are getting a little boy or girl to play with.  But, I will tell you what... those girls are going to have a KILLER wardrobe!! Remember when we were in junior high and high, even?  Remember borrowing a shirt or shoes or a belt from your best friend?! Well, I'd say with all these girls being in such close proximity to one another, they are gonna have the HOOK UP!  Back to the game! 

Here is ol' Sheli Mae.  After being the lead dog at the Relay for Life the night before, she was up and at em the next morning for the CPA team.  She was on MMPT last year.  WHat's up with that?! 
This is ANdrew after rounding homeplate and heading back to the dugout.
And Evan gave me a thumbs up too!
Oh, and I must comment on the two coaches... this one is Christy.  She is an occupational therapy assistant (COTA) at MMPT.  She loves her kids, and it shows in the way she is always one of the first to volunteer to do things "after hours" to help in making "our" kids lives as fun and full as possible.  
and Coach number two is Heather!  She has functioned as an OT tech at MMPT for the past year +.  She recently found out she was accepted to OT school down in St. Augustine, FL.  She will be leaving us in July.  We surely will miss her.  She is helping run some of our summer camps at the office.  The kids love her, and she will make a great therapist!  

Well, that is about it for our Dixie Diehard roadtrip.  I used to be pretty involved in the league, but honestly, when Jake got sick, I just DROPPED all of my "extra" curricular events/commitments.  I knew any free time I had would be used driving to Memphis.  And, then after he died, well...  my life has been kinda whirlwind of craziness since.  First, the surprise of getting Ellie, then the very pleasant surprise of giving her a sister!  So, needless to say, I had a HUGE priority shift in my life!  I still love and support the league, I just have to do so from afar.  I am glad my own kids get to know kids of all abilities!   It is a good thing!  Melanie

Oh, and North Carolina, here I come... tomorrow!