Springtime Fun

Ellie taking Gabe for a ride on his tractor
Gabe was driving the "boat" that him and Ellie were in.

Daddy and Ellie. So cute!!

Daddy and Ellie in almost matching clothes. Guess mommy needs to go shopping.

Ellie in her cute outfit!!

Easter 2009

Last year was Ellie's first Easter, but really this year seemed like it. She was only a little over a month old last year so all she did was lay around. This year we got to buy a beautiful dress, Easter basket and run around playing with everyone else. She had so much fun with Cousin Gabe and Gage.

The only bad thing that happened was while at Aunt Dorothy, I came outside to take some pictures of Ellie and her great great grandparents and fell down the steps!! Her steps are of smooth concrete and my shoes did not have any tread on them (they were super slick). I just stepped wrong and couldn't catch myself and fell down two to three steps. Yeah me!! I didn't think I was really hurt. I just scratched up my foot a little and my toe (the one beside the big toe) was hurting. Well, we went on about our day and all the while it (the toe) was hurting me to the point I started to limp. Well, here it is about 7pm and I look at my foot. I mean really look and inspect it. Guess what... It is black and blue on the bottom of my foot!!!! I really think I broke it!! It isn't swelled up much, just sore and black and blue. I think I am not going to the ER though. All they will tell me is to stay off it and that isn't happening (softball season remember?!?!).

Anyways, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter!!

Dedication

Websters Dictionary defines dedication as self sacrificing devotion.

I want to know why this vocabulary word is not in kids minds today? I never had a problem with this. If I said I was going to do something, I did it. If I was part of a group or a team, I did everything I could to be the best at what I was doing. Especially when it came to sports. I was dedicated to my team. You would never hear me say, "Are we still playing (practicing) today?" Instead you would hear me say, "I hope this weather stays nice so we can play, do you think it will coach?" I always was at practice and at every game!!!!!! In fact I remember toward the end of basketball season, I would leave basketball practice and head straight for the softball field sothat I would not be behind in conditioning.

Never in the 4 years I have coach have I ever heard anything like that. It just seems like students today just don't care. I am so tired of having players that are not dedicated on my team. I have girls that don't want to be at practice, don't tell me they are not going to be there, leave practice early for stupid reasons (and usually doesn't tell me), won't show up for games, or leaves games early just because I didn't play them one game. That is NOT DEDICATION!!!! So what that I don't play you? If I don't play you then I have a good excuse. It is probably because you aren't doing something right!! Did you ever stop and think about that? It is not because I don't like you, it is usually because you don't try hard or care enough for me to trust you out on the field. I need 9 players that are going to give me everything they got for 7 innings and if that means playing a 7th or 8th grader over a 11th or 12th, I will!! I have to have somebody out there that is dedicated to this team and willing to practice hard and get better!!!!!!!!

I also can't stand it when I have people mad at me for yelling at there kid or the kid gets mad at me for yelling at them. I can forgive you once, maybe even twice, but when you do it over and over again don't expect me to baby you! I can not tell girls that they will get it next time or that it is okay!!! No one should do that. IT IS NOT OKAY!!! I can't stand it when parents think it is!!! It is not okay to lose time and time again, but apparently that is what I am suppose to tell these kids. That it is okay to lose! Some of these girls have the ability to be good, but it is all up to them. There's that DEDICATION again. Coming to practice everyday, working hard, and WANTING to get better. That is dedication!!!!!!!!!!! Don't expect me to play girls and tell girls that they are doing good when they don't try to get better. That is the way that I coach and if you have a problem with that then I don't need you on my team. I will not resort to babying anybody. No matter how bad you think I need you!

I am sorry that I had to write this, but I think it clears up alot of stuff that has been on my mind. I am doing all that I can to make this team better, but I can't do it with out the players wanting to get better and the parents helping me out with the kids attitudes. I want to keep these girls working out throughout the summer and fall, but I am sure that I won't be able to do it because no one will want to be there. There is that dedication thing again.... It's all up to you. I am dedicated to this team. Are you?