June-uary in Washington

When we arrived here first of June, weather was pretty nice.... but quickly became a very wet and cold month.  Newscasters said this June was the 3rd wettest in Seattle history and temperatures were more like January than the beginning of summer and nicknamed the month June-uary.

Interestingly, every baseball game we went to  was dry...... cold and damp, but dry.   Instead of watching a baseball game with a cold beer, under the sun and in shorts, we were drinking warm coffee while bundled in blankets in our jeans and sweaters.

Pretty challenging to see all three grandsons play baseball, when they all play and in different leagues, at different times and of course in different locations.  We only tried to do it for a couple of months, I am still amazed at how Steph and Mike manage to get everyone where they are suppose to be and be able to see all of their games.  They do have the benefit of Mike's parents Jim and Suzanne, who also live in Port Orchard and are devoted baseball fans.  They are more than willing to pitch in and help get whom ever needs a ride to their game.

JOSHUA

At bat, getting a hit

On base, check out the kid in the
field behind him... glove on his head

We were lucky to be here to see the last couple weeks of Joshua's baseball games. The league he played in was where players were starting to learn how to pitch.  They would pitch until they threw 4 balls, then the coach would come in and pitch until the batter struck out or got a hit.  They only played 4 innings which was good, because I don't think the kids attention span (or the parents) would go beyond that.  Josh played first and third base, as well as pitcher.  From his brothers, he knows the game and how his form should be.

Setting up to pitch

throwing a strike!

Reaching for a line drive

JAYDEN
Jaydens games lasted until the middle of July when his Little League team took second place and  he was selected to play on the All Stars team for South Kitsap.  That team took third and he was then invited to play in the same Select league, NW Blaze as his brother Jonathan.  Jayden turned 13 in June, and is 5'10", much larger than all of his teammates.  It was fun to watch him tower over everyone and look eye-to-eye with his coaches and the umpires.  The positions he plays were pitcher and first base and did an excellent job at both.  He has an arm that can throw the ball back in from center field to the catcher.  When he pitches, he throws hard and can intimidate batters.

One of the best games we watched was when Jayden hit two home runs in one game

Setting up for the pitch

He sees the pitch

Wait for it!

Swings into the ball and hits it out

 JONATHAN

Getting a hit

Jonathan catching

Jonathan plays on an elite select baseball team called NW Blaze, whose games are always about an hour away from home. They play mostly in Auburn or Puyallup and all of his games are tournaments.   He plays catcher and is a very good one. He also pitches, and can also throw the ball hard and fast.  As catcher, he can catch a pitch and get it to second base to pick off a steal.   It's impressive to see how the skill level of the boys improves as they grow older. Jonathan is 15 and is 6' tall.


FAMILY

Baseball has not been the only thing we have been doing month.  My brother Harry and wife Mary were in Seattle to see his grandson graduate from high school and the three of us siblings managed to get together with spouses for dinner at the Crab Pot in Seattle.  We lucked out with the weather, sitting outside on the deck enjoying a wonderful seafood meal.

Deane and Terri
Harry, Mary, Janice and Randy

Bother and sisters- Harry, Janice and Terri

D'ENNE AND FAMILY
D'enne, Mike and Matthew came to camp here at Manchester for a weekend this June-uary and the weather actually  managed to stay dry.  We introduced them to womp'ems and when mom and dad left, Matthew stayed to spend the week with us.

Deane, Matt, D'enne and Mike

Making womp'ems

COUSINS MATTHEW AND JOSHUA
The cousins, Matt and Josh had not seen each other for almost a year, so they enjoyed reconnecting.  The boys had a great time playing games on the Wii, and being at the Seattle Science Center. Amazing how just the love of electronics can connect two people when they are different in other ways.  Josh is very sports oriented and enjoys watching a Mariners baseball game on TV.  Matt on the other hand has more interests in science and loves watching How it's Made.

Getting reconnected

Sleep over

Ferry ride to Seattle

 It has been cold and damp this month, but July is coming and so is summer, we hope.