Goose Bump Inspiration Story /One At Bat: Adam Greenberg

I love hearing stories like this, especially when you watch the news every night and it's one sad story after the next. I love hearing these stories and knowing there are still so many wonderful people still in the world. Ones that are willing to help strangers, ones that are willing to speak for someone they hardly know.

We are a pretty big baseball family. From March-October our house is Baseball, Baseball, Baseball. Between watching 162 Yankee games on TV almost every day, and carting Hunter to his baseball games and practice, it's the subject of the household for quite some time.

So when I happened to be watching this story on The Today Show, I couldn't help but get goose bumps all over my body. Adam Greenberg was a brand new MLB ballplayer back in 2005, young, in shape and had his career in front of him. He was living his dream. He stepped up to the batters box for the first time in the Major Leagues and instantly his dream was shattered. His very first at bat, Adam was hit by a 92 hour fast ball right in the head. His career was over.

7 years later after working to get his strength back, his skill and talent, he has a complete stranger than started to rally for him and his dream. All he wanted was MLB to give Adam just one more at bat. Just one chance to swing the bat in the major leagues.  You can watch his documentary on Adam below.


Well surprise surprise, someone was watching the owner of the Miami Marlins offered Adam Greenberg a one day contract to play with them against the Mets on Oct 2nd, 2012. Now remember we don't watch any other teams in the house but the Yankees, but I guarantee we will all be sitting in front of our TV that night, rooting for Adam and watching him get a second chance to live his dream!

It's on Tuesday so I hope you'll check it out and support Adam!


 

Spring Baseball 2012- Chandler Children's Photographer

Hunter started up baseball again a few months ago.  They started early in the season with some heavy duty practices.  This is his second season of coach-pitched for him.  It's amazing how this little group of 5 and 6 years olds have improved.  Last season I am sure all the parents were a little worried for our little boys but this year has been so much fun.  All the boys are hitting and understanding the game.  Hunter used to play in the dirt during the game or watch his shadow which is always fun to have to explain to the coaches. :)
 We have had a blast cheering for our little sluggers.  I can only imagine it's gonna get so much more fun from here on out.  And probably must more intense as well!




What do girls do while the game is going on? Crafts of course :)

What a ham!

 

Hunter starts Tball!

My little man Hunter just started Tball. We were really excited to get him into this and we found a great organization to get him starting with Little League. Hunter is on the Angels this year, whew, can you imagine if the team was called the Red Sox? I think Mike would freak out. The Angels at least are a pretty neutral team for us in this household :)
Hunter is doing pretty well considering. I'm sure it's really hard to coach 3-5 year olds. The very first practice, Hunter stood on his head at the base but he is getting better. We keep reminding him that if he is going to support mom and dad and start with the Yankees, he has to pay attention. :) And I'm sure all the big named MLB stars started out the same way too!
It's really fun to watch, right now we are just having practice and I know we are all looking forward to the games.
All the parents bring chairs, try and hide in the shade because at 8:30 in the morning it's still 100 degrees. But we all giggle a little bit and you'll hear the occasional, "Billy, stand up or Katie, pay attention please." And when the little ones actually hit the tball, all the parents stand up to remind them and yell, "RUN!!!!"

The Big D

No I don't mean DIVORCE-I mean DALLAS. Thursday afternoon my good friend Brooke called me and needed some help in Dallas. And thought maybe by chance I might like to fly there with here and her daughter Revé at the last minute. Revé is in a dance company that competes in Queen Creek and they all flew to Dallas for Regionals. Well normally I wouldn't have been able to, my weekends are always jammed packed. This past weekend was going to be spent doing laundry, cleaning out closets, pulling weeds, etc.

So I pulled some strings, (meaning I begged my husband to let me go) and off I flew late Friday night.

I had never been to Dallas before and was really excited to see some sights, and to see this big dance competition.

All the girls in the competition were ages 5-18 and really good. Wow there were a lot of great dancers there. I've never seen so much glitter, hairspray, rhinestones, make-up and leg warmers. These Dallas moms mean business when it comes to their Bedazzler!!

I'm a little scared I might be looking at our lives in about 2 years if Reagan keeps up with dance. Right now it's innocent tutus and teddy bear songs. :)

The girls started out their weekend talking classes. Here is the little girls class.

Revé practicing.





I love these leg warmers, I think they say it all!

I love this shot- great movement, huh?

Don't you think these girls belong on Broadway?

I don't think I've ever been as dolled up as this- OMG!!!

Revé after one of her cutie patootie classes.

Revé giving me her little hip hop pose.

When you become a dancer, apparently your feet get this dirty. :)

Next stop while we had a break, Dallas Stadium- Home of the cowboys. Now you all now my husband is from New York so we HAVE to be Giant fans but it was an awesome treat to take a tour of this stadium. It's world famous and so neat to be in.

These guys were having a private birthday party- how awesome for a grown man to have all his buddies play on this field for his birthday. We are in one of the private suites here.
Next stop was in the actual locker room- these were really the only names I recognized. And last on to the field

Here was the birthday boy! Awesome.Do you think any of the Dallas Cowboy football players can do this after a touch down? We stopped for lunch afterwards. Reve enjoying her milk shake.

The second day we were there we headed to the JFK museum and the spot where he was shot and killed in Dallas. It's unbelievable there. Another photographer I know, Kenny Kim, had just gone there last week and took some awesome pictures so I had to see it for myself. After seeing the evidence yourself, the location and everything involved you know right away, Lee Harvey Oswald didn't do it. There is huge conspiracy that Johnson, Nixon and Hoover were in on it. Surprisingly Nixon just happened to be in Dallas the night before on a "business trip." hmmmm?

This is the fence they believe the real shot came from that killed JFK.

Here is Brooke, Revé and I in front of the spot he was shot.

This man was there that day at the age of 13, right in front of where it happened. He is telling us stories of what he remembered, and what actually happened. Very interesting man to listen to.


They have the actual spot marked on the street of where he was shot.

This is what they believe the 6th story window that Lee Harvey Oswald stood from and shot. They have turned the entire 6th floor into a museum of JFK. His life and everything that happened that day. I wasn't even close to being alive then but listening to actual of audio of them racing the President to the hospital, hearing reports of things that were happening and hearing the nation's response really got me teary eyed. It was a horrible day. Awesome museum. If you are ever in Dallas, check it out.d




The second day the whole company had to perform a dance called "Kai." It's an African style dance, totally awesome. They actually ended up taking 1st place over all. Here is Revé getting ready for the performance.

Here are the girls practicing before their performance backstage.

I think these outfits are all for one girl. WOW