Noah's Opening Day Parade

The past few years that Noah has played T-Ball we have avoided the Opening Day Parade because we usually have other things going on and, let's face it, a parade of a bunch of rec league T-Ball teams just doesn't sound like the best way to spend my Saturday morning. This year, however, Noah and I got up bright and early so he could participate with his team in this "grand" event. All that week the weather had been extremely hot, upper 80's hot, so most of us at the parade had not adequately prepared for the freezing cold and biting wind that the rainstorm on Friday night had brought in. I was lucky that I had grabbed the two of us some sweatshirts! I was miserable and cold and I can honestly say that this might be the only baseball parade Noah ever participates in.

Noah plays for the Pirates!

Noah with his buddy Cael and the team mascot Squawky. Coach Shane was so sweet and brought pirate patches for the boys to wear.

Noah was thrilled to get a chance to hold the team banner.

And finally, after standing around for 40 minutes, the parade finally started. That's Noah to the far left of the picture, hunkering down into his sweatshirt, trying to keep warm. The kids would stop every few feet, wave at the crowd of parents, and yell, "Argh!"

Even more exciting than the parade are the T-Ball games, where all the kids get a hit, there are no outs, kids are running all over the field to get each ball that is hit, kids are grabbing balls away from teammates, and players are running to 3rd instead of first.  The fun never stops with errant throws, temper tantrums, crying, leaving the field whenever you feel like it, playing in the dirt, kicking the dirt, outrunning teammates while running bases, and every child having to go to the bathroom when it's his or her turn to bat. Does it get any better than t-ball?

But Noah loves it so we endure it and cheer him on!

Although Noah is technically left handed there are many things he does right handed, including hitting the ball. He goes up to the plate and hits it from whatever side happens to strike his fancy at that moment. He's our little switch hitter!

Go Pirates! Argh!