What a fantastic year Ashton had for baseball this year. His Spring Season was the best he has ever played and he had a team that played their butts off. Better yet, Ashton made the All Star Team - voted for by his teammates.

The "Road to all-stars" actually begins when the season starts.  Throughout the season, players start defining themselves through their performance, attitude and leadership qualities as potential all-star candidates.  Players are selected to teams according to the criteria approved by each league's Board.  Some leagues let the kids select their peers (which in my experience have proved to be incredibly accurate), others let the managers and coaches select the players and some use a combination thereof. Every Little League is eligible to send three all-star teams into postseason play.  There's officially a 10-year-old all-star team (comprised of 10 & 9-year-old players), an unofficial 11-year-old all-star team, comprised  of 11 year olds), and an official 12-year-old all-star team (comprised of 12 & 11-year-old players). As a result, each league sends between 36 and 42 players into all-star competition.  Is your child one of the 12-14 players in his or her age group that's all-star material?  If so, be prepared.  It's an awesome experience and one that you and your child will remember forever.

Even better than making the All Star Team? Ashton got to have his dad as the coach in regular season AND as the coach of his All Star Team. He is so incredibly lucky to have this experience with his Dad. Todd works really hard for the kids on that team, and all the kids love having Todd as their coach. I am kind of a jerk and consistantly refer to Todd as Coach Buttermaker, but he is not my coach, so I can call him whatever the hell I want!

The team made it to the 4th round of games before being eliminated. Ashton played awesome. He was the only one on the team with a perfect batting record. Every time he was up to bat, he hit. He either got on the bag, or had an RBI. He was the only one on his team to never get out at bat - no balls caught in the air and never tagged out at base. JUST AWESOME!

And last night, in the most tense of all four games... he knocked the shit out of the ball in the bottom of the 6th inning, just when his team really needed the hit!!! I am pretty sure I lost my voice from screaming so loud for him!

I am so beyond happy that he got to experience all of this during this season. What a difference it has made in him. On the way home last night, he told his dad that just because the season was over, he did not want to quit working out, that they needed to work really hard to go further in the All Stars Tournament next year. I am so freaking proud of that punk.

Kaiden's last day as a 7th Grader at Princess Anne Middle School

Ashton's last day of 4th Grade at Three Oaks Elementary School

Cannot believe that Kaiden will be starting her last year of Middle School and Ashton will be starting his last year of Elementary School when summer is over.  Good lord where has all the time gone?

Well SHIT... that's probably a little more than a bug bite. So I called his father, who nonchalantly mentions that the spot where the bug bite is, is where he pulled a tick off Ashton Memorial Day weekend (2 weeks ago) on the boat while fishing. REALLY? REALLY???? I have been telling my kid to shut up and suck it up for two weeks and you FAILED to mention that you pulled a damn tick off him?  His response? "We are boys... I did not know I needed to tell you every time I pull a bug off my son"  WELL GREAT... the tick changes things a little.  So off to the Doc in a Box we go.  Because of the swollen lymph nodes and the "bullseye" rash - they immediately tell us it is Lyme.  They do not need the blood results to tell them that.  They start him on antibiotics for two weeks and tell us to go to our regular doctor in three days.

We followed up with our regular doctor three days later, and by that time, a second rash had started on his back near his armpit. Also, lymph nodes started swelling in the armpit as well.  I freaked out thinking that he had gotten bitten twice. I was made aware that the presence of multiple rashes is because the infection is spreading - has nothing to do with multiple bites, and the other rashes mirror the original rash. Because of the other rash, we were taken off the original antibiotic and put on a stronger one - and now instead of two weeks, it is one to two months.

I am REALLY hoping that because we caught this within two weeks of the bite, that we will not have any lasting effects from the Lyme.  Poor Ashton. But seriously... the very first tick ever to be picked off this kid and he happens to get the one damn tick carrying Lyme Disease.  Uggghhh.

I received an email from the Chorus teacher that the Spring Chorus concert was coming up, with the date.  I asked Kaiden that night, "when is your show choir performance?"  She let me know that it was the same night as the Spring Chorus Concert... Hmmmm... how long is the Spring Concert, that seems like a lot to fit in to one evening.  It was then that I was informed that the Footloose production was only 8 minutes long.  EIGHT MINUTES LONG.  All that practice, all that money for EIGHT MINUTES.

I present to you the production in it's entirety.  You may want to go ahead and pop some popcorn and get comfortable for the amazing performance you are about to see.  It's like a journey even... a journey into the lives of all the people that try out for shows like "America's Got Talent" and "American Idol" BEFORE they make it to the big time.

Princess Anne Middle School Show Choir Production of Footloose from soapbox.SUPERSTAR on Vimeo.

You are very welcome. 

THE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Kaiden Singing: 2:45
• Kaiden's Big "Lift" (this took months of hard practice sessions): 3:30
• Kaiden has entire Show Choir sing her a song about being a tramp... "getting around" - My proudest moment of the Production: 4:20
• Kaiden sings again: 5:20

WE ARE SO PROUD!

Todd has been working really hard all day long on our new deck. We are using the old small deck as support for the new deck. Can't wait until it is all done and we can have some decent weather so we can enjoy a beer out there!

UPDATE:

THE NEW DECK IS COMPLETE!

Todd is going to build benches into the deck around the perimieter and he is building a "deck cooler" as well.  It is going to be so nice when it is all said and done.  I am so so happy with it - MAN he did such a great job.  Our dogs also love it!

This is a phenomenal photo of Todd (all the way on the right) that was posted by an old friend of his on Facebook today. I cannot remember the last time that I laughed as hard as I laughed today when I saw this photo. Seriously.... The mullet... There are no words for it. He keeps saying they were popular in Hawaii and I keep saying he is a liar. 

Congrats To Kaiden for making the Princess Anne Middle School Field Hockey team. It was a long two weeks of tryouts.  Kaiden had a few nights that she was really upset and worried that her tryout did not go well, but in the end she made it!  Super dooper proud of her! She is so happy to be on her school team. 

Another year, another chance for Ashton to run in the Shamrock. This year he has insisted on wearing this goofy ass headband. He insists that it looks "freakin' cool."  Whatever. 

My co-worker, Christopher May, loves when he gets a good SPAM email in his junk mail folder at work.  He will take the time to respond to the SPAM messages.  It is SUCH an honor that he decides to copy me on those responses.

From: Rabat Muellerah [mailto:unwbccresolution2142@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2013 7:00 AM
Subject: FOR A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP

FOR A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP
From Rabat Muellerah Al-Yar"Adua
Plot 235, Lord Harrington Drive,
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Hello Dear.
With great expectations and respect for your personality. I sincerely apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail.This is due to the urgency attached to this information. I humbly crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness and sincerity of purpose

I am Rabat Muellerah Al-Yar"Adua, a retired college principal, married and younger brother to the demised Chief of Defense Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the General Sanni Abacha military government General Hallim Musa Yar"Adua. As culture and tradition have it, i have stepped into the headship of our Yar"Adua family.

Having got your email reference from an extensive and painstaking search about investment opportunities in your country, I am pleased contacting you for the possibility of your accepting to assist and partner with me on intent to invest our family finance (inheritance) in your peacefully known country.

Prior to the demise of my elder brother, investing in your peacefully known country was the dream of my late elder brother, and as respect has it  I owe it as a responsibility to toe the his line of choice especially as it concerns the country he so much cherished and held at high esteem during his life time. We would be pleased to be associated with you in this noble
venture. 

We would appreciate your candid acknowledgement. Remain blessed, while we anticipate with great expectations.

Thanks and accept my Warm Regards,
Rabat Muellerah Al-Yar"Adua

From: Christopher May
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 10:52 AM
To: r_muellerah62@outlook.com
Subject: RE: FOR A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP

Hello Dearest Rabat.
My personality humbly receives your great expectations and respect! Praise the good omens and gracious forthcomings! Your sensitive information was certainly welcome and expected certified mail/Post-mail but the urgency with which you attach information is received with all seriousness. I am familiar with your elder brother General Hallim, for he and I travelled the old country together many years ago on the backs of broken rabid mules. I can only hope that he passed away peacefully and without the pain of his swelling groin wound from the painful mule bite received on the outskirts Ibadan. Oh how we laughed that night around the campfire as your brother became increasingly delirious and threatened to make love to an entire antelope herd! Those were the days, my dearest friend Rabat! I must confess that I was intrigued when I first opened your gracious email. I have been on the receiving end of some very dubious claims as of late and I find myself in dire straits. Since my return to this peacefully known country my wallet has been man-raped several times and the peaceful country municipals are holding all of my sheep hostage until I can pay them the bribery fees legally imposed on my family. My wife, Shabat Hindura, has been forced to work the plantation farms with small farm implements and horse manure sandwiches for sustenance (oh, the horror my friend!). You can imagine the joy when I learned that my old friend Rabat will be sending me inheritance money to this peaceful known country! Partners you say? Indeed! You shall be pleased to know that as partners we will share in the debt I carry in this country, which only amounts to $37,589,145.23 USD, which must seem such a small amount to one of your stature and position as head of the Yar”Adua family and former Principal of College! Oh how I will be so happy to be free of the municipals man-raping of wallets and Shabat Hindura will no longer wear the perfume of spent horse food on her breath! Please send the amount of debt indicated immediately so we may fresh begin our partnership. Your brother, Hallim the General, will no doubt shine fortunes on you and your family for toeing his line in my favor!

I remain humbly blessed and await your debt relief inheritance that should be sent directly to municipals within three days lest I face punishment of death and fed to my own sheep.

Your partner in beautiful relationship,

Hakim Hindura Habat Himani

Kaiden decided she wanted to try out for Show Choir at school this year... on top of Panther Elite Chorus, District II Chorus, Sports, etc.  Show Choir is basically another name for Glee Club.  You have to be able to sing and dance.  She made it.  She freaking made it... and not only made it, was chosen as the lead girl.  This is hilarious to me.  ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS.  I cannot wait to see the final performance.  Should be THRILLING!  They will be performing a montage from the movie "Footloose."