Today, Alex had volleyball practice. There wasn’t really anything special about today’s practice.

Phoebe had ballet class. I am still procrastinating on her recital costume! She has her photos taken on this coming Saturday, so it will need to be done by then. Oh! and she needs new shoes. less than five weeks until recital and her shoes are smooshing her toes! Why couldn’t she have grown so much over the actual summer?

When we got home after volleyball and ballet, I attempted to help Alex practice her pitching. After getting lots of help at practice on Friday, she really hadn’t had a chance to practice since then. I had watched and listened to what the coach (and their star pitcher) was telling her and the corrections they were helping her make. So, tonight when she twisted as she brought her arm backwards, I could tell her. She actually took it as I meant it and did not go into a tizzy (like she usually does with any critique or criticism). he needs to get more accurate with greater consistency, but that will come with practice. The problem with this is, that with these small corrections, or tweaks, made with her by the coach, her pitch has become unbelievably hard and fast compared to what it was. So catching for her is painful. Very painful. I guess I need an actual catchers mitt and body armor. It’s scary.

While Alex was practicing her pitching, Phoebe was dancing around. Some of the time, she appeared to be practicing some of her recital dance, but she was mostly just dancing and twirling.

When it was too dark, and my hand hurt from catching (yes, with a mitt, with padding added, and a glove) and I took a ball partially near my wrist on my other arm, we retreated indoors. The night of practicing continued with Alex playing her sax (for a long, loud time) and Phoebe continued dancing (to Alex’s playing).

Meanwhile, Ray had gone out to his parents house with our tiller and our chainsaw to help them out. The girls were in bed by the time he got home. I guess you could say he was practicing with the chain saw in preparation for all of the down trees and such around here that need to get cut up and dealt with. Right?