A fired up team for game 2.....

This week my men's baseball team is playing at Clovis East High School. The game starts at 2:00pm on the varsity field. Last week was our first game and we played pretty well but had some really costly errors that hurt us. We were leading the game 8 to 4 late in the game and it appeared that we were going to win. Unfortunately the errors came at a very costly time and bit us in the end (no pun intended). Needless to say we came out on the short end of the game last Sunday so come on out and see a renewed team with a fire to prove itself this weekend. My dad came out to watch this past weekend and he commented that it was a fun game to watch. It was really cool having him out there watching me play. Hope to see you out at Clovis East this Sunday!!!

"Old Man" Baseball

Well my first game in the men's hardball league is this Sunday at 10:00 am. We play all over at different high schools (Clovis West, Clovis High, Clovis North, Hoover, Edison, and Sunnyside). This weekend we are at Clovis West. Our team looks like we'll be pretty competitive and I am actually a starter at either shortstop or third base. Who would have thought that there was a hardball league for old guys out there? hahaha

I have been having such a blast playing baseball again. I have played slow pitch softball a couple of times and just couldn't hit the darned ball coming straight down at me from out of the sky. When I finally went out and played in this men's hardball league, and they threw the ball straight at me, it all started to come back to me.

I have watched my two sons play for years, i've coached for many years, and even run baseball summer programs. All of these have been amazing for me....but to be playing again has given me so much self confidence that I had been lacking that I feel like I could conquer just about anything (with lots of creaks and pain for the next few days mind you!!!) So my team is the Dodgers and i'm number 10. Back when I was a young kid I actually loved the Dodgers and my favorite player at the time was the third baseman for the Dodgers named Ron Cey. He was number 10 and every year I played as a kid I tried to get his number. Pretty cool that now (as an old guy) i'm playing on the Dodgers, wearing the nember 10 and playing shortstop and third base. Any way....come on out and watch a game or two. I would love to have you out there to watch (or mock me if the chance arises). Hopefully we'll do alright on Sunday!!

Great Memories......Sad Heart

Well, my long-term subbing job is coming to an end as of this Friday. The 3 months that i've spent in my third grade classroom has been awesome!!! It's amazing how close and attached you become with these kids. I am really thankful for the time that I was blessed with but having said that, I am quite sad to see it end. Come Monday I will be back in the day-to-day subbing pool. Hopefully I will be kept busy and get consistent jobs!!! Keep your fingers crossed.

HELP!!! Please find us a home............

We are in need of a new home. The house that we live in now with the Schmidt's already has too many animals and we need to find a loving home who will take care of us. Please ask everyone you know if they would buy us and take us in as one of the family. We don't shed, we aren't diggers or yappers, and we are very lovable. Signed,

The Puppies

Having a good hair day

Things are going good around the Schmidt household. The boys are both doing well in school and both trying out for their school baseball teams (Kyle at Alta Sierra and Cameron at Clovis North). Ronda's working hard like always at home and at school, and i'm still working in a third grade class at Reagan Elementary. Life is good.

I went with my dad up north to Pleasanton on Saturday to get a television from my uncle Randy. He got a new flat screen and was nice enough to donate his previous 50" tv to my dad. We got to visit for a little bit, went to lunch, and then headed back for home. We had to get back home for my own baseball tryouts on Sunday. I'm playing in a men's hardball league on Sunday's.

Any way, I took this picture of dad wearing a goofy hat called "hat hair" and I had to post it on my blog so here ya go!! Hope everyone is well. Keep in touch.

A career is so much more than just a job.....

Well, I have almost survived the third week of my long-term subbing position. I am working so hard to be well prepared and ready to teach the students. This experience has truly made me realize that I am in the right career for me. I am enjoying every aspect of it so far. The kids seem to be learning and progressing and the staff at my school has been so supportive and helpful to me. I am learning on a daily basis every bit as much as the students are. I am so driven to be the best educator that I can be, so I find myself spending my evenings researching ways to become better and a more prepared teacher each day.
With this teaching experience, I am finally starting to connect some of the great classroom things I learned at Miramonte, at the end of 2008, and putting them into practice. The teacher that I had for my final student teaching was very good with classroom management and truly helped me to gain the confidence that I have used so far. I am very thankful to her.
The teacher that I am filling in for while she's out on maternity leave is the same type of person. She did a great job getting me prepared for her class. I just hope that I do everything the right way.
Any way, I know i'm rambling so i'll go for now. I just had to express to everyone how absolutely ecstatic I am to be finally doing what i've worked so hard to do......teach.

Family Christmas "Christmas Story" style

Well we went to my dad's to open gifts for the kids today. My dad has a HUGE heart and always makes sure everyone has everything that they need to make them happy. He never worries about himself. That's why his idea to go out for Chinese food for lunch was accepted and not mocked. We giggled a little to ourselves but knew why he was doing it and that it was something that dad wanted to do for everyone. Dad is one of those people that is over flowing with love and he is always willing to go overboard to show it. Some times he does this in some very unconventional ways, but we love him even more because of it.
Having Chinese food for Christmas lunch was something I wouldn't have thought of in a million years when mom was still with us. She would have put her foot down and said a definate NO! But now that it's just dad, we try and accommodate his wishes if at all possible. (even if it is a little off center) Being that we had just watched the Christmas Story movie the night before, the kids got a real kick out of going to a Chinese place for lunch. They were even singing the falalalala song just like in the movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46WcFObgYhI Oh well I just had to share the holiday fun with all of you. Hug those around you that you love and always have a very OPEN MIND!!!