Dirt = Fun

Joe, I try and try but I can't get your baseball pants clean. I wonder why!

I ordered you four new pairs of baseball pants for this summer to wear at Home Run baseball camp. I figure that if you "spread the dirt," so to speak, across a bunch of uniforms then you won't look too much like Pig Pen. He's a character from Peanuts, the comic strip.

In Mom's and my math, being dirty equals having fun. Look at this picture of you - even your shadow is filthy. Clearly, you both seem to be really enjoying yourselves.

Click to view dirt up close

Burps, Farts & Poop

This is as good an accounting as anything as to your interests and tastes at this moment in your life.

(click for full size image)

Jealous Again

Last night you went with Nana, Papa Sy and Cousin Josh to the Nats v. Red Sox game. Your seats were the first row behind the National's dugout. You came back with autographs and baseballs - and a present for me. A National's license plate. Not exactly sure where I'll put it, but I am very touched you thought to get me something.

It was a great game and very dramatic. You got to see Big Papi stroke a 3-run shots. Sad that the Nat's couldn't come back, but they played well.

I've said this a hundred times - I am worried about the possible let-down for you when it comes time to join the rest of humanity and sit in normal seats. You and Jack have been so incredibly fortunate through the years to sit in some of the best seats in the house for all types of sporting events. Well, I guess the best thing to do is enjoy it while it lasts.

Love you.

Dad

Touched

You just got an iTouch yesterday (I am very jealous) and Jack and I have been loading it with fun things for you to play with and watch. I put a whole bunch of pictures of you on it. Basically I took my "Joe" folder of photos and transferred them to your iTouch. We were sitting on the couch and you were flipping through them when you came up to this one -

You asked what this picture is and I explained that it was you and Henry when Henry was sick. Actually it is right before he died. I asked if you wanted me to take it off. You said, no. You said that you like that Henry was always happy and never scared. You said that twice. "Dad, Henry was never scared."

Complete Player

Joe, I am incredibly proud of you. What Seth said, that this is your first - of many - championships, is true. You and your team did great coming from behind to win the Capitol City Little League American Division Spring 2009 title.

Truth Fairy?

Hey, you lost your first tooth. Actually teeth. In your true overachiever fashion, you lost two teeth at once. You were chewing on a chocolate milk box and out they came. You didn't like that story and started fashioning a more dramatic one. When Mom came home you explained how you fell and then your teeth came out. You omitted the milk box part.

I explained the tooth fairy would be visiting you. You said that you "weren't that stupid" and knew it was me and Mom. I said "don't be so sure."



You want to bring the teeth in to "share" at school tomorrow.

Let's Go Caps!

I just told you that it was time to go up and get ready for bed. You looked like you were about to cry. Why? Because the Caps are playing. You don't want to miss a minute. I am such a soft touch (not as soft as Mom, though) so I agreed to let you stay up through 2 periods.

I love this about you. You care. A lot. You're a fan.

We went to the game the other night (thank you, Hugh) and we saw our first loss. Bummer. But you put a great spin on it when we got home. You told Mom that it wasn't all that bad because Ovechkin scored and we got a free hat thrown to us.