He had the same teacher all summer, but she left at the beginning of September for an internship job – which means she quit her job as a swimming instructor.  Then he had a teacher that I really liked, because she was so no-nonsense and Tad really responded to her.  But after 5 weeks, she told me that her school schedule was changing and she wouldn’t be teaching on Mondays anymore.  The next teacher just seemed so young and so timid, and she had Tad for only a couple of lessons.

Then lessons got canceled the week before Halloween because the pool was having a new heat pump put in.  Initially, the office manager called and said that they needed to move Tad’s lesson to three hours later (which meant it would be during dinnertime instead of right after school got out), but Tad depends on his swimming lesson, so I said I would make it work.  Then the installation wasn’t finished, and lessons were just canceled.

But when I had talked to the office manager, she had told me that Tad’s late lesson that day would be with yet another instructor.  I told her that this was really exasperating – because even though Tad had been handling the change of teachers pretty well, and I knew they couldn’t do anything about people leaving their jobs for other opportunities, Tad is still an autistic kid who thrives on having a consistent schedule – and consistent teachers.

She apologized – even though I told her that I knew that this wasn’t her fault – and then I got a message on our answering machine from David, the pool director, who said that he would be around during Tad’s next lesson and if I wanted to talk more, he would be happy to talk with me.

When we walked in for his swimming lesson on Halloween, I realized that David was going to be teaching Tad that day.

Now, I’ve met him before – he’s a nice guy who tested Ane’s swimming skills at the beginning of the summer to see what class she should be in – but he is also a no-nonsense instructor.  And… he’s a guy.

Tad has ALWAYS responded positively to men-as-authority-figures.  While he loves me, he has always had a special bond with the important men in his life, like his father and grandfathers.  Even when he was really little, and we visited the Captain and Q-Bee back in the summer of 2007, Tad would immediately go to his uncle when he walked in the door.  Even though he couldn’t verbalize it properly until late last year, Tad knew instinctively that he was a boy, and could identify other males.  And whenever he has had a male teacher or instructor, he’s done very well.

So, I was thrilled to see David immediately get engaged with Tad, let him know who was boss, and then start making him work.  And, oh boy, did he make that kid WORK.

I had never seen Tad work that hard, showing what he could actually do in the water.  Even in the larger class lessons, Tad isn’t pushed because there is only one teacher and little one-on-one work.  But here, David was making him work his arms, kick his feet, and demanding his attention.  And Tad gave it to him.  And then David set Tad loose and had him do a backfloat.

And the boy floated.  My boy can float.

I was so happy I could have cried.  He really has learned something in this last year of lessons, and with the proper motivation, he is able to apply himself.

We came back this week to find David ready to take Tad on again.

When Tad tried to balk and stall for more playtime by dashing away from David, he just picked Tad up out of the water and said, “I’m the great white shark who has come to get you – ” and then he bodily flipped Tad over into the water.  Tad was so thrilled that David did it a second time, then he got down to business, making Tad swim a crawl and then flipping him over to float.

When I heard the words “great white shark,” I started to think that maybe David would accept a tip, or an extra amount of cash each week, if we could guarantee that he would keep teaching Tad.

Because whenever you say “great white shark” to Tad, you have just said the magic words that will make him listen to you forever.

The best part about minor league ball games is that the atmosphere is much more relaxed.  So much so that the team mascot will just come and sit down next to you during a game.

That is Webbly, the team mascot.  He’s a frog… I think.  The Webmaster was letting Rerun walk around down on the big open field next to the baseball diamond, which is why he’s not in this picture.  Rerun did enjoy the game, though.

Anytime there was dancing or clapping to be done, Rerun was your go-to boy.

The AquaSox lost when the opposing team got a grand slam in the 7th inning, but we stayed until the bitter end to watch.  Because we are TRUE fans.  And because I was getting Rerun into his pajamas and ready for bed, and the Webmaster couldn’t just pack up and leave until I was done.

I had forgotten just how comfortable it is – and how low-stress, compared to a Mariners game – to go to a minor league game.  And the parking is free, and it’s much closer to home.  Even though Tad was asking to go home by the end of the third inning, the kids did have a good time.

I think we might do this again!

Both Ane and Tad were enjoying watching it come down thickly on the lawn and deck… and then it stopped.  And then it rained.  And then it stopped.

And then I decided that we would go to Auntie’s softball game at her school after all.

Right after Rerun woke from his nap, I packed the kids up and drove over.  The game was supposed to start at 4 pm, and we arrived late, but the game hadn’t started yet.  The teams were all ready, but there were no umpires.  Small problem!  This was a game that had been postponed previously due to bad weather, and I’m not sure if the umps weren’t notified properly or what, but the game started almost an hour late.  And it was chilly.

Then it started to sprinkle.  But we’re in the Pacific Northwest – sprinkling?  You don’t even bother putting the hood up on your raincoat for that.

Then the hail began.  And it kept hailing.

Remember that I have all three kids with me.  Rerun was up and walking around for a while, then I had bribed him back into the stroller with animal crackers, but once those were gone, he wanted to be up and moving again.  Then the hail started, and he got kind of excited.  It was small and round, and falling from the sky.  “A ball!”  he crowed as he tried to pick up the hail.

Ane and Tad, who were both in their rain boots, tromped around getting wet without a care in the world.  The hail didn’t let up, and the chill got icier.  Then the hard, pelting rain began.  My hands went numb from the wet and the cold.  I threw in the towel.  Auntie was about to go up to bat, but Rerun was screaming and my hands were aching.  I also had a gut feeling that the game wasn’t going to continue on if the weather didn’t let up.

Grandma helped me herd the kids to the van.  I actually raced ahead with Rerun (and had a horrible time trying to unsnap him from the stroller with my frozen hands) and got him buckled down, then turned the car on and jacked the heat up while Ane, Tad and Grandma loaded in.  Grandma was attempting to thaw out when we saw a flash of lightning and a loud rumble of thunder.  And the players running off the field.

I sat, thawing out my hands and trying to warm up my feet while the older two played on the iPad and Rerun played with a few toys while Grandma went to find out what happened.  She called me from her van – the game was having an automatic 30 minute lightning delay, and Auntie told her to go on home.  We followed Grandma there, and Auntie showed up a little later.  The game had been called, and unfortunately, there weren’t enough innings played to make it an official game.  However, Auntie was hopeful that the game could maybe resume from where they were (her team was ahead, 5 – 0).

So, I fed Rerun his dinner, and the Webmaster came over after work, and we all went out to Red Robin to reward ourselves for our efforts.  Rerun ate fries while the rest of us had a warm dinner.  It had been a very wet experience.

Next time I try to take the kids to a game, the weather is going to be warm and sunny.  Which means I might not get to another game this season.  Hmm… I’ll go for dry.  I can do cold as long as it’s dry.

But it is Veterans’ Day, and I happen to know of some veterans.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Ane with her uncle, the Captain.  This was at the Lewis & Clark Interpretative Center at Cape Disappointment, during our family trip in April of 2007.  Ane was only three, and she still remembers parts of this trip.  I just love how the two of them hammed it up for the camera.

Here’s another picture from 2007 of Uncle Oddball holding Little Cousin (look how tiny she is!) and standing with Ane at the Seattle Aquarium.  We did a lot of fun visiting with family in 2007, come to think of it.

Both my brother and brother-in-law have served tours in Iraq, and I am so proud of both of them.

The other matter on my mind is the passing of Dave Niehaus, the Mariners’ radio and broadcast announcer.  I have been an M’s fan since I was a child, and he was THE voice of the game to me.

It’s sad to think that Ane and Tad won’t remember his iconic calls and catch phrases, and that Rerun never got a chance to hear him and know what he meant to baseball in Seattle.

Like I said, this is a day to think.

But it was a school night.  So the question was, can we find a sitter?  And if we do, who do we take?

Fortunately, Auntie was available (no softball practice on Mondays), so Ane and Tad stayed with her – and they were quite excited to have her over.

Rerun went to his second baseball game.

So we had two other tickets… and not everyone is as fortunate as we are to have a baby-sitter nearby (when Auntie goes to college, this will really put a cramp in our style).  We first asked people who do not have small children – and our friend A. was available, but his wife C. was not.  We finally found someone else to go along with us – our new worship pastor, who is single and has just moved to the Seattle area – and he’d never been to a Mariners game.

Rerun charmed all who saw him, the seats were awesome… and the M’s lost.  Boo.  And of course, they were playing the Red Sox and there were many Sox fans there who were being obnoxiously happy about winning.  Annoying redshirts.

Still, the weather was as balmy as September here ever gets, the roof was open, and we had a great view and an adorable baby.  It was a fun night.

And when we got home, Ane and Tad were both asleep and Auntie had washed my dishes.  So the night was a win for me, even if it was a loss for the M’s!

This was probably the last game I’ll get to this season – unless the Webmaster wins another drawing – and honestly, after the way this season has gone, I’m looking forward to next season.  Because hope springs eternal in baseball, you know.

Lina was the goalie (for the opening part of the scrimmage) for the white team.

“Scrimmage” also means “stand around and figure out what we’re supposed to be doing right now.”

Ane’s team scores a goal.  She yells to me, “Mom!  MOM!  We have TWO goals!”

There was a lot of running.

And some more standing around.

The scrimmage ended in a tie, which disappointed Ane.  She wanted to WIN.

But they had fun, and there’s always next year’s exhibition scrimmage.

And then we held our breath.  Because taking Ane and Tad to a ballgame is very different from just taking Rerun to his first baseball game.

Friend, Doc, the Brain and Head also bought tickets and went along (Rupert got to stay at home with Best-Babysitter), I packed a kid-friendly lunch of Uncrustables, chocolate milk, fruit snacks and granola bars, and after first service at church, we came home, changed clothes, and drove into Seattle for the game.

Ane and Tad did quite well, and we tried to keep them busy by getting them a playtime (with the Brain and Head) at the Children’s Hospital Playfield out in center field, sending them out for walks with adults to buy food/treats, and feeding them lunch.

I had packed 4 Uncrustables for my kids.  Tad ate three of them.  The boy does love himself some peanut butter.

Ane takes watching the game very seriously.  She gets upset when the other team scores, and her favorite player is Ichiro.

And Rerun?  He spent most of the game asleep, just like this:

We bought him a Mariners hat of his very own – Tad had an infant ball cap that he wore to his first game, but when I tried it on Rerun, it was HUGE.  Tad was almost eight months old at his first Mariners game, though.  So Rerun can wear that hat later.  He got a printed Mariners baby beanie cap, which is still pretty big on him.  But he was really cute in it!

Sadly, after a promising start, the M’s lost to the Tigers, 4-2.  Which is typical.  The Mariners have never won a game when we’ve brought one of the kids for their “first” game.  However, since the Webmaster is employed this baseball season, I think Rerun will have lots more chances to work his charms at the ballpark.

His sister and brother, though… next time, they get to stay home.  I think we can only handle all three kids at the game once a season.  We do actually like to watch the game, you know.

The Webmaster and I packed up the kids – all three of them! – and went to Auntie’s game on Monday night.  The game was at her high school, and her team was playing my alma mater.  Though, to be fair, I did attend Auntie’s school for a year.  So I have torn loyalties.  But I went to cheer for my sister.

It was the longest period of time that Rerun has spent outdoors.  We kept him bundled up, but the fresh air put him to sleep.

The nice thing about a high school softball game is that it’s free, and the kids can run around and burn off energy without people complaining.  There’s plenty of room to run at the high school, and some things to climb on.

Auntie’s team won, the kids spent lots of time in the fresh air and slept well that night, and we had a good time.  Though Rerun was plenty hungry by the time we got home, and he wasn’t shy about letting us know it.  That boy has an excellent set of lungs.

And today is my niece Berry’s second birthday!  Happy birthday, little girl!  Your cousins send you many birthday hugs!

Anyway, I’m totally stealing this from Doc’s blog, but that’s okay, because he’s cut and pasted posts from me before, too. The most awesome baseball call of the Mariners season happened on Sunday… but you have to listen to the clips to hear what happened. It was SO funny.

Never doubt Mike Blowers again. Ever.

It was a bright spot in what was otherwise a very crappy sports weekend in Seattle. Maybe next weekend will be better.

Each kid gets to take a turn hitting, then plays defense on the field. They are really trying to get the kids to track and hit the ball, instead of just hitting it off the tee.

However, as the photographic evidence clearly proves, Ane needs to work on keeping her eye on the ball.

She needs a LOT of work.

The other thing she needs to work on is taking turns. The kid would be happy to hit all day – but the Webmaster told her that half the game is defense, so she finally went to the field with her lavender mitt (a Christmas gift from Auntie) and played outfield, wearing her lavender Seattle Mariners hat.

Because you can still look like a girl and play baseball at the same time.