Maya...playing baseball.

Maya is playing co-ed instructional baseball this year and it is the cutest thing ever.  There are almost as many parent helpers as players standing nearby encouraging and teaching the kids how to play.  There is zero pressure and games are set up to just rotate through the batting order and have kids run the bases.  Kids are pitched to by their coach and after 10 (or so) pitches, the tee quietly comes out so they can hit the ball.  When the ball is hit the kids all run for it, maybe 6 or 7 of them (and sometimes from the team that is actually up at bat), and then the one who has fought for possession of the ball then has to figure out what to do with it.

But when there is a lull in action, as there often is in baseball, there is plenty of time to make faces at your teammate, pick grass and gaze at the sky.

Maya is a total pip squeak but when she gets up to bat she assumes her stance and gives her coach what he calls the "stink eye" and she hits it every time.  Then she runs for first as fast as she can, taking her bat with her. 

I love our little baseball girl!

The funniest thing I have seen yet is a little boy who hit the ball and then ran all the bases (even though he wasn't supposed to) patting his teammates on the back at second and third before running past them for home.    He was so proud of his "home run" until he was made to go back to first.    Honestly, it might be some of the most fun baseball to watch.