Melissa's Senior Prom

Melissa's last day of high school was Friday. To make the day even better, Friday was also her Senior Prom. Jason and Yvonne were out of town for Junior Prom (they were house shopping in Maryland -- choosing the home we live in now), so this was their one chance to share the prom experience with Melissa.

Her date was Danny Dixon, a pitcher on the high school baseball team, friend of Levi's, and an all-around good guy. She got her hair "did" (as she puts it) at a friend's house, then came home to get dressed and ready. She looked fantastic (we think she looks great in eye-black and a dirty softball uniform, too, but being dressed up really works for her).

She was ready a few minutes before Danny got there, so Levi helped keep her entertained in the back yard -- a neat moment shared between our oldest and youngest.



Soon Danny arrived, looking sharp. They exchanged corsages...



Then Melissa asked Yvonne to help her make Danny's corsage look good.



And then, after a few photos, they were off to meet friends for dinner and the dance.



She was home on time, happy from a fun night with friends, on her last real night of high school. Graduation is around the corner, then...on with the rest of her life.

Our Fab Five ballplayers

Ok, so we're not the Mudville Nine (and never will be), but for the first -- and maybe only -- time, we have all five kids playing baseball/softball at the same time.

It keeps us running, with as many as a dozen games a week, but it's fun...it's what we do. The kids are all playing well and having fun...which is the point.


Melissa is the starting second baseman for her high school team (the Gov. Thomas Johnson High School Patriots, known near and far as "TJ"). Melissa is keeping her teammates loose while delivering at the plate and on the field. The other day, in a difficult situation in a road game, Melissa called time, walked to the pitcher's circle, and told the pitcher "I know where you live; get this girl out, or I'm comin' over." We didn't know what she said, but saw them both bust out laughing. Then the pitcher struck out the batter.


Colin is on Team Dairy Queen, part of the local Babe Ruth League. Colin has pitched well, posting lots of strikeouts and few hits; at the plate, he is swinging a big stick (literally and figuratively). His adjustment to the regulation-size field has been smooth, and you can see the fun he is having while he's playing.


Carson plays for the Optimists in Frederick's National League Majors division, spending most of his time at second base. He has become a drag-bunt specialist from the left side. Even though most of the boys on the team are bigger than him, when a teammate gets out of line, it's Carson who quietly but forcefully sets them straight.


Dylan is part of the Kent & Poole team in the Frederick National League's Minors division. He's a good hitter, but his coach calls him "the small boy with the big arm." He has rifled a few kids out from short and third with throws that made parents gasp. The best moment so far was the other night when he was called in to pitch in a pressure situation with the bases loaded and two outs. On his first pitch, the batter popped up to first. Game over.


After watching his sister and brothers play for all these years, Levi is finally old enough for t-ball, playing for the Clover Hill Rebels (Jason is the coach and got to pick the name; he and Levi thought Rebels was a good fit). He is having a blast learning the fundamentals while thinking he's just having fun with his new friends. It's been worth the wait.

If you need to find us any night (other than Sunday) between now and mid-June, check a local ballfield. One of the Bohne Five are likely playing.