Over the years, I have slowly made my way around o Over the years, I have slowly made my way around our house … decorating, renovating and reorganizing it into a soft place to land. The only part that I haven’t touched that much are our yards (except for a fire pit area that went in two years ago, thank you pandemic). I want our outside to be as much as a sanctuary as our inside is, so I plan to spend the next year digging in (no pun intended 😂). I don’t have a green thumb, so feel free to spam me with all your awesome, low maintenance ideas as we create a Japanese-style zen garden. 🤩 I also hate gardening, so there’s that, but am hoping that some #gardentherapy changes my mind as much as it changes the space.
✌🏻 ✌🏻
About last night … we spontaneously decided to m About last night … we spontaneously decided to make a @crumblcookies run at 8:30 and snagged a front seat to Mother Nature’s show. 😍
I took five books with me when we went on a little I took five books with me when we went on a little vacation in May, and got through two of them, one of which was The Magnolia Story. You are, no doubt, familiar with Chip and Joanna Gaines, but you might not know how they became so popular or how their business exploded. This book, told by both of them, shares their journey from their dating stages to just a few years ago. It’s quite amazing how their path unfolded, with the universe seemingly guiding them every single step of the way. Every time they hit a crossroads, they received clear signs to continue to point them in the right direction. It was interesting to learn more about their story, and a great reminder that you need to trust in yourself and follow your passions, and everything really does just fall into place. Chip has his own book out too, Capital Gaines, which I added to my list after I read this one. If you’re curious about their story or just need confirmation to continue to chase your dreams, read this one. ✨ #catesbookaweek 6/52
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the w “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl ✨
We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister an We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister and her family were away. She has settled into a new routine here (ours 😂), and now doesn’t get up until after 9 am, stays up until well past midnight, eats a very late dinner, knows that the kitchen is where the magic happens and sits for a treat after her morning backyard visit. We’ve broken her in nicely but she will be returning with her continued bad habit of suffering from #fomo, playing tag with the cats, and barking every time she hears a door open or sees someone go up the street. We did our best. 😇
The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Gar The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Garlic butter and bleu cheese butter from @njgarlic (the bleu on steak! 😍), empanadas from @catalina_empanadas_2017, half sour pickles from @pickleculture and the quiche and bread were from a vendor I forgot to get the name of. This was all from the @bernardsvillefarmersmarket. Today I hit the @denvillemarket and added full sour pickles from @pickle_licious and a roasted garlic and duck fat loaf and cheese biscuit from @bobolinkdairyandbakehouse. Basically give us all the bread, cheese, butter and pickles and we’re happy campers! Did you hit up a farmers market this weekend? What’d ya get?
Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it is with the gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. Skip what their directions tell you and pan fry them in olive oil, add some of their 4-green bag of vegetables, salt, pepper, drizzles of pesto and a sprinkle of parm. So freaking good and dinner on the table faster than you can order take out. 🤤
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

This Boy

April 25, 2010 · Narrative

This Little Boy


Normally, you’d come here to read a Sunday night post filled with pictures of our weekend.  Not tonight.  I can’t.  This is far too important.  Because instead, I have to tell you about this boy.  My little boy.

This boy.  This boy was upset when I told him that I signed him up for baseball this season.  There might have been a tear or twenty shed.  I can’t lie.  Although he has played soccer for four years, he has never played baseball.  I wanted him to just give it a try.  He ran through his list of fears for me.  What if he ran the wrong way?  What if he didn’t hit the ball?  Or catch it?  Or what if the other players yelled at him?  I told him to just try it.  Just one time.  And if he honestly didn’t like it, he didn’t have to continue.  I’m fair like that.  I also promised to help him the weeks before the season started.  We practiced throwing.  Catching.  Various scenarios of what to do when.  My years of playing town softball paid off.  I wanted him to feel as comfortable as possible.

Then this happened.  And he was bitten by the baseball bug.  Hard.

But this boy.  This weekend, this boy played the first baseball game of the season.  Not only the first game of the season, but HIS first game EVER.

This boy hit a home run.  I can feel the tears welling up as I’m typing.  I am so unbelievably proud of him.  A home freakin’ run.  And the other two times he got up to bat?  Singles.  His team won their first game by one point.  I can’t even put into words how proud I am of him.  That he stepped out of his comfort zone.  That he trusted me.  That he saw what was possible when he took a leap of faith.  It’s safe to say that he’s loving the sport now.  His weeknight practices of both soccer and baseball are on the same night.  At the exact same time.  But of course.  And he loves them both so much that he wouldn’t hear of dropping one.  This boy.  Is growing up.  For realz.

As if that wasn’t enough for one weekend.  Or one lifetime.  Friday was report card day.  Third semester is over.  (How is that even possible?!)  This boy has struggled a bit with Science this year.  He brought up his C to a B.  And his Language Arts grade from a B to an A.

He has every reason to be bursting with pride for himself.  For seeing his hard work pay off.  Of course if he came home with all C’s, but did his very best, I would be just as proud.  But he really applied himself.  And it paid off.

Huge lessons here.  He has shown himself what happens when he slows down a bit in school and really takes his time.  With baseball, he’s seen what can happen when he steps out of his comfort zone a bit to see what is out there.  Just beyond.

Joy


This boy.  Just amazing.

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. mandy says

    April 25, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    Wooohoo! That is beyond awesome. I am so glad that he went for it and baseball has worked out so well for him so far.

    Reply
  2. stephanie says

    April 26, 2010 at 1:13 am

    they give letter grade in lower elementary grades! way harsh tai!

    Reply
  3. Jacqueline says

    April 26, 2010 at 2:17 am

    You must be bursting with pride. You have really cheered me up this Monday morning.

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    April 26, 2010 at 6:12 am

    He really is amazing Cate! This post just about made my morning. I’m so glad he hit that home run…he deserves the feelings of pride and joy that come along with it.

    Reply
  5. Sarah Caron says

    April 26, 2010 at 7:29 am

    Well, now you have me teary-eyed too. Go Nick! Those are some wonderful, fantastic accomplishments.

    Reply
  6. Kris #40 says

    April 26, 2010 at 8:51 am

    Way to go Nick!

    Reply
  7. Cathy says

    April 26, 2010 at 9:12 am

    Yay for Nick!! What great accomplishments this weekend for him!

    Reply
  8. Patsy says

    April 26, 2010 at 9:59 am

    Wow! What a weekend of accomplishments! I imagine he must be just smiling ear to ear!

    Reply
  9. Tyanne says

    April 26, 2010 at 10:23 am

    That’s awesome!!! Way to go Nick!!!

    Reply
  10. Sister In-Law says

    April 26, 2010 at 10:57 am

    Kudos to Nick. We are all so proud!!

    SIL

    Reply
  11. thecoffeesnob says

    April 26, 2010 at 11:02 am

    He sounds like such an amazing kid! Kudos to you too for gently encouraging him to try out new things and giving him the wings to fly :)

    Reply
  12. claire says

    April 26, 2010 at 11:13 am

    I love this post!!!! I can tell how proud you are of Nick, not just because of what he’s accomplished but what he’s learned. How neat! What a great “boy!” :-)

    Reply
  13. claire says

    April 26, 2010 at 11:14 am

    P.S. – I remember when I hit my first homerun…I ran all the way around the bases and BACK to first base. My dad was coaching the first base and I ran straight to him. It was SO exciting! What a fun thing to share with your parents…I know he was glad that you were there.

    Reply
  14. Casey says

    April 26, 2010 at 11:27 am

    Amazing sounds about right!!!!!!! Great story. Sometimes, our kids just need a little push. :)

    Reply
  15. Maris (In Good Taste) says

    April 26, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    Go Nick!! Congratulations Cate, and just to think this is only the beginning!!

    Reply
  16. Jen says

    April 26, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    Congratulations to Nick! I am touched – what a great post!

    Reply
  17. pamela says

    April 26, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    Yeah!! Great job, Nick! A home run??!?! That’s awesome! And what great news with the report card, too. There’s a lot for you all to celebrate, huh? :o)

    Reply
  18. Ramona says

    April 27, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    Fantastic Nick. You’re doing a great job there!!!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

Over the years, I have slowly made my way around o Over the years, I have slowly made my way around our house … decorating, renovating and reorganizing it into a soft place to land. The only part that I haven’t touched that much are our yards (except for a fire pit area that went in two years ago, thank you pandemic). I want our outside to be as much as a sanctuary as our inside is, so I plan to spend the next year digging in (no pun intended 😂). I don’t have a green thumb, so feel free to spam me with all your awesome, low maintenance ideas as we create a Japanese-style zen garden. 🤩 I also hate gardening, so there’s that, but am hoping that some #gardentherapy changes my mind as much as it changes the space.
✌🏻 ✌🏻
About last night … we spontaneously decided to m About last night … we spontaneously decided to make a @crumblcookies run at 8:30 and snagged a front seat to Mother Nature’s show. 😍
I took five books with me when we went on a little I took five books with me when we went on a little vacation in May, and got through two of them, one of which was The Magnolia Story. You are, no doubt, familiar with Chip and Joanna Gaines, but you might not know how they became so popular or how their business exploded. This book, told by both of them, shares their journey from their dating stages to just a few years ago. It’s quite amazing how their path unfolded, with the universe seemingly guiding them every single step of the way. Every time they hit a crossroads, they received clear signs to continue to point them in the right direction. It was interesting to learn more about their story, and a great reminder that you need to trust in yourself and follow your passions, and everything really does just fall into place. Chip has his own book out too, Capital Gaines, which I added to my list after I read this one. If you’re curious about their story or just need confirmation to continue to chase your dreams, read this one. ✨ #catesbookaweek 6/52

Pinterest

Over the years, I have slowly made my way around o Over the years, I have slowly made my way around our house … decorating, renovating and reorganizing it into a soft place to land. The only part that I haven’t touched that much are our yards (except for a fire pit area that went in two years ago, thank you pandemic). I want our outside to be as much as a sanctuary as our inside is, so I plan to spend the next year digging in (no pun intended 😂). I don’t have a green thumb, so feel free to spam me with all your awesome, low maintenance ideas as we create a Japanese-style zen garden. 🤩 I also hate gardening, so there’s that, but am hoping that some #gardentherapy changes my mind as much as it changes the space.
✌🏻 ✌🏻
About last night … we spontaneously decided to m About last night … we spontaneously decided to make a @crumblcookies run at 8:30 and snagged a front seat to Mother Nature’s show. 😍
I took five books with me when we went on a little I took five books with me when we went on a little vacation in May, and got through two of them, one of which was The Magnolia Story. You are, no doubt, familiar with Chip and Joanna Gaines, but you might not know how they became so popular or how their business exploded. This book, told by both of them, shares their journey from their dating stages to just a few years ago. It’s quite amazing how their path unfolded, with the universe seemingly guiding them every single step of the way. Every time they hit a crossroads, they received clear signs to continue to point them in the right direction. It was interesting to learn more about their story, and a great reminder that you need to trust in yourself and follow your passions, and everything really does just fall into place. Chip has his own book out too, Capital Gaines, which I added to my list after I read this one. If you’re curious about their story or just need confirmation to continue to chase your dreams, read this one. ✨ #catesbookaweek 6/52
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the w “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl ✨
We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister an We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister and her family were away. She has settled into a new routine here (ours 😂), and now doesn’t get up until after 9 am, stays up until well past midnight, eats a very late dinner, knows that the kitchen is where the magic happens and sits for a treat after her morning backyard visit. We’ve broken her in nicely but she will be returning with her continued bad habit of suffering from #fomo, playing tag with the cats, and barking every time she hears a door open or sees someone go up the street. We did our best. 😇
The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Gar The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Garlic butter and bleu cheese butter from @njgarlic (the bleu on steak! 😍), empanadas from @catalina_empanadas_2017, half sour pickles from @pickleculture and the quiche and bread were from a vendor I forgot to get the name of. This was all from the @bernardsvillefarmersmarket. Today I hit the @denvillemarket and added full sour pickles from @pickle_licious and a roasted garlic and duck fat loaf and cheese biscuit from @bobolinkdairyandbakehouse. Basically give us all the bread, cheese, butter and pickles and we’re happy campers! Did you hit up a farmers market this weekend? What’d ya get?
Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it is with the gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. Skip what their directions tell you and pan fry them in olive oil, add some of their 4-green bag of vegetables, salt, pepper, drizzles of pesto and a sprinkle of parm. So freaking good and dinner on the table faster than you can order take out. 🤤

Copyright © 2022 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design