Wills Park Baseball - It Really is a Family

The Heatons are the poster family for the over-involved American lifestyle.  We have too much going on ... we know that.  Last week, we had a shower at the house and had a couple rooms painted in a rush and the AC broke - all while not stopping one minute in all of our regular stuff.  I can honestly say that it was a pretty typical week.

Heather and I are hyper-social.  And we can't say no to anyone or anything, especially if it sounds like fun.  Add to that a love for sports and you get one crazy summer.  We're Atlanta natives so we have lots of local relatives.  I can trace local roots back 200 years in DeKalb County so there's plenty of extended family in there as well.  (My 8x great grandfather fought in the American Revolution and is buried off Brockett Road in Tucker) 

But we also have some other 'families'.  And our Wills Park baseball family is such a family that I won't even put little quotation marks around it.  Who knew when Tucker was 5 that we would log so much time at the park and get so into Little League baseball?  He is either 5 or 6 in this picture, trying to look all tough.

I didn't even know this much baseball was even possible!  But here we are, playing in another weekend tournament.  Last weekend, we played 5 games in a two day period.  One might say it is a little crazy and over the top.  But when you enjoy the families you play with so much, it makes it easy, enjoyable, and I can't think of a better way to spend precious summer weekends than with this crew.

This was from last year and a couple of the fams aren't with us anymore but we've also added a couple.  And one of the neat things is we still keep up with the folks who come and go.  The family just gets bigger. 



Here we are in 2009.  They weren't nearly as concerned about getting eliminated from this tournament in Chattanooga ...

... as they were when they finally lost this one in Mississippi last year. 

Like any REAL family, we fuss and fight and I'm sure there are some family members some people like more than others!  :)  Like all families, we know WAY too much about each other.  The KEY though, to any true family is we celebrate with one another, both team wins, and individual wins.  And at the end of the day, win or lose, whether we agree or we disagree, we hug, shake hands, and go grab some dinner.  It is an experience quite unique and special and our family is honored to be a part.  And I will tell you, 3 seasons into it, I don't regret a minute and I don't think this kid does either.

Here's one more picture of my favorite player with one of the best baseball coaches in the world, at any level.  I think it is priceless!!!

And here's the 2011 version of the Wills Park Warriors.  They look like they're having as much fun as they did when they were 7!!!