Dax's Baseball Season

Dax switched to the Diamondbacks this year. 

Dax switched baseball teams this year so that Dad could be an assistant coach with an old friend. We knew that by putting our boys together we'd have a pretty good team. Our team was good, too. In fact, we went undefeated in regular season play right up to the last game, which Dax missed because we were in New Zealand. This dropped us to second in our division, but we still made the city tournament.

Unfortunately, Dax missed the first two games of the tournament as well. His team, the Diamondbacks managed to split the games, so they still had a chance in the consolation bracket. With Dax's accurate pitching, smooth glove at shortstop, and sweet swing at the plate, they still had a chance. They won several games in the bracket, easily qualifying for State. The finally made it all the way back through to the winner's side. On Monday, they'd play with the final teams. A loss and they'd get third. A win, and they'd play for the championship on Tuesday. But Dax had a decision to make. He chose to go to Yellowstone with his family and let his team take third in the tournament. It was a hard fought battle, and he's proud of third place.

Dax always looked so little standing up at bat.

This was the first game he pitched in for the season. 

Dax really became a great pitcher. 

We loved watching him play.

Dax always had a smile when he was playing baseball. 

Dax pitched a lot. 

Dax also spent quite a bit of time at catcher. 

The coach had to get special Dax-sized equipment!

We had a lot of late baseball games, but Dax was always a great hitter.

In Dax's best game he had two doubles and a homerun. He also came on to pitch in a very scary situation. It was a tie ballgame and the time was up on the clock. There was a runner on second with no outs. He struck out a batter. Then a kid from the other team ripped a line drive right back through the box. In what one spectator called "the greatest catch in Little League history" Dax shot his glove out, snow-coned the ball which was certainly going up the middle to centerfield, and saved the winning run. He would have gotten the double play, too, but the middle infielders were too stunned to cover the bag and the runner just beat him back as Dax tried to run there himself. Next, he struck out the final batter and then scored the winning run in the next inning. It was Dax's moment to pick up the team and carry them on his back to victory!

At State, Dax's team swept through pool play 3-0 and qualified for the final bracket. Then they ran into a powerhouse and lost in a close game. Dax hit a homerun over the centerfielder's head, but his team ended up losing late in the game. It was a great season.

Dax is a great fielder even though all the pictures are of him pitching.

Dax was an important part of his team.

All of the Ockeys love number 8.

We had a lot of hot baseball games!

We are so proud of Dax. 

His last game there was a beautiful moon rising behind him!

Now Dax is onto a new adventure. He was asked to try out for a competition team and made the cut. He will start his games this Fall with his new team. He couldn't be more excited!

Maple Dell Scout Camp

Mark at Scout Camp.

Mark had the oppurtunity to spend a week at Maple Dell this year. He had a great time last year, and he was the only returning scout. Maple Dell is in Payson Canyon, so the boys had to pack all their stuff early and drive up to camp. Dad came for the first few days, so he helped them get all their stuff up to camp. When they got there, they unpacked their stuff and had lunch. Then they headed off to learn merit badges. Mark went to Mammal Study, and it was not very hard at all. He knocked it off in one day! After finishing that, they had dinner, which was pizza, and then they headed back to their camp.

Dad and Mark love going to Scout Camp together.

Mark's troop was in camp Salish this year in the middle of camp. It was way better than the top of Heart Attack hill last year.

The camp is all set up!

Mark had his nice cot and pad for sleeping.

Mom is always glad that these two can go together.

The next morning, they headed off to their opening flag ceremony. At the flag ceremony, they met their commissioner who was named Carson, and their troop friend, Hannah. They made a troop yell, and learned their area yell. They were in area 1, the magic world of Maple Dell. Then they headed off to more merit badges. Mark had Game Design, Rowing, Art, Leatherwork, and Forestry. After Rowing, they had lunch, and after Forestry they had a little free time. During the free time, Mark bought delicious huckleberry soda. After dinner, they went to play at the lake, which was really fun. His troop played on the toys on the lake, and it was a blast. Then the troop went to campfire, which is a program with lots of skits and fun stuff like that. After that, Dad left and the troop went to bed.

Mark with Cayden, who lives two doors down.

Mark enjoyed Scout Camp.

Mark loved all the water activities.

Some of the boys chose to be dunked head first in the water!

These are the boys that Mark spent the week with.

They had to wear their scout shirts to flag ceremony.

The next day was much the same because Mark went to the same merit badges and had flag ceremony. Before dinner, Mark and his friend went to the zipline they have over the lake. You have to climb up the ladder to a platform and then zip down across the lake. It was really fun, and Mark really enjoyed it. Then his family came up for troop night and shared a short spiritual message. After, they had rootbeer floats, and then they went to bed.

Seth was so excited to go to scout camp.

Mark wasn't sure he was excited to see his family!

The whole troop eating Root Beer Floats.

We saw this deer walk through Mark's camp.

The next day, Mark still had his same merit badges. They did the devotional in the morning, and it was a great experience. Their day was mostly the same. That night they had lots more free time, so they went to the lake again and had a great time. That night, they played games and did riddles together as a troop. 

The next day, they were finished with merit badges, so they went on a 5 mile hike to Red Lake. It was fun, and they saw a small vole on the way. After that they had lots of free time, so they bought more stuff and had a great time. In the afternoon, they had two campwide games. The first was staff chase, in which the staff ran and the scouts had to go find them. In the chase, Mark's troop got 2nd place! The next game was the Battle of Maple Dell. In the battle, four members of a troop got in a canoe and had to swamp all the other canoes. Mark's troop got out early, but they still had fun. That night, they had another campfire, where there were more funny skits and a slide show about the week at the camp. They got back late, and the troop went to bed immediately. 

The next day they got up early and got all packed and ready to go. Once they got inspected, they left and went back to Lehi. They then seperated all the gear and went home. It was such a great trip and an awesome experience, and Mark hopes to go back someday and have another great week at Maple Dell Scout Camp.

**Written by Mark

This deer walked through Mark's camp every day.

Mark bought A LOT of cream sodas.

Squirrels all over camp.

Mark took this pic for Mom because she loves baby anything!

Mark's Birthday

Who wants a teenager?

Mark's birthday always comes in with a bang! Having a birthday on the 4th of July makes things pretty great all the time. And this year it had an extra big bang because Mark became a teenager. I keep telling him that he is going to be the best teenager ever (I'm hoping that brainwashing works).

We were lucky this year to have Tiff and Jonny and the kids visiting over the Fourth. It was so fun to have cousins staying at the house. The kids played together really well, and everyone was excited to spend time with Baby Ben.

Mark is 13! What?!?

Grandma & Grandpa gave Mark lots of Root Beers flavors to try. They know Mark well!

The Pooles are always fun to have around!

We had our annual BBQ with lots of family. The BBQ was extra exciting with high winds, and then a torrential downpour that forced us to finish the night in the garage. We had cake and ice cream inside while it poured outside.

Family picture every year on the 4th of July. 

It started raining a little bit, but then it got more intense! 

We had to head inside. The kids thought the rain was awesome.

Cake and ice cream in the garage wasn't what we planned on, but it worked. 

Mark keeps trying to prove he is small enough to sit on his Dad's lap.

Mark wanted spice cake this year. 

Luckily, it cleared up so we could go see the fireworks. The Pooles and Grandma & Grandpa came with us as we watched the Thanksgiving Point Fireworks. But, it was freezing for a July night and we did not really have enough blankets even though we threw in a ton. So we huddled together, laughed, and celebrated Mark's birthday.

Mark loves watching fireworks on his birthday!

We were freezing!

The next morning we all went and walked under the giant flag that hangs in Pleasant Grove. Follow the Flag is super cool and walking underneath was extra special. We were glad to have family on our adventure, too.

The flag is huge. That is how big one of the stars is. 

We were excited to show Grandma & Grandpa Daniels.

Oldest and youngest grandkids. I have so many pictures of Mark with all the cousins. He is the favorite!

Mark is a stellar kid. We are so proud of the way he leads his life. He always strives to do what is right, be the best he can be, and include others. We are excited to see how these teenage years go with Mark!

We love you Mark!