Yesterday, I spent all day at the baseball field - it was the official opening day ceremonies, followed by my daughter's game. The sun was out, the wind was mild, and the call for team photos was at 8:50am.

Once we arrived at the field, we found the kids' teams and watched as the coaches arranged them in height order, and asked them to stand quietly holding their picture order envelope.

HA! HA! Riiiiiight! Like we could simply stand by and watch. And like groups of kids are going to stand passively in groups of 12-15 kids, in height order.

All around us swirled fleeing kids, baseball hats and gloves, parents struggling over the grass with loaded strollers and siblings. To preserve the photographers' work area, they had strung up a line of "caution" tape - which most of the kids seemed to take as a challenge, or as an invitation to make headbands.

As the photos got underway, parents stood at the edge of the caution tape, pleading their kids to stop making that face, oh my GOD please just smile normal you look like you are in pain I'm paying a lot of money for these just say cheese but open your eyes AAAAARGH.

I thought it would be fun to take advantage of the "buddy photos" opportunity to get a photo of my two sluggers together. It was not fun.

In a brilliant stroke of genius, the league had arranged for two bouncy-houses that were open to all the kids free of charge. After the photos were done, all three of our kids stripped off their shoes and lined up to work off some of their energy.

After 700 turns in the jumping things, we spotted the snack bar. Now, if there is anything you should know about my family, it is that we love us some snack bar action. Plastic-cheese nachos? YES PLEASE. We headed over to the stands and joined the line, purchasing tickets for two hot dogs and a burger. As the volunteers (who are rockstar heros) were flipping and grilling, the grease trap under the grill caught on fire, and the kids watched enthralled while the flames were extinguished. It was like a dinner show.

We got to see some great plays from the older players, and then we settled in to watch the opening ceremonies. The kids all jogged in with their coaches and received lots of high fives. The speeches were mercifully short and entertaining. All around, it was a successful event. My younger two kids were done after the ceremonies and 5 hours in the sun and cut grass - hay fever is alive and well at the Lauck house. We left the field briefly to grab some sandwiches and then dropped the younger kids and my husband off at home.

My 10-year-old daughter's game went really well. Her team is 3-0 for the season so far, and it is great to see how well the kids play together. My daughter is still very much a beginner, but she's putting out a solid effort, and really likes the game. (YAY)

I'm trying to learn the exacting process of scorekeeping, and I don't know if I'm cut out for it. I like making the hatch-marks for the balls and strikes, and I like drawing the little lines showing where the runners are, but the rest of it flies by so fast that I quickly get lost. I imagine I'll either get it by the end of the season, or I won't. It certainly makes watching the game an intense effort.

Since last Thursday, I've been dealing with hives on my back and chest and I'm an itchy mess. I am 99% sure something is in bloom that is trying to drive me insane through itching. I'm really attractive when I'm itchy, let me tell you. HAWT.

I'm going to go slather some cortisone cream on my cleavage and then I'll be ready to face another day on the diamond.