For Kristin and Ted Wald, becoming a Larks Host Family wasn’t something they spent months planning; in fact, it started with a simple search for baseball tickets. “We randomly wanted to get a seven-pack or some season tickets for the upcoming season,” Kristin recalled. “While I was looking online, I came across the ‘Become a Host Family’ button.” Kristin brought the idea to Ted, and while they were both interested, neither was fully committed. “We were both OK with it, but still undecided,” she said. “I filled out the form to learn more and didn’t hear back for quite some time, so we thought we probably weren’t going to do it.”

Then came an unexpected phone call from the Larks asking if they were still interested. “We looked at each other and basically said, ‘Oh, I guess this is going to happen,'” Kristin laughed. That phone call came four years ago, and the Wald family has been hosting ever since. Their first summer brought players from California and Kansas into their home, and what started as a hosting opportunity quickly turned into lasting friendships. “They became part of our family,” Kristin said. “I still keep in contact with both of them at least two or three times a year. And it’s like that every summer. The only difference now is that we just have a lot more boys to keep in touch with.”

As baseball season approaches each spring, excitement builds in the Wald household. “You get this anxious excitement when April and May hit, knowing it’s almost baseball season and you’re going to get new players,” Kristin said. The anticipation isn’t just felt by Kristin and Ted; their four sons eagerly look forward to meeting the players who will spend the summer with them.

Over the years, the Walds have learned that every player brings something unique to the family dynamic. “Each player has a different personality and brings something different to the house,” Kristin said. “Some are more to themselves and like their own space, while others are sitting right next to you in the living room watching baseball all night.” Some of the most memorable moments have come from simple experiences off the field. “We had a player a couple years ago who had never roasted a marshmallow over a fire,” Kristin remembered. “So that night we had a bonfire, roasted marshmallows, and made s’mores. He ended up having five of them.”

For the Wald family, hosting has become about much more than baseball. “By hosting Larks players, our family has grown in every way,” Kristin said. “The players bring their culture and different traditions into your home. We gain two, three, sometimes four boys in our family every year. It’s awesome.” While they enjoy the game itself, their reason for attending Larks games has evolved over the years. “We don’t go to the games just because we love baseball,” Kristin explained. “We go for them. We love watching them just like we love watching our own boys play.”

For Kristin, success isn’t measured by wins and losses. “We don’t care if they win or lose,” she said. “We want them to learn and have fun because that’s what this league is for. To grow.” That growth, she believes, extends beyond the players. “The Larks have given our family so much,” Kristin said. “Every summer, our family gets a little bigger, and that’s something we’ll always be grateful for.”