Play Ball!

While we were on vacation, Stephen discovered that the Cardinals were selling $5 tickets for Labor Day. Emily had been asking to go to a game but we weren’t sure how Zachary would do. For 5 bucks, we’d take a chance. The four of us got tickets for under $32 with all the fees. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

We didn’t realize that we would have had such a busy day the day before since we had originally planned our family visit on Saturday. It would all work out. Zachary slept for about an hour on the way from Mt Vernon so he didn’t want to take a cat nap after lunch. He is a busy, busy little boy. Let the games begin!

Zachary lasted a few minutes up in the seat before he decided that he needed to play with a water bottle. I kept imagining him pouring water down the poor lady in the row in front of us. He was pretty peturbed when I took the bottle away. So he decided that he needed climb off and on his seat. Kicking the ladies in the process. I decided that it was time for a walk. We walked down to the team store and got him a new hat and Emily a pom pom. We walked along the lower level for a bit before we headed back to our seats for a bit. Emily and Stephen were enjoying the game while we were gone. After a snack break, Zachary and I headed out for more walking and exploring. I honestly can’t tell you the score or any plays of the game. We did have fun though. Stephen and Emily got to watch several innings of the game. Stephen got to answer a hundred questions. Zach and I got our exercise in. I especially did on the way back to the car. Zachary was done walking. He wanted carried. And not by daddy.

In the end, the Cards lost. It was cheap family fun and Emily got to go to a game. Win, win situation.

Family Weekend

My extended family has always been pretty close. I have so many wonderful memories of spending time with my cousins growing up. So much fun and laughter. I want that for my children. I want them to have wonderful memories with their cousins and spend lots of time having fun and getting into mischief. I enjoy spending time catching up with my cousins as well. We don’t get to spend enough time together as we are somewhat spread out. The time we do get to spend together is precious.

Every year my family tries to spend Labor Day weekend together. This year was no exception. The weather though, in the beginning, left a lot to be desired. It was HOT! We decided that we would head down to visit them at the lake on Sunday instead of Saturday. A very good choice since Sunday was a beautiful day. A little overcast but at least it wasn’t 95 and humid. It was a wonderful day to catch up. The kids always have a lot of fun. I love that Emily, Kaleb and Chloe are getting old enough that they can somewhat do their own thing without us hovering and scrutinizing their every move. I know they are making memories to cherish. It’s also wonderful that Zachary, Cole and Gabriella are so close in age. Ben, Tim and Cameron are always full of energy and mischief.

The kids got to play on the playground for some time and then a couple of the older ones headed to the stable for a pony ride. What a cool stable! Kaleb and Chloe rode cute ponies. Emily didn’t want to wait for them to get done so she rode a HORSE. She didn’t want to at first but instead of waiting I tapped into her competitive side. “You want to be able to say that you rode the biggest horse, don’t you?” Mother of the year, yes. I take the cake. So she rode Sam. A very beautiful horse who liked to eat grass. I got to lead Emily and Sam around the pasture. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to or not since Zachary tagged along with us. Would you believe that turkey let the lady at the stable hold him? He has been very anti-stranger lately and I was SHOCKED that he went to her, let alone stayed with her the entire time. He petted the horses and got a good look but did NOT want to sit on one. When asked he violently shook his head, saying “Uh uh. NO!”

After we got back the kids played some more and ate smores. My girly, girly who likes worms and dresses had a hissy fit when Chloe wiped her marshmallow hands on Emily’s chair. “She made my chair GROSS!!!” Love her. After awhile, we decided that since Zachary thought 5 am was a good time to wake up that morning and didn’t have a nap that we needed to head back to the hotel. It was a lot of fun getting to visit with everyone. Our family is a riot. We don’t get together enough so we cherish the times we do.

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