Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

A week or so ago, sweet hubby and I decided to take our boys to see the local minor league baseball team the Travelers. This would be the first time our boys have been to a professional ballgame. When sweet hubby and I were dating many moons ago we would take our other two kids (from our previous marriage) to see the Travelers play all season. Susie Q and JW loved going to see the ballgame. Many times we sat in the hot, humid ballpark stands rooting our guys to victory or crying over their loss. Watching the Travelers play is a family tradition (my own daddy used to take us when we were growing up) that we have decided to continue with our little boys. The only difference is that the Travelers now play in a beautiful new ballpark instead of the old rundown one that I went to as a child and that Susie Q and JW went to. Our little guys had a great time sitting on the first baseline and feeling very close to the players and the field as well as having to watch for stray balls hit in our direction!

When we arrived there were people handing out travelers t-shirts for the first 1000 kids to come into the park. They are huge on the boys but they make good sleeping shirts!

Always, first up we have to get our nachoes and hotdogs!! Our friend was there with his lemonade booth so we got free lemonade - which was delish and soooo cool in the heat!

And of course we have silly boys during inning changes!

Our team won that night -- 9 to 5!! AND, it was a sold out game. We actually ended up sitting in the beer garden!! The only seats available were on the green or in the beer garden. We chose the beer garden in hopes that it would be too bad for Franklin - smoking is allowed only in the beer garden and Franklin is allergic to cig smoke--- but it was fine, not too many smokers that night and we did very well.

Our lemonade friend also sold cotton candy......so, of course we had to get some of that too!!! I mean it was free so what else could we do......it is a good thing that I carry wipees with me....we needed them desperately!

When the game was over, Franklin was soooo tired that dad had to carry him back to the car! Both boys fell asleep before we made it back home. But they had a blast and we have to go back again!! We would love to go see the NY Yankees play since big sis Susie Q lives very close to the NY Yankees ball park.....ummmmm sounds like a plan!

For now the doctor is out.......wondering if she really could take those boys to see the Yankees play.....

Mock Swim Meet for Cole

On Tuesday Cole had his first swim meet (mock swim meet that is). The coach wanted the "new" kids to see how an actual meet would be done so they held the mock one for everyone. It was a blast - parents yelling, encouraging, and jumping with joy for their child to finish (umm, wait a minute - that parent was me!) Actually, he did ok for his first time....I was just greatful he jumped in and finished his lap!! Cole has always been a little afraid of the water and we are working very hard to help him get over this. His swim team coach is also his swim lesson instructor so that has helped a lot. I am posting a few pictures that I took of him and some others. The picture I really want is from another parent who is a professional photographer and she captured his dive beautifully in mid air (of course I didn't get that on my little ole kodak digital --- maybe Santa will bring me on of those really good cameras for Christmas).

Resting after his warm up in the water (temps were a little chilly that evening since it had been cloudy all day.

Anxiously awaiting his turn to dive in and swim. He is watching everyone else dive and swim at this point. I really was worried that he wouldn't jump in!!

On your mark, get set, and go.........ummm, yea, he did jump in!

Swim, Swim, Swim

My cheering squad!

Summer is Here!

Well, school is officially over today (as of 35 minutes ago to be precise), but we actually skipped the last few days to start our summer break early. On Monday we began the week with swimteam practice and we began some refresher swim lessons on Wednesday. Cole did very well and Franklin did much better than I thought he would since we had so many problems last summer. Unfortunately, on Thursday morning we had to visit the dentist -- not a good way to begin the summer vacation but it must be done. AND, of course we have to go back for more work on both boys!! We are finding out that "drug" babies tend to have extensive problems with teeth and our two boys are no exception. After that visit to the dentist we decided pizza sounded good for lunch and then home to rest while watching a movie. It is already so hot here that being outside is almost unbearable (with the exception of the cool pool water).

We already have a full schedule for summer. Cole is on the swimteam and taking tennis lessons as well as attending a tennis camp in a couple of weeks. Franklin is taking swim lessons each week but is too youngand not coordinated enough for the swimteam or tennis (he has weak muscle tone that prevents him from doing tennis right now so we will be working on that).
The boys will also be participating in our library's summer reading program and they are very excited about this. Hopefully we will be able to throw in some time to get to the beach this year with our cousins.

Unfortunately for Cole, summer will be shorter this year than in the past. Cole will be starting back to school July 21st instead of the end of August like most others. Cole will be attending a new Charter school this next year and they begin classes much earlier than the local public schools. So we only have about six weeks to really enjoy our summer!! I guess that is why we are packing so much into such a short time!

For now, the doctor is out......trying to keep cool and keep on schedule!