Back To The Ballpark!

Last night we went to the Angels/Rangers game. This was the last of the free tickets that Chip got (actually, we have free tickets right behind home plate for a game in August, but we'll be out of town and won't get to use them.) We only had 2 tickets for the game and since my Mom was flying back from CA last night and Dad was picking her up from the airport, all our Lily sitters were busy. So we figured since she has never ever used her seat in the past -- she has preferred to sit on our laps; and since she is technically young and short enough to not require a ticket of her own, we'd all go with the 2 tickets. Of course before we even left the house she started talking about sitting in her seat! Great. How does she know these things?? Then right when we get there and I position her on my lap she says "Ok, I am ready to sit in my seat now." Luckily she only had to sit on my lap for the first inning. There were some empty seats in our row and the guys on the other side of Chip were nice enough to scoot down one. So Lily had a seat of her own after all!

They were really great seats! First base side, just 18 rows up from the dugout. The storms in the morning had cooled the temperatures, so it was only in the 80's. It was a really nice night for a ballgame!

She looks so cute in her shades.

1st batter up -- Chone Figgins

Vlad up to bat.

I liked our seats since we could see into the Angels' dugout.

Trying to take pictures of her while she was still on my lap.

Finally in he seat. She is so intently watching the game!

All she wanted was "chips and popcorn" But I made her eat her chicken too. We've worked out a nice system lately -- one bite of chicken, burger, etc and then one fry, chip, etc. It is working nicely and everyone is happy.

The mascot came by and waved hi. Lily was happy to see him, but only from a distance. Here he is teasing an Angel fan by taking his hat and pretending to eat it. This upset Lily -- she was afraid he was going to take her shoes. It was kinda funny she kept saying that she didn't want the horse to take her shoes.

A tradition at all the Rangers games is to sing "Deep In The Heart of Texas"

Laughing at Daddy's CD on the way home. he had an eclectic mix of tunes. Everything from Pearl Jam and Coldplay to John Mayer and Will Smith. It made me laugh and so then Lily laughed too.

It was a great game. The Angels won!! Lily started to get tired and cranky once it was close to bedtime and really wanted to "go home". I would have made her tough it out since I hate to leave early, but Chip also said it was time to go. So we left in the middle of the 8th. But as soon as we got to the car Lily said she wanted to go back "to the baseball with my Daddy again after her nap." So cute.

Chillaxin'

It has been nice the last few days to not have anything planned. Friday and Sunday Lily and I just kicked it at home all day and played. Sometimes those days can be the most exhausting since she does not like to relax and has to keep moving (which is why I try to schedule some sort of outing daily), but I think she was happy to be home too. We spent a lot of time up in the playroom reading books, playing catch, blowing bubbles, doing puzzles and setting up the Little People Town. It was nice. Some days we are so busy that we don't even go into the playroom, so it was fun to reconnect with some forgotten toys.

On her way up the stairs.

Photo by Lily
She positioned this lion from a stuffed animal stacking toy on my face and told me to hold it there while she took a picture. She got my camera out, took this photo and said "Oh, that's so cute!" she cracks me up.

This morning the only thing on the agenda was to go to the market since we are out of milk and grapes. Lily was desperate to get grapes!! But a huge thunderstorm came through and stranded us at home. It was fun and loud!! I caught Lily quietly watching the rain, I thought it was cute.

Celebration USA

Yesterday was our city's 4th of July celebration. Every year they do it the week before the 4th, which is actually really great since it means you get to celebrate twice!

All ready to go!

I had been saving this dress that Michelle & Alyson passed down to us specifically to wear to Celebration USA! I especially love the matching shoes -- unfortunately she didn't keep them on too long.

She really really wanted to go in the bouncy houses. And this year they set up a "Toddler Zone" next to the "Kid Zone" with smaller, more Lily friendly bouncers. She was all down to go, waited in the lines and then as soon as we got to the bounce house she backed out. We tried a couple different houses, I think it was because we couldn't go in with her.

So, since the bouncers were a bust, we used out tickets in the Kids Activity Craft area. They had face painting (which Lily has made perfectly clear in the past that she does not want), hair painting -- which was funny to see all the punk rock kids running around the event, a photo booth, and sand art. We decided on the sand art and Lily made a pretty puppy dog necklace.

Chip wasn't feeling well when we got there, so we took a little break to relax in the shade. I think he had heat exhaustion. He had been at work all morning and it was supposed to be 102 yesterday. We are in a bit of a heat wave, but a cold front is coming in on Monday and it will only be 94 degrees!!!

Next we went to get a balloon animal made! Lily wanted a puppy dog.

The weird clown lady who made the balloon told us it would immediately pop if it hit the grass, so I told Lily she had to hold it up in the air.

I have to post a few pictures of the beloved balloon puppy since it did not survive the evening. It wasn't Lily that popped him, it was me. I accidentally knocked him off the stroller. They weren't kidding about the grass popping him immediately! I felt kinda bad, but Lily was ok with it.

Chip cooling off in a mist tent.

The park where the event was held has a huge playground and sprayground. I've been meaning to take Lily there, but haven't gotten around to it yet. She was loving the spraygroud, even though it was super crowded. I definitely want to go back soon one day when it is hopefully less crowded and we actually are prepared with swimsuits and towels!

I was pretty good at navigating the area without getting us soaked.

That is Chip putting his head under the waterfall.

Photos of the event. Besides the bouncy houses, crafts, and playgrounds, they had 2 stages with live music all day, a karaoke area (mainly for kids), sponsor's booths with free gifts and goody bags, and a huge food and concession area.

We finally got Lily to leave the sprayground by promising her french fries and ice cream! While I usually don't pass up an opportunity to get a funnel cake, it wasn't sounding too appealing since it was so warm out.

Lily enjoying her free sample of Italian Ice. Her chin was blue for the rest of the night.

(she is still wet from the water -- not sweat. Surprisingly I wasn't really hot until later when we were sitting and the sun went down -- then I got hot. It was strange)

I went straight to the Ben & Jerry's booth! I was stoaked to find they had my favorite flavor -- Phish Food!! Lily wanted one too, but I knew she wouldn't eat it so I just let her taste mine.

After loading up on snacks we found a nice spot on the lawn to relax and watch the headlining act -- Smash Mouth! It was fun and sad since in between bands they would play all Michael Jackson songs. It was neat to pay tribute with the crowd, but sad at the same time since it is still so shocking and unbelievable that he died two days ago!

Chip was making fun of me since I was kinda excited to see Smash Mouth! It is not like I would pay to go to a Smash Mouth concert, but I knew 4 times as many Smash Mouth songs as I knew George Strait songs and I went to that show!!

It was fun! They put on a good show. They played all their hits (all 4 of them) and their other songs sounded the same, so it was fun to dance too! Their encore was a variety of different cover songs so that was fun too -- everything from Van Halen to House of Pain (although no Michael Jackson, which surprised me)!

There had to be 35,000 + people there, so it was so random that Lily's friend from the neighborhood playgroup Shira, sat right behind us!! It was bittersweet for me since Lily ran off to hang out with her friend. I mean it was great and so cute to watch her play with Shira, but sad since she already rather go be with her friends than me. :(

They played in Shira's wagon for awhile and warmed up to each other. . . .

. . . and then it was time to party!

They ran around and danced and screamed and had SO much fun!!

We sat next to an area that was marked off as a walk way -- so it gave them lots of area to dance in.

They would hold hands and dance. It was SO cute. Shira is only 12 days older than Lily and they are a lot alike.

Lily was loving Smash Mouth!

The band played for an hour and a half and they ran and danced the whole entire time. It was so fun and exhausting (for me!)

Immediately after Smash Mouth it was firework time!! I wanted Lily to watch the fireworks with us and not with Shira's family. Luckily Chip had kettle corn and the girls wanted some, so we brought Shira's wagon over by our blanket so they could be contained while it was dark and enjoy the fireworks and popcorn from the comfort of the wagon! It was perfect.

This photo cracked me up since they have a similar look on their faces while watching the fireworks.

I was SO excited when I finally discovered the best setting on my camera for taking firework photos and lighting Lily at the same time! Woo-Hoo!

They were SO cute. They would scream, laugh and cheer for the firworks.

Lily had so much fun! She's been asking all morning to go back again. Hopefully next week when we do get to do it all again for the 4th, it will be just as much fun!