On Sunday afternoon we had a major first in this house. Lily didn’t crawl (although, she’s super close!), but she did stay with a babysitter by herself for the first time… The big “first” though was taking the boys to their first Major League Baseball game!
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The Boston Red Sox just happened to be visiting the Kansas City Royals this past weekend and my parents were here visiting at the same time (funny how often that seems to happen 😉 ), so we knew it was the perfect chance to introduce the boys to baseball! Last winter my dad ordered enough tickets for themselves, Laura and Mason, the boys and me (Nick had to work – boo!) and I’ve been building the boys up for it all summer.
Dad bought cheaper seats, figuring the boys wouldn’t actually last a whole game, especially in the August heat, but guess what? Those boys lasted the entire game! We got to our seats at the bottom of the first (I made a rookie mistake and parked on the wrong side of the stadium, so we had a looooong walk in), and we left well after the game finished.
You’ll all find this part amazing, I’m sure… Never once did the boys whine. Seriously! It was hot (90 I think?), sunny and long and the boys never whined.
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Laura and Mason took them for a walk to find some food around the 4th inning.
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About halfway through the 6th, I took them on a walk around the stadium to pick up their “first game” certificates from guest services, and show them things like the fountain (up close) and the “Little K” area for kids.
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Fun story that shows I’m not just some dumb girl who is a bandwagon Sox fan: While walking around with the boys, some 20-something year old guys jokingly asked if the names on the back of the shirts were really the boys’ names.
Me: Well, of course!
Them: Right, cause you just knew back then that those players would be on the team so you’d be able to buy shirts.
Me: Obviously I paid attention to the farm system.
Them: (Jaws dropped, cause a girl just used the term “farm system”) Yes! Gotta watch the farm system!
Then they laughed and walked off. I enjoyed proving myself 😉
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For the bulk of the game, the boys sat in their seats watching the game. They were a bit bummed though that The K (stadium nickname) didn’t shoot off fireworks or the fountains when the Red Sox hit their home run. They couldn’t understand why they would only do that for the Royals.
Our seats were just behind the Red Sox bullpen, so at the mid-point of the 8th inning the boys and I went down the stairs that ran along it and peeked in. The guy with his head down in that bottom, middle picture above is Jonathan Papelbon!
Know what was the boys’ very favorite part of the day? When I told them it was time to line up to run the bases. Yep. After the game was over, kids at the stadium could go out on the field and run the bases!
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I recruited Uncle Mason to help me with crowd control in the line and it’s a good thing – those boys were wound up with excitement!
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My boys and me on the warning track!
(L-R: (I think!) Ty, Chase and Jackson)
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Uncle Mason and his favorite nephews!
(I just have to say how awesome Mason is with the boys! You’d think he’d been their uncle since they were born, not just “officially” for 3 months or even that he’s only been really getting to know them for the last 10 months or so.)
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Run, boys, run! They’re waving you home!
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That’s what 4 hours at the ballpark will do to you…
That and a chocolate malt and not enough napkins… 😉
Here’s the boys’ take on the game in video form! (Direct link to the YouTube video, for you e-mail subscribers.)
It looks like your family had a lot of fun. The boys are super cute in their hats and jerseys.
Thank you, Lisa! I loved seeing them in those shirts and hats too 🙂
Looks like such fun! They are so cute in their matching shirts. I love the first photo of them looking over the field.
Thank you, Deb! I think that first one is one of my favorite shots of them in a long time. (Even with the beer bottle in it 😉 )
Looks like you have some future baseball players on your hand!!! Too cute 🙂
Here’s hoping, Lori! I want free admission!
Go Red Sox! We will be at Fenway on Friday!
Color me jealous, Chantal! I haven’t been to Fenway in many, many years! Say hi to the Monstah for me 😉
Mom and I are SO proud of those little Sox fans !! I want to know who it was having the beer in the first picture…..
Treasured memories for sure.
If you can’t be at Fenway, the next best thing is watching the Sox play and win in your town. The boys are adorable in their Red Sox shirts & hats. Smart Momma for building it up all summer. You can tell they really enjoyed themselves. One of the pictures with Mason, I don’t know who it is, but he is standing off to the side with his hands on his knees, looks like a natural, like he’s been playing the game or watching the big guys. With three boys no doubt your home will have some or all of your sons playing a sport, and you, Nick & Lily will spend the next 15 plus years at a ball park, basketball court, soccer field or hockey rink cheering them on…My Aunt has 5 sons, her baby just graduated college. They all did baseball, hockey, and soccer. I remember her youngest in a baby carrier going to his brother’s games, we used to call him a portable baby. If you ask her those were the best of times. She misses those days.
Great pictures!! All of the Red Sox fans here at Lincoln Academy enjoyed them immensely! Glad you had a great visit with your mom and dad. love you guys!
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