Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

We had the perfect excuse (spring break for Connor and Graeme) and the perfect weather (sunny 60 degrees), so we took the afternoon off, grabbed Graeme's friend Aidan and headed to Camden Yards for the first day game of the season. The Orioles had opened the 2009 season with two big wins against the hated Yankees and we were hoping to cheer them on to a series sweep, but that was not to be. Lots of defensive miscues led to an 11-2 beating by the Bronx Bombers and we headed home with the first one in the loss column. Still smiling though because it was our first time to see the Yankees... and because there are 159 O's games left this year! We'll be back!

Sunny Day

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Orioles FanFest 2009

"Something magic happens, every time you go. You make the magic happen. The magic of Oriole Baseball. O-R-I-O-L-E-S! Magic, Magic, Magic, Magic ! Orioles Magic, Feel It Happen!"

I took Graeme, Owen, Reilly and Pierce to Orioles FanFest (Go MOM!), a fun event held at Camden Yards celebrating the home team and kicking off the new MLB season. All the boys are huge fans and autograph hounds and this is one of the best opportunities all year to rub elbows with the players. The boys brought official MLB baseballs they were lucky enough to snag during pre-game BP last year and had them signed by six Orioles.


They stood in line the longest to get veteran first baseman slugger, Aubrey Huff. When Graeme said, "Mr. Huff, I have you on my fantasy team." Aubrey responded, "Then you're going to win the whole thing, kid!" Graeme was tickled. Later in the afternoon, Huff hit a three-run homer in an exhibition game against the Nationals.

Connor couldn't go to FanFest because his baseball team was in a tournament, so he charged the brothers with scoring him a pitcher autograph. Starting pitchers are the hardest to get during the regular season because they are out secluded in the bullpen getting focused on starting the game and relievers are pretty much never in the dugout, so FanFest can be big in that department. And the little boys did not disappoint, getting Connor's ball signed by hurlers Jamie Walker, Chris Ray and, thanks to a little help from our friends who we bumped into at the Yard, all star closer George Sherrill.
So thanks Emory (in the red hat above) for letting the boys jump in line with you. The next photo of Graeme and outfielder Luke Scott was made possible by you!
And thanks also to Coach Ray for a fun time with Graeme's teammates, and for pushing Pierce's empty stroller around the entire Club Level of the stadium. Pierce, of course, wanted to see it all up close and personal being carried by Mom and saw no need to sit in that stroller thing once he got inside the stadium!

Go Astros! With some magic, you might make it to the bigs, too. Just remember the little people when you do.

Alphabet Soup

Owen and Reilly are A-OK! They both brought home straight A and O/S report cards this week! The academic subjects are graded A, B, C, or D. The behavior/social progress is rated O (outstanding), S (satisfactory), or N (needs improvement). We are, shall I say, familiar with all three ratings. But not this time! Reilly has been ripping through first grade on a straight A tear all year, and this is the first time EVER that third grader Owen has pulled off the feat. They earned a reward UA sweatshirt to share (more soup for you) and giant chocolate bars. Reilly got CRUNCH and Owen got Mr. Goodbar, which Dad immediately dubbed "Mr. GoodBOY"! We are proud of both boys, but the best part, especially after last week..., was seeing how proud Owen was of himself.

No Photo to Prove It

Several of us at Bringing Up BOYS spent an evening at the theater on Friday night! It gets better. It was a musical. And it was ANNIE! Leaping Lizards! I have not been to a high school musical since.... gee, since I was in a high school musical 20 years ago! It is safe to say that Connor and Graeme had NEVER been to a high school musical. So, when Graeme's teammate's big sister invited us to see her play an orphan in her high school play, we jumped at the chance. But we had to call in some reinforcements. Come on down Auntie Jen, Kamberlynne and Rebekah! We all had so much fun. I was amazed to realize I still know every single line of that production thanks to a certain sister who had an OBSESSSION with all things curly, red-headed and optimistic from 1980 until at least 1982. Ah, the memories. We're gonna do it again... maybe. No, definitely!