Sunday - Future's Game and Celebrity Softball Game

We just got back home from what will go down as possibly the best vacation ever (for us, that is!). We went to the MLB All Star Game in St. Louis and got to see and do more than we ever imagined possible. We also took a LOT of pictures. So, I'm going to break the posts down into each day we were there and hopefully get them all up in the next few days. So here's Day One!

We headed to the ballpark after church on Sunday. The Future's Game was scheduled to start at 1:00 and then the Celebrity Softball Game would follow that. So, we knew it was going to be a long day (with no nap for a little girl who will remain unnamed), but we had no idea HOW long it would go. The game did start at 1:00. About 20 minutes later, the downpour began... (that's a picture of the arch in the background - what we could still see of it under the storm clouds, at least)
So, the game was delayed...for FOUR HOURS!! Since there was a no re-entry rule on these games, we created our own entertainment within the confines of Busch Stadium.

We ate lunch...

Checked the radar on Daddy's Blackberry

Used the sharpies we'd brought for autographs to make the program more interesting...

Had a fashion show with our rain gear...

Got all sugared up...and then made some silly faces...

And basically just had fun.

Just when the "create your own fun" was losing to some nap-deprived crankiness,

they took the tarp off of the field! Let the game begin...again!!!

No rain delay was going to ruin our fun!We had great seats for this day. Here's a picture of the action...

Since it was the Future's Game, it consisted of a lot of minor league players that very few of you are probably interested in. So, I'll just show a picture of the two players we cheered for the most. Ted's hope for the Cub's future - Josh Vitters (who walks, throws, hits and runs just like Ian Kinsler, which was kind of eerie).
And one of the Ranger's up and coming pitchers (hopefully up and coming to the starting lineup soon!), Neftali Feliz.

The World team celebrating their win.

Soon after that it was time for The Legends/Celebrity Softball Game. I probably laughed the most during this game. Lots of fun! I won't post all of the pictures that we took of the baseball greats or celebrities, but here are a few...

The great Ozzie Smith

Dave Winfield

NellyThis isn't the greatest picture, but it was a great moment of the game. Nelly totally fell over the wall in the outfield while trying for a homerun ball. The ball dropped about 15 feet past the wall!Shawn Johnson

Look how short she is!!

Bobby Knight - hilarious

Ashanti

Good thing she can sing because she was HORRIBLE at softball. And Mike Golic.

For those who are interested, the complete roster consisted of...

"Legends" - Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Davis Winfield, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Ernie Banks, Lee Smith, Vince Coleman, Whitey Herzog, Tommy John and Fred Lynn.
"Celebrities" -Ashanti, Chingy, James Senton, Carlos Diaz, Carl Edwards, Jenna Fischer, Ginuwine, Mike Golic, Mike Greensberg, Jon Hamm, Shawn Johnson, Bob Knight, Brian Littrell, Nelly, Andy Richter, Billy Bob Thornton and Annie Wersching.
And in order to have women that actually knew what they were doing, there were also pro softball players there - Kristen Butler, Megan Gibson, Samantha Findlay and Trena Peel.
You're welcome for not posting pictures of all of them here!!

So, due to the rain delay, we ended up being at the ballpark for quite a bit longer than expected! Here's Madigan showing everyone that she was on her 8th hour at the ballpark...

And still going strong!

It took all of 5 minutes after we got back to the hotel for her to look like this!
We had so much fun at both games and even the 4 hours we spent chillin at the ballpark! And that was just day one! Stay tuned for more...

Surprise Visit

On Sunday, we had a special guest come and stay at our house for a few days. Aunt Kate was in Nashville for the weekend and decided to detour on the way home (about 10 hours!) and come see us. We didn't tell Madigan she was coming. Needless to say, Madi was beside herself when Kate arrived!

Unfortunately, I did a poor job of taking pictures during her stay so I don't have many pictures of the two of them together. However, Aunt Kate took some fabulous pictures of Madigan and the two kiddos I keep in the summer (Hadyn and Harrison), so I thought I'd share those.

Eating popsicles

Madigan and Hadyn

The after-snowcone face at Mommy's ballgame

Caught! (doing what, we're still not sure...)

One day we went to eat lunch with Ted at Heifer's new cafe and then showed Aunt Kate the new education center. Here's the girls watching a movie about Heifer.
What was Harrison doing while the girls were playing? Just hanging out... on the bed...behind the mosquito net! (I promise he was supervised during this time!)
We had a wonderful time and Madigan has yet to stop talking about Aunt Kate coming to see HER. :) Thanks so much for making that trip Kate! We love you!

Wedding, Friends, and Family

Weekend before last we headed down to East Texas for a friend's wedding. Unfortunately, we left the camera (along with the gift - whole other story) in our car...at my parent's house...and then rode with my mom in their car. So, we don't have pictures from the wedding. Oops! But you can just trust me when I say that the wedding was beautiful. We're very excited for Phillip and Sarah Foreman!

After the wedding, the Owens came back with us to my parent's house for the night. Lexie and I have been friends since 5th grade and even survived as roommates at Harding together for a while! Fortunately for us, our husbands also like each other and now we've gotten add some kiddos to the mix. This is her sweet baby boy, Hudson. Isn't he adorable?!

He's very laid back, so he and Ted got along quite well...Here's a pic of all 6 of us before church Sunday morning. We had a great time hanging out with them and just wish we all lived closer so we could do it more often.We also enjoyed spending time with my parents even though it was a very quick trip. Here's a sweet picture of Madigan and Gee Gee before church on Sunday. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us all crash in your house for the night! We had a great time!

North Carolina - Summer 2009

We made it back last week from our summer trip to see Ted's family. As always, we had a wonderful time! We were able to stay for almost a whole week this time, which was great. But, that means that I have LOTS of pictures to post of the trip! So, I'll go easy on the commentary and get to the pics!

This was taken at the airport when we arrived...at 1:00 in the MORNING! Madigan looks really sleepy, huh? She didn't sleep a wink on either plane and lasted until 2:00 that morning before going to sleep and Gramps and Grandi's house. She actually entertained people in the airport and the plane with some upbeat songs like "My God is so Big" and "This World is not my Home ". :)
Once she woke up the next morning, the fun began. Riding in Gramps' old stroller (while on one of those ancient house phones - she'd never seen such a thing!)

Making Pudding Pops with Gramps and Aunt Kate

I love this picture! It captures their relationship really well!

As you can see, Madigan did the sampling while Aunt Kate did the work.

Why wait until they're frozen?

The finished product - what a mess, but oh so good!!!Reading with Aunt Kate

Having tea parties with the bears

And then with the grown ups!Good form, now we just need to get the pinky out. :)

Watering Grandi's plantsToe nail painting with Aunt Kate (who else?!)

I also really like this picture. Grandi recently had rotator cuff surgery and is still working to the the mobility back in her shoulder. So several times a day she would go do her "exercises" on the bed. Madigan started joining her and entertaining her with stories while they "worked out"!We also went to Pullen Park again and rode the train. Such a fun place!

Relaxing with Aunt KateSwingin HIGH!!Playing Mousetrap with Mommy and Aunt Kate. Well actually, we just set it up and tried to catch the mouse at the end. Isn't that all anybody ever did?Madigan opening some "treats" from Aunt Kate. This is a princess headband, which was possibly the one princess accessory that we didn't have yet...And Gramps got her a new pink dress from his recent trip to Honduras. So pretty!Last but not least, a sweet picture of Madigan cuddling with Grandi after Madi's bath.

We had so much fun and loved getting to spend so much time with the family. Thanks to Grandi, Gramps and Aunt Kate for putting your life on hold for us for a week! We love you all!