SPRING TRAINING 2014!!

Rock and I made the trip down to Spring Training for the second straight year.  We joined Nick, Papa Dale and KC who had made this trip many times before.  Rock was pretty excited to play, watch baseball and play.

When we first walked to the fields Nick saw a ball just out of reach on the other side of the fence.  It took some ingenuity but he finally got the ball over the fence.

He had to use Rocko's tiny arms to try and reach it.

We went to two games up at Talking Stick where they had a field for kiddos.  Rock loved showing off his skillz.

He doesn't quite stand like a baseball player, but we're working on his posture.

Between session on the field he would watch Bubble Guppies or Power Rangers.

He borrowed my hat so that it could go over the headphones instead of under them.

We had perfect weather and fun games to watch.

A full day of sun and batting practice can wear out a little guy.  He hasn't fallen asleep like this since he was Jens' age which made it especially nice to cuddle him.

He did wake up in time for Chino Bandido, a Mexican Asian restaurant that is delicious.

And then he crashed again on the way to the hotel.

The second day was just as fun as the first.  He was full on baseball player and loved jumping on the giant balls.

The nice retired guy offered to let Rock drive the golf cart, and neither Daddy nor Papa Dale saw anything wrong with letting him sit on a stranger's lap.

Another day, another ball behind the fence.

Rock definitely had the hang of this baseball thing.

He found the giant balls at the practice facility and loved playing king of the baseball.

One of the games was at night which gave Rock an opportunity to take batting practice before he took live cuts.

We also stopped at Alice Cooperstown, a sports bar that Alice owns with Randy Johnson.  Rock didn't want to look at me but he wanted to make it look like he was looking at me.

Rock never falls asleep anymore, the kid is like a sleep camel.  But this trip must have been a blast since he was sleeping whenever he sat down.

When the time came he was definitely ready to whack the whiffle out of the ball.

 

The M's game was pretty fun, too.  Like I said, the weather was freaking perfect.

The cotton candy was pretty good, too.

The poor guy was so exhausted that his nightly delicious Culver's Oreo Concrete took all the determination and dedication that he had left.

He puts on a brave face, but look at those tired eyes.

He was pretty excited to go home to his toys and Ryker.  He enjoyed Bubble Guppies and TMNT all the way home.  He wanted me to take a picture of him happy to remember the great trip.  

Learning from Mommy and Chayo Food

It's funny what little kids pick up on their own, like the way Jens sits and uses the computer in a random position.

  Wait...maybe she did learn it somewhere.

 Spring is finally here and Rock doesn't turn into a Rocksicle while waiting for the bus in the mornings.

  Poly's 13th birthday came with delicious beef mole, frijoles picantes and delicious rice.  Jens loves Chayo food almost as much as she loves Daddy's mac and cheese.

Rock and Ryker also love Chayo food, but one loves playing more and when the other one needs a nap he takes a nap.

"Muy, muy delicioso!"

Ryker is a professional nap taker.

Even Huddy and his family was there!

Rock found out that my phone has action settings, so he wanted to see what he would look like in super speed mode.

He's a ninja turtle that wears Captain America boots and plays soccer, so he's an everyman.

The professional napper finally woke up and munched some delicious Chayo food.

Rock, Papa Dale, Nick, KC and I went down to Arizona for spring training last Wednesday.  Ryker and Jens met me at the office to say goodbye.  Jens tried to talk Papa Dale into letting her come on the trip.

Her plan didn't work,but I think she had a fun time with Mommy and Ryker.

DeA's Birthday and a Popsicle Explosion

All DeAndra wanted for her birthday was a modest ice cream cake, some time alone, a three hour nap, a trip to Hawaii, an all day massage and a new house. We did well on some of the stuff, especially her cake. 

 Ryker is a cuddly little Gyker Dale.  He loves falling asleep while cuddling with Mama Rae. 

 Goodnight little buddy.

 Jens definitely knows that she is a precious little princess.

 And she knows that she is stinking adorable.

 Huddy and Jens don't get to do sleepovers at Papa Dale's and Mama Rae's house yet, but they do get excited to jump on the blow up mattress.

 Lil' Maddex needs more brothers and less sisters.

 DeA excited the boys with a new piece of technology called a popcorn popper.  Everyone was pretty excited.

 Jens begs for chocolate covered almonds but then spits out the cleaned nuts.  This was all in her mouth at one time.

 Being the only girl hasn't been easy on Jens.  She wants to laser fight with the boys but she can't figure out why she always loses. 

 The boys are the only ones that are excited when it is our turn to clean the church.  They love "helping" Papa Dale mop the floors.

Papa Dale keeps a close eye to make sure everything is up to standard.

 We rewarded the little monkeys with some wiggle releasing basketball.

 "Give me the rock!  Pass me the rock!  I'm open!"

 It is starting to warm up outside which makes the kids crave popsicles even more. 

 When Jensley sleeps she likes to mimic the King of Pop.

 Yeah!  More popsicles! 

 Ryker loves his fudgesicle so much that he wore it on the way home.

 Jens stands by the freezer and yells "Bapa!  Bapa!" until he gets her a push-up.

 Still wearing and loving that fudgesicle.

 Rock was happy to just sit and watch Bubble Guppies.

  Popsicles and Bubble Guppies, that's the life.