Spring Training

DeA came up with some questionable excuse to have to fly down to Arizona early, leaving the kids and me to hold down the fort through the hockey tournament and church. Ryker and Jens spent the time remembering what it was like when they were little and their mommy wanted to spend time with them.

There were some moving parts to get to SeaTac, Rissa had to come to the hockey game with us and rode to Cashmere to meet Nama and Hampa who were in the San Juans. Rissa drove Mom back, Dad came with the kids and I to the airport. The flight went pretty smooth, Ryker wore down the battery on his new phone adding contacts and playing chess.

We arrived in PHX a little before midnight, but then issues with the ghetto van kept us from getting to Whit's until around 2am. It's a good thing she called Dad earlier, because otherwise she was expecting us on Tuesday.

The kids always love cousin time.

The 12-passenger van was quite the ride.

The first day of practice was a little cold and windy, but the kids said that they were ready for it.

It looked nice and sunny.

But quickly the kids started looking for cover.

We didn't make it very long because all the kids, young and old, were cold.

The short morning gave us more time to relax.

Cami got right into the spirit of the trip.

Ryker wanted Raising Cane's and Top Golf for his birthday. The cold days postponed Top Golf, but he still got his Cane's.

By Thursday the weather was much better.

We met Schnookums, Lindsey, and Mama Zista at an escape room and ice cream shop. It was a lot of fun.

Top Gold was a big hit with the kids, and they each tried to hit the yellow target on the fly for $5.

It's always nice to have Nick and his good example for the kids.

The little kids really seemed to like running around at practice and enjoying the sunshine.

Jens helped MadBum get autographs from players that they didn't know.

It has been a few years since we were able to do a normal game, with covid and the lockout. Ryker went straight to the nachos.

Uncle Nick did too.

A full day of practice and the game wore little Jens right out.

Spring Training is a baseball trip, and this year that meant little league games for MadBum, D-Rell, and Brando.

Lakai enjoyed the cuddles.

Chick-fil-A is something that we have almost every day.

We were out in the grass on Saturday with our big group. It was a lot of fun.

10th trip in 11 years (no trip during covid). They are getting big.

The kids enjoyed the last night together playing Mario Kart and staying up way too late.

It was a good trip home, but we did hit a blizzard on Snoqualmie and slow-pokes everywhere else.