You can Like two Teams, but only one can be your Favorite

I was born and raised a Phillies fan. And after yesterday, I know that will never change. You see, we took my parents (who are the die hard fans who instilled the love for the Phighin' Phils in me) to a game in Baltimore. It was their Christmas present. We chose that game for a couple of reasons. The first being Baltimore is a quick drive down the road from our house and we really like going to Camden Yards. It is a great stadium. And comparably speaking, I would know. I am married to a guy who not only loves baseball, but also loves baseball stadiums. We've been to lots of stadiums and in my humble opinion Camden Yards is still one of the best.

I'll spare you by showing you just two of the artsy pictures I took while at the game. You're welcome- Saturday, June 9.

The second reason for our trip to Baltimore is because of number twenty five, Mr. Jim Thome. For those of you who don't follow baseball, Jim Thome played a stint with the Phillies in the early 2000s. At that point in time, as The Oldest was just coming into his appreciation of baseball, Jim Thome became his first favorite player ever. Here is a picture of The Oldest posing with a giant poster of Jim Thome at his first Phillies game just a few days after he had turned one.

 Daddy, The Oldest, and Jim Thome- Saturday, July 19, 2003.

After several years in the AL, Jim Thome is now back with Philadelphia. The only problem is that playing baseball for 20 years has caught up to him and he really can't do much more than bat. So when we found out the Phillies would be playing in Baltimore during inter-league play this year, we jumped at the chance to see Jim Thome in action as the DH. 

The fans waiting to cheer on Jim Thome- Saturday, June 9.

 Same fans waiting to cheer on Jim Thome nine years ago- Saturday, July 19, 2003.

The Oldest enjoying the game- Saturday, June 9.

The Oldest enjoying the game nine years earlier- Saturday, July 19, 2003.

It was a good game, went twelve innings. It's always a bonus when you get extra innings at the ball park. Jim Thome didn't disappoint. He hit his first home run since returning to the Phillies. The whole stadium (which was estimated on a Phillies thread on Twitter to be about 108% Phillies fans by an apparently very reliable source on estimating) was on its feet when he came up to bat. It was a great moment.

 The pause and point before pulling the bat back- Saturday, June 9.

Crossing home plate after rounding the bases. Go Jim Thome!- Saturday, June 9.

Amid the sea of red in the stands you could pick out a few O's fans if you squinted really hard. Our entire section was sporting red and blue except for one lady in the front row and me. I had come to the game in an Orioles shirt; one, because I really liked the shirt and two, because I have come to really like the Orioles since moving to our MD line community. They have been terrible for as long as we have lived here and share a division with the Yankees and Red Sox, so in my mind they are the ultimate underdogs, and who doesn't love to root for the underdog? This year they actually started out doing really well, which made it even more fun to like the Orioles.

I had officially decided to adopt the Orioles as my favorite AL team and so I bought an O's shirt with a really great bird on it. When it came time to go to the game, I wasn't torn about what to wear at all. I put the O's t-shirt on and packed my Phillies jersey in my pack. I didn't really have a game plan, whether I would cheer for whoever was batting, switch out the jersey when the home team was in the field, I just figured I would roll with it once I got there. Well, it didn't take long before I knew the jersey wasn't going to be coming out of the bag. Not because I suddenly realized I loved the Orioles more than the Phillies, but because it was really hot. No, top of the first inning I was on my feet yelling and cheering for the visitors. It wasn't a choice. First love triumphed and I spent the game cheering like crazy for the Phillies in my really cute Orioles shirt.

The Orioles ended up winning the game. Not the outcome I was hoping for, but also not the let down it would usually be. At least if the Phillies had to loose it was to my second favorite team (who happens to have a way cuter t-shirt).

This is the only picture I took of myself at the game, so I can't even show you my cute shirt. I'll show you my cute husband instead- Saturday, June 9.

It was Really Neat

My Husband and I went on a hot air balloon ride on Friday evening. You would think I would have gobs of beautiful, descriptive words to share with you regarding our time in the air, but the best I can give you is that the whole thing was really neat. I think it is something you just have to experience for yourself (or look at the million and one pictures I am posting today and try to live vicariously through our experience).

 The basket.

 Starting to fill the balloon at a little local carnival.

 Ferris wheel still poking out in the background.

 My Husband kept being chosen to help with the set up. "Hey, you're nice and tall, come hold these ropes..."

 We sailed with another balloon. Ours is on the right.

 My Husband trying to avoid being burned up.

 Standing up.

 Our take off.

 Take off of our companion balloon.

 Flying over the carnival.

 Companion balloon.

 A startled bird, not at all used to looking up at humans from his treetop perch.

 My favorite picture.

 Watching our shadow.

 Firing up our balloon.

 Both balloons.

 The cows we visited were not too happy about the loud, fire-belching ufo flying over their fields. This herd actually stopped mid-stampede to take a quick look before they continued their desperate run to the barns.

 Our companion balloon firing up.

 We landed in a farmer's field. The whole family came racing to meet us on four wheelers. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw there were cameras and not guns in their hands.

 And just like that the balloon is deflated and stuffed in a bag, awaiting its next chance to soar.

We were treated to the most amazing sunset upon our landing. It is hot air balloon tradition to toast with the homeowners where you land (if in fact they come out with cameras instead of guns) after each successful balloon ride. So we gathered with the patriarch of the multi-generation farming family, who came out in his slippers, and told us stories about growing up and farming the land. It was such a sweet way to end our day. Pretty neat- Friday, June 8.

Clematis

Not much to say. Forgot to post this one yesterday.

Clematis- Thursday, June 8.

Last Day of School

Today was the last day of school. First Grader finished up her year at the local public school and we circled day 180 on the calendar at our little school at home. Overall it was a great school year for everybody. Some are more excited about it's ending than others. I fall somewhere in the middle. I am glad to have a break from planning and grading and teaching, but I am going to miss the focused time spent with The Oldest. That was the best surprise wrapped up in this whole home school experiment. I found out how much I loved being at home with my kids. That may sound funny since that has been my job for the past ten years, but it was different for me this year because homeschool was a choice that brought children back home during time that they had before spent in someone else's care. Having kids early in our marriage, and not ever having a job outside of what I do at home, I had secretly been counting down to the year when everybody would be in school. I had no idea what I would do with time and space filled only with me, but yearned for the excitement and possibility of it all. When we decided to give homeschooling a try this year, I had worried I would feel cramped, that I would resent having to give up my time. And I'll be honest, the first three months were quite a period of adjustment for me. I felt a bit lost in the midst of trying to figure out how to do life now having devoted a significant amount of time to something that had not been mine to juggle before.

But with lots of tying and trying again, I think we figured it out. And I can say I really came to love the time I got to spend with The Oldest. There were days I would be sitting on the couch reading history or listening to him dissect sentences that I found myself wondering what I did with my days before I stumbled across the blessing of partnering in my child's journey of learning. Don't get me wrong, I am ready for summer vacation, for days at the pool, breakfast at 10:00, relaxed bedtimes and the hope of worn out kids sleeping in, even just a little bit. But I am also looking forward to sitting down and looking through all the new books I just put on our school shelf. The shelf holds a bit more this year because we've decided to bring First Grader home for school next year, too. As I think about that adventure, I have a new file of wonders and concerns-I wonder where we will find space to do all this learning. I can't quite imagine just how I will have the time and patience to teach two kids. I could go on, but before heading to bed on this last day of school, I would rather smile with the giddy feeling of accomplishment that finishing well brings. I'm proud of all my kids this year and shake my head in disbelief that another school year has come to a close. It's been a good one and has left me looking forward to next year (after a nice, long summer vacation, of course).

Pictures from the last day of school.

 As I came a bit groggily down the steps this morning, I was surprised to see my usual spot on the couch already taken by The Oldest. By the time My Husband made it downstairs, The Oldest had completed his final two assignments of the year. (He doesn't usually snuggle up with the wall clock while doing his work, I added it as a fun prop for a clever last day of school picture. The second picture gives you a glimpse of just how clever The Oldest thought the whole thing to be)- Thursday, June 7.

 First Grader had beach day today. Anything with a theme that involves coming up with an outfit is right up her alley. But, except for the outfit, she was the one who was less than happy about the last day of school. When she got in the van after school today she threw herself over the console of the front seat and burst into tears. Up to this point last days of school have not been the happiest of times for her. Yesterday we ran into her preschool teacher at the library. She was asking if First Grader was done with school yet. When we told her she had one more day, she looked at me and quietly asked if it was going to be a rough day for First Grader. Apparently her teacher had not forgotten the image of sobbing First Grader on the last day of preschool, determined not to leave the outside steps of the building because she was so upset the year was through. The tears were quieter this year, but no less genuine. I ached for her, but smiled too at how precious she is- Thursday, June 7.

 

I couldn't leave out Little One, though her last day of school was almost a month ago. I overheard her bragging to one of our friends today that she was the first one done with school this year. "I learned everything already," she said. Well, that will make my job a lot easier in the years to come!- Thursday, June 7.

Back Roads

I love driving on back roads. I don't think there are nearly enough of them around here, so I am always glad for a destination whose route winds through fields and empty spaces. Yesterday we needed to make a trip to the big city. As far as cities go, it's not really that big at all, but our little city was out of what we needed, so we loaded up and headed south. The path to the said 'big city' curves over rolling hills dotted with farms and fields and a few beautiful houses perched in such a way that their owners take in the fabulous views of my drive every time they look out their windows.

Yesterday, just before crossing over the Mason-Dixon Line on our scenic route, we got stuck in a bit of a back road traffic jam. Coming around a bend and up a little hill, I quickly applied the brakes to avoid running into three cars that had come to a complete stop behind a dump truck parked with it's bed still taking up half the road. A crew of men dressed in orange were working hard to put down another layer of asphalt right where I wanted to drive. Since traffic usually trickles by the places they were working, they didn't seem to have much of a system in order to aid in its now slightly backlogged flow. We all just sat there waiting, looking for some hint of a sign or flag or at least a person who was aware of the parking lot being created on the road. I really wasn't in a hurry and already had the windows rolled down (you have to ride on country roads in the summer with the windows down), so I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures out the passenger's side.

This was my favorite- Tuesday, June 5.

A lone worker in orange finally noticed the line of cars and began motioning for us to weave our way through the gauntlet of construction vehicles scattered across the road. Once we were safe on the other side, we continued our ride through hill and vale, eventually emerging onto the three lane divided highway that led to our planned destination. And since we had gotten stuck in all that traffic on the way, we were really hungry; so, we had to stop at Chick-Fil-A. Good thing we did because they were giving away little cups of their banana pie milkshake. Things really do work out in the end.

Winning Stuff on my Birthday

Last year if you would have asked me what I was getting for my birthday, I would have told you, "A Shelby Cobra." You see, I was convinced I was going to win one last year on my birthday. I'm not much for reading into things, but circumstances seemed to be lining up in just such a way that I could see myself sitting behind the wheel of a brand new, bright blue, signed Carroll Shelby Cobra. There was a drawing for just such a car (with a white racing stripe) being held last year, the winner being chosen on my birthday. This was no little raffle. My friend told me about it after driving past a billboard on the turnpike. The drawing has its own website- www.holynameshelby.com (You can check it out yourself. They just had this year's drawing and a guy from my town won. I'm happy for him, but sad for me). I thought for sure I would win the car that had my name being raffled off on my birthday, but I didn't. Some lady named Donna did. I was a little bitter, but I'm getting over it.

So today, as My Husband and I pulled away from the babysitter-manned house for a birthday dinner at the local seafood restaurant, he casually said, "Guess what I won today?" I had no clue. Had he asked me last year, I would have known the answer for certain, but we hadn't entered the raffle this year, the Cobra was red and the drawing was not on my birthday. When he could see I had no guesses, he told me. "An ipad." He went on to tell me the hows of his winning it from completing some accountant survey and that since he already has one and he won it on my birthday, he figured it would be a pretty sweet birthday surprise for me. I must say I agree. I won something on my birthday! Well, technically My Husband won something on my birthday and is giving it to me, but that's what birthdays are for- giving awesome things to people.

We went to Target after our dinner (I had crab legs- they were super amazing) and this is what I got-

 A cover for my new ipad (it's being sent to the recently confirmed winning address)- Monday, June 4.

And a really awesome Shelby Cobra shirt. This will most definitely help in my wait for the real thing- Monday, June 4.

The butter for my crab legs. Open flame, super melty. Yum- Monday, June 4.

A shot of the sky around 8:00 tonight. Though I don't remember, it was apparently a very rainy day on the June 4th I was born. It is also family legend that it has rained on nearly every June 4th since. This phenomenon has been true the past couple of years, but I was convinced as I took this photo that we had made it through a birthday with no rain. An hour later, however, it started to drizzle, just enough to leave drops on the sidewalk and to continue the streak of rainy birthdays. But today, even the raindrops made me smile- Monday, June 4.

How Our Garden Does Grow and Two Pretty Maids in a Row

It's been hot and sunny, and in between, we've had lots of rain. Except for the two planters on my deck that are too heavy to move out in the rain, I haven't yet had to water a thing I have planted. I am getting spoiled and so are all my plants. We've had our first fruits and blooms this week, which is always such an exciting thing. I am still really amazed by what comes out of the little tiny seeds that we drop into the dirt. The amount of growth astounds me. I think the whole thing is a wonderfully fascinating mystery, and love watching the process almost as much as eating the fruits of it.

 I fretted all winter long about my hibiscus. He never seemed happy inside. But this week his first blooms opened up and I was very pleased to see this beautiful sign of life- Wednesday, May 30.

 Our first red raspberry. The bush was a new addition last year and is busy taking over my rhubarb box. I need to do some reading up on raspberries- Thursday, May 31.

 Strawberries, busy taking over the corner of another box- Thursday, May 31.

 The first cucumber blooms. Some of my favorite veggies in our patch- Thursday, May 31.

 Our magic beanstalk. Not long until we can visit the giant's castle- Thursday, May 31.

 Carrots- Thursday, May 31.

My zucchini plant. Shoo fly- Thursday, May 31. 

The girls have been enjoying their new home under one of our pine trees. I love watching them play together in their special little spot. I think it is so wonderful partly because I remember how fun it was to do the very same thing. I had one of those turtle sand boxes with the shell lid, and my friend Nicole and I would set up house underneath it as it sat propped up against a little red maple in our yard. Memories that still make me smile...

Sisters enjoying a space of imagination and laughter, busy making memories of their own - Thursday, May 31.