Baseball Time in Texas

This year was another great year for Texas Rangers baseball, and we were thrilled to be in the middle of it all, as usual. Anthony has been following the Rangers for almost as long as he's been alive, and I became a baseball fan about 13 years ago by default. Nowadays we share our love of all things Texas Rangers (and we're quickly brainwashing our girl and soon-to-be newest little fan). Can't wait till the kids go off to college so we can finally get our season tickets. ;)

Anthony & I were at the regular season game on September 23 -- the AL West clincher. We stayed after the game and fireworks show to watch the end of the Oakland/LA game on the jumbotron. The game itself was a great one (including Gentry's first HR - an inside-the-park HR, at that), and it was really awesome to see our guys realize they would be headed to the postseason once again.



We had tickets to see the Rangers play Tampa Bay during the ALDS, but of course, we spent that evening in the hospital dealing with my lovely kidney stones. :( At least Andrea & Justin were able to go and enjoy the game in our place.

During the ALCS against Detroit, we enjoyed two great games. We had awesome seats for game 1 and enjoyed the game with Justin and one of our good friends. We did experience several really long, cold and wet rain delays, but they pulled out a win in the end.







Game 6 of the ALCS was freaking awesome. We put on our brave faces and took the sweet girl along with us, Ralph and Katherine. The game was a blowout, and our girl (and we) got to see our team advance to the World Series in person!




Someone really enjoyed the music played during one of many Detroit pitching changes!

Okay, Mom...



She was out cold by the time we got to our car. We managed to get half of her pj's on her but gave up on the shirt. :)


The World Series game wasn't quite as good of a game. We got blown out by St. Louis, but it was still pretty amazing to watch our team battle for the big prize in person (and from a seat, which was much better than our standing room tickets last year!).


The 2010 and 2011 AL Champion flags

Our man, Wash!

And my man, Murph!


Dirk throwing out the first pitch. I think that's the highest/tallest wind up I've ever seen in my life.



I doubt we'll get to see as many games in person next year, but we'll definitely be cheering them on from our living room couch for all 160+ games! Only a few more months until spring training begins...

And just for fun, here are a few pics of Baby R2 getting in on the 2011 Rangers season.

Pumpkin Patch '11

This year we made two fun trips to the pumpkin patch. Our first visit was with Daddy to try to get some good photos, and our second trip was with our sweet girlfriends. This year our big girl got to participate in all the fun activities. She had a blast jumping in the bounce house, going down the slides, "riding the tractor" (i.e. going on the hay ride), eating a snow cone and just running, running, running to her heart's content!






Going on the tractor ride!


And look who we found... her two absolute favorites!



And here are a few of my favorites. Man, I love this kid. :)

Mamu's 90th

This October we celebrated my Mamu's 90th birthday. It was a joyous celebration with family and friends gathered from across the state (and Georgia!) to celebrate an amazing woman.

I can't tell you how lucky I am to have grown up so close to both of my sets of grandparents. I have so many wonderful memories centered around my Mamu (and Pop), including sleepovers, holiday celebrations, homemade cookies and breads, the tick tock of her grandfather clock (that I now proudly display on my mantle), the green and pink rooms, the toy closet and so, so much more.

I absolutely adore this photo. Mamu is not a 'picture smiler,' but I caught her. She was full of smiles on her big day.

When I turn 90, I hope I have as many stories to tell, that I look as beautiful and that I am surrounded by as many family members and friends as she is.

Catching Up - September

I'm still trying to catch up in taking more photos and blogging, but this pregnancy/being a Mommy to a 2-year old exhaustion is kicking my butt. Here are a few random pics of other September happenings in our household...

Labor Day picnic at the park


Enjoying the park with Lolly

Visiting the llama (and Lolly & Opa)

Yes, she's still alive and well... ;)

Playing at our friend Hailey's house

We were outside drawing with sidewalk chalk one evening and a hot air balloon flew right over our house! It caused quite the stir!

Enjoying the cooler temps outside!

Helping Daddy install the new kitchen faucet

And sleeping better and better in the big girl bed. Baby Hailey (yes, she named her baby after her friend Hailey) is perfectly placed on her own pillow with her own blanket (she does NOT use the regular "cubbers") every single night. :)