This week has been one full of art, playdoh and coloring!  B has really started enjoying the creative artsy types of things that she has shown only mild interest in until recently.  Everyday she wants to color with her crayons, do workbooks with her markers, play “barbershop” with her playdoh and paint, paint, paint.

I found a REALLY cool place about 15 minutes from our house that is a T-shirt painting studio.  It’s called My-Tee Paintworks and it is really a fun place for the kiddos.  They have tons of paints - sparkle, 3D, puff, shiny, etc. and stencils, paintbrushes, and sponges galore, along with awesome books with fun ideas for designs.

We scheduled a play date with the Hernandez girls there yesterday and spent about an hour and a half being creative with them.  B made 3 shirts - 1 tank top and t-shirt for her and a onesie for her new cousin who is coming soon. 

B has also been trying to take after her idol - Dora and wear an “artist hat” (beret) when she colors.  One of her Dora books is about an art fair and Dora and Boots wear berets and paint artwork for a local art fair.  One day out of the blue while B was coloring, she said “Mommy, I need an artist hat like Dora and Boots wear.”  I went and dug in my closet and found a snow hat and fashioned it into a beret.  She has been putting the hat on herself lately so it is stretching back into a snow hat and this morning I was laughing because she HAD to put it on in order to color.

We hope you all get to do something creative and kid-like this week or weekend!  I know for me, it’s a joy getting to do all of the fun thing I used to do, but don’t seem to have time for anymore!!  Have a great Friday!

Love,

MLB Mama

So we’re in the “Dog Days” now and I’m looking for another All-Star Break, or at least 2 days in a row where I can catch up on some sleep.  The last 6 weeks of any season are a bit more intense, especially when the team is still in a position to make a playoff push.  We tend to bear down a bit more and, some - like my wife - would say, overanalyze as much information as we can process in an effort to take an extra base here, get a big out from the opponent’s 4-hitter there, or try to steal the other teams signs … anything to give us that extra edge.  The rosters also expand on September 1st so we’ll have at least 5 additional bodies to evaluate and game plan for with every team we play from that point.

Due to this “6 week scramble” I tend to really enjoy the off-days at home even more so than earlier in the year.  I had one yesterday and was able to just hang out with the girls and do normal stuff (grocery store, BBQ in the back yard, do a couple of chores, play with B, and go to bed before 2:30 am).  It was awesome and I’m looking forward to my next one in a few weeks.

I know this is a short one but there’s work to be done … we start a series with the Padres tonight so, those of you in SD, look for me on TV (Channel 4 for those of you not in tune with baseball in your area). 

On a side note - I can’t wait to not have to hear about Manny Ramirez …  

Hi There!

B got her haircut today and I must say I am jealous of the beautiful NATURAL curls that make up her hair! If I was so lucky to have hair like her, I would save tons of money every year on perms Anyway, I wanted to send a picture of her new “do” as well as a video that is sure to make you all smile.

She has been on a singing spell lately and EVERYTHING is a song so…. I thought you all might like to hear her voice (and it’s in tune - must take after Aunt Devyn)

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Love,

MLB Mama

Hello Everyone!!!

I wanted to take a few minutes to post about our recent trip to Northern CA.  Tom and Sheri bought me an airline ticket to go up with Matt for my Birthday and my parents graciously agreed to take B up to the cabin with them for a few days.  When she is up there, she doesn’t even know I am gone.  She is such a busybody playing in the garden and being outside so it doesn’t even matter Mom isn’t there!!

We flew up to San Francisco on Matt’s off-day in the morning so we would have the whole day together rather than flying with the team in the evening.  When we arrived we grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants (Mexican) that Matt likes to eat at near the hotel and then we took a cab down to Pier 39.  We did some shopping (clothes for Braelyn and candy for Matt) and walked around the Embarcadero enjoying the cool weather and the people watching.

We had to make a stop at the Sea Lion and Seal area to take some pictures of them for Braelyn.  They were so funny, pushing each other off the piers and barking and splashing all around.

That night we went to a really nice dinner at the Cliffhouse right by the ocean.  It had a great view and yummy (if not snooty) food! 

The next day we spent the morning walking around the city and Matt took off for the game after lunch. 

I got some great alone time to read, work out and catch up on emails in the hotel and then watched the game on TV that night.  On Saturday morning, we got up and took a cab to one of Matt’s college baseball teammates house to borrow his car for our adventure over to Sausalito.

That night, I cabbed it to AT&T Park where I got to sit with Matt and watch a Dbacks baseball game with him for the first time in something like 4 years.  The seats were great (right behind home plate and 9 rows up from the field) and the game ended in a Dbacks win for Brandon Webb.  I waited outside the clubhouse for Matt took the team bus with him from the field to the hotel.

The next morning (Sunday) we got up for an early morning walk before Matt had to leave for the field.  I left for the airport shortly after he left and then began the long trek on the airport shuttle, walking through the airport, a late flight and FINALLY home.  B was just waking up when I got home and she was excited to see me.

We had such a great time exploring and spending some much needed time together.  We only have 2 more months (and hopefully playoffs) left of the season and we are planning at least 1 more travel trip to San Diego.  We hope you will all continue to cheer for the Dbacks and that we can see you in our last few travels of the season.

Love to all,

MLB Mama