Take Me Out To The Ball Game

The Brewers may be the only sports team in Wisconsin that we will cheer for!  I guess we don't have a baseball team that we really follow.  We enjoyed the Mariners while in Seattle.  The Pirates have had loosing seasons for so long that Tom doesn't really root for them anymore.  And I grew up cheering for the nearest teams to us... the Royal and the Twins, but never really followed them that closely.  So we'll cheer on the Brewers now.

This past Tuesday night, Tom was offered some Brewer tickets from one of his suppliers... and who wouldn't say yes to some great seats along the third base line (Thanks Vacon!).  It was a long day for the kids (especially since we had only gotten back from Nebraska at 8 PM on Monday night), but they were so excited to go to the baseball game that they charged through a full day of preschool and soccer practices.  All day they would randomly break out into song, singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" so I know they were excited.  And they were thrilled that we suggested they take their gloves with them to catch a ball.  So cute seeing them excited for something like this.

We got to Miller park at about 6:30.  We were stopped by a couple outside the stadium who asked us to take their picture.  And so they took ours in return.  Yay!

We made it to our seats right as the National Anthem was starting.  Great timing!  After that, the kids headed down the five rows to the wall by the field.  We told them to ask the players for a ball.  They were trying so hard to get their attentions, but no luck.  Right as the Giants were leaving the field from warm ups, one of the players threw a ball in our area.  A guy about 25 or so caught it (he had been their for a quite a while it seemed, trying to get a ball too) and then he leaned down and gave it to Jackson.  It was the sweetest thing... brought tears to my eyes that someone would do that for my boy and to see him so excited to get the ball. 

We then enjoyed hot dogs, Gatorade, and peanuts!  The kids were in heaven! 

Trying to show me their Gatorade and peanuts. 

Morgan showing me her peanut... nice, huh? :)

Around the 5th inning when the field crew came out to tidy the field, one of the ushers came down the row by us and told the kids to go down to the wall again to try to get a ball (the outfielders were tossing around the balls waiting for the crew to finish up).  They didn't get one, but the usher asked the bat boy to grab a practice ball from the players and give it to Morgan.  So both kids got balls!!  So awesome!!

 
We sang "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" at the 7th inning stretch and we watched the Sausages race.  And the kids made it to the beginning of the 9th inning.  Actually they wanted to stay, but we decided to get going to beat the traffic out of the stadium (plus it was already 10:30!).  The Brewers ended up losing 4-6, but it was a great game.  I have to say, since our seats were so close and in "the danger zone" for foul balls (and their were a few close ones), I actually watched this game closely and it was so fun!  Most times I'm people watching at a ball game!  But since I was watching so closely, we had the chance to explain the game and the players to the kids more and they were really starting to take it all in.  Although this wasn't their first pro baseball game, I hope this is one of those memories they keep for years to come!

Jackson liked this guy's hat, so he asked to try it on.  And
of course, he was so nice and said yes, and then posed for the
pic with the kids!  The hat was a Brewers helmet that he
had glued bobble heads to the top.

The night was almost over!

PS to Granny... Jackson told us yesterday that he actually liked the game that he went to with you better, because of three things... 1) the Pirates stadium was open (not a closed roof like the Brewers game), 2) there was a boat with fireworks after the game he saw with you and Pup Pup, and 3) you bought him ice cream.  Next time you have to be with him so you can find the ice cream guy for him to have ice cream at the game.  Scary how good his memory is!!