Sweep!

Just had to share... those that know us know we're a Dodger Family.  And by "we" I mean Dave and Drew, but me by marriage.  I'm a Twins Fan all the way - but have to be a "Dodger" too in order to stay married.  (You have no idea how difficult Dave would be if you liked anything but Dodgers...)

Well on Saturday we had my brother and sister-in-law over for a little friendly rivalry - Dodgers vs. Giants for game two of the series.

Rana made these cute (and yummy) desserts in an attempt to stir up a little more competition...

The result, that game ended 10-0 in the favor of the Dodgers.  And Sunday it was another win.  I do believe that would make a SWEEP!

Dave kindly sent my brother a text to rub it in...

Matt didn't take too kindly to that picture....

In The News...

Drew is famous - well at least in a small town way.  I mentioned earlier this week that we went to a Baseball meet and greet where Drew got Aaron Miles' autograph. 

Last night I was notified he made the paper - the local weekly paper that is passed around town.

Here's a video too - it's a bit long, but if you like baseball it may be interesting to see how Miles related with his fans.  At 1:20 is a Father/Daughter from Mom and Dad's church - fellow Dodger fans.  Drew's picture showed up at the end around 3:47.

But here's Drew's claim to fame in the paper - the only picture mentioning the Meet & Greet.

Of course he had to give a cheesy smile.  It was shortly after this photo that Dave was whacking my arm so I would look at him wearing the World Series Ring.

Baseball Dreams

This past weekend we ventured over to Antioch where I grew up to see a former LA Dodger/St. Louis Cardinals 2nd baseman.  Aaron Miles - an Antioch High Alumni class of 95 - was doing a meet and greet at the Sports Legends Museum. 

This was right up Daddy and Drew's alley - baseball anything let alone a former LA Dodger.  Since Drew met him as a Dodger on the field this past season, we went to chat it up with him again.

It was pretty awesome - I have to say.  Aaron is a down to earth guy (who also has a 4YO son) and was really taking the time to chat with the fans.  We waited probably about 20-30 minutes and were talking to a few other Antioch Grads and parents of Antioch grads.

Dave of course took the opportunity to chat it up with him about everything baseball.  While I was talking to a local newspaper reporter who wanted to snap Drew's picture - I feel Dave whacking me in the arm to pay attention to him (sometimes I wonder who is the bigger kid).  Turns out he asked Aaron to see his 2006 St. Louis Cardinals World Series ring.  Being a manly man he didn't present his hand like a woman would if you asked to see her ring... instead he asked Dave if he wanted to try it on.  Dave pass up a chance to try on a World Series Ring are you kidding me?!

I think that big cheesy grin  says how excited he was. 

After my husband stopped molesting the ring we took up enough of his time, we ventured into the Sports Museum which was adjacent to the area where he was signing autographs.  It was kind of cool to see everything - including some friends in some sports team photos - but Dave wanted to make sure to pose Drew next to all the accolades for Aaron Miles.

Drew was having fun in there looking at all the trophies!  He kept shouting - "oh look there's another one!"  I meanwhile kept repeating - "stop touching that".

Upstairs at the museum was a little salute to Antioch past - from schools/yearbooks, newspapers, toys and other collections.  It was kind of neat to see for the first time.  Who knew there was so much history?  Dave on the other hand was drooling the entire afternoon after trying on the ring...

Dodger Blue - Up Close and Personal

Wow, I have people begging for this blog post!  Not only through me, but through Dave.  So by popular demand here you go...

For those that live under a rock or don't have Facebook, we were in LA this past weekend.  Mostly to visit Dave's Parents (Tata and Abuela), but also to catch a Dodger game.   Ironically we made it to the same game (Fan Photo day that is) last year... if you missed it here is the post.  This year we planned to go to the game this final weekend in June because it fit into the schedule and Dodgers were in town.  It was by chance that it fell on Fan Photo day.

Being the experienced "fans" we are (have no fear - I am still a Twins fan, but must go Dodger Blue in order to stay married) we knew when we had to be there, where to park to get closer to the front of the line etc.  Of course it helps that my Dodger fanatic husband has Dodger Stadium programmed into his phone and he called to get the scoop. I mean what MLB fan doesn't program their favorite stadium's phone number into their phone just in case they need to call for fan information?  (Insert the eye-roll I gave him when I found the "contact" in his phone this weekend)

So once we entered the stadium, we ran -not quite literally- to our "spot" near the first base line. 

Not long after we made "camp" our first ballplayer surprised us from the left side rather than the right side - where all the other players were starting.  Ted Lilly - who is a starting pitcher (not that day) but has also played with the Cubs, Yankee and A's organizations.

Player number two - Jamey Carroll, the Shortstop. 

If you couldn't tell - behind the fence, the players were standing behind a rope, so they don't always get too close to the fans.  That will change shortly as you'll see.

Third it was a former classmate of mine from my days at Antioch High - Aaron Miles, the Dodger 3rd baseman.  He graduated a year after me, and why I didn't think to name drop is beyond me.  We did chat for a few minutes though.

And then for the highlight of the day, the All-Star player Matt Kemp (who later got thrown out of the game).

Notice how he closed right in on Drew?  He wasn't doing that with anyone - in fact he was covered with bodyguards/security and he kept his distance, much to the dismay of the 7 or 8 year old who came in next to us trying to get Kemp's attention.   Rather than chatting with that little boy he swooped right in for Drew!

Those were the only players that came right up to us, but from a distance we saw several other including Casey Blake - a 3rd baseman (and the reason Dave's favorite player can't have his old number 23 on his jersey).

They announced at 12:04 that they were shutting the field down at 12:10 and Dave's favorite former player and current Dodger Manager was never going to make it to our little area - so instead we tried to go to him.  We had to settle for a few far away shots of Don Mattingly.

After that we had to have Drew catch a "ball" against the center field wall.

And since he did so well we went to our seats - which were fantastic and thankfully in the shade - and grubbed!

I believe it was in the 9th inning that Daddy and Drew tried to rally the Dodgers to get some runs - they were trailing the Angels 6-1 - by wearing their Rally caps.  They changed the cap every time it stopped working

(Ethier at bat)

Unfortunately it didn't work out to our advantage - Dodgers ended up losing.  Despite it being a loss, it was a a great game for the family.  Dave now wants to try and make it to all the Fan Photo days for our "annual" Dodger Game in SoCal.

Yesterday morning on our way to school, Drew asked me if I was taking him back to Dodger Stadium.  When I said no, he asked "Well are we going to LA then?".  Sorry buddy - you're stuck here in the real world with the rest of us.

I Dip, You Dip

Finally!  Drew is learning to dip foods he may not be crazy about in some condiments.. like ketchup!  Here are the pictures that Dave sent me last night (while I went to bed extra early at 8pm ET).

Woohoo!  He's been on a hot dog boycott for a while now, but it looks like they're OK again! 

Oh and I'm pretty sure Daddy dressed him in his Dodger shirt because it was baseball's opening day... and the Dodgers were playing the World Series Giants!  Oh and those "champs" went down last night - which I'm sure made my house a happy house!

The Many Face of Drew

Drew has quite the expressive face.  On Saturday after the game we tried to wait out the crowds we were bound to face on Muni and BART so we took a walk down toward the harbor outside the ballpark.  Drew decided to dance and jump around showing off several of those faces.

Dodgers for Daddy's Birthday

First of all - Happy Birthday Daddy!  In honor of Daddy's birthday today we're going to talk about his favorite two things: Dodgers and baseball!

On Saturday we had family day at the ballpark.  One of the most contested rivalries in baseball - Dodgers/Giants.  Going to the second game of the series, Daddy was really hoping we could walk out of their with our heads high with a Dodgers win.

But first we had to get to the stadium.  I think this was Drew's first time on BART - I believe the last time we rode it to the city I was pregnant.  Drew LOVED the "train"!

Once we got there, Drew happily started going to town on his favorite food - chicken and french fries.

Drew did awesome during the game - minus the 20 times he had to get up to use the bathroom.  I think that was because he would stop going whenever he heard a toilet in the stall next to him flush - he's paranoid of the auto-flusher, of which AT&T Park  does not have.  So he wouldn't be done going, but say he was... resulting in the numerous bathroom breaks.

It's amazing how quickly after the game ends that the seagulls move in looking for each and every scrap of food left behind by the fans.  We had to hurry and take these pictures in case we were "bombed" by some droppings.

This trip exhausted Drew so much he couldn't enjoy the train ride home - he slept the entire way and for another hour after we got home!

Dodgers lost 2-1 against the Dodgers.  Sorry Daddy.  Happy Birthday anyway.

On a bright note, we did get to see Manager Joe Torre as he was leaving the ballpark. This makes two Torre sightings  in about three weeks.  He even waved back to Drew!

Dodger Stadium's Future Player

It was a massive road trip this past weekend as we left the comforts of Northern California to brave the traffic and congestion of Southern California.  Drew took the ride in stride:

The trip that typically takes about 6 hours took us about 7 1/2 - so not too bad considering we stopped for dinner, took extra potty breaks and were stuck in traffic both before we hit the 5 and once we hit the 5/10/60 freeway merges.

After we checked into our hotel we all happily slept until about 8 in the morning.  But we had a big day in store for us.  We were headed to Dodger Stadium - for Drew's first SoCal baseball game ever.  Well as an extra bonus it was "meet" the player's day!  So we got to get onto the field!

That's right!  Dave kept saying this is where Drew will be in another 16-18 years.  We'll see if he predicts correctly.

Here's a picture of the three of us... sorry it's a bit blurry.

Dave caught more of the players on the video camera, but I was in control of the still photos.  With a broken toe, big crowds and trying to keep an eye on a wandering two year old.... needless to say I didn't get many pictures of the players, but here are a few (I only know the players from the back when I can read their names...)

After a bit Drew was starting to have enough of the crowds and heat on the field and wanted to go find his seats and get something to drink.  So he didn't cooperate for the candid of him and I.

But before we could go, Daddy and Drew had to pose in left field also known as Mannywood....

Once we made it to our seats - Drew was awfully excited!

He was quite the trooper for the entire game!  There were no incidents, meltdowns or accidents (those who are potty training understand what a big feat this is).  At the end of the game we posed for another family shot.

And we couldn't forget Tata who joined us for the game (Abuela stayed home because her knees were really giving her a bad time).

And last but not least - who can forget the about the Dodger Dogs!

Not so great a day for the Dodgers who lost 7-2 to the Cubs.  Of course of the four game series we went to the one game where the Dodgers lost to the Cubs.  Oh well, at least we had a great time!