Mother's Day 2004

One of my most favorite Mother's Day was 4 years ago. I was given tickets to an Angel game. My first time ever to the "Big A".

We arrived really early so we could soak everything in. The seats were awesome. We were on the first base side right up at the rail.

Parents don't let your children do this - it is not allowed. oops.. But how cute does he look???

As we were getting all situated one of the workers approached us and asked how old my son was. They were looking for children to participate in the pop fly contest. Buddy was too young but we piped up and said that Daughter played softball. He asked if she wanted to do it and she shrugged and said "sure". Nothing phases that girl. They had her go down on the field and because it was Mother's Day it was only fitting her mother accompany her! : ) They had her practice a couple pop flies and one of the players came over to help her - remember this was my first time here and I didn't know any of the player's names so I was clueless who this Jose Guillen was giving my daughter tips on how to catch the pop fly.

After warming up they had her catch three balls and for each they would giver her a prize. Baby girl caught them all and ended up on the jumbo screen.

As I had mentioned, this was our first time at the stadium or watch an Angel game. We had no idea how truly awesome it was to have Vladdy catch a ball literally over my head. No clue who he was at that time... silly clueless Missy.

Hello Cutie

To be honest, I can't remember if they won or not. I just know that this was one of my most favorite Mother's Day and the day I became an Angel fan.

My sister and Daughter

It was a beautiful day

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday
Was Buddy's birthday party. Bowling Party!!!
I had 12 ACTIVE boys ranging in ages between 8 - 10. They all had a great time. Especially the birthday boy. He was in heaven with all of his friends.

He loaded up on gift cards to Target.

One of his favorite gifts was from my sister - an iPod Shuffle. He was so surprised and so excited "I can't believe I have an iPod Shuffle"...

This is the look of - Is this what I think it is??

Saturday
All his gift cards were burning a hole in his pocket so I took him to Target so he could pick up some things. And because it has been such a crazy busy week I had not done any birthday shopping or Easter basket shopping (bad mom) I took notes on what grabbed his attention. After shopping with him I quickly dropped him off with J so I could go back to Target and also hit up Toys R Us to pick up birthday presents and Easter basket goodies. Just like Christmas Stockings, I'm big on Easter baskets.

I dashed in and out of the stores like a mad woman. I only had 2 hours to do everything I needed to do.

Made it home in just enough time to get Buddy all dressed for his game and put on my Angel jersey and we were out the door.

Buddy's team and the team we were playing were both 2-0. This game decided who would be the only team in the division that would be undefeated. What a crazy game. Early on we were down 5 - 1. Our little guys did not give up. The game was back and fourth and the parents were all into it.

Buddy had an awesome hit that started off the rally.

Rally Time!!!


In the bottom of the last inning we were tied up at 10 - 10. We were down to our last out and the batter was at a 2-0 count (2 strikes, no balls). We had a runner on second ready to go. Bless his little heart - the batter hit a home run!!! We won the game 12 - 10. It was awesome. They boys were so excited as were the parents.

I'm so thrilled that we are on this team and I think this season will be a great

After we got home from the game, we put together the baskets and hid the eggs.

Daughter's had gift certificates for a manicure and pedicure, key chain with a

Duncan dog on it,

lip balm ball

and a few other little odds and ends. According to her it was a "Dank Easter basket".

Buddy's was filled with toys

Slim Jims (gross but he loves them) and a few other items. He was so happy with it.

I've always done Easter morning the same way. The kids put out empty baskets by their doors so when they wake up in the morning they have something to put the eggs they find in. I leave a trail of eggs down the hall into the living room where most of the eggs are hidden.

Sunday

Buddy was the first one up of course - it was his birthday AND Easter!! I felt like I had just gone to sleep but I couldn't blame him for being so excited. Daughter has always been so good to get up early and play along finding the eggs. This year though she was so tired (she had worked the night before) she "let" Buddy find and keep all the eggs.

Duncan was a great help.

After finding the eggs and opening the baskets

we made a birthday/Easter breakfast with chorrizo, potatoes, bacon, sausage, and eggs. I think he was thrilled - he declared "I love our family". Precious.

Continuing on with our busy busy weekend my mom and sister came over for a birthday/Easter bbq. J loves to bbq and I love to eat bbq so we are a good team. He made ribs and steaks, I made twice baked potatoes and mom brought a yummy pasta salad. He wanted a lemon bundt cake with lemon frosting for his birthday cake. I present to you the ugliest (but moist and yummy) birthday cake.

He loved it even if it was ugly.

We had to get ready for our next event of the day.

The Laker game!!!!!!

See what I mean about it being a busy weekend??? We left Ventura around 4:30 and made it in record time to the Staples Center.

We got our food and settled in our seats when I noticed that you could text a message to have it displayed up on the jumbo screen. I quickly went to work and within a few minutes

The first half of the game was awful. J is a Laker fan through and through - he said this might have been some of the worst playing he's ever seen. They were down at one time by 27. The second half was much much better. The Laker's defense was back in the game and had only a few turnovers. They were able to catch up and tie it in the last few minutes of the game. We were having such a great time. The darn Warriors shot a couple 3s in the last minute winning the game at 115 - 111. A 4 point deficit is much better than a 27.

All in all it was a great game and a great way to close out the big birthday/Easter weekend.

Weekend Plans

Saturday

• Having a Garage Sale - My sister and I are probably the only two that enjoy having garage sales. But then again, I have fun with my sister regardless of what we are doing. We have this down to a science. (I'm printing out price labels as I type this). I would like to think that the garage sale shoppers appreciate how organized we are. J is so happy to almost have his garage back. It's so jammed right now.


• Buddy has baseball practice tomorrow afternoon. Next week is opening day - he's on the Angels this year. He's been on the Giants for the past two years now and it would kill me to have to don the Giants gear when I went to his game. You can just imagine my delight when I learned he was on this team. I have many Angel hats, a new jersey (with my new last name that my sweet husband gave me for Valentines day), and a great Angel blanket Daughter made me for Christmas (she does love her mommy). Oh, and I can't forget my jacket J gave me 2 years ago for my birthday. Can you tell I love the Angels???
• I'm sure whatever money Buddy makes by selling his toys will be burning a hole in his pocket so I see a trip to Toys R Us in our future.

Sunday (Spring Forward)

• Church
  
• Serving enchiladas at a church function. Such a good servant am I.

• Last weekend was so busy I didn't even get to the grocery store. Lucky for me my shelves are stocked thanks to Grocery Game so I didn't even miss a beat. But this weekend I need to get to the store and get my coupon on.


• Clean and do laundry.

Countdown Begins...

OHHH HAPPY DAY!

Pitchers & Catchers Report: 22 days!!!!

I love baseball season for so many reasons.

1. The Angels

2. Vladimir

3. Summer is right around the corner

4. Angel Stadium

5. Drinking Coronas watching baseball games.

6. The Angels

Winning the Right Way

Tonight is the first game of the World Series and I am 100% behind Colorado to win. Not because I am a HUGE Angels fan and would love nothing more than for the Red Sox to lose and not beause they are the underdogs but because I am impressed by the Rockies organization.

Back on September 15, baseball's Colorado Rockies were only four games above .500, six-and-a-half games behind in the race for the final playoff spot. With only nine games left to play, they were still four-and-a-half games behind. And now the Rockies, 40-to-1 shots to make it to the playoffs, are in the World Series.

To get to the playoffs, the Rockies had to win 14 of their last 15 games, including a do-or-die one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres. As befitted this improbable story, they won that game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the 13th inning to overcome a two-run deficit.
Once October started, the Rockies kept rolling: They swept both Philadelphia and Arizona to enter the World Series having won 21 of their last 22 games.

The Rockies' way means "[doing] the best job [they] can to get [the right] people with the right sense of moral values . . ." To that end, prospective Rockies are interviewed to see if they are compatible with the Rockies' approach.

And off the field, the Rockies players recently proved that the "Rockies' Way" is the right way. Last summer, a minor league coach in the Rockies farm system, Mike Coolbaugh, was killed by a line drive while coaching at first base. The Rockies players have now voted a full share of the team's playoff money for the coach's family.

With all the news these days about steroids, cheating, and felony arrests, modern-day pro sports needs a story about the good guys. And athletes need the reminder that it is possible to excel both as a player and as a human being—that character counts. Go Rockies!!

The Weekend

Saturday was a good day where a lot was accomplished.

Another victory for the Green Extreme! The boys are playing so good together - it's so fun to watch them every week get better and better and more confident in their playing. They are really coming together as a team. I'm a proud mom!!!

J went to visit is his brother in Riverside which left Buddy and I to finish his book report. He and I headed to Michael's and loaded up on stickers, paper and any else that caught his eye for his collage. I absolutely love spending time with my son. After a few hours - we, I mean he had finished his book report. It turned out great. And as I write this - I'm thinking "why didn't I take a picture?".

Sunday started out good. Buddy and I went to Simone's and then to the grocery store. Exciting I know but I was trying really hard not to think about what could be the Angels last game of the season. We were down 2 games to the Red Sox and I was not prepared for this to be the last game. The game started at 12:15 and I was glued to the T.V. We started out fairly well and in the 4th inning it all started to go down hill. And then I sadly had to come to the realization that my beloved Angels were playing their last game of the 2007 season. This Angels Blog tell how it all went down. I was so sad to see them - what it looked like - give up. I'm sure they wanted to win but it just didn't look like it.

yea, I'm sad too Vlad......

*

Daughter is still loving her new truck and was off and about all weekend.

Besides the Angel's season ending - the weekend was actually a really good one.