I GOT IT!!!!

I went to the boys baseball game yesterday, and they WON (duh)! I was enjoying the nice weather, the exciting game and Chris in baseball pants......

yes that is my smooshy faced little brother  playing catcher, like a boss!

.......when I suddenly had a little excitement (and a win), of my own. 

The announcer in the press box suddenly announced the crowd members were going to play a game of their own called, "What's in your pocket?" You play this magical game by checking your pocket/purse/wallet for the item they decide, and the first person to the press box with that item wins a prize. 

Prize you say? I'm intrigued! what object were they going to ask for!? Is it possible I could win this race to the press box with THE item they asked for?

I waited in anxious anticipation for the mysterious item. I heard the announcer say: "Okay ladies and gentlemen, the item we are looking for is......a movie ticket, whoever brings a movie ticket up here wins the prize"

I immediately looked in my wallet. I saw a little piece of white sticking out, and gave it a tug.......

....Is this what I think this is? 

A movie ticket to win the prize of all prizes!?

IT WAS!!

I literally screamed: "I GOT IT!!!" and turned to run to the press box...

Assessing there was no early competitors in my recent path, I  quickly jumped up and trampled over Claude to make sure I was the TRUE WINNER:

MOVE IT, CLAUDE! I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'VE HAD A DOUBLE KNEE REPLACEMENT!

CAN'T YOU SEE THE MOVIE TICKET IN MY HAND!? I'VE GOT A PRIZE TO WIN!

I claimed my prize and looked around....no one had even gotten UP yet! Boom! That's how I roll. I had such an adrenaline rush I was shaking. I WON! I WON! I never win ANYTHING! I could hardly contain my excitement, I was so excited Troy had to open my prize for me.....

He opened it up carefully and.....

 ...was obviously impressed.

What did I win? This brilliant prize? Be prepared to be impressed....

A bag to put my lunch in and $25 off my purchase of $70 or more at the Polo Ralph Lauren outlet.

YES!!!

It just goes to show you...

....NEVER throw away your movie tickets, you'll never know what great prize you'll win!

Take notes, boys:

You might not know this about me, but I love to read.  I'll read anything. Sometimes when I'm in the bathroom (and realize I might be in there for awhile), I read the back of the shampoo/conditioner/soap/face soap bottles. I have shelves full of books; boxes in the garage, full of books; books in drawers; under my bed, and even in my car.  I consider my books as friends, "Oh I read that during my 'Van Gogh' phase in college, I can't get rid of it!" I blame my dad, he's a worse book hoarder than me.

Hoarding is such an ugly word, let's just say I'm an avid collector.

 I'm a sucker for surprises. I love opening an old purse, and finding a necklace I forgot about; or finding a candy bar in the jacket I haven't worn since the PREVIOUS winter....yeah, I totally ate it.

That sad/gross story being told, my point is I like to leave whatever piece of paper I'm using as a book mark, in the book- like a surprise for later. I've found shopping lists, old drawings, a note from my deceased cousin Katy saying hi, etc. I open each book to find something I completely forgot about.

 I was supposed to be cleaning, when I stumbled upon the photo guest book from our wedding; and I started feeling nostalgic. I opened it up and 3 letters fell out of it. These were no ordinary letters, but old love letters from Chris I put in there for safe keeping.

Take notes boys, because this is how it's done:

When you need to apologize for being rude (as a 20 year old boyfriend): 
"I am sorry that I am not the most nice and caring boyfriend ever, but I love you so much and I want to be with you forever. I know I am sometimes grouchy and a little mean,  but it is just a mood I get into. It doesn't mean you did anything, or I am not happy with our relationship. As long as you want to be my girlfriend I am happy. I love you so much, and I feel so lucky to have you as mine."

When you want to encourage (as a 24 year old fiance): 
"First of all, I really admire you and how you continually search for things to make you happy. I know you're not perfect, but in my eyes you are- so I don't always see the things you need help with. I want to be there for you, and provide you with all the help you need and more. I think you are absolutely wonderful in every aspect of life (except maybe math because you don't try).''

When you want to make sure she knows you think she's pretty: 
You have no idea just how beautiful and sexy you are. I know you struggle with certain parts of your appearance and I should do a better job of making sure you know how I feel about you, but seriously you are smokin' hott! And yes, that is hot with 2 t's.


When you want her to know you'll be with her forever (as a 27 year old husband): 
I am so happy with our life, and I hope you know that you are the reason. You are such a wonderful person, and you have made me a much better person. I love you so much, and all I want to do is spend the rest of my life with the woman I love.

Your husband and best friend,
Chris

I just realized I've got to go; I've got a LOT of books to look through today.....

SPRING BREAK!

This week was SPRING BREAK around these parts. I think a week long break, from school, at the beginning of Spring is an excellent idea, the teachers need a break just as much as the kids; and that means summer vacation is just around the corner.  People have been posting pictures on facebook like crazy, most of them look like this:

 Ok not exactly like this, but you get the idea.

Can I just say that Saved by the Bell gave me unrealistic expectations about High School. 

Not once did some wily blonde hair stud trick the principal; and I never did hang out at a burger joint after school. So disappointing. 

We had baseball games this week but guess what? This was what our SPRING BREAK looked like:

 Ok so this is from March 4th, but it looked like this this week too (in the motherland-Missouri).

So guess what all this rain means? That's right, you guessed it; baseball games are canceled. The team was supposed to play almost everyday this week, but the rain said: NO! It literally rained, no poured, every. single. day.

The boys have had to practice inside the basketball gym this week. Chris was tired of looking at them, and he assumes (probably correctly) that the team was tired of looking at his face so he kindly gave them today and tomorrow off. So no practice, no games, NOTHING!

What are we going to do with 48 hours of baseball free time? 

Sit inside....it's STILL raining! 

If only I could be with these crazy characters: 

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

Dear Santa....

I know you're technically on vacation; and you probably had a really stressful 2011 Holiday season (boy, I know I did!). So I gotta say, I was pretty surprised to see you on my run last Tuesday, and I had no idea you were a fan of tire swings! Enjoy your time off, see you next year! P.S. Welcome to the motherland!

5 Question Monday:

My friend, Deb, over at 2 dogs 2 kids and us gave me an idea last Friday. A generic question was posed, and she answered it as honestly as possible. I really like these kinds of games. During the 3 hour drive home from the airport after returning from our honeymoon, I created a 50 question-answer game, for Chris and I to play. I still have the paper with the answers. Questions were ones like: "Coke or Pepsi?  (Pepsi); Monica or Rachel? (Monica); Corvette or Porshe? (Corvette).

Since the last time we played this game was 3 years ago, I decided it was time to pick Chris' brain again (that and he's home because their baseball game in Branson got rained out, and it's Spring Break).

Here is Chris dressed as the bad guy from 'Karate Kid'.

My questions/responses are in RED and Chris' are in BLUE

1. What is the one thing you miss about being a kid?
uhhhhh, I don't know....uh...not paying bills? No.... um...All my grandparent's being alive. What do you miss about being a kid?
Swimming.
Hahaha, wait. You can go swimming now. 

Next question!

2. If God exists, what would you like to hear when you arrive at the pearly gates?

Uhhh......Welcome to the party. Tupac has been waiting for you.

Oh my God.

Exactly.

3. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Marrying you.

Awww...but no...your greatest achievement!
Seriously, marrying you.
Ok (swoon).

4.What do you think the secret to a good life is?

Ohhh doing whatever you find happiness in, I guess.....but also, be proud of what you have, and don't take it for granted.

5.  If you could go on a road trip with any person (not me) alive or dead, who would you go with and where?

Oooooo! I don't know (thinking) Johhny Cash, maybe? Well, if I went on a road trip with Michael Jordan we would just go around the country challening people to 2 on 2 basketball games....(really thinking now) Ohhh no! Actually Mickey Mantle would be the most fun to go with!

Where would you go?

Every bar from coast to coast.

What about New orleans?

Why?

I don't know, just seems fun.....

Ok, New Orleans then *PAUSE* What are you doing anyways?

Writing your answers in a blog....

Awww, hell.

HAPPY MONDAY

 

Last Saturday:

When Chris and I were in college, he would often say before a baseball game: "well, we have to go early, and work on the field." This phrase had no meaning to me, and I found it just plain annoying. Work on the field? What the heck does that even mean?! It's a baseball field with dirt and grass. What could you possibly have to do? Boy was I an idiot.

If Chris had to work on the field in college, he REALLY has to work now, as a coach. Countless Saturdays are spent mowing, spreading dirt, tying down windscreens in the outfield, or raking home plate and the pitcher's mound, just to name a few. He FINALLY took my advice and had the players stay after practice for a 'work day.'

Can you see the anxious anticipation and excitement in his player's faces? 

Me neither, but they seem listening with rapt attention!

Once the duties were assigned, the boys got to work:

Here is my brother, Andrew, and a couple of his teammates working their hardest on home plate. 

Don't ask me what they're doing, I see a rake, a shovel and some kind of heavy plate thing (roo said it's a tamp- go figure) ....and they all seem to be doing something different from one another.

 Being a baseball player requires numerous skills: flexibility....

....brute strength...

...and dexterity (they are attaching that with wires). 

I should mention there were plenty of dads (including my own) out there working, that Saturday:

Hey! Get to work fellas!

After a hard day's work, Chris realized his check-list of "Things to Work on at the Baseball Field" was complete, and gathered the boys:

I'm imagining he said: "Good work, gentlemen! Now, don't all rush at once, but the moms brought food for all of you...." I'm guessing nothing else was heard after that, because all of the boys felt extreme hunger and their ears perked up at the mention of food: 

FOOD!? WHERE?!

Here it is boys!

Gee, do you think they're hungry?!

 Even Chris got in on the eating action! Good choice on the ketchup, honey!

After a hard day's work:

I said: "Now that all the work is done on the field, can we please go home at start our weekend?"

Chris' response: "Sure baby! Just let me do one last little thing..."

I'm beginning to truly see: A coach's work is NEVER done!
 P.S. Thanks to Missy W. for the fantastic pictures...you know I was too busy supervising to take any! 

This week:

This week, I :

Received this package in the mail...

 opened it up....

and got REALLY excited because,

it's my t-shirt from TIME AT THE TABLE! 

This is a great organization that my friend, Bill, started. Check it out sometime, it's really cool!

I also: 

Hung out with my sweet baby nephew, Jack....

and,

 got my hair done...

...then I 

watched Chris and my dad try to jump start the 4-wheeler battery. The 4-wheeler is used for "dragging the field" which spreads, smooths and levels the dirt on the infield. I don't know, that's just what Chris tells  me. 

LATER IN THE WEEK:

I took this picture of Chris, exhausted, after a week of 2-a-day practices....

and

 I got a PERFECT care package from my mom when I was sick; it perked me right up!

I felt so much better, the next day....

I went to the baseball scrimmage and cheered our boys on....

AND Today, Saturday:

 I supervised a 'work day' at the ball field

and helped feed the hungry boys: 

Word of advice: DO NOT get near their mouths when they are eating, you might lose a finger. 

After looking over all these things that have happened this week, I realize: 

We all need a nap!

HAPPY SATURDAY!