Go Yankees!!!

So last weekend we went to watch what we thought would be the Yankees beating up on the Mariners with our friends the Bailey's. We got great tickets and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. It's tough when your two favorite teams are playing each other but being that Jack has been a Yankees fan since he was a kid and for me, NYC is the city I've lived the longest in my life (and I'm a Derek Jeter fan), we have to root for the Yankees. It's no secret the Mariners suck. They really do. On this particular night though, the Mariners fans had reason to be proud. During the third inning the Yankees scored the first run. Then there was nothing until the 8th inning when the Mariners got a grand slam giving them a three run lead. Unfortunately, when we had first arrived at the game we learned that Jeter and Posada weren't in the starting lineup. We were totally bummed but what excitement there was when after the Mariners got the grand slam, you see Jeter and Posada putting on their batting gloves and making their debut. Unfortunately, it was too little too late and the and the Yankees came up with nothing but what an exciting game it was to witness. The stands were going crazy, especially since this was game three of a four game series and the Mariners had lost the first two. They also ended up losing the 4th game by a landslide which made game three even more of a novelty!!! Fun times!!!



A-Rod...the one everyone loves to hate!!!



Our boys LOVE Ichiro and he makes watching the Mariners worth it...



Bringing out the big guns: Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada



After the grand slam the stadium went crazy!!! Something poor Mariner fans aren't use to seeing...



Jack was certain he knew the best place to valet park and boy was he right. Gotta love when you have to ask the cops if you can get through a closed off street because you want to park at Dream Girls... Seriously though, there was no 45 minute wait in traffic trying to get onto the highway like in past games. We were onto the highway within a few minutes of walking out of the stadium!!!

Nothing like watching your money go up in smoke...literally!

So it's no secret that the 4th of July is a favorite holiday in our household. How could it not be considering it's my dad's birthday. Sadly he has yet to experience a 4th of July in Washington and boy what a treat it is. The weekend began with our annual homeowners association festivities. This year, with about 15 minutes notice, Ty decided he wanted to participate in the kick-off parade. Kids decorate themselves and their bikes and follow behind several fire engines that do a loop around the neighborhood. I have to say I was quite impressed with what Ty was able to come up with in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately, I didn't have any cool 4th of July decorations laying around that he could use but he's not one to let that minor issue prevent him from being a part of it.




Straight from the parade we head over to our big neighborhood park for an afternoon of bouncing, rolling, sliding, riding, and eating! It's always nice to see our homeowners association fees actually paying off! Luckily, the carnival took place on Saturday where the weather held and we ended up with a beautiful afternoon and evening.






Unfortunately we can't say the same for the evening of the 4th. I'd like to say that the fog in the background was just smoke from all the fireworks but unfortunately, just hours before our show would begin, fog actually worked it's way into the area. Thankfully, it passed before the show but not without a few sprinkles also making their way through. We didn't let that stop us from lighting up the sky although it is funny to see the range of clothing from shorts and flip flops to ski parkas and rain boots.

If there is one splurge I have to give in on with Jack, it's letting him burn through a stash of cash on the 4th. Ty and Connor see nothing wrong with this...



The intro to the night includes sparklers, smoke bombs, worms, bottle rockets, fire crackers and those spinning flowers that I cannot stand...



Then we move into the fountains and roman candles. The roman candles scare me to death because the boys hold onto them, pointing them up to the sky while these balls of fire come flying out. This year we almost had a big problem when one of the boys' good friend had one in his hand but after the first one came out he thought it was done, pointed it at Connor, while at the same time watched another fire ball unexpectedly fly out toward Connor's face. Jack quickly grabbed it and pointed it upward. Thankfully I didn't witness this but hearing about it was enough to put me over the edge. Clearly, roman candles weren't something this boy had ever experienced. I think most smart people actually place them in a bucket and light them...



Then we move into the big stuff. Our street was full of bursts of light up in the sky. The on and off drizzle didn't stop any of us from enjoying it! We had about ten families come and join in on the fun. I wasn't able to get photos of everyone but here are a few shots of the fun...






I'm just thankful I can say that all limbs, faces, and eyebrows are still intact...until next year...

True love = sitting through a country music concert with your hubby...

So a little over a week ago Jack and I went to the Dwight Yoakam concert. Countless people have asked, "Who is he?" I had no idea myself, but once Jack heard he was coming to perform just a couple miles from our house, he was like a kid in candy shop, hardly able to contain his excitement. A big thank you to my sweet friend Rachel's sister who was able to snag us some really good tickets. Surprisingly it wasn't because we were the only ones in attendance either. The place was actually filled to capacity and we were in the 3rd row in the nice cushioned seats. I think the attire of Dwight will give you an idea of the type of music he sings and no, those are not spray-on pants. They are actually that tight...




If anything, it was a great opportunity to have a date with Jack (who by the way will tell you it was one of the best concerts he's been too and he's been to quite a few) and do some people watching. Who knew there would be such an interesting crowd of people at this concert! If only I had the guts to take photos of some of the attendees. All I can say is WOW!