The Pictures I promised :)

The other day, Mr. Bob took us out on his boat.  "Mr. Bob" is our neighbor here in St. Pete.  We love him and were so excited to spend the morning with him before Lance headed off to Texas.  Here are a few pictures of our excursion off the Coast of St. Pete Beach.

Here is how Mr. Bob gets his boat.  It is in a warehouse with LOTS of boats, he tells them which one is his, and they send out the lift to get it.  They put it in and out of the water for him - none of that crazy backing in trailers...it's for the dogs!  :)

Here's a picture I like of LJ before we got on the boat.  Doesn't he look so ready to get on?

Mr. Bob drove us around, looking for dolphins, going under bridges and stopping at "Shell Island".  This is a picture of us docked there.  We waded out, looked for shells and swam a bit.

Bonding time.

On Friday, LJ and I met some old friends, The Yates', and had lunch and playtime at the mall.  Look at sweet little Kamryn!  She's 14 months.

New Background

Well, how do you like it?  The orange line across the top of the blog that said "Pyzam.com" finally got on my nerves enough for me to fiddle with it during LJ's naptime.  That, and the fact that no matter what background I chose, the middle was always black!  That kept me from getting the most out of cute backgrounds like this one, (see the pink?) ...cute, huh?  So, I have a few pictures on my camera that I need to download, but I'm about to call it a night.  I'll try and do it tomorrow.  Rookie's not-so-subtle bark is letting me know he needs food, water, and a walk...or all of the above!  If I don't go soon, he'll start nuzzling my hand off the keyboard.  :)  

This week, we are really feeling the proximity of the off-season.  In one week, I'll be headed on a plane with LJ back home.  We'll spend the weekend getting him used to his home again, (he hasn't lived there in 8 months, but it will take all of 2 seconds for him to fall in love with it again).  He starts "school" A.K.A. Mother's Morning out on Monday, so I want him to be rested and settled.  Lance will arrive sometime Monday, and we can begin our off-season! This year has been the most stable, drama-free, by far, and we might actually arrive back in Alabama with a little left in our tanks.  Between a fantastic team, neat people, an apartment close to the stadium (short commute = more time together), and a fun baseball year for Lance, we have been SO blessed!

Tonight, though, I'm pretty tired, and I can feel the call of home....most likely because we are so close to the finish line.  It's Friday night, Lance is out of town, and I am missing not having a Friday or Saturday, (or any other night for that matter, with him.  It's been 8 months since we've lived in our home and 6 full months since I've had him for a night, aside from the random Monday or Thursday off day if he's in town.  It's a TOUGH 8 months, I must say, but the HUGE, TREMENDOUS blessing of the off-season is just around the corner.  It's totally worth it!  After all, who gets 4 months like that in the end?  I'm excited to show up at Chic-fil-a as a family, laughing and eating supper together.  LJ and I did this by ourselves tonight for probably the 20th time this year, (we really like that place!) and tonight was the first time Lance's absence was SORELY apparent.   Not for long, though!  Not for long!  Soon, we will be going from adjusting to being apart to the adjustment of being together.  I cannot wait for that adjustment!  :)  

So, here's to a great year, the blessing of 8 months for Lance to do what he loves and the 4 amazing months that lie in front of us.  We can't wait to visit with y'all, hug you and sit and chat for hours.  After all, where do we have to be?  :)  Come join us when you can!  For now, I have to go, a cold wet nose is nudging my fingers off the computer and out the door.  :)

Just because...

Isn't he so cute?  He's definitely our favorite elephant!  I wanted to share.  We are doing great - trucking through our last ten days, organizing, packing up.  I can't believe it's almost time!  We hope you are well, too - Roll Tide!  We'll be there soon, Big Al!

Oriole Game and Ravens Practice + 5 new posts!

I know I've been out of touch, but I've made up for it!  LJ and I just got back from our eight day road trip to Boston and Baltimore.  Rather than buy the internet each day, (crazy expensive), we just used Lance's SLOW wireless insert.  There was no way I was going to be able to upload all these pictures!  We had such a great time, though - I hope you enjoy looking at our journey.  Only two more weeks and we will be packing up and heading home.  I cannot believe it!!!

OK, this CRACKS me up.  Pops - he sits JUST Like you with his legs crossed!  He does it ALL the time.  Genes are crazy!

This is LJ's friend, Noah.  Each night at the orioles game, they played on the playground, threw the ball in the speed pitch - we didn't miss a beat!!

Here's LJ giving his all in the speed pitch :)

I know, not a great picture, but I had to include our special friends, the Johnson's in the picture.  LJ is sporting his Ravens gear!

Speaking of Ravens, how fun is it to go to a real NFL practice?  

Jarret let LJ and Lance come watch him - I love LJ wearing his helmet.  

We are pulling for y'all, Jarret and Anna!

Fun in Baltimore

After Boston, we headed for a 4-game series in Baltimore.  It was so fun to go back - what a great city!

What trip is complete, (rather, what day is complete), without a trip to a park for some baseball?

Hitting off his dad.  He always takes that tongue and pushes it against his cheek as he swings.  You can see it better in the above picture, but it's visible here, too :)

Looking out at the baseball (Orioles) field and the Ravens field in the distance.

Our view as we played at Federal Hill Park

Our sweet neighbors, The Adams, had us for dinner.  Here is LJ with his buddy, AJ!

Off day in Boston

There are TONS of pictures from this day, but I just chose a few.  I am going to upload the others to shutterfly, but I thought I'd use some to highlight the day we spent together.  By the end of Lance's career, we may have pictures of LJ swinging a bat and/or throwing a ball in every baseball city across the country!  You can't take LJ out of his home, but you still have to play ball with him everywhere you go :)  We spent 4 great days here, but this was our favorite day by far.  No rain, and we had Lance all day!  Enjoy!

Playing on the playground at the Frog Pond

Running the bases, back home to pick up his bat :)

Cleaning off the rubber, ready to pitch to his dad.

That mound must be really dirty :)

And, a little bit of football before we walk home for our nap :)

Travel day to Boston

Last week, LJ and I set off for an eight-day road trip.  We headed to Boston first, followed by Baltimore.  Here are some photos from our travel day to Boston.

Here's the big boy with his "backpack" getting ready to board the plane :)

outside the mall that borders the hotel.  I loved how you could see the city skyline as the reflection in the window.

sweet face after a long day.

He spent 5 minutes totally posing for me.  I'm not sure what this face is :)

This is what he did after posing, never dropped the hands, just kept them up and started thinking :)

Popcorn parties

Lately, LJ and I have been ending our days with microwave popcorn in our new $1 containers from Target, (above) and some hot tea.  I wanted to share :)

waiting patiently :)

YUM!

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?

Evidently, the Hokies were not!  :)

Lee Corso put on the Big Al head as his prediction of the winner of the game, and...

With Rookie's help, they pulled it off!

Welcome back football season, we're so glad you're here! 

Roll Tide!

The rest of Detroit!

Here are the rest of our pictures from our FANTASTIC trip to Detroit.  I really can't say enough- we had a ball!!!  (Pardon my pun :) 

OK, so we are now TOTALLY spoiled if we weren't before.  The pancakes, oh the pancakes from room service!!  The kids meal alone could feed 2 of us.  Here is LJ eating while reading his morning paper :)

The veiw from our table at the field where we ate our hot dogs...

Looking at the view while taking his last bite :)

I think this is so cute...a before and after, if you will.  LJ had just thrown is bat in frustration and said, "I can't do it".  Here is Lance telling him he CAN do it, but that he cannot throw the bat when he misses the ball.  Look at LJ's face here - he totally gets it.   I guess Lance did a good job...

...because look at the face of utter "you are the greatest dad" respect on LJ's face after just a few moments.

Back in the saddle...He is nothing if not intense.

I think this park is his "happy place"  :)

Ball playing is done, time to go back to the playground!!

A little tykes play-thing in the airport.  You can see the windows of our airplane in the background - every airport should have something for kids like this.  In Tampa, they have a PLAYGROUND in each terminal.  The kids play, get too tired to fuss on the plane...everyone wins!  :)

The view of Tampa from LJ's window seat

Back home - both of the boys are happy to see each other :)  It is rare that Rookie "perches" on the same couch as LJ