Falling off the face of the earth!

Sorry about that!  I know it's been too long since my last post.  I wish I could put a mini video of the last week on here because it was a CRAZY one!  I'll break it down:

Wednesday:  flew back from Boston, found a hotel across from our new condo so I'd be ready to move in "early" Thursday.

Thursday:  Notice the quotations around "early" above.  I had to check out, but LJ and I swam, waiting for the go-ahead call that would let us into our condo.  They were supposed to be in and moving furniture by 11 a.m....ummm, it was 4 p.m.  When they left at 11 p.m. that night, (gasp!  I know), they still were not done.  Not sure exactly what they were doing, but it took an hour to make a trip with an end-table, it seemed.  I had to negotiate with them to help me get Lance's truck (full of our stuff) from the field and unload it.  

Friday:  still mass chaos, stuff everywhere in the apartment.  If they brought stuff up, it was thrown onto the floor.  I know I sound bitter, but I'm not really.  It's just the honest-to-God truth.  I work as quickly as I can to get it into liveable fashion.  At 3 p.m., I pick up my mom at the airport.  Thank goodness!  Another set of hands!

Saturday:  By now, we are in and it looks like we've lived here months.  We spend the day at the pool and then go grocery shopping.

Sunday:  Happy Easter!  We tried a nearby church with a complicated check-in/check-out procedure in the nursery, (computers, sticker name-tags, etc.) but it was good.  Praise God for such an awesome day!  Lance came home that night.  He had never even seen the street we live on, much less the condo, (trust, right?).  It was a treat to give him a home-cooked meal in a new home.

Today:  We went to the mall where my mom taught me even more about shoe-shopping.  :)  I used to feel intimidated in nice shoe stores, but I'm finding my feet now, (pardon the pun).  We did some damage!  :)  Opening night was tonight for the Rays, and we dressed LJ in full uniform and enjoyed the night.  It's now 9:50, the 7th inning, and he's been asleep in his bed for over an hour.  We made it a quick one.

Sorry there were no pics this time.  I hope you guys are doing great!!!  We miss you lots.

Love,

Jamie

Opening Day at Fenway!

What a day!  LJ and I braved the cold and headed to Fenway Park in Boston for Opening Day 2009.  High of 48 with a two year-old in downtown Boston - I thought it would be tough, but we had a blast!!!!  

LJ's mode of transportation when his feet were just too tired:  me.  That's us in the middle.  There are no strollers allowed, so we had our camera bag, our travel carseat (on my back) and LJ on my shoulders.  We took the wrong way to our gate, so we got to walk the entire stadium this way...LJ was cheering and clapping with the crowd the whole way :)

A good picture of what LJ and I did at least half of the game.  I usually get a little wooden bat at each place we visit, but at Fenway, there is NO room for error if he starts swinging in the stands.  We opted for the soft glove and ball instead :)  We did have to ask the people in front of us to retrieve a wayward ball once or twice, but at least they left with their skulls intact.  :)

While we were playing, we put all our stuff in a corner.  Our stash:  popcorn, water, glove, carseat, camera bag and squishy ball.  :)

How exciting for Lance!  He got to pitch in front of a sell-out crowd here on opening day.  Sometimes things are just so fun, you have to check yourself.  He pitched the sixth and the 7th inning - The Rays lost, but he did well.  We were warm and toasty watching in the stands because we were packed in there like cattle.  It was a nice break from playing out in the wind!

Here is Lance pitching to JD Drew.  I remember in College, he had a picture of him in his room with some former teammates.  It was of him playing in Japan with Team USA.  Baseball's a small world!

We made it!!

...In more ways than one!  Lance made the team, and we made it to visit him in Boston -- how fun, huh?  Yay, Lance!!  Rookie is happy in a FL "pet resort", (oohh la la), and LJ and I arrived in Boston on Saturday night.  He and I have both been fighting a STRONG stomach bug, but we're going to enjoy our time here as much as we can. 

Here are some pictures from the day we've been here - Lance's game is cancelled today, so we'll try and head that way tomorrow for the "make-up game":  Opening Day at Fenway Park!  It's gonna be crazy!

 

Big boy with his own suitcase

This is the "Frog Pond" in Boston Commons...there is even a "tadpole playground".  I found it on the internet before we arrived - it turns out that it's a short walk from the hotel!

Sitting in the lap of one of the frogs :)

Dad helping out - He's there...just in case!

With me on there, you can't even tell it's a frog :)

Little Adventurer

Checking out his shadow

Handsome in his winter clothes one last time :)   On a bench in Boston Commons

Because if we don't laugh, we'll cry :)

Funny - Poor coach just thought he was saying hey to LJ, didn't know he'd be my blog!

Field Day!

Today was the last Grapefruit League spring game here in Port charlotte.  Now, the players, Lance included will play two exhibition games in Philly, then head to Boston to begin the season.  We haven't heard if Lance will be in Boston, too, but we'll see soon, we hope.  

After the game, LJ had the time of his life enjoying his own "field day".  Just like a student at the end of the year, LJ got to enjoy a day outdoors, running his heart out.  Enjoy the pictures!

With all his might!

Batter up!

A precious pair.

Here's how you pitch:  Look in for the sign...

The wind-up...

Throw a strike!

Then, take a nap...he didn't make it out of the parking lot!

There aren't many things I'm sure of today, but one thing I know - this boy had a blast!

Eagles, Muffins and Friends!

What do those three things have in common?  We love them all!  The eagles are located in an eagle nesting ground in our neighborhood.  There are two of them, and when you see them it's amazing!  The muffins were yummy - especially because LJ was such a sweet helper.  The friends are precious ...what's not to love?!

At first glance, this just looks like a tree with a cleaning problem, right?  It's actually the eagle nest!  It's like the scary mansion of all nests - it is huge!!

Sitting atop a tree...

Doesn't that make you want to salute or at least put your hand over your heart and say the pledge?  :)

My little helper stirring the muffin mix..and eating it.  I left the room to get the camera and came back and it was all over his face  :)

Trying to be patient...waiting for them to cook.  It's amazing how much more he wants them since he "helped".

Worth the wait!!

This is his look when he knows he shouldn't be doing something ...sitting on the coffee table - caught!

LJ's buddies :)

A day at the park!

For once, I'm not talking about the ballpark!  Kid Star park has enticed us from the road for weeks, so we decided to go see what it was all about.  I wasn't sure if there was anything age-relevant for LJ, but found out it was built for young kids just like him.  What a great place!  

Look how high we are in our hot air balloons!  LJ says we are just like Dora and Boots  :)

Driving his own "big rig"...just like Mac.  I'm beginning to see a character theme here :)

Riding "baby Jaguar" from Dora on the Merry-go-round!  He loved it!

Old enough for the go-kart, but he still looks awfully small in there.  I wondered how he'd like it once they cranked it up and it got loud...

What do you think?  I think he loved it!!  He's "driving" and making car noises the whole time.  They were saying "ka-chow!" like McQeen :)

We should have saved this for last because it was his FAVORITE!

 

After the go-kart, we headed to the BIG slide...my favorite!  :)

Look how big it is!  LJ and I went up and down 10 times...1 ticket = 2 rides, and the adult always goes free with the child!