American League Champions!!!

Last night was one of the greatest nights of my life. Other than my wedding and the birth of my son, not much will top it.

Last night I witnessed something that I never in a million years thought I would get to see in person.

The Texas Rangers won the American League Championship Series. And I was there.

Best part (no offense, Nate) is I was there with my dad. My dad is who introduced me to the Rangers. Softball/baseball was how we bonded. I have lots of great memories of me and my dad (and my mom and sister) at Rangers games when I was younger. So when I found out that I had tickets for last night's game - Game 6 of the ALCS with the Rangers leading the series 3-2 - and that Nate was unable to go to the game, I knew I HAD to take my dad.

We braved the rain just before the game started (thankfully Dad had ran out to the car to grab his hat and our ponchos) and cheered on our Rangers the entire game. When we took a 1-0 lead in the first (thank you, Elvis, Josh and Vlad), I started getting less nervous and more excited. When A-Rod tied up the score in the 5th, I was more nervous. When the Yankees intentionally walked Josh for the second time to bring up Vlad with two outs, I turned to my dad and told him it was time for Vlad to make the Yankees pay. And he did, with a double to left center that scored Mitch Moreland and Josh Hamilton. Then Nelson Cruz smashed a homer to left center and we were up 5-1. That's when (most) of the nerves were gone and we were just plain excited.

Colby Lewis was amazing. All of our players were amazing. The fans were amazing. I don't think we sat down after the 6th inning. By the time the game was over, both my dad and I had lost our voices. It was so worth it. The best part of the night was when Neftali Feliz struck out A-Rod to end the game. Talk about poetic justice!!

Watching that team, the team who has worked so hard this year and who has played great baseball since the end of April, getting to celebrate on their home field was the best experience. Thank you Rangers for losing Game 5 so we could cheer you on to victory in Game 6!

Now for the pictures.

Before the game started:


Taking off the tarp - let's play ball!


The people behind us had the greatest sign ever - "Texas: A No Pinstripe Zone"


The Rangers take the field.


Colby's first pitch:


Dad took a picture of all the Rangers batting...

Elvis:

Young:

Hamilton:

Guerrero:

Cruz:

Kinsler:

Murphy:

Molina:

Moreland:


The "Mean Boy in the Boots"


Nellie Cruz rounds second after his two-run home run in the 5th inning


Dad went down behind the dugout to take a picture of the Dot Race for Luke. The Green Dot won.


Colby Lewis (48) walks off the field after striking out Derek Jeter to finish the top of the 8th inning


Neftali Feliz pitches to Granderson


Neftali Feliz pitches to Rodriguez


Neftali Feliz strikes out A-Rod and the Rangers win the American League Championship Series! My dad just "had a feeling" that this pitch would be the final out...I am in love with this video!


Josh Hamilton gets interviewed


Dad and me with the Rangers spraying each other with ginger ale in the background


The Rangers put on the AL Champion shirts and celebrate on the infield.


Then they ran around the field celebrating with all the fans




Josh gets the ALCS MVP award - with the American League Champions logo on the jumbotron


Raising the American League Champions flag:

State Fair of Texas 2010

My mom, Luke and I went to the fair this past Wednesday. That is definitely the way to go when you go to the fair - go in the middle of the week. It was not crowded at all and we had a great time.

We saw Jump! The Dog Show and Luke now wants to be a frisbee-catching dog. ("Mommy, when I get to be a dog, I'm going to be in the dog show at the fair!")

We rode the ferris wheel, the carousel, and an airplane ride. Luke could have ridden the airplane ride by himself, but he was apprehensive about the whole thing. So I went with him. And we saw Big Tex (Luke's favorite thing) and ate a couple Fletcher's corn dogs. Plus we took the train to and from the fair so Luke thought that was awesome, too. It was a great - and exhausting - day.

The pics:








He loved, loved, loved the airplane ride. It went around in a circle and up and down FAST. He laughed the whole time while I prayed I would not throw up all over him!

Playoffs, baby!!

I was 16 years old the first time I went to a Rangers playoff game. That was 11 years ago. My son can now say that he was three years old the first time HE went to a Rangers playoff game. Can you believe it?!

Nate and I went to the ALDS Game 3 last Saturday and then Luke came with us to Game 4 on Sunday. It was an awesome experience, even though the Rangers lost both games. Whatever.

Luke thought it was the greatest game ever - the Red Dot won the Dot Race, he got to see the "mean boy in the boots" two times, AND there were fireworks when Nelson Cruz hit a home run. In Luke's mind, the game could not have been more perfect.

Here's a pic of Luke and me before the game:

Celebrating Dad's Birthday

We celebrated my dad's birthday a week late this year. Beth and Justin came home and the whole family went to the Rangers game. Before the game we met up at our house to have cupcakes and presents.

Luke helped Boppa blow out his candles:


And his presents:


Beth and Justin gave Dad the AL West Champs shirt:


We gave him the "claw and antlers" shirt:


The family (minus Nate who took the picture) at the game:


Luke showing off his new move, claw and antlers at the same time:

Date with Luke

A few weeks ago Luke and I had a date. We went to our favorite place - Rangers Ballpark in Arlington! It was the first game back home after the Rangers won the AL West Championship so we got to see this:



I couldn't resist getting Luke a foam claw. Ignore the weird look on his face, not sure what he was doing:


I have to include the look on Luke's face during the Dot Race. He loves it!


He was so cute with that foam claw during the game. My favorite part of the night was when Vlad got up to bat in the second inning and Luke yelled loudly, "Let's go, Vlad!" and the next pitch Vlad homered to left. Everyone sitting around us turned to Luke and told him that he was the reason for the homer. :)

Family Picture

We don't get pictures of the three of us very often. Nate hates having his picture taken and I'm usually the one behind the camera. My mom took this of us when we were over celebrating Nate's birthday. I think it's pretty cute, especially my cheeseball Luke.

Luke's Banana

Luke was very proud to show me that he had drawn a banana - all by himself!

Luke's Prayer

This was Luke's prayer tonight.

"Dear God,

Thank you for this day.
Thank you for the Rangers.
Thank you for the Red Dot.
Please help the Red Dot to win.
Please help the Green Dot and the Blue Dot to be nice to the Red Dot.
Amen."