The big boys and I just got home from a Rangers game and I'm too wired from a fun night to go to sleep! I want to capture all my memories without blasting Facebook...so here we go.
A few nights ago a friend texted Nate to say that he had five tickets available for tonight's game - did we want them? I immediately said yes. We have not been to a game as a family and all sat together in a long time, so what a great opportunity! And Eli hasn't even been to a game this year. (Times have definitely changed around here - this was only Luke's 3rd game this season and Caleb'a 2nd!) Anyway we jumped at the chance.
Fast forward to today when Nate wasn't feeling well and didn't think he could make the game. Rather than the tickets go to waste, the big boys and I decided to go to the game with Mammie and Boppa. Eli stayed home with Nate. It doesn't look like Tuff is going to make a game season, poor third child.
Luke and Caleb were very excited about getting to go, though. We ended up with two jerseys of current players that fit them both so it was perfect. Of course Caleb had to wear a full baseball ensemble, complete with baseball pants, red belt, red socks, and cleats. The whole time he was getting dressed he was exclaiming, "I'm so excited to get to be a real Ranger player!"
Well. There was one thing that we didn't really know about when we agreed to the tickets. The Cowboys were also playing at home tonight.
Of course the parking pass we had was a valet pass. Which is super cool except when there is crazy football traffic around the Ballpark. I spent most of the drive up there cursing the Cowboys and wishing we had the normal pass that is so easy to get to and park. But we got there eventually - it only took us twice as long to get there than normal. But we were in our seats - which were amazing - by 6:30 pm so it was all good.
(I lost count of how many times I heard both of them say how excited they were to go to a game!)
I texted Nate to find out who was on Rangers Live. When he said Pudge, the boys and I hightailed it to the Captain Morgan Club to watch and try to get a Pudge autograph. Dad and I went to a game in June and went out there and he only autographed for kids. I was fully okay with using my own to my advantage.
My pic with Pudge...haha.
Let's just say I was totally out of character out there, but they got the autographs! I asked the security guard if he thought there was a chance they would be in the line for autographs. So he made sure they were. But they were behind some tall kids and I couldn't stand with them so when Pudge came by it looked like he was going to completely miss them. (More big kids who hadn't been waiting patiently like my boys stepped in front of them and that was not okay!) That's when I started calling out to Caleb, who was the only one I could see, to move up to the front. Caleb, being Caleb, had no idea what was going on and started going around the crowd to get back to me. At this point I'm yelling, "Caleb! Go that way!" The details get a little blurry after this, but the security guards ended up asking if Luke was Caleb and then grabbing Caleb and getting him up next to Luke. Pudge signed his ticket and a Rangers helmet that an Orioles fan gave us while we were waiting. Apparently all this went down during the national anthem and I had no idea until I said "thank you Pudge", not realizing why it was quiet. I annoy myself sometimes. BUT they got autographs from Pudge so the humiliation was worth it.
I was going to get pics of them holding their autographed items in front of the Rangers Live set but then we realized Mark McLemore was coming toward us. So they got Mac's autograph, too, and I didn't have to make a fool out of myself for that.
Success!!!
Cute boys.
We made it back to our seats as the first batter grounded out. And other than a trip to buy nachos and a trip to the bathroom, we didn't leave the seats until the end of the game! It was the first game I have been to with Caleb that he sat there, watched the game and was interested in the outcome, cheered for the players, and was SO GOOD. Luke has always been like that at games, so it was fun to experience that with Caleb, too. His favorite part was whenever Prince Fielder came up to bat. He would get so excited! It's so funny how he has decided he loves Prince. Our one "hiccup" was his full blown meltdown when the Red Dot won the race, while his big brother was full on spazzing about the whole thing.
Full body pic of the Mini Nap
Selfies with my sweets...
Mammie bought them a lemon chill to share in the 7th inning. The game was going fast and she was hoping it would help them make it through the end.
It had an alternate affect and a few minutes later Caleb was sound asleep in my lap. Caleb is my only kid who can fall asleep anywhere and sleep through anything. He slept through the end of the 8th inning, a loud top of the 9th, all the cheers when the game was over - and we won!!! - the walk to the valet stand, waiting for the car, the drive home, and the transfer to his bed.
I was cursing the Cowboys on the drive home as well. Leaving the valet stand I had to go around the stadium to get home and it was a pain! But looking back it wasn't too bad considering...although in our normal spot it would have taken the amount of time to get home that it did to get out of traffic.
Anyway...it was a super fun night with my oldest two boys!
