O's Game

I normally go an O's game every year with the Kauflins but considering the O's are the worst team in baseball, it is a hot summer and Kristine is 9 months pregnant it wasn't going to work out this year. So my dad said he would take me. We decided last minute to go to the O's/Nats game since my dad and brother support the Nats. We thought we were doing good with the front row out in left field but that wall is pretty high. We ended up moving back a couple rows about half way through the game. And let me tell you it was hot!! I tried to take a picture of Kevin's cell phone that said it was 98 degrees but felt like 102.

We waited up here in the shade for the game to start! Like I said - HOT!

How Kevin spent half the game.

I love this ballpark!

I broke down and had to wear the cheapy hat that they gave away.

It was a good game and the O's won, in fact they swept the Nats!

Thanks so much to grandmom for watching Chase for me. We wouldn't have lasted one inning. There was a family in front of us that had a 2 year old son and he was begging to go home. Chase had a lot more fun with grandmom!

Little Biker

My parent's neighbor saw Chase's shirt yesterday and thought he needed a picture on his bike. So we had a quick photo shoot. Yes I am behind the bike holding him up - I didn't hide my arm very well.

World Cup fans. Chase's shirt is for his second favorite team.

Tiana wanted to get in on the picture. We love the weekends when she is here!

Pool

We have been to the poll a lot this week! It is hot for us used to England summers. I finally got out my camera to take a couple pictures.

Our friend Maddi joined us.
Checking out the slide.

Tiana got in trouble for going head first!

At first he was a little unsure of the water at the top of the slide.

But he made it through :)

They sure enjoyed their snack afterwards!

Fathers Day

One of the benefits of catching an early hop was that I got to be here for Fathers Day!!

We really missed Chase's daddy on this day. We are so proud of his hard work and sacrafice! Chase just lights up when we see him on the computer or talk on the phone. I can't wait till the fall when we can all be together again! We love you!!

Trip across the pond

Chase and I made it back to the states yesterday after a whirlwind 19 hours. I was at the Bxtra buying a few last minute things hoping to catch a hop on Monday. I ran into a guy at the backpack section and he was buying a backpack for his kid and mentioned it would make a nice carry on. I told them I was trying to hop on Monday they were trying to get a hop too. He casually said they were hoping to get on the plane tomorrow for Dover. What?! That is where I was trying to go. I looked at my watch and it was about noon. Could I really be ready to go tomorrow morning for a 5:40 showtime? Well I managed to get everything done and we got on the flight. It was actually a pretty smooth ride. It was pretty loud but not as cold as last time.

Getting Chase to sit still for the take off and landing was hard. Don't know how I would have gotten him to sit still on my lap for a 7 hour flight. For those wondering this is what the seats look like. But we weren't in them long.

We find a nice corner of the plane to hang out in.
I got him some new cars which kept him entertained for a while.

Then the boom operator wanted to show us his office.

Pretending to give gas to daddy.

We checked out the cockpit. It was kinda scary seeing the pilots reading a book while flying.

A nice little bed for Chase. Too bad he only slept for an hour and a half.

Special thanks to the Allens for taking Wagner, Angela for moving my car to long term parking, Julie for being understanding that I had to stand her up on the Thomas the Train trip and my parents for making the drive out to get me at a days notice. I also had fun today surprising my friends at church!

Zoo

We went to the zoo today with friends and had a great time! The weather was beautiful and since it was midweek it wasn't too busy. Chase loved seeing all the animals and playing with his friend Norah.

We got there just in time to see the seals being fed.

Looking at the camels. I love Norah's expression.



Watching the giraffes get fed.

We took a break from being outside to let the kids play.

In front of the Cheetah. I learned they can get up to 60mph running in 3 seconds but they can only hold that speed for about a minute.

Keeping Chase entertained for the last thing we wanted to do, Birds of Prey, was hard. I was just telling Brad that he loves lining things up so I figured I better get a picture.

Both kids were asleep within 5 minutes of getting in the car. A fun but tiring day!

Mid-week Musings

- I am stealing the idea for this post from the Topeka Capital Journal which I have been reading a lot lately.
- I am so relieved that the Big XII is staying together. Don't let the door hit you on the way out Colorado and Nebraska.
- Chase had his last day at the Green Wellie today. Since he will be 2 next month I enrolled him in our village pre-school for the fall.
- I was hoping for a cute picture in front of the school or with the teacher and this is the best I get. Chase still gets a little teary when I drop him off.

- Hopefully I will be blogging from the states this time next week!
- People here are crazy about soccer. This past Saturday there were England flags everywhere, on pubs, houses, cars, people's heads.

- All that hype to end in a tie. I just don't get it.

- Having 3 dogs at my house is a lot of work.

- Especially when there is a hole this big in the fence and you come home from a run and they are gone. At least I got to meet a new neighbor who kept them until I tracked them down.

- We have some awesome friends in the village who are watching Wagner for almost 2 months this summer!

- I love it when something entertains Chase for a while. We open up the sandbox everynow and then and he is probably out there for a good hour!

- Looking forward to the zoo tomorrow and a Thomas the Train visit on Saturday!!

- That will mean I acutally have something to write about.

The rest of the visit

Since they have been gone a week and a half now - I figured I better post the last few pictures from Tara and Tyler's visit. It has been too quiet around here since they have been gone.

Bath time!

We played at the Community Center on base with Will one morning.

Didn't get any good pictures of Rock Tots time. Don't know what the deal with Chase's face is.

We went to Cambridge one day to check out the colleges and go punting.

I was prepared for Chase to want to be in the water this time and brought a change of clothes.

The boys ready to order some food at the Eagle Pub. It was so hard keeping them contained - maybe that is why we barely went out to eat the 2 weeks we were together.

Our GAP models (Tyler was hearing a GAP hat and Chase a shirt) on a wagon ride through our village.

Again, we had a great time time with them and miss them so much already. It took us about 4 days to catch up on sleep. We are already planning the next time we can get together (hopefully with the daddy's!).