july 4th

to celebrate our nation's independence, we spent an evening watching america's pastime. I don't know why baseball has earned this distinction over the years, as it is very boring to watch, but the long beach scout council set up a special deal with the Long Beach Armada, our local minor league team, so we went. the council had made arrangements for local scouts, and their families, to watch the game, see a fireworks show, and watch a movie on the jumbo-tron. Then, we got to camp in the outfield overnight and enjoy a continental breakfast and players' clinic in the morning. that sounded like a lot of fun. so we made plans to go.
cant resist that stadium music!!
a couple of days before the game, we got word that there wouldn't be a fireworks show due to a permit mix up. no big deal, spencer is a little freaked out by them anyway.
the Armada actually had a really good game, but it did go long, as baseball games are wont to do. so, by the time the game ended, it was 10:30 pm and spencer was out cold.
then, it was time to pitch the tents, so we could watch the movie. but, before we could go anywhere near the field, the grounds crew had to take care of the special red baseball dirt. so we waited, and waited. i was at least lucky enough to have been holding the sleeping spencer; so i didn't have to carry any gear. yay me!!
finally, we get on the field and i watch as all the tents go up. it actually goes surprisingly fast. i guess those scouters kind of know what they are doing.since i had the pleasure of sitting near the bullpen with my sleeping baby, i got to overhear all the big wig scout guys talk about the fact that not only would there not be any fireworks, there would not be a movie either. just as well, it was almost midnight anyway. but man some parents will get very upset if they are not given EVERYTHING posted on a flyer. its funny to watch people complain. or maybe i thought it was funny because i was just so tired and i had never wanted to see the inside of a sleeping bag so badly in my whole life.
we finally get to sleep. next thing i know, its 7 am and mr. peppy-scouter-man-in-the-smokey-the-bear-hat is making his morning rounds. ugh, i can't stand morning people. so, i go brush my teeth, and get in line for the lovely continental breakfast. i grab my mini muffin and juice box and head back to the tent. 15 minutes later, we are being told its time to break camp to get ready for the clinic. wow, the tent was up for a whole 7 hours! sure glad we brought all of this gear.
so brent and the younger boys go home, and shannon, sarah, jake, and i stay for the baseball clinic. i daresay that the clinic was actually worth all the heartache from the night before. 5 players from the team came to work with the kids in their areas of expertise. they had a rotation through infield, outfield, pitching, and hitting.
then they got to run the bases on the pro size field. the kids had a great time and the players were very patient and kind. they even gave jake an old practice ball and all 5 signed it. i couldn't tell you any of their names, but jake thought it was cool. you can tell these guys are playing because they actually love the game, rather than the money. (i got to talk to them and they laughed pretty loudly when i asked if this was their full-time job. i guess a few of them are fire fighters, or something like that.)
so, that was our fourth of july.

p.s. SPENCER IS POTTY TRAINED!!! imagine in your head; me doing the happiest happy dance ever. YAY!!!