take us out to the ball game...

we always keep quiet about anything we have planned for the kids until we are actually on our way there because it is much easier that trying to explain why we can't go somewhere.  today was no exception.  the weather wasn't looking very promising, but matt had gotten tickets to see the minor league baseball game and we figured we would give it a try.  i just told the kids that daddy had a surprise for them and matt wrapped their gloves up in his jacket so that they wouldn't see them in the car.  even with the rain (which was that light, cold, drizzley rain) we thought that we could use the tickets and stay for a few innings.

the kids were extremely excited to be there and madelyn and mason discussed catching a ball for mason this time (remember that madelyn has gotten a foul ball from almost every single game she has ever attended).  there weren't a lot of people and our seats were four rows back from the home team dugout - we thought that our odds were pretty good.

after a few innings of watching from the covered walkway, we were able to dry off our seats and sit closer to the game.

maddux did better than i had expected him to, and even watched some of the game.  but he did spend some time 'loving' and hugging madelyn a little too much.  thankfully, she was a pretty good sport and only complained after about 5 minutes of straight hugging.

mason was very patient about waiting for a ball, but he never got one.  the boys in the row behind us got 3 or 4, but the timing never worked out for us.  he was so cute with his glove - waiting.  and he was even sweeter about handling his disappointment.  he was very disappointed but said that he would get one next time.

our 'plan b' surprise was a family fest day at a mall up that way.  we went last year and mason won an annual zoo pass which let us renew the one shannon gave us when we first moved here.  we figured it was worth the effort of going, plus the kids liked all of the activities.  we left the game around the sixth inning because the rain was picking up again so we had time to head to the mall for an hour too.  and as a bonus, we had two buy one/get one coupons for auntie anne's pretzels.

mason and madelyn are actually pretty good hoola hoopers considering that we don't have one (although we will get some this summer).

after the mall we went to a favorite grocery store up that way with some more 'freebie' coupons and had dinner in their cafe before heading home.  despite the rain, we had a nice family day!  love.