Hannah’s First Blue Jays Game!

Our Toronto Blue Jays are hot, hot, hot right now so I figured this year would be a great time to introduce Hannah to a live game!  We often watch them on TV and with the games being so exciting this year I thought she might enjoy it. 

A couple of weeks ago I bought tickets for Dad, Hannah and I to go to yesterday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, Dad’s childhood team.  The problem with going to a game late in the season for a team in first place in their division is that most clothing items are hard to find.  Hannah and I went to W*mart Thursday night with hopes of finding a t-shirt for her.  I couldn’t find anything in the kid’s dept. but found one lone t-shirt in the men’s dept.  Even though it’s a men’s small I quickly realized that with the help of a mitt clip that I could make this work.  I think she looks adorable and many people commended on her cute little ‘dress’ at the game!

We met up with dad and set out for a day of fun together!

What’s a day at the ballpark without a ball park dog?

One of the reasons we chose to go on a Saturday is that Saturdays are Jr. Jays days with lots of free activities set up for the kids before, during and after the game.  First stop was for an airbrushed tattoo.

She spun a wheel and won a water bottle and then got a cute little Blue Jays tattoo also.

Our seats ended up being second row from the top but they were great for us as we could see most everything and Hannah could also move around a bit more without bothering people around us. 

After a few innings Hannah and I went for a walk where she had this neat Blue Jay balloon bird made for her.

She got right into the game clapping and shouting with the best of them!

We went for another walk and found a neat little path behind the jumbotron.

In the end, the parts of the game that we saw were AMAZING as our Jays won 15-1 and secure their top spot in the American League East!!!  The noise in the stadium was deafening….and awesome!  (And….the sound almost drowned out the sobs of our family in Windsor who are all Tigers fans! ) SO much fun to be at such a great game!!

After the final pitch was thrown there was still more fun for the Jr. Jays.  We made our way down a long, LONG, l-o-n-g line (it reached almost 1/2 way around the top level of the stadium!!) to wait for an opportunity for Hannah to run the bases.  How fun!!!  Hannah found a neat spot to wait. 

By the time our group of 1000’s of kids began their trek down to the field, the game had been over for almost an hour but the excitement could still be heard and felt! 

It was a really neat feeling to walk onto the field and see the stadium from such a different perspective!   The event was really well organized and as we walked in from the outfield, past the warm-up pitcher’s mounds,  we approached first base and the kids cut off to the right and began to run the bases while the parents walked a path beside first base.  We met up at home plate.  If you look carefully you can see my girl running her little heart out!  Go Hannah Go!!!

Once we met back up we took advantage of being on the field and snapped a couple of final pics – in front of the Blue Jays dugout and

with the stadium behind us.

It was the perfect day from start to end and we quickly decided that this will become an annual tradition!  We hope to go to a game against the Tigers again next summer with more of our family joining us….as well as those who are Tiger fans from Windsor!  C’mon family - who wants to join us?

Go Jays Go!!!

Summer Swimming Lessons

To say I’ve been thrilled and amazed by Hannah’s swimming improvements this summer would be a huge understatement!!  She’s gone from swimming close to the side and venturing out a couple of feet to jumping off the diving board in the deep end of Mom and Dad’s pool and swimming everywhere with confidence!  Because of this, when I took her to swimming lessons I chose not to bring last year’s report card with her as I’ve seen such great improvements that I was afraid that report might hold her back.  I’m so glad to have made that decision!  

This summer I signed Hannah up for 1 week of private lessons once again and it was a great choice for her!   Her teacher from last year (a family friend from church whom I’d taught Sunday School to when she was just 7yo) had married and moved away so Hannah had a new teacher this year, Annie. 

After Hannah’s first class was finished Annie stopped by to say that Hannah was doing great with her Level 3 skills!  3??  THREE??!!!  My little fish had skipped the last 2 ‘animal’ level of lessons as well as the first two numbered groups for an advancement of 5 levels!  WOW!!!

One of the skills Hannah started to working on is a sitting dive.  She did well – even when she forgot to use her arms!

Hannah was introduced to the various parts of front crawl on Monday.  By Friday she was putting it all together and swimming an entire length of the pool! Doing a pretty good job of swimming the front crawl!  (Mommy was so excited that I forgot to get video of that one.)  As well as some awesome swimming on her back and learning to swim on her side, Hannah also began to tread water and more!  This little dolphin swim wearing flippers was one of her favourites!

In the end Hannah was thisclose to passing her Level 3 and I’m so proud of her!  Way to go Hannah!  Your lessons were a huge success once again this session thanks to your great listening and hard work!!

Happy Canada Day…Only 2 Months Late! ;o)

As I was reviewing pictures tonight I realized that I’d missed posting these.  So, rather than miss capturing our July 1st Canada Day celebration I’m posting it a little late. 

Canada Day was shared with Hannah, my mom, dad, aunt, uncle, brother, SIL, niece and nephew and it was a great day from start to finish! 

The weather was a little iffy in the morning so we spent time inside the cottage mom and dad were renting.  Hannah and Makenna were sharing a colouring page and their choice of colouring poses made me giggle even though they were quite comfortable.

Kallen enjoyed playing with the gadgets in spite of numerous reminders not to.  Who can say ‘no’ to this adorable little face?

In spite of the weather we went to the park and the beach.  It was too chilly for swimming but we still had fun throwing rocks in the water and building sand castles.

At one point my SIL’s phone accidentally got dropped and fell through the cottage and the deck to the ground below.  The A Team were soon on it.

Success!  Way to go Dave and Dad!

We ended our day with sparklers by the water’s edge.  Kallen wasn’t too sure about it

but the girls really enjoyed them. 

We had a great Canada Day celebrations and hope you did too!

Summer Pool Parties

Hannah and I are blessed to have many wonderful friends whom we spend a lot of time with.  We get together with many of them on a regular basis but due to our small home it’s difficult for us to host gatherings.  In the summer all that changes as my parents kindly open their home to not 1 but 2 group gatherings which allows us to invite friends over.

In July it was a group of 4 families whom we get together with almost on a monthly basis.  Our kids have grown up together and often refer to one another as cousins.  (One other family is part of the group too but live a distance away so we included them via Face Time!)  The day started out sunny and everyone quickly jumped into the pool!

This past weekend was beautiful as we hosted a Family Day Celebration for a group of families from our agency that travelled to China 10 months after us.  I got to know them when Hannah was just a baby and I was invited to join them for their travel meeting and answer questions about our time in China.  Little did I know that they would welcome Hannah and I with open arms and include us in many group celebrations since then.  So thankful for this group of friends too!

Dave, Debbie and Charlotte

Laura, Chia-Yi and Siena

Hannah and I

I saw something new on TV the other day and decided to give it a try and it got 2 thumbs up all ‘round.  Individual dessert pizzas made on the BBQ.  It was neat to see how unique each person made theirs!  Yummo!!!

We are so thankful for this special group of friends and look forward to many more wonderful celebrations together!

Thank you Mom and Dad for opening your home to us and the time you share with us when we’re at your place!  You’re the best!!

Weekend Visit with Nana and Papa

This past weekend Hannah and I enjoyed time away visiting Nana and Papa at their trailer.  The weather started out cloudy Saturday afternoon but it was still warm so Hannah and I made our way to the beach. 

She practically had the beach and lake to herself when we first got there!

A short time later the sun came out and look what happened!!  Too funny!  So much for our private beach and lake!

Hannah offered to teach mommy how to play shuffle board.  Although I’ve never officially played I’m pretty sure this isn’t how I imagined it to be!

 

She sure is cute though!!

Saturday night Papa took Hannah out on an ice cream date.

Cuddling with Nana on the way home from chapel on Sunday.

Nana gave Hannah one of the readers that her Daddy had given to her when she was a little girl.  It’s safe to say that Nana’s bedtime stories put at least one person to sleep.  Sweet dreams Papa. 

Thanks for inviting us for a visit Nana and Papa!  We loved spending this time with you!