Bri's First Royal's Game

So the K.C. Royals have been red hot and the temp unseasonally cool so Bri and I went to a ballgame today. Actually, she's been begging me to go for months now for her birthday b/c that's where Slugger lives. Just so happened the Royals were outdoing themselves in folly and the heat index sizzled in the triple digits. But we were undeterred. As I explained to Elise, not unlike how many future wives dream of their wedding day, many future grooms dream of taking their kid to their first ballgame. She seemed to understand.

Here's a quick download of our time.

We're headed out the door. It's hard to tell who's more excited. For days leading up to this, I told her all that we would do - watch baseball, eat hot dogs, eat ice cream, cracker jacks, ride the carousel, find Slugger, and get a souvenir. She repeated this list to her Mom and sisters constantly -but would add about the souvenirs, "And then we're going to get something I don't know what it is. What is it Daddy?"

We just went through the gates. Bri was excited about handing 'the man' our tickets until she saw 'the man' and decided that it should be my job to get us in. At this point, Bri has taken a turn inward. She's now not saying a word but just taking it all in with those big, beautiful eyes of hers. As charismatic and outgoing as she is, this is a common theme when we're out in public. She kinda gets mesmerized by the energy of it all.

I taught Bri the first lesson about baseball viewing - buy cheap and sit close. Unethical I know but it feels so right. We found a shady spot right behind home plate where Bri found more enjoyment observing the young boy and his sister behind us than the game. I'm not sure she ever did see one ball take flight but I still talked to her about the game as if she cared. People looked at me strangely. We lasted through 4 and a half innings before she asked for ice cream, which beat my personal goal of 3.

The Carousel was a highlight, handsdown. We had a need for speed.

Bri did the rounds on the Royals playground. The slide was too hot for her legs, though, so it was short-lived.

Now we're at the little fountain park.

Bri has a peculiar stroke with the putt putt.

We sought shelter in the merchandise hut and exited with a pink Royals night gown.

(OUCH! $$$) About that time, Elise called to check on us and I told her we were in the 8th inning!!! Bri then got on the phone and proceeded to tell her everything we had done, exactly according to plan..."And then we watched baseball and ate cracker jacks and then we ate ice cream and then we went on the carousel and we played golf and I went to the playground but I didn't get a hot dog." I thought, "Oh my...she actually remembered the hot dog. I have to now buy her a hot dog!" When she got off the phone I asked her if she wanted a hot dog. She said yes. I asked her again 3 outs later, she said yes. As we were walking towards the hot dog stand, I asked her if she still wanted a hot dog. She said yes. So, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, I bought Bri a $4.50 hot dog. I handed it to her and she said, "Daddy I don't want a hot dog. I want to go home."

We weren't even out of the parking lot before she crashed.

I was so proud of my daughter today.

I had so much fun just being with her. Upon reflection that night, the highlight was simply the fact that she held my hand the whole day.