What's better than one?

What's better than one Yankees fan?

Two, of course!

(Heath, the Braves fan, isn't so sure about the boys being raised cheering for the Yankees, but he can't complain when they look so cute in their new shirts!)

While I was gone...

So you may ask what Heath and the boys were doing while I was gone. Friday night, the boys spent the night with Grammy in Glasgow, and Heath was able to go bow-hunting all day on Saturday.

He sent me this picture from his phone Saturday afternoon. He was hunting in a field of beans.

Saturday night, Heath drove to Glasgow to pick up the boys. They got up Sunday morning and went to church. After church, since it was raining, they played outside (of course!) 

Heath sent me this picture of the boys playing in the rain. They made a pond, threw rocks and stomped in puddles.

And then he let them nap together in our bed. Oh the fun to be had when Daddy is watching the boys!

Labor Day weekend

As many of my friends know, every Labor Day weekend, my dad and I travel somewhere in the states to a different baseball park. We've been doing this since my first year in college (1999), and thirteen years later, we are getting oh, so close to seeing a home game in every stadium. I think we only have six or seven to go. 

We had thought about going to Seattle this year, but we both decided we wanted to go back to New York to see a game in the new Yankee Stadium. Sure, we'd been to the old Yankee stadium many times, but we had not yet seen a game in the new one. The Yankees were at home this weekend, so we flew up to Albany Friday night for a weekend of baseball, the mountains, time with family, and some relaxing.

Saturday morning, we drove to Saugerties to catch the train down to the city. It was filled with Yankee fans, which got us excited. This train took us right to the stadium, perfect!

It followed the Hudson all the way down - beautiful sights of such a HUGE river. It amazes me that the Hudson River and the Barren River are both rivers - and they are completely different in size!

It was the perfect day for a train ride - clear and sunny!

This trip was so easy! We got off the train and saw this sign - so nice!

See it in the background? It was just a short walk from the train.

It was beautiful! It was kind of weird though - remembering back to the old stadium that was in this spot just years ago, completely gone. It's now replaced with lovely sidewalks, some little league fields, and memorial markers.

Inside, all the greats were recognized. Dad and I love walking around stadiums before the game, and we always try to get the stadiums right when they open. Plenty of time to sight-see and watch batting practice!

Yes, it was familiar, reminding us of the old stadium, but in most ways it was SO different. Open and airy, so high-tech and HUGE!

I got a kick out of this. On top of every surface were these spikey things to keep birds from roosting. Can you imagine doing this to the entire stadium?

See the billboard across the way? It was a memorial to "The Boss," George Stienbrenner.

One of my mom's favorite and mine, too, - the field crew dancing to YMCA between the third and fourth inning.

Right field at Yankee Stadium is special to me. I'm crazy, I know. Yes, I'm a Jeter fan, but I've always loved Paul O'Neill, who played right field. He retired years ago, and there have been a handful of men in this spot since then. I've begun to like the fun character and fan-loving personality of Nick Swisher though. He might just be my new favorite right-fielder. :)

I took this picture for Heath (and Kevin), who love Borat. Whenever there was a hit, he would show up on the screen. Hilarious!

Dad and I at the new stadium - true Yankee fans! They won 4-3 against the Orioles. It was a great game!

Oh, yes! There's number 21 - Paul O'Neill!

On the train ride home I tried to snap a picture of West Point. I should have taken one on the way up, but didn't have my camera ready. It was quite the scene.

Beautiful foothills right up on the river - this part of New York really is beautiful.

We spent the rest of the afternoon doing some back woods driving, and then we visited with some family back in Catskill that evening. Sunday we attended an outdoor church service on the Hudson River, had lunch with my aunt, uncle and cousin, and then researched some on our family tree. That night, dad and I had supper with one of his high school friends. Monday morning we ate breakfast in Leeds with my uncle, and then headed to Albany to fly home. Another wonderful Labor Day weekend with my dad...

In need of a haircut

The other morning, Cash was complaining about his "hair being too long to eat his cereal." Being the loving mommy that I am, I took care of the problem. :)

River folk

We truly enjoy living right on the river. We attribute our large amount of "critters" to the nearby water supply, it makes for a beautiful view off the back porch, and of course, on hot days, it's the perfect place to play. We did just that last Saturday afternoon, the 25th.

The boys grabbed their swim shorts and I loaded up some random toys, and off we went. 

These plastic boats that we played with in the pool were also getting some "river time."

The favorite was a ping pong ball. The boys would throw it up the river and watch it float back towards them. They would take turns scooping it up in their net.

Got it!

Here's a view looking up the river - pretty shallow.

And here it is looking down the river - a bit deeper and not as grown up.

This boy was having a blast!

It was about waist dip in most places. We tried to stay away from the edge because there was lots of ooey gooey moss. 

Here they are in the deepest part, holding tight to daddy's hands. It was a perfect afternoon to be at the river. 

Did I mention we brought the kayak down to the river? We paddled around for a bit, traveling up the river to the back of our property. It was hard paddling against the current and in shallow water, but we made it.

"Moss man" also made an appearance. Hilarious!

The boys didn't seem scared, right? Oh, my! What a fun day to be "river folk."

Their Sunday best

When it comes to clothes around here, we are pretty plain and simple kind of dressers. You'll usually find me in shorts and a t-shirt, jeans in the cooler months. Heath wears rugged khakis or jeans to work with a polo shirt, and the boys beat around the house, inside and out, in play clothes 99% of the time. So on Sunday mornings, I just love seeing my boys in their "Sunday best." Our Sunday best still isn't as fancy as some, but it makes me smile to see my two little handsome boys all cleaned up, hair brushed and something other than Lightning McQueen or a tractor on their shirts.

 

 

Still playing though, B wore these short overalls today. This was actually Cash's Easter outfit, bought at consignment, when he was 22 months old. B was three weeks old when Cash wore this for that special Sunday. Now that little baby is wearing big brother's spiffy outfit.

 

Cash was busy riding his bike before we left, so he didn't let me get too many pictures. Love that smile though!

 

I love it when they hold still for a picture, together, at the same time. :)

 

I know I'll blink and Baylen will be wearing this navy polo with the plaid shorts. But right now I'm just going admiring and "eat up" the cuteness of my boys in their "Sunday best."

Eighty-three

Growing up, we got together with my mom's side of the family very often. Holidays, Sunday afternoon lunches, birthdays - you name it. We were there together, and if one of us wasn't there for some reason, it just wasn't the same. There were ten of us then, and my sister and I were pretty close to our two cousins.

There's sixteen of us now, and like I said, when even one is missing from a get-together, it's just not the same. So for all of us to meet on a Saturday night to enjoy a meal together, it must have been for a very special reason, and it was. Gran-Granny was turning 83!

I don't think she would mind me announcing her age on my blog. Honestly, she's probably uncertain was a blog is or that I try to keep up with one. Besides, at eighty-three, she's strong, healthy, and the "head" of this family. She's beautiful inside and out, and her four great-grandbabies love her. It's not easy getting a perfect picture with these four, but we always try.

Happy birthday, Gran-Granny!