Chipper's Game...

At the end of last season Chipper Jones officially retired from baseball and it was the end of an era. He spent his entire career in Atlanta with the Braves and when you think about that, in this day and age, it's pretty impressive. Not to mention the fact that he had an incredible career in Atlanta and is destined to be enshrined at Cooperstown in a few years. AG's first true favorite baseball player was Chipper and we had a hard time all winter helping him grasp the concept of retirement. We knew that when the Braves decided to retire his number we would make plans to be there. Well, while I was in Orlando for the Princess Half in February Andy was buying tickets for Opening Day and Chipper's Retirement. 

We told AG for months that we were going to this game and that he would get to see Chipper one last time at Turner Field. He was beside himself with excitement on the morning of June 28th and spent the day gathering everything he needed to take to the game: 

 We left that afternoon with plenty of time to get down to the stadium and walk around before the festivities started. The kids were pumped and ready to go.

 AG's Heyward t-shirt was starting to get a little short on him and we told him he could get a new one at the game. He opted for a red Freddie Freeman t this time. (We've since retired the #10 Jones shirt that both kids have worn and passed the Heyward t to Avi-Kate. One of the few things that we are able to pass from kid to kid!)

Andy and AG standing next to the stadium...they removed this section of bricks and gave them to Chipper as one of his gifts to thank him for his contributions to the Braves over the course of his career. 

 We had great seats with a great view. Of course, they put Chipper's number ten in the outfield and AG's pumped when he saw it. AG was also excited that he had a nice view of the Coke bottle and the Moo-Cow.

Getting everything set up for the pre-game ceremony. It was neat to see former Braves in attendance since it was also Alumni weekend. Andy and I kept pointing out different people to AG and saying, 'we use to watch him play for the Braves when we were little.'

Deep in concentration as he watched the pre-game ceremony on the tv in our section. He was in awe of the whole thing.

The man of the night. He started playing for the major league Braves in the fall of 1993 and I was a few weeks shy of ten years old. He's been such a huge part of the organization these last twenty or so years that it's been really weird this season to look over and not see him at third base.  

Pumped up and ready to see Julio Teheran take on the Diamondbacks. It was also bittersweet because this was the first time several former Braves were back in ATL since the offseason when they were traded. Included in this trade was one of our favorite Braves, Martin Prado. BUT we have been really, really pleased with who came to Atlanta as a result of the trade. Specifically Justin Upton and Chris Johnson. 

 It was a beautiful night to watch the sunset over the stadium with the city off in the distance. Love our city.

 Avi-Kate enjoyed some quality snuggle time with her G-Daddy during the seventh inning stretch.

 AG was excited to hear 'Welcome to the Jungle' blaring at the top of the ninth and watch Kimbrel run out of the bullpen. We love to watch Kimbrel pitch and it's electrifying to be in the stadium when he runs out.

Braves got the win to shutout the Diamondbacks 3-0! Teheran wanted to get 10 strikeouts in honor Chipper's #10 and the Kimbrel got his 23rd save to that point in the season. It was a great game. 

 These last two pictures make my heart happy. I'm glad we got to take the kids and enjoy it with my parents. I remember learning about the Braves and the game of baseball in early elementary school. I can remember my Dad waking me up one night in the fall of 1991 and running downstairs with me so that I could see the Braves as they made their playoff berth. That year they went from the worse to first and began their domination of the National League East for the next 14 years. Here's hoping that this years team continues to play deep in to the playoffs. I haven't been this excited about a Braves roster in a long time and they are playing lights out. Reminds me of the teams I grew up watching and I'm sure AG will carry memories from this season well in to adulthood.

Wordless Wednesday...G is for Gingers, G-Daddy, and GiGi

Newest member of the family...

AG is quite a fanatic when it comes to the Braves and Chick-fil-A. Well, this last year he has taken to playing with my collection of CFA cows. ( I collected several in high school and college from working there.) He usually sets up a cow with a Coke bottle and his foam letter T. The T represents a tomahawk...quite the imagination this one has. (That and his parents need to get him a real foam tomahawk this spring!) He sets everything up when he plays baseball and he is always Chipper Jones or Brian McCann. Over the last few months he kept telling us he needed a bigger Moo-Cow. Well, my Dad  use to be a Chick-fil-A operator for years and he still does some with the company even though he is no longer an operator. I told Dad that if there was any way he could come up with a large Moo-Cow his favorite red-headed grandson would be forever grateful...

AG was overjoyed and immediately told Andy that the cow needed to do the chop! While Andy was chopping AG was saying, in his best announcers voice, " Do the Chop! Eat Chikin!" Ha. 

I need to upload the photo of him snuggled in to his twin bed a the mountain house with his new BFF. It's hysterical. Anyways, Moo-Cow is an official member of the family. These days he splits his time between AG's bed and sitting up on AG's kitchen. (He likes for him to sit up high just like the cow at the stadium. He makes Andy and I laugh with his attention to detail at such a young age.) Here's Moo-Cow hangin' out at the 'Stadium' and the picture below it is all the 'friends at the stadium to see the Moo-Cow.'

Apparently the friends missed the Exit for Bethlehem.

Thanks Ga-Da-Da for the newest member of our fimily. (That's what Meghan called it when she was little!) I'm sure there will be lots of Moo-Cow related posts in our future and lots of sweet memories.  

Chore time...

...okay so not true chores, yet. (All in due time as they get older!) For now we ask AG to help and most of the time he offers to do things to help Momma or Daddy. His favorite being to 'help Sammy' aka feed Samson. If Samson is good and eats his dinner AG will offer up a treat to him! (Bones, Greenies, dog biscuit, etc.) One evening Andy was taking out the trash and AG asked to help so I gave him a bag of trash out of one of the bathroom garbage cans. And away the boys went with Samson leading the way outside.

A few days later I was folding laundry during AG's nap and Avi-Cakes was helping me. She enjoyed being plopped down in the middle of a warm load of laundry...

...she also enjoyed waving a pair of AG's big boy underwear around in the air. Big boy underwear? Yes, big boy underwear. A post forthcoming on our adventures in potty training!

So, here's to laying the foundation at a young age that we all live together in this house and we must all help out. To quote G-Daddy, "it's just part of being in a family!" Yep, and as they get older we will delve further in to that concept but for now we are learning simple skills.

Face-lift on the house...sneak peek.

When you live in an old house it is inevitable that things are going to need to be repaired, fixed, and or restored at some point. In the case of our front steps that has been a need since we moved in but we are finally at point where we can focus on it. I plan to do a complete before/after post when Andy has everything just the way he likes it. Till then here is a sneak peek at some of the work that has taken place...

I've come to the conclusion that there are very few things that my husband and father can not do. The front of the house is a prime example of that and it amazes me! Looking forward to showing you all the details, soon.

Wordless Wednesday...G-Daddy's Baseball Edition.

Wordless Wednesday...Grandparents edition.

Words for Wednesday...

Four Generations.

This morning my Dad called to tell me that he was on his way to pick up MeMe, my grandmother, and take her to the hospital. The last three years she has been living in an Alzheimer's facility as her disease has progressed.

These photos were taken in the spring after AG was born. At the moment he is the only great-grandchild. When I was pregnant with AG MeMe told me that she hoped that it was little boy and that he had red hair just like my dad did when he was little. Not only does he have red hair just like Daddy but he's also Daddy's namesake. You can see a hint of the red on his little bald head...and during our visit she kept calling him Mr. Red. I'm grateful for these snapshots because it looks like our days with MeMe might be drawing to a close.

Wordless Wednesday...Braves Game Edition.

AG gets a sandbox...

On Saturday, G-Daddy came up to help Andy do some yard work. They tilled the back yard to prep it for growing grass seed. After tilling it they decided to build AG a sandbox for his playhouse. So they made a run to Home Depot for some supplies. They worked well after dark...

The next day we stuck AG in the sandbox and Samson opted to join him.

AG trying out his new pad.

That evening Andy made another run to Home Depot to pick up more sand. AG was happy to show us around. He even left the light on for us...

Finished sandbox and a freshly scrubbed playhouse.

And the makings of a new backyard...