Travel nightmare

How to even begin what it took for us to get to New York...

Things started out well at DFW airport.  We were on time and I found out I now get to check my bags - for FREE!

Upon boarding, we had a mechanical issue... DELAY!  NOOOOOO!  Oh well, thankfully I packed a lunch for us so we were good to go!

Upon arriving at ORD, we received bad news.  We missed our flight and we had ONE option. Fly to Boston and then onto SYR or, possibly not get home until Sat or Sunday. Airports were a mess due to weather.  There were 52 people standing in line waiting for OUR seats... I made the decision to go.  I couldn't get a boarding pass or assigned seats.  We boarded late (again) because our Pilot was pulled for another flight.  Apparently another flight was more important!!?!?!

Best thing I could think to do... popcorn and nuts from Nuts On Clark!

We finally took off but I had a bad feeling they couldn't make that time up in the air.  We were probably going to be stuck.  In Boston.  Thankfully T napped, I swear it saved me.

We landed in Boston at around 8:45pm.  We hadn't eaten since 11:30am and everything in the airport was closed.  This was trouble.  I just had no idea how MUCH trouble.  The AA Rep told me our bags were sent to USAirways because they would be servicing our flight the next day to Philly ... then NY.

So we headed over... not ONE complaint from Tristan.  I knew he was tired and hungry and he just patiently tagged along to both baggage claims and then to the shuttle.

Yup, I have the BEST kid on the planet!

Finally we arrived at our hotel that my friends SO GRACIOUSLY used miles to book for us.  I was so embarrassed to take but Les said you do so much for other people, let someone help YOU!

So, I did. And it was a HUGE blessing.

We arrived and headed to the only restaurant open at 10pm... and tried to order food.  They were SOOO rude and ignored us for about 10 minutes - even had a guy and his son try and get us waited on ... they ignored him too.  Pitiful.

Hey - we've had a rough day, we're hungry!!

Our food arrived and suddenly T was sick.  Bad tummy ache.  We packed up our food and back to the room we went.

I barely ate my dinner, he ate two bites of his burger and then I spent the next hour up rubbing his tummy until he passed out.  At midnight.. I couldn't even enjoy my glass of red... I just put it aside and passed out.

The next morning I woke up to this:

AND there was a Red Sox game, the 4th of July parade and they were sending off "Old Iron Sides" so I knew I had to get out of there!

7am, I woke up T and explained I knew he was tired but if we wanted any chance of getting to Grandma's by the party, we needed to book.

We went to both baggage claims and no one could help us. Luggage was nowhere to be found.  They wouldn't even let me file a report because at that point no one "owned" responsibility for my bags.

*ANGRY* but time to go...

T and I took the shuttle to the rental car place and got our car.  Then we hit the road.

We drove 4 hours... (zero complaining from my child that day either) and finally stopped for lunch.

We hauled it home and made it to Grandma's!

I ran and bought us some clothes and we got ready and headed to my birthday party with the family!

We played ball...

and T and his Uncle Lee had a blast!

and my family blessed me with a great day and great dinner for all of us!!

Sissy and Auntie T even bought me flowers (I don't have a pic of Auntie T's - oops)

Thanks to my family for making the trip for hell

into an awesome birthday celebration!

Love you all so much!!!

It's official, he's being coached...

We took T to D-Bat for his first official baseball coaching lesson

IT was fun... but he's no Brandon soooooo

he'll be starting at Prosource when we get back from vacation

and here's Brandon!

So thankful for his years of friendship and SO thankful that he can coach Tristan!!

Twice a month for now...

so stay tuned, more pics to come!!!

Rough Riders with the Schors

We picked Davis up on Saturday and man oh man... they were excited!!

A sleepover AND a RoughRiders game/event!

We hung out waiting for the gates to open and Holt was very hungry... 

can you tell he just didn't quite "get" their humor!?

After a fabulous dinner we headed down for a little autograph from Will Lamb (from Clemson)

Then we had a crazy fun tour..... and Kristin stayed far away from the boys pitching

it was SO cool!

then they let us walk on the field..

little cuties!

pose for a few pics

little did T and I know were were being had!

Kristin and Kevin joined in...

Notice Davis is still busting out bunny ears!!

Then they got to hug Deuce!  

I was SO proud of Tristan...

We went to sign the boys up to run around the field, get called to do stuff, etc. and they only had one spot open.  So, I signed up Davis - not knowing how T would take it.  BUT, I told him that only one of them could do it and Davis was our guest and we do nice things for our friends.  He said "That's ok Mommy, I'll just yell for him to run around the bases and beat Deuce!"  And, that he did....

We toured the dugout...

two happy boys that are just starting to have a love for baseball

Kristin is sooooo funny and Kevin just kept snapping silly shots of us... I died laughing...

and can't help but love on my girl!

Such an amazing couple, I heart them soooooo much!!

After Davis did his thing on the field (and won!)

they hugged Daisy!

And got free t-shirts... and free game balls... and free, free, FREE!

SO SPOILED!

Throw in some sugar and these boys have moooooves see their Sugar High

T kickin' it with Thumper (one of the dudes that runs all over the field!)

and again... can't .. stop.. laughing...

Close up of the bunny ears...turds

Then the announcer (Matt) told T, I'll trade you the mic for the ball

My child promptly took it and started singing (not sure Matt expected that)

and I saw tiny bit of fear in his eye wondering IF Tristan actually knew how to turn it on!!!

Thank you Kristin and Kevin Schor for spoiling us rotten.  We loved EVERY second of it and I am proud to say.. I actually watched four innings of baseball. That's a first at RR stadium - I'm usually at the playground with 3 kiddos!!!

Our first Barber-Q of the year ... with the Carrekers!!

Holt made me take my sign down. It's SUPPOSED to be cheesy.  The rooster is cheesy.  He said it was TOO cheesy.  Hmmmmm, #pickyourbattles Holt

Co is such a cutie

and his little brother is adorable!  

Rett says "Mom, I...thiiiiink these are a little tooooooo tiiiiight."

we prepped Willie for riders

and he was off and riding!

then there was flying

and jumping

and flipping

and one or two Peter Pan moves

Even Rett got into it - that's one brave little kid!

 and then he was off...

then Holt.... well, he cheated

Bartender, I'll have another!

Batter up!

glow sticks anyone?

And Solara and Zachary's nose cups...

Oh.my.gosh...

PRICELESS!

our resident ninja

awesome evening with awesome friends!!!!

Plus, we got a sticker for #SigSummer14

making a difference in our lives and the lives of others!  Amen!

#16 or possibly #12

I've always been #16.  For softball I pitched, played short but mainly, I'm your center fielder. My BFF Tracy was #12, she was always first base.

Through our lives - distance separated us and we'd always compare notes on summer softball leagues, basketball tournaments... anything sports - we had a deal - any unspoken rule if you will.  If we couldn't get our number... we would then get each others.  Period.

So this weekend #16 (as in Tristan Barber) was playing 1st base.  3 batters up... 3 batters down all at the hand of my little guy.

So, as I told Tracy, I'm not sure if we have a #16 or a #12 but mommy sure was proud!!!

Go Tristan!!!

Tristan Barber... #16

How cute is this!?!?!??!

My little guy isn't so little anymore!

Love these boys 

L - R

Me, T, Hunter, Charlie, Ryker

Brady, William, Grayson, Cohen

(missing: Harrison, Noah and Cameron)

So proud of you boys!!!  Blessed to be your coach, thanks for letting me!!