The Boys of Summer

Sunday was a bittersweet day...

It was Family Field Trip (FFT, as Hubs likes to call it), and we decided to go to the last baseball game of the season for our hometown boys, the Kansas City Royals.

It's always bittersweet when baseball ends for the season...and with the Kansas City Royals, because we "own" last place, there will be no post-season play for us. We're done. As a Royals fan, you get kinda' used to living in last place - but we still support our boys in blue.

So, we headed to Kauffman Stadium, truly one of the most beautiful stadiums in major league baseball...Yeah, I know I'm biased, but I really do think it's pretty cool...The 2012 All Star Game will be held here, so the whole world will get to see what I'm talking about!



We found our seats, which were about 20 rows behind the Royals dugout. (Because we're in last place, it's not too difficult to get these tickets - believe me.) Can you just see the excitement on my kids' faces as Hubs takes our picture? Not. Sigh. I love my kids. (I keep telling myself that...)



Sunday was "Bark at the Park" Day - where you could bring your dog to the baseball game. There was a "Pooch Parade" around the field before the game....We didn't take Cocoa, our shih-tzu, as she would have had apoplexy smelling the popcorn in the stands. She loves popcorn.



We decided to spend some time hanging out in the outfield...there's a great place to stand up and hang out, right by the awesome scoreboard and fountains. This is the BEST place to catch a home run...and it's also the BEST place to talk smack to the opposing team...but not that we would do that. Nope. Not at all.



The Color Guard came out and it was time to sing the national anthem...



And then it was time to PLAY BALL! The game was a pitcher's dual - and a defensive game for both sides. Not much offense at all.....



Eventually, we got tired of standing, so we made our way back to our seats...which, because they were in the shadows, were somewhat CHILLY! Brrrr!



The Royals had taken a 2-0 lead in the 4th inning, but Tampa Bay tied us in the 9th, of all times. What luck, huh?! So, we toughed it out for some extra innings...we made it through the bottom of the 11th, before we decided to leave. (Son had an English paper due, and we needed to get home so he could get finish it up. Homework is priority!)



Good thing we did...Tampa Bay scored a run in the top of the 12th, which turned out to be the game winner. But that's okay. I love my Royals and win or lose, they'll always hold a place in my heart!

All in all, it was a GREAT Sunday Family Field Trip...we saw some FANTASTIC defensive plays on the field, we got free t-shirts, we enjoyed the pooches before the game, we enjoyed our hot dogs and peanuts and Cracker Jack, and we enjoyed the sunshine.

And...Tampa Bay just happens to be my "new" team when we move to Ft. Myers...so, I was secretly scouting them out. Yes. I confess. I was rooting for BOTH teams! Shhhh...don't tell anyone!

Peace.