Take me out to the ballpark! Go Cubs Go!

Tomorrow the kids return back to school after an AMAZING spring break. 

It actually started a day early for them when we surprised them by pulling them out of school for their last day before break to take them to the ball park.  My was it a fun day!

Thanks to our friends the Faulkners, and their charity Campbell's Crew Cares, they along with their friend Steve's Dreams Charity, gifted us tickets to the Chicago Cubs spring training game against the Angels.  This was our first time getting to experience the fun of being a Cub's fan in the desert.  We had heard many great things and boy did they live up and surpass every expectation we had.

That morning we met at the ball park and got to tailgate with our friends Carrie, Campbell, Sage and Emery.  They took care of every detail... even down to the Chicago Style hotdogs.  

It was so much fun and that was even before we entered the stadium!

Here are the girls reading about Steve's Dream, a charity set up in memory of a young man who left this world too early.  His family set up a charity in his memory where they gift spring training Cubs tickets to families so that father's get the chance to take their kids to the ballpark for a day.  I was lucky enough to get to go along too!

Here the girls are reading about Steve and his life.  As a mom who lives to tell the story about her baby that isn't here, I know it means a lot to their family that their son's legacy lives on. 

The girls were super interested in reading about him.

Madelyn was a big fan of Carrie's and it didn't hurt that she has rice crispy treats to eat!  Yummy!

We were running low on some chairs so Madelyn improvised and used her big sister's back.  Smart cookie in my mind!

Soon enough it was time to head into the ball park.  There were more surprises ahead.

We were given the opportunity to have one of our boys throw out the first pitch.  Michael was the lucky one but we all got to go down onto the field and see the players up close.  IT WAS SOOOO COOL!

Can you tell how excited Michael was!?!!!!!

Gabriel, meanwhile was just dreaming of how cool it would be to actually get to play in the game.

Isabelle decided to take a seat right where the players sit when they are getting ready to be next in line to bat.

This is Lauren from the Cub's and she's great!  She gave Michael the signal and soon enough he was taking the plate.

but not before Cubbie came over to give all of us hugs. 

Here's the video of Michael getting to throw out the first pitch.  It was such a neat experience and we were so excited for him!

On our way back out of the tunnel, we passed Anthony Rizzo who looked up at the boys, said hello and thanks for coming out.  Madelyn was having a meltdown at this point (well past naptime) so I kind of missed it all but managed to snap this picture.  The boys were floating in air!  Another SUPER cool moment.

And then, after all those amazing moments, the game started and we had even more fun!

Our seats were awesome, right in front of the dugout and next to the tunnel to we got to see the players up close and Michael even got a few balls from the players. 

Here is Campbell's friend Kyle at bat.  He ended up hitting a homerun!

Madelyn ended up falling asleep and sleeping through the first 4 innings and then woke up ready to have fun.

Jarrett was thrilled to get to watch his childhood team in person.  He was having a really stressful day at work but managed to cut out and join us for the afternoon.  It was really nice to have him there.

Madelyn played with straws more than she watched the game but this kept her entertained for at least an hour and a half.

And this guy... he could eat, sleep and breathe baseball and still go back and watch more.  

Yep she was still playing with the straw.

Then Belle decided the straw would be fun too.

Notice that hat?  It's more than 30 years old and the hat Jarrett got at one of his first Cub's games as a boy.  His mom and dad saved it and gave it to him to share with his kids.  You wouldn't believe the compliments we got on this vintage hat!

As the bottom of the 9th ended the Cub's were up and the final song sang.  We walked back to the car with so much joy and celebration in our hearts... it was such a fun day and we are so grateful for the opportunity gifted to us.

It was a family day we will never forget.  We celebrate the time we got to spend together as a family as we honor Steve's legacy.  While he left this earth too soon, the joy, happiness and kindness that his family shares with others, has to make him smile down from above.  

What a great way to start off spring break.... and it was just getting started.

More fun was sure to come.

Until next time,

Angie