Day 2 - March 6, 2013

Day two is in the books and it was another fantastic day.  It was cloudy most of the day which made for a nice day, if we were home we might have expected rain but not here and not today.  

We started the morning with a three mile hike in the desert hills to see the cactus up close, one of us a little to close, and some wildlife.  Joe was thinking about getting some of his scouting merit badges done but decided against the 20 mile hike on this day!

Here the three of us are on the hike with the mountains in the background.

Patti was excited to show us an owl nesting in a saguaro cactus that was on the trail.  Here is as hot of the cactus from a distance.

The nest was built by hawk but the hawk left when all the humans invaded. . . Apparently was looking for a quieter neighborhood.  The owl then moved in and called it home!  Here is a closer picture, in real,time you can actually see most of the owl from the trail.  

Ben would have been very excited!  Later on the trail Joe spotted a desert turtle, which Patti and Dick have never seen along the route before!  

He was facing away from us so no shot of his head and he hid fairly quick.  He was numbered in his back so we believe someone was doing some research project here.

Of course we also saw cactus. Lots of different kinds and lots of cactus plants!  The plants are about to bloom which is about a month early according to the locals! Here are some shots.

Joe and I tried our best at imitating a cactus inmthe next photos:

Joe did try to get some mountain climbing in as well.  Here he is on the summit!

After our hike we headed to Goodyear, home of the Reds and the INDIANS!  We were later for the camp portion with most of the players to inside batting cages and the to prep for the game but it was taping day for MLB channel's 30 clubs in 30 days show and Dan Plesac was doing a segment with Yan Gomes and Sandy Alomar so we got to watch that and then got to have our pictures taken with Sandy and Dan!

Joe took my picture with Dan who was awesome about the whole thing and helped to get the best picture available.  Here is the final picture.

We then headed to the ballpark which is one of the older ones in the circuit but still nice. The lineup was close to the regular team for six innings and resulted in another win for the home town Tribe!  Joe had to have a footlong Chilli cheese dog.  It was certainly a foot long, sorry mom but yes I let him get one and he ate the whole thing.

We will find out today what happens when you eat that thing.  Grandpa wanted to try his hand and did a Granada sized footlong instead.

We are traveling with a gerbile who is Ben's friend and he got a chance to see Goodyear ballpark!

One of the coolest things at the Goodyear Ballpark is the statue outside the stadium, Joe endulged me a stood outside next to it.

We have great hosts and we finished up the evening with an outstanding and highly competitive game of Trash.  They even let me win!  

The other good news of the day is that the tan lines are starting to show!

Today's agenda include's the Reynolds, and Mesa with the Cubs and Indians today!

Day one - March 5, 2014

A Long day it was!  Everyone was up in time to go to the airport, in fact joe and dad had time for waffles in the hotel before we left.  A special treat for Joe I am sure!

Joe's first experience on a plane starred boarding at 5:25AM CST.  He said his biggest worry was getting thru security which was a piece of cake especially since they he and grandpa got the "special" yellow cards.  I told joe that the card meant a body cavity search but in fact it meant he didn't have to take his belt and shoes off.  Joe was young enough and grandpa OLD enough.  I guess I meet the standards for airport problem child!

Joe looks a little nervous in this picture, he wasn't certain that he wanted to sit by the window but in the end it was a good idea and view!  Once the sun came up we were able to see lots of clouds but lucky for Joe right as we got across the Rockies the clouds parted and he got to see some snow capped peaks!

I enjoyed the mountain views as my two previous flights across them yielded nothing as good as the shot above!  He did get to see some fields and a few lights of cities but the next best views were coming into Phoenix. We had to promise Joe that we would let him ride the moving sidewalks when we left, look for pictures of that on the return trip!

First stop was Peoria Sports Complex home to the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners where we got watch the big league pitchers do PFPs or Pitcher Fielding Practice.  I noted to Joe that they are just like the little league kids in that they mess around when not doing their drills as we'll.  it was fun to see Felix Hernadez play around and start the "who can the water cooler in the dugout from the outfield" game, they do have amazing talent!

Joe and I took this selfie in front of the minor league guys waiting for instruction, which took 30 minutes.  Notice our Cleveland hats, I'm sure we were looked at as spies and that aw why they waited to work out.

The people in Peoria were exceptional from the moment we parked, for free I might add!  I thought we were goig to get told to move the card but instead the older gentleman who came up to us asked us it we wanted a ride in to the complex!  How about that!  Joe and Grandpa got suckers and Joe got a pennant to get autographs on, no charge!

Access to the players is amazing down here, absolutely amazing!  It is also amazing how many grown adults are here to get autographs for resell!  A lesson for Joe in economics that where there is a dollar to be made someone will be their to make it.  There was an older lady why had her purse full of new baseballs and was talking about waiting for Robinson Cano because his signature was worth $180.  Another older lady was standing next too Joe waiting and a Hispanic player earlier by and Joe asked him to sign, which he did but he ignored the old lady, which prompted her to ask him who he was in Spanish and then berate him for ignoring her in English.  And she wonders why she was ignored?  The good and bad of spring training.

Joe was very successful in getting autographs, his first one was Willy Bloomquest of the Mariners as shown in the picture below.

He got Willy to sign the ball to his brother directly!  Hey Mel, good thing we named the kids with simple names so that it was easy to convey to players for singing! 

Here is Joe holding the ball for Ben!  What a good brother to think of his brother first!  

joe did get some other autographs during the day and got his picture taken with Logan Morrision traded to the Mariners this year from the Marlins.

These guys are big guys and it's hard to imagine that they get the honor of playing the game and the majority were great to the fans, especially the kids!

Following the training events we went to the Mariners Indians game.  Not a great showing by my belove Indians but we came back and won in the in.  A crowd of 4,000 plus watched the game.  Before the game Joe was able to get several autographs from the Indians walking into the dugout.  I would say that he was very successful in getting signatures from two of the top prospects in the Indians organization Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin!  During the signing he was filmed by either Channel 11the Peoria Channel.  The following picture is from our seats -Joe is in the red cap holding his pennant!

Finally in the sixth inning Joe got the attention of the Indians 1st baseman, Aguiliar, who had just made a catch of the third out behind first base and as he was coming he he flipped the ball right to Joe!   Sorry no picture.

Of course we got a very good start of our tans!

We have great host!  So once we settled in we were out, after a long day!  Thus this post is late.  We are off to Goodyear this morning home of the Indians!  Oh yea and the Reds.

Spring Training Adventures

It's 8 and while this is my normal bed time tonight's it's supposed to be early so we can rise and shine with the real early birds to board a flight to Arizona for a fee days of R&R and some Spring Training games!  It's a men's trip with Joe and Grandpa Aleck,  should be interesting, if grandpa remembers to put his hearing aids in!

I hope I can get some sleep tonight.  Sleeping with Joe who is wound up tight with excitement about flying is going to be test of endurance for me.  The way I see it if he doesn't fall asleep,or can't because of the excitement at least we will be well informed about tractors!  We learning all about the purchase of the New Holland, don't worry Pa he didn't reveal the price.  

Joe talking with grandpa about tractors!

Not much tonight but look for more as we get to our destination.  

Farming in all Forms

Fall and Winter "Sporting"

dodgeball-dead deer (named Miley)-basketball- catching snowflakes-learning to fetch-

brother wrestling

Scenes from L.E. Phillips Scout Ranch

Mid-July Joe went on his first adventure as a Boy Scout.  His troop loaded up and headed out to north of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  There were many hours of packing, repacking and shopping for just the right gear.  Justin gave him a superb pep-talk about homesickness and he was on his way.  We had a very quiet week without sibling rivalry rearing it's ugly head.  

Joe loved camp. He adored fishing with Jorge, catching a snapping turtle off the dock and lots of little fish. He SAYS he read every night-and he did finish two books! He learned about working with leather-Justin got a new wallet & I have a key chain. He had one tick on him and thanks to his Mom's Pinterest tick-kit he got it right off!  He shot a rifle.  This is a great source of pride for him.  There were a few homesick moments, but blonde-blue-eyed Jocelyn the nurse seemed to cure him!  

Fuzzy but fun.  These are Joe's bunkmates...Sam, Ben & Jorge.  Great kids.

SNAKE!

Bass Lake

Summertime

Big swim day, with older kids mentoring younger ended the Whitecaps season's practices. I am not sure what we will do come Monday morning with no swimming to run to!

Joe practicing his start for the backstroke.  He swam with a few other 11 year olds in the 15+ age group relays and medaled!  He also improved his time by a few seconds in the breakstroke-his favorite.

Ben has worked hard this season on his starts & strokes.  It is crazy to hear him talk "swimming" and he asks me to watch his "streamlining."  His coach has done a fabulous job motivating this stubborn little man.  We watched him swim from the hill above the pool in Cherokee and it is amazing to see his starts now...he really understands how to moooove!

Nick.  What a great friend.  Joe is so lucky that he enjoys swimming and they can spend their summer mornings together.

Summer Whitecaps Swim Team!  

The day after I took this picture, the kids had an amazing day, WINNING the AHEELA conference meet!