Go Cards Go!

Yesterday was the perfect day to cheer on the Cardinals, soak up the sun and have a little fun with our big kids at the ballpark. The Cards might have lost, but these Jansens had the best day.

Emery has been going to games since she was one. Auggie went to his first game when he was two. A day at the ballpark is always a summer staple for us...until Covid. We didn't go last summer, and it never worked to go this summer. This did not sit well with Auggie; all summer he tried to add "go to a Cardinal's game" to our to-do list. It's not that we didn't want to go (because we really, really did), it just was too hot, or we were too busy or it wasn't something we made a priority. About a week ago I glanced at the Card's schedule one more time and noted that there was an afternoon game on Labor Day...that would be perfect. It took one text to Doug with the idea and a few minutes later tickets were bought! 

We didn't tell the kids until Saturday. Bennett, having no idea what we were talking about, cried because he wanted to go mini-golfing instead. We let Auggie take the lead on filling him in on all the fun and cool stuff we were about to do. It was so cute to see him feed off of Auggie and Emery's excitement. When we got to St. Louis the usual extremely chatty and confident Bennett was wide-eyed and speechless. As we walked to the stadium, he stopped and just stood with a nervous smile on his face and asked the sweetest question: "Mommy...do I look good?" Needless to say we were not expecting that question, nor do we know exactly why he asked it, but when I assured him he looked great his confidence came back and he ran to catch up. The rest of the day we saw normal Bennett and he loved every minute of it. I guess he just needed to know if he was dressed for this special occasion!

Doug had the idea of letting the kids bring some birthday money to spend. Often that money is just put in their banks never to be seen again, but sometimes it is fun to spend a little! It is also eye-opening to them to see how much things cost. Auggie bought a cool baseball and 50 cardinal baseball cards. He loves looking at the cards he already has and now can add to his collection. Bennett actually won a Yadi pillow; therefore, he was happy to spend just some of his money on a Cardinal Basketball. Em, always a sucker for a stuffed animal, bought a Cardinal's Clydsdale/Unicorn that really is pretty darn cute. Happy kiddos all around!

Our seats were great; front row in an upper section behind home plate and in the shade. Bennett's age got him in for free which is great...but that also means he got to sit on a lap. Aka my lap. He was by far the wiggliest one, but on the bright side did not throw his basketball or pillow (or shoes) over the balcony. Emery just watched the game. Auggie soaks it all in and asks lots of questions; Douglas gives all the answers. This morning Auggie told me he was going to play for the Cardinals someday. I told him I would be his biggest fan. 

We stayed for the whole game (with only one potty break), and even though we lost an unexciting game, we really did have so much fun. I am glad Auggie and Em got to go to another game, and I am glad that Bennett got to go to his first. No one fell asleep on the way home and surprisingly no one was in a grouchy mood this morning. All around it was a success!

Theodore will just have to wait until next year. Unless D and Nana want to keep him again..I hear he is pretty easy! Thank you ladies for making our day that much better.

Until our next adventure!