MLB Future All Stars and Celebrity Softball Game

Scott was able to complete his Father's Day gift to me last Sunday when he took me to the MLB Future All Stars and Celebrity Softball Games and Kauffman Stadium.  This event was part of several days worth of festivities leading up to the 2012 All Star Game.  It was over 90 deg at the start of the game but it wasn't too uncomfortable with the light breeze.

The local TV station trucks were all lined up outside the stadium.  Every major local station had a mini broadcast booth set up somewhere in or just outside of the stadium.  Of course, the FOX Network had equipment all over the place.  They had multiple commentary booths set up in the stadium including one out on the field just before the game started.  FOX was running 51 cameras where an ordinary game would have about 16.

 Scott posing with one of the game banners.

At the entrance to Gate C, they had the commemorative bricks laid.  Scott got me one as part of the Father's Day gift package.

 Scott located my brick.

The bricks are laded out in several "areas" designed to help you find your brick.  Interestingly enough, mine was in the October 27th 1985 area which commemorates the night we won the World Series.  I was fortunate enough to be at that game....what a night!

 These photos are of the Future All Stars Game.

 The Pepsi Fan Can and the Stadium Fountains.

 The Budweiser Party Deck.

 KCP&L's Solar Panel installation.  This is pure PR since the limited installation couldn't generate enough energy to do much more than cook a package of hot dogs.

 The big screen is spectacular.

 The KC Royals mascot, Slugger, fooled around on the field with mascots from the other Major League Teams.

 Lots of people working on the field getting ready for the start of the Celebrity game.

 American Idol winner, David Cook, warming up before the game.

 Kansas basketball coach, Bill Self, getting ready to play.

 KC Chiefs quarterback, Matt Cassel, talks to former Royal, Mike Sweeney.

 Bo Jackson was the American League team captain......because Bo Knows.

 The Direct TV Blimp was overhead all night.

There was a nice fireworks display after the game.

It was a night that I will always remember.  Thanks so much Scott!

The Grandkids Visit

Tyler and Petra spent a week with us around July 4th.  We picked them up from camp in Independence on June 28.  As always, we had a great time with loads of activities.  The heat really put a damper on some of the things we wanted to do, but we still stayed busy.  Here are a few photos of the kids.

Grandma and the kids got creative as they made ice cream.  We have a neat ice cream maker that doesn't need ice and salt.  You just freeze the inner tub and then put the liquid ice cream in for 30 minutes (it stirs the mixture just like the old time machines).  The ice cream is the consistency of soft serve when done.  We put it in the freezer to harden a little more before eating.  There is no end to the concoctions you can come up with using this machine.  If you want one, check out Cuisinart products.

We saw Madagascar at the Ward Parkway Theaters.....that was Petra's choice.  We all enjoyed the movie and the seats.  A couple of days later, we went to see Spiderman on the 3D IMAX screen at the Town Center Theater.

 Ohh no.....out of donuts.

We wanted to go see the new Aquarium at Crown Center, but we were there at a bad time.....bus loads of kids made the lines way too long and it was too hot to stand outside for hours so we went to Hallmark's Visitor Center and Kaleidoscope.  Tyler and Petra are on the upper end of the age bracket for Kaleidoscope but they enjoyed it and it was cool inside.

 Black lights still facinate kids.

For the Fourth, we went to Scott's house along with 20+ other family members.  We got a few smoke bombs and sparklers for the kids and they got to watch other family members shoot some larger fireworks.  We enjoyed Scott's grilling expertise and sat on the new deck which was actually cooler than being inside due to the large number of people and the A/C's struggle to keep up.  There was actually a little breeze outside event though it was 95 F+.  As the sun went down, we moved to a parking spot on View High Drive for the Longview fireworks display.  It was a great day.  We took the kids back to their home in Leavenworth the next day.  they will be off to another camp a couple of days.