The Crew Family

Cincinnati Reds Baseball

We went to our first Major League baseball game last night at the Great American Ballpark where the Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2. Of course we didn't make it to the end of the game. There was a mascot wiffle ball game that took place on the field before the real game. We made it through all of that game at least! Some of the mascots featured were of course the Reds two mascots, Gapper and Mr. Red, Smokey the Bear, Homer Depot, Bearemy from Build a Bear Workshop, SeaMore Shark of the Newport Aquarium, Produce Man (yes he was very funny looking) and Blood Buddy. The kids loved the mascot game and asked where the costumes were when the real ball players came out. The stadium was beautiful sitting on the edge of  the Ohio River. Jack woke up this morning and announced that he wanted to be a baseball player when he grows up. He spent all morning trying to perfect his swing. It was a fun experience and we even ended up with free tickets from some nice and friendly Cincinnatians. Check out the pictures in the photo album to the right!

September 13, 2005

I added a new photo album, Close Encounters, with pictures from a recent trip to the zoo. The kids enjoyed seeing a polar bear up close, closer than they've ever seen. Of course we had to go see the manatees. If you haven't heard, the kids are obsessed with manatees. They are pretty much fascinated by any animal but manatees are the coolest right now. The first few times we wnt to the zoo, there were 2 manatees and one had a "special" flipper that had to be partially amputated due to a fishing boat accident. Aerin was very concerned about this and would talk about it often. Then we heard that both manatees had been cleared to be released back into the wild. So the zoo had a big farewell party for them and we even went and signed the goodbye card. Aerin was okay with all of this because she was told they were headed to somewhere familiar, Orlando, to Sea World to get acclimated back to the salt water and Florida vegetation. On our most recent trip to the zoo, I wasn't even sure if there would be any manatees to see since the others left and of course Aerin started up about wanting to see the manatees. Much to my surprise, there are now 2 plumper manatees on loan from the San Diego zoo. They, also, are trying to get acclimated to their new surroundings. One ran into the glass right in front of us, nose first, almost in slow motion. I hear this lady behind me, a zoo worker in charge of observing their behavior, say, "I wish he'd stop doing that!" It was pretty funny. The new manatees are also into rolling and with the music they play in that area it almost seems as if you are watching some sort of bizarre synchronized swimming.  We also finally got to ride the zoo train, see the picture for the explanation.  I just hope the next place we move has a zoo because if not, I am not sure what I will do to satisfy their animal  fascination! I guess we will just have to read even more and watch plenty of episodes of their new favorite show, Go, Diego, Go!

Fall Flowers

Nearly every day since we moved in, Jack has taken his little green watering can and watered the little green sticky bushes outside our patio.  At first it was cute, now it is just pitiful; these bushes will never flower, and nothing short of a nuclear winter will kill them, so he's not helping the situation. 

Since labor day weekend marked the traditional end of summer, we decided to find some nice fall flowers. Jason and Aerin went to the store and picked out a few silver/purple mums, as well as enough potting soil to revegitate half the county.  Check out the results in our new "Fall 2005" photo album....