Opening Day - Play Ball!

Opening Day baseball has come and gone. The season is officially underway and the Orioles are off to a great start! ::knocks on wood:: We had a lot of fun at the ballpark on Opening Day, despite a busy toddler wanting to dodge in and out of the crowds, no fear whatsoever of all the towering people surrounding her.

Abby actually did a great job ... we watched the first two or three innings in the stands, then headed downstairs to the family room where she could play with the other kiddos. One of the new players this year has an adorable son, whom Abby just adores. As soon as she spotted him, she started to whine for his attention. They played together for the next three or so innings ... kissing may or may not have been involved. :) It's going to be a fun season watching these two grow up together, especially since they are only a month apart in age. After we tired the kiddos out, we ventured back up to the stands for the end of the game ... just in time to see a WIN!

It's so different with Abby this year. She is a handful ... to say the least. BUT ... she danced to the fun ballpark music on my lap, clapped when everyone else clapped, and was fascinated by the wave. This is going to be a fun season! I may be exhausted at the end of each day but we're going to have a great time together.

Even though we were at the ballpark, the highlight of Abby's day wasn't even baseball. It wasn't the crowds or the loud sounds. It wasn't the ballpark food or the fireworks. It was seeing her Daddy after the game (it had been a week) ... and seeing her get that excited makes my heart melt. This little girl loves her Daddy!

Are you there sunshine? It's me, Liz.

Oh pool days ... come back.

Abby & I miss you.

It feels good to be back home, it always does. Abby and I are staying at my Mom and Dad's house for a few more days until our Baltimore rental is all set and ready to go. We've had a lot of fun playing with family and it is definitely nice all being together.

The downside of coming here in April is the weather. Blah. It's cloudy, dark, rainy, cold, and depressing. I can't take it!! I miss the Florida sunshine, the sunshine that makes my heart happy. The good news .... this weather won't last too much longer. It usually comes and goes throughout the whole month, but there are nicer days coming. Even a 70 degree day in the forecast next week. We can do this!

Letter - Just had to vent.

Dear AirTran employee,

I realize that you may not be completely happy with your job and you probably don't enjoy the swarm of people waiting in your check-in line an hour before the plane takes off. You deal with several customers a day and I'm sure at times it may be overwhelming, especially when you get that customer that is rude or overly demanding. But then there are those customers like me that may seem a bit overwhelmed with the whole flying thing. Not that I don't like it ... I do. I love the fact that we can be somewhere in two hours instead of being stuck in a car for 16 hours. Sometimes though, I feel a bit of anxiety about the flight ... maybe because I'm traveling alone with a 19 month old. Or it could be the fact that the hubs forgot to put the stroller in the truck (totally not his fault) ... but still... I'm left without it. So this is me: backpack on, bag over the shoulder, baby on my hip. Thankfully hubs came to help and was able to deal with the suitcase and carseat.

However, you ma'am, were not so nice. You eyed the weight on the scale which read 54 pounds. The limit is 50. Yes, I know that. Can you cut me some slack here? Look at us, we're a mess! But instead I have to take things out of the suitcase or pay you an extra $50. You are already getting enough of my money, so I take out diapers, a baby doll (that now I add to the load I must carry) and you still shake your head. 52 pounds. Really? I need to take out more? I remove my planner, which is a pound. Crazy to think it weighs that much but it takes us to 51 pounds and I'll take it. And then you say to the customer behind me, "she shouldn't be much longer." Well thank you... I guess I need to remove the last pound. A few sippy cups later, my lighter load backpack becomes quite heavy thanks to you.

Couldn't you tell that I was already emotional? I was about to fly alone with a toddler, leave my hubby for a week, and something this little was really getting to me? My eyes were filling with tears lady! I guess it's the little things like this that make your day better. I don't know. Maybe you get little laughs out of customers like me.

I am praying that your week gets better and the days pass quickly. Maybe a weekend will turn you around and get you smiling again.

Sincerely,

Future Southwest Passenger

Wordless Wednesday - In honor of baseball ...

Signing off .... from Sarasota

Well the time has come .... quicker than last but that's how it alway seems to go. The start of baseball season is a mere four days away. The season opener in Baltimore is just a week away. And the most unbelievable part of it all is that Abby and I head outta here tomorrow. Tomorrow!

Every season is different than the last and it's always such an adventure. I get caught up in the excitement of America's favorite game. I look forward to road trips to cities I've never seen or cities that I'm happy to return to. I soak up time with my family and childhood friends and enjoy visiting my hometown. There are definitely a lot of things I love about being in Baltimore and I thank God for the time we are there.

There is just one thing that never changes. The day before we head out always seems a bit surreal. My mind races all day long ... today will be the last day for us to be in our home. Today will be the last day for me to see some of my best friends. It will be the last day for Abby to play crazily in her playroom and to point at the flowers on the wall in her room when I tuck her in. Tonight will be the last night hubs and I sleep in our comfy bed.

But ... with all those thoughts that loom in my head today, I have that craving for a new adventure. So to Baltimore we go ... can't wait to see what God has in store for us this baseball season. And we'll be back home before we know it!

I'm signing off from Sunny Sarasota .... and I'll be picking back up in Snowy Baltimore in just a few days!! I'll leave you for now with a few recent pics of Abby ... taken by her Daddy! :)

Wordless Wednesday - Curious Mind at Work

"The few wonders of the world

only exist

while there are those with the sight to see them."

- Quote

Charles de Lint

Time to play catch up...

As usual the Johnson Fam has been quite busy. With warmer weather in the air we've been spending a lot of time outside. The hubs and I decided it was finally time to buy bikes and attach Abby's seat to the back of mine. At first I was unsure of whether or not Abby would enjoy a bike ride. Most kids love it and why wouldn't they? But as you all know, Abby is NOT a happy camper when it comes to car rides or walks in the stroller that last longer than five minutes. Thankfully, she has LOVED it and we've been going on bike rides after dinner. It's been great!

Abby is quite a water baby. She loves getting in the pool and is not hesitant around the water... whatsoever. We had a BBQ last weekend with some of Jim's teammates and their families. It was the perfect day ... beautiful weather, great food, and a day to simply relax and be with good friends!

Last Saturday, Abby's BFF turned TWO years old so of course we had to party! Abby got dressed up for the occasion in an adorable outfit from Aunt Melinda. For some reason it just screamed "party" to me!

The kids bounced in the bounce house, played with all kinds of toys, and most importantly ate yummy birthday cake. Chloe wondered around with her blankie and baby, Camdyn played with her horses, and Abby was a little social butterfly running around from place to place. And was busy being sneaky stealing food from everyone's plates. ::shakes head::

Here's the Birthday Girl ...

... and my attempt at a picture of Abby & Chloe.

We are enjoying as much time as we can with our friends before heading to Baltimore next week. I can't believe the time is here ... sometimes the offseason just seems to fly by!