Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Today we went to a Major League Baseball game, the nephews, the girls, the Engineer and I.  The last time I went to a MLB game was more than a decade ago.  I was not expecting to enjoy it.  I went just because the Engineer could not take the girls to the restroom and I worry about safety in a place as large as the ballpark.  But, it was just lovely.  We had a great time.  Seriously!  Highlights included:

• we sat in the all-you-can-eat section, so we stuffed ourselves with popcorn, nachos, peanuts, hot dogs and sodas
• we sang "take me out to the ball game"
• we watched the kiss cam
• we were appropriately "into" the game, that our team eventually won, in the bottom of the 11th inning!
• Hedgehog refused to use the "stinky" restrooms, and had to "hold it" all day
• Rascal dumped over and entire soda
• we shelled our peanuts and threw the shells on the floor
• stood and sang the national anthem
• cheered like maniacs at every hit
• took a bazillion pictures

It really wasn't that unusual of a day, for a day at the ballpark.  But, I'm hoping, that today is the kind of thing that they'll remember.  I think, too often, the memories I provide on a day-to-day basis are of me saying:

• pick up your shoes
• keep your hands to yourself
• why are there socks on my couch?
• get your hands out of your mouth
• clean up your mess
• go get a bath
• use our inside voice
• no
• because I said so
• that is not something we cry about
• go get a bath, NOW

And I know, that these things are necessary to raise adults that have clean houses, good manners, good hygiene, etc., but I really hope, and really pray, that when they are grown, they'll remember that I tried to have fun with them too.  I hope they'll look back and realize that I wanted to enjoy them, and not just raise them.  And I hope that I'll be mindful enough to enjoy them, not just raise them.