Talking With Tori ---

Just realized we never posted this to the family site. A little old, but here it is. We're also collecting video for the second episode of the groundbreaking variety show.

[Pennsylvania Vacation Special Series, Part I] Red Sox v Pirates: Kids First MLB Game ---

***The family has been vacationing in Pennsylvania since Wednesday. It's hard to make updates on the road, but we're taking plenty of pictures and video and will posting as we go in our Pennsylvania Vacation Special Series. Enjoy Part I! ***

The family enjoyed their first Major League Baseball game on Sunday after morning after meeting. We've been to several AA games back when the CT Defenders where known as the Norwich Navigators, and Daddy's been to a game at Fenway, but this was the first Major League game the whole family attended.

As a Pennsylvania native, Mommy had a hard time deciding which team to root for. Her adoptive Boston Red Sox, or her hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. She split the vote and rooted for both, even buying a Pirates shirt on the way out.

During the game Eliza took a tour of the park and picked out Jonathan Papelbon in the bullpen. She was very excited to come back and tell Daddy about this, who went down and got pictures of Papelbon, Jason Varitek, and Daniel Bard. While browsing the gift a little boy, obviously a Pirates fan, came up and saw Eliza's David Ortiz jersey and said, "Oh, I can't look!" Eliza then wanted to leave the store because she felt awkward wearing her Sox jersey. Daddy clearly has some teaching to do regarding Red Sox pride. Eliza said of the game afterwards, "Awesome!"

Daddy enjoyed chanting "Let's go Red Sox!" with many of the other Red Sox fans at the game, until we got out-cheered by the Pirates fans. Also, he was wearing his black and gold Boston Bruins Championship shirt, whose colors are similar to the Pirates, so some of the Pirates fans were confused to see someone wearing what looked like a Pirates shirt and a Red Sox hat, until they stopped to get a closer look. Daddy also enjoyed being able to see Heinz Field where the Steelers play.

Ella Grace opted to read her book about half way through the game.

We had been hoping to get there early enough for batting practice and a chance at some autographs, but with the meeting in the morning and a long commute to the game we weren't able to do so. The family found PNC Park to be a very nice venue and the fans where enthused. Daddy was surprised to find the park so full, even if a quarter of the fans were Red Sox fans, given the low attendance they've had in the past. If the Pirates can continue putting together a winning season like they are presently, it should be a good time for baseball in Pittsburgh as there is clearly a devoted fan base to build on.

The weather was nearly perfect. It did slightly sprinkle around inning four, but otherwise it was picture perfect weather for baseball.

"We Are No Part of the World" Circuit Assembly ---

The family enjoyed a weekend together last week up in Natick, MA. Mommy and Daddy enjoyed some time together sans kids, as the children have grown up enough to have their own circle of friends and are old enough to go off on their own for awhile during lunch and after session.

Bunches of Pictures ---

Been far too long since our last post, so here's a bunch of pictures to fill in the gap a little.