Nationals Park

I surprised Mallory at her school today. It really was a surprise because Cassie packed Mallory an empty lunch box. She packed me a giant lunch with food for both of us. Cassie dropped me off at the school about ten minutes before Mallory's lunch was supposed to start. The problem was, they wouldn't let me in. They started a new policy in the last couple of weeks. Cassie's dad was able to get in less than a month ago, I think, with no problem. Cassie had left her phone at home, so the school couldn't get ahold of her. John didn't answer his phone either. I told the office that I had Mallory's lunch. Finally the principal walked me down to the lunch room. She said she didn't want Mallory to go hungry. Mallory jumped up when she saw me and yelled, "Aunt Stephanie! This is the best day ever!" Pretty sure the principal got the point that I wasn't there to hurt Mallory. Mallory was eating school lunch. She said she opened her lunchbox and nothing was inside, so she went to get school lunch. She was pretty excited about that as well.

Mallory

There are doors to the bathroom in the lunchroom. You can see the boys' bathroom behind us in the next picture. What a great idea!

Stephanie & Mallory

 Mallory loved the Trip yogurt. I tried to get a recreation of her first bite....

 Mallory also loved these pretzel hearts.

John came home from work early today. It was so nice. I really wanted to go to a Nationals game with John and Brett. Today is the only day the Nats were playing at home while I am here. It's super nice because I know how crazy busy John has been at work, and it is always awkward getting time off at a new job. Because he came home early, he was able to greet Mallory as she got off the bus. I think Mallory was excited!

John

 John & Mallory

 Mallory, Trevor & John

We drove up to DC and met Brett and Rachel at a park near the airport. We got there first and were able to spend some time walking around. Brandon loved it when the airplanes would fly over our heads. They were super close and loud!

Cassie, Brandon, Mallory, Trevor, Stephanie, John

 Collin was there too, just faced the other way. Isn't he adorable?

Brett and Rachel were able to park the cars in the Navy yard. We walked from there to the stadium. How fun to go to a ballgame with this group!

Brett, Cassie & Collin, John

Eve, Trevor, Grace, Stephanie, Brandon, Marie, Mallory, Mina

 Rachel's in this picture. :)

Trevor and Brandon LOVE superheroes. John pointed to this mobile like thing of baseball players and said to them, "Look! Superhero baseball players!" Haha! Sorry lady that I got a weird picture of you though. I just wanted a picture of the superhero baseball players.

 Brett, Stephanie, John

We did it! Nats game with two of my brothers.

It rained quite a lot. We were so lucky the game didn't get rained out. Lucky that Brett got us the best tickets in the stadium! They were high up, but were under an overhang. We stayed dry the entire game. Sometimes it was pouring rain, but we were nice and cozy. During innings they would drag the field and try not to get mud puddles. It made some crazy looking patterns. We did get to see 4 home runs today, including one from Bryce Harper. The Nats won the game 10-1. The poor Mariners picture had a low ERA at the start of the game. The Nats were hitting him like crazy. We were just watching his ERA getting higher and higher as the game progressed. The Nats scored 8 runs in the 4th inning. There was a single, triple and three home runs. Yikes. Anyways as the Mariner pitcher was leaving the field, John pointed out to me how he was walking in like Charlie Brown. Poor guy. 

 I tried to photobomb Brett and Marie.

Marie, Brett, Stephanie, Mina, Mallory

 Marie pretending the package of gum is a camera. Haha!

It was a cold, wet, late night for the kids; but they all did great. Yay! Cassie was a little worried about it. Brett talked her into going last minute. Chasing kids late at night in the cold didn't sound like her idea of fun. Luckily it turned out alright. Plus, Cassie and Rachel got to hang out in the Mothers' Lounge. Sounded like it was pretty nice in there. Great that they have things like that.

We walked back to the Navy yard. Brett and John and some of the kids went to get the cars. We walked around the block to the exit so we could meet up with them. I feel bad because I wish I would have given John a better hug before I left. I gave him a good-bye hug, but it was almost like a 'see you in a few days' hug. I wish I would have grabbed him tight and squeezed his guts out. Well, not literally. I was so sad on the plane ride home. I kept thinking about how I wish I had hugged him tighter. I know I'm going to see Brett again in a few weeks, but I have no idea when I'll see John. It's going to be hard for him to come back and visit. Virginia is a long ways away. At least when Mike was there we lived in Georgia and I knew Brett wasn't going to be there for more than three years. With John, I have no idea. It is super expensive to fly and driving is even farther than it was for us in Georgia. It makes me sad. I wish I could have a do-over.

While I was watching the Nats defeat the Mariners, Jorja had her last softball game of the season. Mike didn't record any of the game for me, but he got this. Jorja's coach said she would give a gift card to whoever scored the most runs during the season. It was a tie. Jorja and Raina, the two catchers.

Jorja then went around taking selfies and getting people to sign her ball. She even got the ump to sign it. She goofed around with him a lot when she would play catcher.

Ump & Jorja

 Jorja & Raina

 Jorja & her coach

Even though we got home from the game pretty late we still managed to get in a game of Dominion. Eve decided she wanted to be a night owl with us for a little while. Rachel ended up winning the game. I'm going to miss being here, although I'm excited to see my kids again.

Stephanie & Eve

One Hundred Years and One Day

I didn't get a chance to read my dad's blog yesterday, even though I knew it was up. I read it this morning. I wish I would have read it yesterday, because my dad mentioned how May 21st of this year would have been my Grandma Millburn's 100th birthday. That would have just been cool to think about during the day.

Grandma Millburn

I stole these pictures from my dad's blog. Yesterday also would have been my Grandma & Grandpa Millburn's 75th anniversary. I love this picture of my grandparents. Someone watched my grandpa hold the drinking fountain for my grandma and thought it was so cute they snapped a picture. She talked to my grandparents afterwords and sent this picture to them. How nice! When the lady complimented my grandpa for being chivalrous he replied, "I'm not being chivalrous. I just wanted the water to get cold." Haha! Grandpa Millburn was so funny!

Grandpa & Grandma Millburn

Anyways, I think I will copy what was written on my dad's blog here when I get a chance. My kids check my blog more frequently then my dad's, and I think it would be nice for them to hear some stories about my mom. Even the sad ones.

I also forgot to write about Mallory yesterday. Cassie went into the end of singing time because she was going to teach Trevor's class. Mallory was crying. Tears were streaming down her face. Cassie went up to her and asked what was wrong. Mallory said, "These are happy tears. We just sung a beautiful song." Cassie wasn't convinced so she went to the teacher and asked her if Mallory was okay. The teacher told Cassie that she just thinks Mallory was feeling the spirit. When we got home we asked Mallory what the song was and she said that she couldn't tell us, then she pointed secretly to John. Must be a Father's day song.

This morning Cassie and I went to Costco with Trevor, Brandon and Collin. We then stopped to see John at his work for a bit. The first picture I took of John you could see more of his office, but you could also see what he was working on on his computer screen. We thought maybe that wouldn't have been the brightest idea.

John

Mallory and Trevor had a baseball game. Luckily it wasn't rained out. Mallory got to be pitcher the first inning. The coach pitches, but Mallory got to stand on the mound. Boy did she love that! She would throw her arms up in celebration, sometimes even while the play was still going. It was so funny!

Trevor ~ shortstop, Mallory ~ pitcher

 Mallory

 Trevor just smacked the ball!

 Trevor was the last batter, so he got to have a homerun!

 Mallory

 Trevor got to be pitcher too, the coach is giving him pointers.

 I had Mallory recreate her pitcher's mound celebration after the game.

Cassie ran home during innings and put lasagna in the oven. After the game, John pitched to Mallory, Trevor and Brandon. They had fun running the bases. Mallory did a 'slide' into home. Really she tripped and had quite a fall. We cheered about her awesome slide, but she has been limping on her leg sense. Brandon also had an awesome slide. He was running to first after he hit it. He decided to slide about halfway to first base. He did a diving slide. What a nut! Cassie had a delicious lasagna dinner ready for us when we got home. My kids are never that lucky!

I read Goodnight, Baseball to the kids before bed. I don't think I have ever read the book before, although I have given it to three of my nieces and nephews.

Stephanie, Trevor, Mallory

Brandon, Collin, John

Tonight I'm sleeping in Mallory's bed. I will have slept in all three beds in the kids room. Cassie wanted to move Mallory's mattress down because she thought it would be better on my back. John and I convinced her I could sleep on the top. The memory foam does seem really comfortable.

John & Stephanie

John defeated me in 5 Straight, then I defeated him in Ticket to Ride. It was a weird Ticket to Ride game. Both of us concentrated on the East coast. I have never done that before. This is what the board looked like when the game was over.

I asked John if he had read Dad's blog. He hadn't. John looked it up and read it. We then talked about mom for a long time. Mostly about the day she died. What we were doing. Nice things people said. Weird things people said. Teachers that were nice to John. Like how John didn't do his big science project and his teacher just told him it was okay. Teachers that were mean. Like how one of Mike's teachers gave Mike a really bad grade and had no sympathy about what he was going through. Didn't matter that he had to spend his after school time getting ready for the funeral, going to the viewing, dealing with hard things that most adults struggle with. Didn't matter at all. Annoying because Mike was a junior in high school and his grades really mattered at that point. Anyways, we talked for a long time again. We went to bed around 1:30 in the morning. Cassie fell asleep on the couch before we started games.

John was telling me about something Stockton had written when he was Mallory's age and how funny it was. John showed it to me and we were laughing so hard. I was crying. It was so funny. I will need to show the kids when I get home.

Oh! That reminds me. John and I were talking about baseball. John wants to eventually go to all the Major League ball parks. He would really like to go to at least one new park a year. I told him we should make a tradition to meet at a new ballpark once a year with the six siblings. How fun would that be!?!

Water Tower

I had 'Mommy cereal' before church today. It is 'Pumpkin Flax Granola' that Cassie gets at Costco. Dad introduced Cassie to it. Her kids call it 'Mommy cereal' and that makes me laugh. We had early church today. I went with John to Gospel Doctrine. Cassie was asked to substitute Trevor's class, so I was going to help her. Turns out that the primary got a substitute because they didn't know about Cassie. Cassie couldn't be in there during sharing time because she teaches Sunday school. So, Cassie and I were able to go to Relief Society. It was quite the show. The teacher was really good. She was doing some weird game with two of the women and their husbands. They were trying to get papers smashed between themselves. I didn't really get what was happening, but oh well. Anyways, the lesson was on marriage. The comments were super weird. One lady said, "When we were married 17 years I decided I was done with my husband. Just done. So, I decided to look around. And guess what? Everyone is just like him! There is nothing better out there, so if you get frustrated in your marriage; just realize there is nothing better so you might as well stay where you are at." Then later she said, "I hope I don't offend anyone, but I decided to have an affair." What? At this point she paused then added, "An affair with my husband." Weirdo.

Cassie made a delicious roast for dinner. I worked on my blog for awhile. I wanted Saturday's post to be finished before my kids came home from church. Cassie thought it was funny to see John and I at the counter with both of our computers.

John & Stephanie

 Stephanie & Collin

 Stephanie hiding Collin's binki

Mike sent me a picture of his train. He made a water tower to fill drinks. He sent a video of the taco train. I showed the video to Mallory, Trevor and Brandon. They watched it about twenty times!

Mike's new water tower

Taco truck

Maysen sent me the first chapter of the story she is working on. That was fun to read! I'm so glad she is planning on spending this summer writing. John and Cassie taught me a game called Bohnanza. It was a bean collecting game. We were pretty close the entire game, but John won on the last turn. We then stayed up talking until almost 3:00 in the morning. John is going to be so tired at work tomorrow! Cassie has to get up to get Mallory to school too. I can just get up when I want. Suckers!

Camden Yards

Brett made waffles this morning and they were delicious. By the way, Brett has claimed Dad's waffle iron. Rachel took Grace to the doctor today. She had hives all over her shoulders and cheeks, really everywhere that Rachel had put sunscreen. Rachel was so nervous that Grace was allergic to sunscreen. That would be awful considering they are moving to a beach in a few months. Luckily she is not allergic to sunscreen, she had rosella.

Brett and John had fun playing baseball with the kids while Rachel was at the doctors. Once Rachel got home Brett, John, Brandon and I headed up to Maryland to visit Ft. McHenry. It was great! When we went on our trip back East with my family this was on the agenda. Unfortunately Marie got sick that morning and threw up in the motorhome, so that put us behind schedule. We had to choose between Ft. McHenry and Valley Forge. We picked Valley Forge, and it wasn't that great. I wish we had picked Ft. McHenry. It was beautiful! It was also open and Brandon had lots of area to run around. That would have been great for our trip. Anyways, I loved hanging out here with my brothers and Brandon. We stayed until they kicked us out.

One quick story about our trip up to Ft. McHenry. John was driving on the freeway. I was asleep in the back next to Brandon. All of a sudden the car jerked really hard. I thought John had hit something. Luckily there was no one in the lanes next to us. Extremely lucky considering that there was usually traffic around us. Anyways, what happened was John's car locked up. One of his brakes just went off, like it thought it needed to lock from some traction thing. John had both hands on the wheel and was able to control it, but that could have gone really badly. Such a weird, random thing.

Brett, Stephanie, Brandon, John

The flag behind us is where the flag was hoisted that inspired The Star Spangled Banner.

Brandon loved exploring. He especially loved going down into the 'holes'. I found a teeny-tiny door I crawled through. Brett said he thought I was the only person to ever do that. I guaranteed him that it is done more than once a day, although I might be the first 43 year old to crawl through it.

Stephanie

We laughed and laughed at the placard for the bomb shelter. It said, "They were built immediately after the bombardment of 1814, when it became obvious that such places were needed."

We drove to Baltimore so we could see the Blue Jays play. We picked up Subway on the way into the field. There were so many people waiting to get into the park! They opened the gates right as we got there. Brett found a line that didn't go down several city blocks, so that was nice. The baseball stadium was so beautiful! The bricks give it a lot of character.

Brett, John & Brandon

 Camden Yards

 Brett, John, Stephanie

Brandon did so great at the game. He stayed awake for about the first five innings and slept through the rest.

Brandon

 John & Brandon

Everyone who had a ticket got these cool Orioles jersey. Brett is wearing his.

Brett, Brandon, John, Stephanie

John was wondering about The Sun up on the giant screen. He noticed that the E blinked after someone had an error. John was asking Brett if that always happened. Then he wondered if the H blinked if someone got a hit. Brett said that there was no way anyone has ever noticed that. Anyways, John came home and researched it. Sure enough John was right. Overtime an error was called the E blinks. A hit the H blinks. How fun!

John & Brett

 John, Brandon, Brett

 John & Brandon

 Stephanie, Brandon, John

 Stephanie & Brandon

The Blue Jays lost, which was disappointing. We did get to see Bautista hit a three run homerun. Too bad the Orioles hit a three run homerun the next time they were up. John wasn't excited about the starting pitcher. He said he would have loved to see any of the other starting pictures on the Blue Jays. Bad luck for John. The game finished really late. John and I dropped Brett off at his house and then drove another hour and a half to John's house. John got super excited about his milage on the way back. That's a lot of ones!

We arrived at John's house about 2:30 in the morning. His house is super cute. I slept up in the kids room. Cassie had the ids asleep in the playroom. Whew! Long day! It was especially great because my mom died 21 years ago today. Spending this day with two of my brothers made this day fun instead of sad. I can't believe she has been gone for 21 years, although it seems like she has been gone forever.