Our Arizona / Spring Training Trip

3 generations of Grovers at Spring Training

A couple weeks ago we went to Arizona for vacation.  Not for any particular reason but we noticed we've been going out every 2 years.  With #2 due this fall and our Christmas trip looks like we are going to keep with this pattern.  Thanks to American Airlines new plane that had touch screens with Disney, it made one part of the flight much easier.  We arrived in Tucson at midnight (2am our time) D didn't sleep at ALL on the plane and was a delight, much to our surprise.  We excitedly forced him into his "#1 big brother" shirt to surprise his Nana and Papa when they came to pick us up.  They arrived and then he decided to act up!  As a friend pointed out grandparents are much more forgiving than co passengers on a plane.

Days were filled of Andy and his dad golfing while me and my mother-in-law laid out, playing catch with D on the patio.  Evenings filled with trips to the pool, the putting green and of course LOTS of delicious food.  We hit up all our favorites: Sunday brunch, In N Out for a family date night to give Nana and Papa a break (where D had to remove his fries from his father's reach), and date night at Lindy's on 4th.  Saturday I went for a walk with Sharon's friends (she's the youngest by a landslide).   They walk for a 1/2 hour then eat at the club for a hour - my kind of exercise.   After I was excited to tell them we ran into Havianna's!  Confusing everyone because Havianna's are sandals we sell at JCrew and what I actually saw were havalinas.  D was fearless in the pool.  Jumping, going under water, but don't dare put water wings on him, he screamed like crazy.  It wore us out having to hold him the entire time, we hope he'll be a better swimmer because of this!

Yan Gomes

Swisher, Brantley, & Bourn 

Spring Training - Goodyear, Arizona 
The best part was our day trip up to Spring Training.  It was their first game, we got up early to get there in time to see BP and hopefully meet some players.  Right off the bat he met Jason Kipnis, one of his many favorites.  With someone in the way and the quickness of it all, sadly I missed this photo opportunity.  When we got on the BP field D yelled out, "Look there's #10 Yan Gomes!"  Impressing the front office crowd that this 3 year old knew the names and numbers of his beloved Indians.  Papa grabbed Gomes so D could meet him.  D was shy and stood about 6 feet away from him, but answered most of his questions.  He went in the clubhouse with papa and daddy and met manager Mr. Terry.  We were then on the hunt for his FAVORITE player Nick Swisher.  We had to wait while they finished up practice.  When the guys came out and Mike called them over to meet D, it was one the most surreal moment I've had as a mother watching my baby get to meet his heroes.  I'm assuming its what Disney is like but so much better!  Michael Bourn wanted to see what kind of arm Grover's grandson had.  D sailed one right past him, the next he caught and D yelled, "Nice catch!"  He met Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley, then came Swisher.  He talked as if we've known him for years, took pictures with D, even let him carry his bat into the clubhouse while yelling out, "Big guy coming through, he's coming for your spot!"  D will tell you that he, "threw him up in the sky!!"  We introduced D to Nick's dad, Steve Swisher and he very seriously told him, "I love him."  Mr. Swisher assured him Nick loves him too.  Fox Sports Ohio was filming a lot of D getting to meet these guys, I'm hopeful he makes the cut because I was too busy taking pictures.

For the game Papa got us seats right behind the dugout.  D loved being so close to the action!  He waved at Justin Masterson and yelled at all the players while they were on deck.  He got to chitchat with Charlie Nagy who played for Papa in-between innings.  Contrary to what Tom Hanks says there was a lot of crying in baseball when we made him leave before the game was over.  It was the most amazing experience not just for D but for Andy and I.  I don't know how any other vacation will top this one.  I cannot thank my in laws enough for giving D this opportunity.  D is so baseball obsessed and we are so blessed that he is able to have these amazing experiences in the world of baseball.  He'll remember this forever, he ask daily to see the pictures of him and Swisher.  I hope he remembers these sweet memories of the 3 of us even after we turn his world upside-down this fall with a brother or sister!  

Up in the Sky!

Not wanting to leave...

Dreams do come true!!