Orange October

We've been BeliEVEN this October.  Carter's beloved SF Giants beat the NY Mets and earned a wild card slot and some post season play.  Carter adores the Giants.  He knows the history, the stats, the players, the manager, he really knows and loves the game of baseball.  Bumgarner, Posey, Pence and after the 2016 post season.  .  .  Gilsaspie and Span.  He spread the love throughout the school and even the cook brought in her SF Giants wreath to display during the week of play.  Even Mr. Merrihew, the token primary grade's male teacher who despises the Giants rooted for the Orange and Black in part due to Carter.

We bought some tickets to the third game of the five game series against the Cubs, skipped two days of school, and had a fabulous getaway as a family.  Our entrance into the Bay was marked by a timely venture over the Bay Bridge in which we were greeted by the Blue Angels darting around the city skyline and through the bridge.  For once, traffic was perfect.  Bradley booked a great rate at a place downtown.  We feasted on delicious food, ventured into Union Square for some shopping, swam at the pool, slept in, and enjoyed a slow pace together.  One of the highlights of the weekend was that Miles walked the whole time!  One day Bradley's phone recorded over eight miles so that was quite a feat.

The game itself was nothing short or remarkable.  Every seat was taken and we had four to ourselves in a small corner.  This eliminated the need to bother anyone to get out to use the bathroom or purchase another beverage.  They battled for 13 innings.  That's almost a second game after they close the concessions.  Play after play and the energy just kept getting more intense.  We began to make friends with strangers.  Rally rags were flying and the yelling began to take its toll on our voices.  Finally, we won.  I can't really even begin to describe Carter's reaction, let alone the intense adrenaline rush echoed throughout AT&T park.  It's something that can only be described as once in a lifetime.  We hugged strangers turned friends and one guy even told me he loved us.  As we walked nearly two miles back to the hotel we were powered purely on happiness.  We were BeliEVEN and it worked.  With every true love comes the possibility of heartbreak and sadly the Giants lost the next game and their 2016 season ended.  Carter went to bed that night with large tears of sadness.  Sadness for his team and for his dreams.  True heartbreak and it was heartbreaking to watch.

Aside from BeliEVEN in baseball we also set out to believe in true love by celebrating John and Marcia's 40th wedding anniversary.  We had a life size cutout of the happy couple, recreated their tragic wedding cake, and managed to surprise Marcia with family and close friends.  Raylene and I managed to work together with Jess and Bradley and we pulled off the whole shindig in less than a week. Marcia is the true party planner/decorator and it's no small feat to match up to her skills.

The morning of the party Mason, Shelby, Carter, and Miles worked alongside the four of us, Uncle Jim and Aunt Sherma in order to pick up leaves and spruce the place up.  We of course threw a party for them at their own house because it's the best place we know of to throw a party.  In the midst of cleaning leaves the neighbors, who happen to be Greek Orthodox Nuns, let their small pony out.  Carter and Miles were joking about riding the pony when it turned quicker than a rattlesnake, bit Carter on the chest, threw him to the ground and started stomping on him.  As Miles put it, "That horse was a real little turd mom!".  We don't talk like that at home, I guess he must have picked that up from the Cubs fans at that ballpark.

In sports news, I ran a 30K trail race and placed first in my age group and Carter was the water boy at the last EHS home football game.  Miles has been playing soccer two nights a week and Carter has been on the flag football field two nights as well.

As this Orange October winds down we are BeliEVEN in the fun of Halloween.  Last weekend we decorated a Haunted House with our friends.  Carter is dressing up as Hunter Pence and Miles decided on being a mummy.  I am at this very moment undecided.  I loved the days when I decided on themed costumes for our family, but when you're five and seven I guess you're BeliEVEN in independent choices.  I wake up each day grateful for the life I lead and for the three boys I am blessed to share it with.  That's something I can BeLIEVE in forever.