Ukraine Adoption

Days at the park

There's a lovely park just a few blocks from our house that Tara really likes to go to, especially on a summer evening after dinner. She has mastered the area that is for 5-12 year olds, even though she is only 3 1/2.

Then there's the ballpark. I like to have lazy Sundays, but I decided at the last minute this morning to grab Austin and Tara and rush downtown for the on-field picture day at the Detroit Tigers baseball game. Wow! We arrived just in time to nudge our way onto the field to the roped-off area where the players were making their rounds to the fans. They put their arms around kids and posed for pictures as though they were honored to do so. We got some great shots of players with Austin; Tara pretended she was shy and wouldn't get close to the players.

Then, Kenny Rogers, the starting pitcher in the All-Star game a few weeks ago, bent down and said to Tara, "Can I pick you up?" She smiled at him. He gently scooped her up and then put his arm around Austin for a photo! I took two, just in case. "Austin is a pitcher!" I told him, sounding goofy I'm sure. But just wow, what an experience for both kids. OK, and for me, too. (See picture in set at left)

And the Tigers, who are in first place and are the winningest team in baseball right now, won the game. A great, sunny day all around. I drove home with two kids grinning. That makes it all worth it.
Posted by Laura at July 23, 2006 06:31 PM
Posted to Tara's Story