Playing softball again...

...on a team from church. This is the first time I've played since Spring/Summer 2004 when we lived in Tallahassee.

FSU vs Colorado

Gina and I went to see the Seminoles play the Buffaloes this afternoon/evening here in Jacksonville. We were in my boss' suite. FSU won 39-21.

Upwards Soccer Season Begins

A is playing once again and this is E's first year playing soccer or any organized sport for that matter. A had her first game at 8 am and E was at at 10 am.

Happy Birthday A...Now let's poke some holes in those ears.

As agreed for her 7th birthday, Gina took A to get her ears pierced today. They went to Piercing Pagoda at the Avenues Mall after school. One present she received that she had been wanting for a while was a Razor scooter. Grandma & Grandpa Lunsford came to visit and brought A's cousin Autumn. We enjoyed pizza and brownies for dinner.

Mayor Peyton's Book Club

E and the rest of the family attended the kickoff for the book club at Hemming Plaza and the Main Library. The book club is for kids in Pre-K. A also participated in the program a couple years ago. They used to give kids a backpack and mail a book monthly. This year the bundle includes all the books upfront and a tote bag. I suppose it is an effort to reduce costs. Back when A was in the book club, E actually received a backpack.

A & E's Birthday Party

We broke out the waterslide in the backyard for the birthday party this year. Many of A & E's friends were able to celebrate with them. Instead of presents for themselves, the kids decided (E easily, A with a minimal amount of prodding) to have their friends bring shoeboxes filled with items to donate to the City Rescue Mission. The CRM gives "Shoeboxes of Love" to people they assist as Christmas presents.

Mini Family Vacation 3 of 3 - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

We took a Labor Day weekend trip to Myrtle Beach, South Caroline (now we can add another magnet on the frig to the states we have visited. On Friday we had lunch at Hardees and Subway in Brittons Neck, SC. Dinner was at Michael's Pizza.

On Saturday we went to the Beach, Boogie & BBQ competition. The kids were not very cooperative for some reason even though there were inflatables, games and other kid friendly activities going on. We rode on a boat around the "lake", looked at some classic cars and ate some barbecue. Later in the afternoon we went to the beach. There were a lot of waves. Speculation was it was from a tropical storm way further south. That night we saw the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Braves A club) play the Kinston Indians. The team had a Dinger and Deuce (mascots) bobblehead giveaway. And Ethan was given a ball by one of the ushers in the OF bleacher area. He got it when Ashlyn, Ethan and I decided to walk around the stadium. Again, after getting zero baseballs at games during my life that makes 4 this summer.

Sunday started with breakfast at Mammy's Kitchen and then the rest of the day at the beach. Dinner was at T-Bonz Gill & Grill.

Before we left for home on Monday we went to the shops at Broadway at the Beach. We purchased some candy at River Street Sweets and bought our keepsake trinket from Love From the Carolinas. We also at Goodberry's Frozen Custard.

Last Suns Home Game of 2008

I went to the baseball game tonight (had a free ticket left to use) and lucked out in getting the Hank Aaron photo ball giveaway by going to the rarely used left field gate. The Suns beat the Birmingham Barons 5-4 in 10 innings. It was an exciting game to close out the home schedule for 2008. Each team scored 3 runs in the 1st inning and then no one scored again until the 10th. The Suns tied it at 4 with a 2-out HR in the 10th. Then they won it with a bases-loaded single.

Pre-K begins and then catching another baseball

E had his first day of Pre-Kindergarten at MPP. He is going from 9 am to Noon, Monday through Friday. We also attended VPK orientation.

Then tonight we went to our last Jacksonville Suns (AA) game of the season as a family. It was photo ball giveaway night. This is the last year the Suns will be affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. We sat in the homeplate box seats between home plate and the Suns dugout on the 3rd base side. After the team warmed up the pitcher for the night, James Adkins a 6'6" lefty, got my attention and wanted to give a ball to A. We were about 8 rows or so up and he threw the ball to me although it was high and wide. I did manage to catch it and after never getting a ball at a game we managed to get 3 this summer. The kids also spun the prize wheel ($1 per spin) and won. Then we got "lucky" and the prize was another Suns lunch box from a few years ago.

Tropical Storm Fay

A ended up having no school due to the storm starting Wednesday (8/20) through today (8/22).

As for me I left for Destin Thursday morning for the annual fantasy football weekend. One of my college friends and league mate flew in from Washington DC Wednesday night. Luckily we made it out of Jacksonville before they closed the Buckman Bridge (I-295 over the St. Johns River) when the wind speeds hit 40 mph.