Date night was planned. The babysitter was locked and loaded. The kids were bouncing off the walls with excitement because she was coming over. It was going to be a magical moment. A baseball game without the kids. One where we could sit and actually watch the game while slowly sipping our beers and taking in the scenery.
And then the boys found out Mom and Dad were leaving them with a babysitter so they could watch the Giants take on the Marlins. The sincere shock and outrage they displayed when learning this information was humorous and annoying. I was especially impressed with the hiding of tears at the thought of not being able to witness the smooth windup of Marlins pitcher and NL ace Josh Johnson.
Eight looked me square in the eyes: "You're JOKING, right? This is a JOKE."
Oh yes he did.
The babysitter was called off and the boys exchanged their cheers because they had just turned date night into family night.
Here's how family night baseball games usually go for us: We arrive at the ball park, take in some batting practice, grab dinner, watch two innings while listening to our kids whine that it's time to walk around/ride the cable car/play on the slide/eat dessert. We stall them until at least the third inning and take our ball park stroll. Sometimes I sit and watch the game while the husband goes with the boys. Or vice versa. But mostly, we all go and finally return to our seats right when it's time for the seventh inning stretch. We need no stretching. We're all stretched out. We go home at the bottom of the eighth because the kids are tired and we usually miss an amazing play. Like Buster Posey's first MLB at bat (which I had to listen to in the car).
I was prepared for the same routine at last night's game.
Only holy cow, my kids decided to throw me a crazy change up.
After we sat down with our dinner, the boys made it through all nine innings. NINE INNINGS! And only one request for a walk -- to buy dessert.
No slides. No games. Just baseball.
I almost cried.
