Take Us Out to the Ballgame!...

...Take us out with the crowd (which was pretty sparce, but that's okay)!

Last weekend Ellie and I caught a Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field. It was her first trip to the Friendly Confines, and we had a great time. The fun began on the red line during our journey into the city from Evanston. We also happened to be at the game on Illini Day, which the Cubs (and Cards in St. Louis) hold every year, and that was a pretty cool bit of serendipity. Ellie wore her bright orange sweatshirt, which was needed, and I had my old Illini cap.

Once at the park we realized it was going to be colder than even we, who wore many layers, predicted. That necessitated me lending Ellie my Cubs winter cap, and purchasing a blanket for our seats / laps. It's a nice one, though, with the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field logo on it.


Ellie enjoyed plenty of snacks, including a hot dog and "Nuts on Clark" kettle corn. We also took home some Red Grange bobbleheads (it was Illini Day, after all) celebrating "The Galloping Ghost's" (my fraternity brother) 3-touchdown game there in 1923 -- prior to his being drafted by the Bears and eventually playing football at Wrigley many more times.


We made it through the 7th inning -- as Ellie wanted to make sure we stayed to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" -- then took off. We lasted three hours in sub-40 degree weather. Not too bad for a 5-year-old! Ellie only complained a little as the game went on. Mostly because it was boring.. not because it was cold (though it was).  Had we stayed, we would have seen a Cubbies win! (They also got a "W" the next day.. which is where the below picture was taken.)


Ellie enjoyed a Saturday with Grandma and Grandpa Harrer while I was at that second game with a buddy. It was a great weekend.. and an exhausting one. I don't think I've ever seen Ellie sleep on a plane before.. beyond 6 months old, anyway!


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