Monday, April 5, 2010, marked Opening Day for the Arizona Diamondbacks and as tradition would have it, the Cisneros family was in attendance. Getting there every year is somewhat of a production but I must say it is getting easier. The kids skipped school that day because as far as I am concerned, Opening Day should be a National holiday. That’s an excusable absence right? It made for a more relaxed morning. We slept in, had breakfast, and started the shower merry-go-round. I received a text from my mother-in-law to look on our front door. I was ecstatic to find D-Back shirts for all the kids! How awesome is she? Karisa put her artistic abilities to work and made a sign to take to the game. All the while, the clock continued to tick and it was getting closer and closer to GO time but Mr. C. was still at work. Our plan was to have my mother-in-law pick up Kaleb and meet us at the game, and Mr. C. was to get off work early, grab us and get to the game, ON TIME. In true heart attack fashion Mr. C. showed up with seconds before I went into panic mode and we were off to the game.
As creatures of habit, we parked in our usual parking garage, and entered through the same entrance, stopping to get Mr. C. a loaded hot dog before making our way up to our seats. We glanced at the time and we were incredibly early. We shook things up and took the kids to play at the playground before the game (we usually go during the third inning). While they were playing I signed them up for the Kids Club and the No Chew Crew. The benefits include receiving coupons, free t-shirt and every Sunday home game free for the kids! We made our way up to our seats just in time for my favorite game time tradition, The National Anthem. I love glancing over at my family to see all their little hands over their hearts. I didn’t even have to remind anyone. This year, I was especially pleased to watch Kurt Warner throw out the first pitch and even more impressed when my kids starting yelling, “He plays for the Cardinals!”
Our routine trips to the restroom and constant need for the kids to be stimulated seem to be a thing of the past. Kaleb sat looking cool in his Ray Ban shades, Karisa was busy keeping score (seriously couldn’t be prouder), Kaiden watched the game intently, while chowing down on four corn dogs, and Kailey was entertained by cheering and clapping with the crowd. Before we knew it we were singing ‘Take me out to the Ballgame”, the kids ate ice cream bought by grandma, and the game was over. We made it through the ENTIRE game. I think that is a first for opening day.
It gets easier! These simple words were once spoken to me by another mom whose kids are a few years older and I try to pass on those simple words because it really does. Long gone are the days of a diaper bag full of every necessity for those “just in case” baby moments. Also, gone are the traditions that once were on Opening Day and are replaced with adventures as the kids get older. Still, when Stephen Drew hit a rare inside the park home run, I was in the restroom. Not because I had to take one of the kids but because I really had to pee. Go figure!
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