A Rockies VIP

Uncle Clint and Auntie Meg treated Mommy and Mason to our second Rockies game of this trip last Saturday night and boy did we have a great time.

After indulging in a little pre-game buffet in the "Coors Clubhouse" (Mason had a bite of hot dog and two brownies, Mommy and the Bean ate considerably more!) we headed out to find our seats. Not a bad view from the front-row, eh?



We snapped a few shots before the game began and then settled in for the action.







Mason was very happy to make a new friend -- with Dinger, the Rockies' mascot, who we'd been reading about since our arrival in Colorado. His first encounter was a high-five through the netting separating us from the field.



His second a picture perfect pose.



His third, the highlight of the evening -- though we were all pretty happy with the win in the bottom of the ninth inning, you don't see this every day.



Mason, as you can see, was sporting his rally cap throughout much of the game and he was certain that it was the reason for the come-from-behind victory. In fact, it's now Monday, and he's still sporting the rally cap. He won't let us turn it right-side out for nothin'!



Did I mention that this is a great age to take a kid to the ballgame? Mason was so into the game and what was going on, as well as parroting whatever we told him to say to the batters. He shouted plenty of "Let's go, Tu-Lo!" and "Swing, batta batta, swing!" It was pretty cute -- as was he, apparently, cute enough to make an appearance on the JumboTron and to be seen by Papa on the local broadcast of the game.



All in all, Mason got all he wanted out of the game: a meeting with Dinger, witnessing a Rockies home run and especially, a Rockies win!

Wedding Extravaganza, Pt. I

Macey and Mommy have been in Colorado for a full week now, and between the wedding-weekend madness, the jet lag, getting adjusted to life in the 'burbs and the remote home office, Mommy hasn't a lot of time to post!

Uncle Clint and Auntie Meg got hitched last Saturday and are off enjoying their Mexican honeymoon now.

The wedding weekend began with a trip to see the Rockies play the Astros at Coors Field. Despite Mason's best efforts -- and rally cap -- the home team did not pick up the win. We did, however, have lots of fun and Mommy got some cool sun burn lines in the four inches between the bottom of her shorts and the top of her knees.

Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner before the big day rolled around Saturday. Mason looked pretty dapper in his tux upon arriving at the church, which was in downtown Denver. There was only one slight problem, though: He arrived with one shoe missing! Papa trekked back toward the car and found it lying in the middle of the street. It was rescued and the show went on without a hitch, as Mason escorted one of Clint and Meg's nieces, Caroline, down the aisle.

Once Clint and Meg sealed the deal with a kiss, we all got ready to party. In my humble, and totally unbiased opinion, Mason stole the show (as much as he could with a beautiful, happy couple taking center stage!). Check out his dance moves:



Sweet Caroline was in honor of, well, sweet Caroline, who was pretty sure Clint was really her boyfriend and not Meg's! All the nieces and nephews had a great time dancing. We could barely get Mason off the dance floor. He didn't want dinner. He didn't want cake. Finally, it was a Capri Sun that did the trick, but then he was back out there again.



As the night wore on, he got a little tuckered out.



Then, he finally crashed on an antique sofa in the room just over from where the party was a roarin'.



As a finale, here are the official Mercier family portraits from the evening, the before and after, if you will...



For anyone interested in the entirety of the weekend's action, check out our Snapfish Album.

Road Trippin'

With a full tank of gas and a cooler full of snacks, we loaded up in our ZipCar and hit the road last weekend. Our destination? A surprise visit to see Uncle Clint and Auntie Meg, who had trekked from Colorado to Baltimore to take in a little football game.

Since they weren't available until after game time, and since we don't usually have a car, we took the long route and stopped in Philadelphia for a little tourist action on our way there.

First, we hopped on a horse and carriage and took a little ride through town.



Next, we did a little sight seeing on foot. Taking in the Liberty Bell (don't ask Mason how he liked it. He didn't.)



The U.S. Mint.



And a Quaker Meeting Hall (Mason really liked the loft!)



Before seeing what our mugs would look like on a $5 bill.




Back on the road, we met up with a very surprised Uncle Clint and Auntie Meg (who was in on the surprise) in Baltimore and had some crab cakes, before heading back to the car. On our way, we found this curious sign above a gutter, which made us all giggle.



After a hotel-room football game of our own, and a little pillow fight, we all crashed for the night. Sunday started out with church and then after much indecision by all of us adults, Mason picked out the aquarium for our activity.

We -- mostly Uncle Clint -- teased him mercilessly on the way there, saying we were instead going to the Museum of Dentistry, but in the end, we stuck with the original plan and Mason saw eye-to-eye with a sea turtle, checked out some rays and sharks and had Clint and Meg to lean on the whole time.





Our last stop at the aquarium was the dolphin show, which wasn't quite Sea World, but wasn't too shabby either!



After lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, it was time to take Auntie Meg and Uncle Clint to the airport and head for home ourselves. We did make one final detour, to Philly as the cheesesteak lines were a little too long Saturday. Mommy and Dad-O indulged in the sandwiches, while Mason opted for fries and we both decided Geno's won out.