Gotham City

I am notorious for not updating my blog. If I got paid to do it I would be a serial poster. Be thankful I don't get paid to do this.

The past two weeks have involved New York City, a county fair, ridiculously good chili and some weather making me long for fall (just like every other basic white girl).

While in NYC I didn't take as many pictures as I hoped. However, I did get a few. I plan to return to that city and truly explore it. I have never been one for "touristy" areas. One of my favorite parts of the trip was when I was leaving. That may sound harsh but at 4:30am the only people out were the taxi drivers and city workers making that place tick. You could see the skyline, the architecture, and the stars above the glow of the city. 

A big "Thank You" to my Aunt KK and Uncle Steve for inviting me to tag along on the trip to NYC! Although I keep thinking in the back of my mind I was invited to keep KK's things in my purse...

Holy Mutha Of Cheese Fries!
These were the best we ever had.
I may not be a Yankee fan but I am a fan of the food in Yankee Stadium.

Royals won the series 2-1!

Sunday was Derek Jeter Day at Yankee Stadium. There was a ceremony before the game including guest like Cal Ripkin Jr. and Michael Jordan. Between innings there were video messages from celebrities, athletes, sports commentators, coaches and more thanking "The Captain" for being a positive light to the sport. One might not be a fan of the only team Jeter has ever played for, but you have to be a fan of Jeter. 

"No Day Shall Erase You From The Memory Of Time."
Virgil
This was from the September 11 National Memorial.
A must see if you are ever in NYC.

Washington Square

I can navigate the Underground in London and the Metro in Paris, but the Subway in NYC would be the death of me.

Tavern on the Green. IF! I ever get married the reception must look like this.

I would go back here in a heartbeat.

When I returned to Oklahoma the weather turned cool. It was spectacular. This was last Friday. I was about to have a weekend full of football, cooking and decorating with my mom.

This was last week
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer
Shoes: Jessica Simpson

I had a lunch date with Miss Q last Thursday while her mom and grandmother helped with the county fair.

Cake Bread

Mixing colors for Teagan's Birthday Cake.

I made some hella good chili. And yes, those are Fritos in it.

I am such a Southern Lady.
Deviled Egg Recipe is on POINT!

Teagan's Batman Birthday Party!

This is what Monday looked like.

I wore this to work on Monday. I was cleaning and painting all day. One of my students took this picture of me.

Wednesday, September 17
Pants and Tee: Banana Republic
Kimono: Jazz-E-Jewelz Poteau, OK
Shoes: Target

ROYALty

The past few weeks have seemed to be a whirlwind and I don't exactly know where to begin. 

Two weekends ago I spent the whole time with my mom. Serious pool time was the priority. It was a very laid back and relaxing weekend. 

I did a crab boil during that lazy weekend. Let's just say any Steel Magnolia would have been proud. 

The next work week was short. Hello Labor Day weekend! Tuesday I went to my parent's house because I had to vote in the run off election in Oklahoma. I spent the night at my parent's house and found an old shirt my mom had with her face on it. I think I look just like her!

Nothing finer than a woman who votes!

Mom said she thinks it was made at Six Flags on a vacation. It will be in many blogs to come. 

I took Friday off to go to Tulsa to watch my cousin Lane's last baseball series against the Drillers on Thursday and Friday night.  

That is our favorite Natural in the background. 

Saturday we headed to Springdale, AR for what we thought would be a weekend of watching baseball and then getting home early Sunday evening. This did not happen. 

Saturday afternoon L called his mother to tell her he was not playing that night. We were all bummed to not get to watch him play but in the back of my mind I knew something was up. We spent the evening running around Fayetteville and letting all the kids swim and play. 

Now before I get into what happened Sunday, let me give you a little background on the month of September in baseball. Crazy. Shit. Happens. With L being on the Royals 40 Man Roster there has been the possibility of him getting called up to the major league team all season, but September is when you see a playoff push and call ups happen with just a phone call. 

Sunday afternoon as we were getting ready to head to the ballpark my Aunt Shelley got a call from L (Shelley is L's mom).

L: I'm not playing tonight. 

S:What? Well, we will come to the game anyway. The First Baptist Church is coming so we need to be there. 

L: Well, I might not be there. 

S: Why?!?

L: I will be on my way to Kansas City. I got called up. You can't say anything until the organization releases it though. 

This is were we had to start lying and getting our act together. We had to go to the game or people from our hometown would know something was up. My aunt Shelley and I helped L unload his Tahoe since it was loaded to come back to Red Oak and not KC.

The moment the Royals organization released the last season call ups social media went crazy. Phone calls, text messages, tweets, posts were coming in so fast that we couldn't keep up. 

There were about 12 of our family members in Springdale that weekend and without any question we all knew we were going to KC Monday morning for L's first Major League game. From Springdale, KC is only about 3.5 hours. 

No one could sleep Sunday night. It was like waiting for Christmas morning. We woke up earlier than our alarms and got on the road. I road in the back of my aunt's Enclave with three little girls. If I never have to watch an episode of Dora the Explorer again I will be happy. 

Once in KC, we stopped for some new Royals garb and went to the ballpark after some Kansas City style BBQ. 

As I walked into Kauffman Stadium and looked out on the field I found tears in my eyes. My little cousin L was warming up as a Major League Baseball player. He was living a childhood dream with the number 45 on his back. 

We watched batting practice and just took in the moment. Deep down we knew he probably wouldn't play that night but seeing him in uniform and supporting him was all we wanted. 

The Royals were playing the Texas Rangers that evening. It was a gorgeous night for baseball. We met up with our family from KC.  L's high school baseball coach, who is also our cousin, came as well as others from RO. 

In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Royals' DH came to bat. He was walked. Then we saw the number 45 come out of the dugout to pinch run.  We went crazy! 

L had a smile from ear to ear. He only played that inning since the Royals didn't take their last at bat but we were there. 

After the game we drove home on a high. The 5.5 hour drive home was worth it. I got home at 4:30am, took a shower and crawled into my bed for a few hours. My head was in a fog all Tuesday long. 

Car ride to KC. 

My favorite KC Royal. This was L's rookie jersey. 

The fabulous five! It was a bitter sweet moment with my Ginny not being there. She would have been beaming with pride and joy. 

L on first!

L sent this snapchat Monday night. I usually don't screenshot things but I had to keep this one. 

We are all still on cloud nine and it just keeps getting better. 

As I type this blog, I am on a plane headed to NYC. The Royals have a three game series with the Yankees and I am going. Thanks Aunt KK and Uncle Steve for the plane ticket! 

Cheers and Be Royal,

C