Daytime Date

A few months back I caught wind that kids are allowed to run the bases after the Braves game finishes on Sunday home games. I looked at our schedule and found out that today lined up, so I got tickets and set the date. Eli didn't know about the bases until we got there, but he was excited about the game anyway. We sat just behind center field, right on the wall (front row!). No home runs were hit to us, but Eli and I practiced our catching strategy in the event of such with our gloves several times each inning.

We were supposed to get rained out - it was forecasted that we would have thunderstorms all afternoon long. Instead, we had a tiny sprinkle and then LOTS of sun. How we ended up not burned, I will never know. Right after the sixth inning finished, we packed up our stuff and made our way over to the line for the base-running. Kids were already lined up, but by the time the game finished, our portion of the line was probably the front 10%. SO many kids wanted to run!

They marched us down the walkway a few levels so that we were on the same level as the field. After a brief wait, we walked through some type of underground stadium hallway to the large doors opening up to the start of the outfield first base line (does that make sense?). Down the line we all walked, careful not to step on the grass. As we approached, I reminded Eli that I was not allowed to run around with him, but I'd be waiting at home plate to take his picture. Unfortunately that was not the case, but there was no time to explain it to him. When we got to first base, a Braves rep split us all up as we got to the base: kids to home plate to run and adults up in the bleachers. We had to take a HUGE detour up and around the seats before reuniting with our kids (most of which were done before we were able to get over there). This meant no quality pictures to speak of. They herded us through that detour very quickly, so the only shots I got were from WAY far away, and they were taken while I was briskly walking. Boo hoo. Eli did get a shirt out of the deal. It reads "I ran the bases at Turner Field" and it has the Braves logo on the front. He had a great time, and he even stayed awake the whole ride home. If he hadn't, he would have surely woken up when another car struck us after we got off of the highway. No damage, thank goodness, but what a way to end the day!