7 Days of Blogging: Day 5 (Indian Wells)

Bucket list #17- attend an ATP/WTA event.....check. Scott and I went to Indian Wells (Palm Springs), CA, for the BNP Paribas Open. It is considered the "5th major" so all the big names in tennis were there. It was wonderful! We had so much fun! The weather was horrible for 2 of the 3 days we were there, and we still had a blast. Can't imagine how fabulous it would be with cooperating weather.

Being the wonderful wife that I am :) I had arranged for Scott to play Dinah Shore at Mission Hills Country Club the first morning we were there (Friday). Dinah Shore is on his "bucket list" of courses, so he was excited. Even so, when Scott dropped me off at the tennis center that morning he actually said he was jealous of me for a few reasons and considered cancelling his tee-time. He said first of all, Friday was perfect weather wise and we knew the weather was going to change drastically over night, so this was the best day to enjoy some world-class tennis. Secondly, I'd be watching Scott's favorite tennis player, Rafael "Rafa" Nadal, play. Scott decided to go to the course early to see if he could tee-off early. I had gotten him the earliest tee-time available in advance, but you never know where a slot may have opened. Scott made me promise to keep him updated via text on Nadal's match. Scott headed to Dinah Shore and I headed into the main stadium pictured above.

Federer was warming up when I arrived.

Then Nadal came out to warm-up. Here is a frame-by-frame look at his serve. How fun!

Time for my first in-person ATP match. Del-Po/Fed. That's Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Roger Federer for you non-tennis followers. Woot woot. Soooo fun! Great match. We opted to attend on Championship weekend to see great tennis, risking potentially not seeing our fave players if they were to already be eliminated. The risk paid off. We got to see some fabulous matches and all our fave players.

Nalbandian vs. Nadal

(Scott was able to get on early at Dinah Shore made it in time for the second set.)

Azarenka

Azarenka vs. Kerber

Ivanovic vs.

Sharapova

Day 2....brrrr!!!

Nadal warming up.

Finally it's time to see my favorite player! :)

First Isner comes out. He is sooo flippin' tall!

Then Novak "Nole'" Djokovic. He is soooo fun to watch play!

The Djokovic/Isner match got done just as the skies opened up and started pouring down buckets of water. Since we had aisle seats, we managed to be among the first out of the stadium, therefore we managed to snag a table under the tent. It was standing room only within a minute of sitting down and the people really packed in. Since it ended up being a 3-hour rain delay, we were very thankful to have a table to hang out at! In addition to the rain, it was cold and windy. We decided this must be the worst weather the BNP Paribas Open has ever had.

It was funny. Scott was just sitting there hanging out, and a lady came up and asked him if he was one of the players. Really lady?! I mean, Scott's athletic looking and all, so I can see why she thought he was a tennis player. But how can she not realize the players have nice, warm lounges to hang out in during rain delays?! Her brain must have been frozen. ;)

Drying the courts....FINALLY.

3 hours later, play finally resumes with Rog vs Rafa, one of the greatest rivalries of our time. It was worth the wait to see these to go at it.

I've already shown enough pics of both Rafa and Rog in their previous matches, so I'll show some of the celebrities braving the cold instead. Above is Mirka Federer, Mary Jo Fernandez, and Gwen Stefani and her boys.

Gavin Rossdale

Ben Stiller (Will Ferrell was there, too, but I didn't get a picture).

We had such a good time that we decided we were going back next year for sure. Can't wait!

7 Days of Blogging: Day 4 (Amaya Turns Five)

'Five already. Hard to believe.' Each year the same phrase rings true. Next year I shall just omit five and replace it with six. It's the same with all parents. I have yet to hear a parent say, 'My kid just turned 5. Feels like they should be 10.' So, this is how we commemorated the five-year anniversary of our little sweetheart's birth.
When we asked Amaya what she wanted to do for her birthday this year, she emphatically replied that she wanted to go to build-a-bear. She has never gotten to "build" a bear yet and has "always wanted to." In addition to that, she has been asking to get her ears pierced for months. We have been telling her for months that we could do that for her fifth birthday, so that was always part of the birthday plan. She added that she wanted to go scorpion hunting, too. Yes, SCORPION hunting. Crazy kid. She also wanted a "beautiful barbie", a Tangled musical jewelry box, a Flynn Ryder doll, and a Prince Eric doll Whoa! We told her that's alot to ask for. It was decided that she could choose to have a "day of Amaya" or have a big birthday party. Since she got to bring cupcakes to pre-K to celebrate and her babysitter had a little party for her, she opted for the day of Amaya. Which turned out to be one of my favorite days ever, probably because I just love days where we spend the whole day hanging out, having fun as a family. This was like an extra-special family fun day.
Of course the day started out with mommy and daddy doing our best rendition of the happy birthday song. Then it was off to IHOP for a big-smiley faced chocolate pancake. (Meals on "day-of-Amaya" were her choice, too). After breakfast, we took Amaya to have her 5-year pictures taken (not entirely her choice, but since it was only 9am and Build-A-Bear wasn't open yet she was cool with it). Next stop, B.O.B. Which was sooooo fun. I see why this place is so popular. Amaya selected a beautiful light brown bear, gave her fairy wand noises and a heartbeat, made wonderful wishes for her, bathed her squeeky clean, dressed her in a beautiful pink ensemble, and named her Lovie. After B.O.B. it was lunch time. Amaya selected Applebee's. After that it was off to Toys'r'us to get her "beautiful barbie." They didn't have her. So it was off to Target because that is where she saw her. She was referring to a "Dancing with the Stars" barbie. When we got to Target, she decided on a different toy anyway. I can't remember the name of it...it was a playset for those pop-able creature things. After that we drove to Buckeye to celebrate with Papa Jerry and Grandma Cindy. We opened presents, went to the Grazie' for dinner, and then did the whole birthday cake thing. On the drive to Buckeye, Amaya took a little snooze and Scott and I reminisced about her original birthday and the time that has transpired since. So fun. It was a wonderful day. Note: We did not go SCORPION hunting. We did that once and that was enough for me. Here are some pictures from the special day.

7 Days of Blogging: Day 3 (Amaya's "Hole-In-One")

Scott and I were hanging out on the patio at Seville while watching Amaya at golf lessons. I had just grabbed the videocamera and was recording. She took a swing, the ball went flying, and appeared to go right in the hole (bucket). Her coach was standing behind her at the time and saw it too, and from his reaction we knew the ball did go in the "hole." He threw his arms up in the air and we could hear him cheering. He ran out to the bucket, grabbed the ball and ran it back to Amaya. He handed it to her and what does she do? She puts it down and hits it again. Silly girl. Would have been fun to keep the ball even though it wasn't a true hole-in-one. I love that we got it on video! Couldn't get it to upload to the blog though. Grandparents, we shall show you the footage next time you are over/visit. ;) Here's some photos I snapped that day after I was done videotaping.

7 Days of Blogging: Day 2

Ostrich Festival Fun