Lexie's Field Trip - Behind the Scenes at Heinz Field & PNC Park in Pittsburgh

Chaperoning a field trip is a coveted job in our school district. This year, I was miraculously chosen to chaperone both Dylan and Lexie's field trips!

Dylan's field trip to the Carnegie Science Center was a few weeks ago, and on Friday the 13th, Lexie and I headed into Pittsburgh with her class to go on a field trip that made my husband very jealous! We were going to get behind the scenes tours of Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, AND PNC Park, which is home to the Pittsburgh Pirates!

I was very apprehensive about the field trip.  It was supposed to rain all day, so I was prepared with coats and umbrellas. The morning started out a bit rough. As we were walking (okay...RUSHING) out the door, my entire cup of hot tea spilled all over the floor. As I was lifting up the play kitchen to sit towels on the puddle of tea, the play kitchen tipped and all the play food and dishes ended up all over the floor. There wasn't any time to make another cup of tea or clean up the mess, so we just left it as it was!

The chaos continued...

We boarded the bus full of overly excited kids (and the most dads I have ever seen chaperoning a field trip) and pulled away from the school.  We made it one short mile before we had to turn around and go back to the school to pick up the school nurse.  We apparently forgot her in the midst of all the chaos!

We finally made it into the city, and it was worth the wait. Not only did it turn out to be a beautiful day, but the tours were amazing!

Our first stop was Heinz Field! 

 

I have never been to the new field, so I was excited to see everything!

Our first stop (after a bathroom break, of course) was the locker rooms.  Although it was neat to see the Pitt locker room, the Steelers locker room was what we really wanted to see!  When Dylan went  on this field trip a few years ago, they weren't allowed in the locker room, so this was exciting.  I have to admit, it was nothing like I pictured it would be! For some reason, I expected it to resemble a high school locker room!

Another thing I wasn't expecting was how plain and simple the area where they interview the players was.  It looks so much different on TV!

Lexie's favorite part of the tour was slapping the football emblem that all the players slap for good luck as they exit the locker room before a game!

We got to walk through the tunnel the players walk through to enter the field. It was so neat seeing the field from that perspective! 

Unfortunately, we couldn't go on the field this time, because they were removing the grass and replacing it with foam flooring for their summer concert series.

After leaving the field, we started the descent down the ramp to visit the rest of the complex. The view of the city is just as beautiful as it is from PNC Park!

As a blogger, I really liked seeing the press box.  It must be an exciting but stressful job to be a sports reporter!

We also got to see a luxury suite.  They start at just $49,000 a year (HA!) and go up to well over $100,000 a year, depending on the size.  I begged Lexie to give up her college education so we could get one, but she thought that was a terrible idea! Oh, well...I can dream!

We finished up our tour in the Great Hall. We didn't have much time left, so it's definitely something I would love to spend more time visiting one day!  I know Grant would love to see it!

I mean, just look at all those Super Bowl trophies!!! ;)

We loved visiting Heinz Field for the first time! Hopefully my entire family can go see a game soon!

We grabbed our lunches off the bus, and headed down to the river walk for a very quick lunch break. We picked a little pier for our picnic spot, which gave us a great view of the city.  As soon as we were done, we headed down the river walk toward PNC Park! 

We visit PNC Park at least once a year for a Pirates game. It is such a beautiful ball park! 

This time, we got to view the field from the press box!

We also had the opportunity to tour the locker room, but no cameras were allowed. Such a bummer, because it was really cool to see! But let me just share that Lexie's favorite story to tell about that tour is how the Pirates are messy and like to leave their underwear hanging in their lockers!

From there, we headed into the Pirates dug out!

I have never seen the field from that angle, so I really liked that part of the tour!  Unfortunately, they were working on the field, so the kids couldn't run the bases this time.

They did, however, get to see the batting cages and training rooms!

By that point, all the kids were starting to fade.  It was a REALLY long day with lots of walking! 

Even though we have visited PNC Park many times, it was fun to get the behind the scenes tour!

 

We can't wait to go back for a game this summer!

 

After we left the park, there was a little mishap with the buses not being there to pick us up. That resulted in Lexie's teacher running through the city to find them, a bus driver coming to find us and leading us on a much longer walk to the buses, and Lexie's autistic classmate, who was walking with us, having a meltdown. (I managed to calm him down by distracting him with the news that we knew his sister.) We finally reached our bus and collapsed in our seats. What is it about field trips that leave you so exhausted?

I had a great day touring the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates with my sweet girl! Lexie really enjoyed having me there and it's definitely an experience we both will remember! (And just for the record, Grant WAS very jealous!)

Go Steelers!!! Go Bucs!

What was the last field trip YOU went on?

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Baseball Tournament

Today was Dylan's baseball division's Round Robin Tournament.

Those two games were quite possibly the hottest, most humid games we've ever sat through.  We were all miserable just sitting there under the blazing sun, so I really felt for the players!




Dylan had two games, back to back.  As the first game neared an end, it was evident that I had to get the girls out of the sun.  The baby, especially, looked miserable.



Grant's mom called us back, and told us to bring the girls to her house.  I loaded the girls into the car and drove them to her house, just a few minutes away.

Just over an hour outside...



...gave new meaning to heat exhaustion.



I returned to the field, and Grant and I watched Dylan play his second game.  He played hard, despite the heat, hitting hard and scoring runs.  It was nice watching him play, without distraction.






Dylan's team won the second game, so the boys were very happy!  They were filthy, hot, sweaty, and grinning as they left the field!



Honestly?  I think they were grinning because they were relieved they could finally get out of the heat!!!



I have to admit, I was thrilled to get into the car and crank up the AC!

I was really proud of how well Dylan played today!  He stuck with it, despite the suffocating heat.  Go, Mars Black!

Happenings

It was a big day for my big kids!

This afternoon, I took Lexie to yet another Kindergarten event.  This time it was for a Watermelon Welcome.  I took Dylan to the same event two years ago, so I knew what they were going to do, but it was still exciting for Lexie!

She got to watch a video in the computer lab, then try out the school computers.  Next, they went to the gym and made their own mini flower pots to plant seeds in.

 

Next up was a bus ride.  She was super excited about that one!

 

After the bus ride, they returned to the other side of the gym to do an art project and have a story read to them, while the principal talked to the parents.  Finally, they got their watermelon, cards and pencils from current kindergarteners, and headed out to play on the playground!

I can't believe Kindergarten is a few short months away!

Later in the day, we headed to Dylan's baseball practice and game.  Dylan has been playing so well!  He whacks the ball every single time he bats.  He has been scoring,  and hitting far enough to bring his teammates home. 

He gets so excited to hear his teammates cheer him on!



After the game tonight, he got the game ball, thanks to all his great hits!  He was so excited and proud!



His entire team has been playing so well, so one of the coaches treated them to ice cream after the game!  Ice cream was a great incentive, so they really played with enthusiasm tonight!

Of course, I can't forget Lily!

My sweet girl had to get repeat blood work done yesterday.  She is anemic, and they wanted to do another blood draw to see if the iron supplement was helping.  Grant came along this time.  I didn't want to go alone after all the fun 2 weeks ago!

Lily did great, though!  They found a vein right away.  Lily let out the tiniest yell when the needle went in, then sat perfectly still and watched the lab tech do her job.  I was shocked!

She also really really wants to walk.  And I really really want her to slow down.



I'm so proud of my sweet babies!

Back In The Game

All it took was one good hit, and Dylan's confidence and passion for baseball was restored!



This division is much more difficult, because they play by the rules.  Three strikes...you're out! It was a big transition from last year, and it has been hard for the kids to get used to!  They strike out so much more, and it can be disappointing (and boring) for them. 



On Tuesday, Dylan got his first big catch and hit of the season.  After that? He was glowing!

 

During his game yesterday, he was fully alert, and actually seemed interested in what was going on.  He tried hard, got two big hits, and scored twice.  His confidence was built up even more!

He's back to obsessing about baseball.  He has been wearing baseball pajamas and baseball shirts.  He checked out a book about baseball from the school library.  He's looking through his baseball cards and books.  He's taking his lucky baseball to bed with him, and tossing it in the air as he tries to fall asleep.  He insists he's going to be a baseball player when he grows up.  He has been practicing with Grant everyday. 



I'm so happy that he's finally enjoying his favorite sport again!