Kentucky Sporting Events

This year with the kids being members of the Junior Wildcat Club, it got them free entrance into all sporting events (except football and men's basketball). This gave me reason to take the kids so that they could experience all different types of sports. Some of them the kids found entertaining and others we left not long after our arrival. I don't ever want to push anything onto the kids so this was my way of opening up their eyes to the different things that they could try and get involved with something new.

SWIM AND DIVE

Took the kids to a swim and dive meet. I had never experienced this before so I had no idea what we were getting into myself. The swimming and diving all occurred at the same time so it was a little bit chaotic. Thankfully there was a guy right next to me that didn't mind me asking some questions. Turns out that his daughter was one of the divers for the opposing team, Cincinnati.

Turns out they had free pizza for all the guests. Not sure if this is an every meet type of thing or not, but the kids really enjoyed it. They seem to think that every time they attend a UK event then they need to eat.

They also gave out these pretty awesome decorated sugar cookies.

Since Jennifer and I are both employees of the University of Kentucky we also get free admission into all sporting events other than football and men's basketball. So, this time we brought grandma and grandpa along to enjoy the experience too!

The kids favorite part of the swim meet other that the pizza and cookies were the emoji cat masks. They thought it was the funniest thing ever.

Brinley was crying from laughing so much.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball games in the fall were really exciting. The volleyball team did really well this year and Brinley really enjoyed the games. We went to a few of the games and the Wildcats won every match.

Landon enjoyed the popcorn.

The kids got to meet Mr. Wildcat.

BASEBALL

We all made our first visit to the Cliff, the baseball stadium, to cheer on the Bat Cats. It was actually the home opener against Xavier.

I snuck in a few PB&J's for the kids so we had a little make-shift picnic at the park.

And yet I still ended up getting nachos and Sprite for these two! We had to leave before the end of the game because the kids had school the next day, but the Wildcats ended up losing. This was the first UK team that my kids had ever seen lose. They had been going to events for over 4 years now. Not too bad of a winning streak for the kiddos. I was really sorry to see it end!

The next baseball game we went to was against WKU. The kids wanted to wear these tattoos that I had got. Landon put his on his arm and Brinley asked for her forehead, so I obliged.

Landon with his snow cone.

Since the Cats were playing WKU, which was Grandpa's alma mater,  we brought them out to the game. The whole time we were there the Big Red Hilltoppers were leading. Grandpa even taught Landon to say go Big Red. At first I acted like I got upset so the little man kept doing it. Then I decided I better just act like it didn't bother me so that he wouldn't do it anymore. The little man said it for 2 weeks! The kids got a little stir crazy around the 7th inning so we went home. I thought it just wasn't meant for us to see the baseball team win. However, while we were eating dinner I checked the score and Kentucky had made a comeback in the bottom of the 9th and won the game.

Another night we headed out to the Cliff to watch the Cats play the Louisville Cardinals. The Bat Cats pulled out the win so the kids posed with their L's down. Raising them right!

The kids and I at the UK vs. Louisville game.

Another night we headed out to the Cliff for another baseball game. This one was more for the after show. It was a Friday night game so they had fireworks at the end. 

Thankfully I brought the blanket because it got a little chilly. The kids were ready to head home, but I was determined to see the fireworks. They both were ready to fall asleep during the game. Landon actually fell asleep about 10 minutes before the fireworks started.

The kids got some baseball gloves from MiMi so Landon decided to bring his to the next home game we attended just in case a foul ball came his way.

Brinley opted for a little coloring sheet instead of watching the game.

This was the last home regular season series at the Cliff and the next to last home game. They are going to be moving across campus to the new stadium for the next season. We had really been missing out over the past few years when we could have been watching the Bat Cats play ball.

They had a special night for kids and allowed them to run the bases after the game. Brinley and Landon thought it was awesome and wanted to do it again. They were sad when I told them it was only allowed once.

Just resting on the UK logo.

Me and the kids with a picture right behind home plate.

That's a wrap on the home UK baseball season for us. I think they had fun going to the games with me. I know that I had fun even between the many trips to the concession stand and the multiple bathroom breaks. I can't wait to see the new stadium next year.

SOFTBALL

Another new UK sport for all of us was softball. They have a relatively new stadium and it is really nice. Brinley wanted to of course try out the concession stand!

Our first game was against Louisville and the Cats won!

L's down!

We made it to another home game when the Cats played Georgia. Unfortunately the Cats lost.

The kids were happy about getting to see Scratch!

Both kids ended up retrieving a foul ball. Brinley was so happy because Landon got one first. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal, but you got to return in to the workers and you could win a prize. 

The kid's prizes for finding the foul balls. Landon got a slap bracelet and Brinley got some crazy shades. They didn't pick these prizes, it was actually a wheel they spun to see what they got.

I am not sure who had more fun at all of these UK sporting events, me or the kids, but I know that I had a lot of fun. I am sad that we didn't get out to see all the other sporting events that UK has. Maybe next year we can get to the rest - soccer, track, and tennis. Go CATS! Thanks for reading and God bless!