World Baseball Classic

Last Saturday we zipped across the border because round one of the World Baseball Classic was being held in Toronto.

After meeting with our friends Johnny and Smitty for lunch, we headed over to the Sky Dome (Rogers Centre) early so we could get a look around before the game started. Jackson loved running around the wide concourses and interacting with other baseball fans, but from the moment he peaked down one of the walkways and saw the field, there was nothing else he wanted to look at.

We found our seats in time to watch the teams get introduced. It was a really neat experience to see so many major leaguers and a little strange to find ourselves cheering for the likes of Derek Jeter or Jake Peavy. We also cheered loudly for Larry Walker, who was one of the coaches for Team Canada.

After a late arrival, Etta and Todd found their way to our seats, and it was fun to have some friends along to share the event with. We'd all been looking forward to this event for months.

Of course there were snacks, popcorn, ice cream, and sodas all around, but the kids really impressed us with their ability to sit still. Jackson was completely engrossed with the game.

He couldn't decided what he'd rather watch, the live action or the big screen in the outfield, which is actually build into the wall of a hotel that connects with the dome. We could see a bunch of the people sitting in their rooms watching the game.

We saw a great game, and it was so neat to see players playing for their country instead of their individual teams. It really brought home what a world sport baseball is. It was a great experience, and the atmosphere alone was worth the price of admission. We certainly felt like we were part of something special. Even Jackson could sense the importance of the moment because he sat still for 7 1/2 innings!

We did end up watching the final, very tense out of the game, from the outside, but we didn't care. We all had a blast and we're already looking forward to our next trip to Toronto.