Squirrels Like Baseball Too

Well now that the World Series has ended I have to admit I actually kind of miss the non-stop baseball watching in this house. (Oh don't worry. We're not confused. We know the Nats weren't in the Series. We found ourselves in an odd position of having to choose to root for the Yankees or the Phillies. Andree's heart in particular was very conflicted.)

Our dear friend and pretend-extended-family-member Rach (aka the Squama) showed this crazy squirrel to us (found on the Mental_Floss Blog) and considering it was perhaps one of maybe five YouTube videos Dre's actually ever willingly watched I thought it was blog worthy. We haven't seen anything this exciting at a Nats game. Sometimes there are giant owls with handlers at the stadium but that just frightens me. A lot. I'd rather seen a crazy squirrel try and do the army crawl.

Enjoy! :-)

Opening Day

Not quite as exciting a game or outcome like last year but Opening Day was still a blast! (This year we all matched since Andree got me a Zimmerman jersey for Christmas.)
I never thought I'd be "excited" about going to a game where the weather was in the "low 50's" and cloudy but compared to in the 30's like last year or rainy like today I'll take it. It definitely wasn't the most stunning ball playing to be seen but it was good to see faces we "recognize" and in the Park we love so much. We're looking forward to many more games this year, more memories to be made with the Mays' fam (crab tailgate part dos), games on hot days, games with the KG, and maybe at least one win for the season. (The way Andree and Dronks are talking this morning we might never win again.)

Philly Phillies

(pc Jean Mays)

Seriously. How amazing is the local church? When people ask me how Doc and Dre got to be friends I always say the Nats but really it's more than that. It's this amazing family that God created of believers sharing life together regardless of background. How else do you explain us and the Mays' enjoying a fabulous double-date weekend together in Philly?

To celebrate the end of the season and the lovable losers that are our Washington Nationals Doc and Jean invited us to spend the weekend with them in Philly culminating at the last Nats game of the season in Citizen's Bank Park. We had a ton of fun with them: from the drive up following the purple line, torrential downpours anytime we got in the vehicle, gas stations without bathrooms for safety reasons, "special" incidents occurring directly outside the restaurant we went for dinner Saturday, giving other people directions around downtown Philly, Starbucks and talks, game night with Elise, and of course the game and experience of a new park! (Whew, had to fit all that in there for memory's sake.)

(pc Jean Mays)

This picture might sum up our trip best. (Most attractive viewed large. :-P) Dre and Jean had a great time speaking another language discussing photography and aperture and yada yada while Doc and I kept ourselves entertained not talking with big words.
(Jean's other pictures are here and here.)

Doc and Jean, you may never know how blessed we were by your invitation and your fellowship the last week of September. We had a blast with you guys and hope for future special memory making opportunities. How encouraged we were at the end of it and how reminded we were that we want to someday be like you "when we grow up." Thank you, thank you!!

(pc a special friendly "photographer" in Reading Market)

Dronkey Runs the Bases

Well it's certainly been a while since my voice was heard on this piece of the internet. For real. What's up with that? I'm back now so it's all good. (Holler to my BFF's, you know who you be.)

Puppa said I should write about my highlight of the summer. So ok I am. Duh, that means I'm writing about the Nationals!! (And I don't need any of you to point out that they're the worst team in baseball. I still love them for forevers just like Uncle Doc taught me.) Anyways I went to at least 30 games this season Puppa says. Some with Puppa, some without. Some with Uncle Doc, some with the KG. I like to keep variety in who I spend my time with.

This year, because Puppa was a season ticket holder, we got to go to a special picnic and tour all over the stadium in DC. Plus we got free hot dogs and chips! Here are some pictures of my day at Nats Park...

I met a few important people at the stadium: a few minutes after we got in the gate Mama & Puppa spotted Screech's Best Friend & the African Queen walking around. Puppa's goal for the season was to get a picture of me with them so I complied and said "cheese." As a fellow blogger I have to say his blog is one of the best around as far as discussing the Nationals goes. In the Klessmas home we typically agree or at least appreciate his point of view and anaylsis of games and things going on with the organization.
Then I got the autograph I was hoping for all season: President Teddy Roosevelt! It was a little undignified getting it but at least I got it. Puppa got Jesus Flores, Colin Ballester, Willie Harris, and Mike Hinkley. But I got my autograph first.
The other person I met was Stan Kasten. Puppa says he is the president of the Nationals. First of all he was not wearing a uniform so I don't understand how he's a National. Second of all why are there so many presidents involved with the Nationals?? Really... all we need is Teddy... But Puppa was excited to shake his hand and get a picture with "Stan."

And here is me on home plate. Like I titled this post I got to run around all the bases that my Nationals play on all the time. It was really awesome to see the field up close and personal rather than from all the way up in Section 405. It looks much different up close.
This is me in front of the bullpen. I don't really understand why the pitchers have to be caged up during the games but I guess it keeps the dugout from getting too crowded. And here's me and Mama sitting behind home plate, we had lots of chances to take a sit while Puppa took lots and lots of pictures of everything from up close.
Despite all the loses the Nats had it was a fun season. Here's to next season and getting a few (and by a few I mean A LOT) more wins on the board and finishing better than the O's in 2009.

where have we been?

Well the last post I wrote we were in our sweet little room at the Morrison-Clark Historic Hotel in DC. We enjoyed a great semi-spontaneous (Dre had it all planned but I had no idea 'til I was told to pack a bag on my lunchbreak) 48 hours away enjoying being together celebrating our anniversary. It was such a treat and I am so grateful to my love for planning and surprising me with such a sweet gift.
Of course it wouldn't be KlessmasTime if there was no baseball involved. We attempted to go to two games while in DC but only saw about 4 innings of baseball due to the rain. Any Marylanders remember the huge storm that swept through on 6/4 (our anniversary). We spent hours at the stadium that night: I loved watching the majesty of the storm over the outfield while Dre hid under the stairs avoiding the rain and pondering when we should go hide out in the bathroom in case a tornado came through. It was was intense weather!--Even with the rain we had a great time making the memory together. After we left the park on our anniversary we went out to dinner and had a great time together just "being." In such a busy season of life these days it is so nice to just "be" together sometimes. It's more refreshing than anything I know.
Within 48 hours of coming home we packed up again and headed off to the Poconos for a family vacation with the Price family. Mom and Dad rented essentially a condo at Lake Harmony and the fam. plus Murray (who may as well be family) enjoyed a long weekend together. Grandma and Grandpa and Alice even came up for an overnight which was sweet. We enjoyed meals together, laughing, caricatures, and being a family under the same roof again. Thank you Mom and Dad!--About a week before our trip Andree realized that the NASCAR race that weekend was going to be in the Poconos. He looked it up and it was less than 8 miles away from the place we were staying. How could we not go?!? ;-) Cynth, Mur, and I only survived about an hour of the race (though we were there for at least 3 hours before the race) before we packed up and started walking 'til Dad found us and brought us home. Andree stuck out the race and had a great time making friends in the stands! The picture above is our little family of race fans: Andree roots for Ryan Newman, Dronks roots for Tony Stewart (they have matching attitudes), and I root for Reed Sorenson, aka the Target car!

That's it for our summer adventures so far. Other than that we've been working hard at our jobs, trusting God and planning for the future, and enjoying special times with our families and friends when we can coordinate schedules. Life is full and it's good. We are blessed!

(Janelle, this is for you. Girlie loves her bows. :-P)

Let's-Go-Nation-als!!

The Kless-Nats craze is still going strong as we're now about a month into the season. Last night was Andree's eighth game of the season, Becca's seventh and Dronkey's ninth. (Yes you read that right: Dronks has gone to one more game than Puppa or Mamma. He went with Uncle Peter. You know you want to see the pictures.)

Last night we got to bring the dearest KG with us to the game. The rest of the ONE ministry care groups for some odd reason chose the O's over the Nats. (I mean even on an economic level that doesn't make sense: it's cheaper to buy Nats tickets and to get to the park.) But for the KG there was no choice. I mean when your leader has more than enough hats for all of you to borrow one for the night, going to the O's would just be wrong.

Here are some shots of our night taken by Miss Lydia Jane.

Dee Jam, Court, Kristen, Dre, & Dronks.

Caitlin and Shhhh-mellin

Lyd and Dronks. BFF.

The KG Crew (Shot taken by Doc Mays: "I can take the group shot. I know how to use those cameras Lydia. My family has like sixteen of them.")

And captured in all his HD-graphic-glory by Lydia's super lens, Andree's professional baseball playing twin. Seriously, doesn't he look just like Dre?!?! I mean minus the unfortunate choice of facial hair he looks like my hubby! The KG cheered for "Andree!!!" every time he came up to the plate.

Good, good times as always at Nats Park! I can't wait 'til it warms up for real this summer though I'm sure in a few months I'll be missing the freezing games as we're melting in the heat instead of shivering in the cold. Ahhh baseball...
Oh and the Nats are starting to get back to their solid baseball playing selves. (We'll admit they weren't doing the best for a few weeks there.) They played a pretty awesome game this afternoon, winning in the 12th inning after playing some excellent and much needed defense. Goooooooooo Nats!!

Opening Day

9 innings.
8 hours plus at Nationals Park.
7 shirts (+ 3 sweatshirts and a blanket to keep Becca warm).
6 free gifts--2 lanyards, 2 rally towels, 2 t-shirts.
5 pitchers for the Nationals.
4 racing presidents (just wait for Dronkey's post tomorrow...).
3 runs scored--by the Nationals.
2 matching jerseys. (for Dronks and Puppa of course.)
1 walk off home run.



being there on Opening Night: priceless.

[Thanks for driving Doc! As much as you respected Andree for wearing his jersey to church this morning, he now respects your driving skills even more. (Not kidding.) We had a great time with you all: Cowans, Brewers, Mays, Glabbs, and Mr. Tiren. Goooooooooooo Nats!!]

Countdown Complete!

Well today was a very important day. For some it was moving into their first home. (Congrats! Mamma and Puppa say they love you... I think you smell.) For others, like me, it was enjoying the start of a new season of baseball... FINALLY! (Oh and Puppa says he was more excited than I was.)Here I am watching the game. Yeah, it's true. I have my own jersey and Curly W hat. You're jealous, aren't you?

First pitch!!--Too bad Puppa was at the food stand... :-P
[Puppa says it doesn't count anyway. He says tomorrow is the REAL first pitch. I sure thought tonight counted as a real live baseball game. He's weird.]

Uncle Doc! It was very cold. I tried to keep him warm but I think a few minutes next to Puppa was more helpful than hanging out with me. (Mamma says Puppa has a heater inside.)

Mamma and Puppa in their special clothes. We kinda like the Nats if you can't tell.

Puppa's BFF Justin and he walked 3 miles yesterday to get free tickets for tonight's game. It was fun to share the frigid adventure with them. I tried to sneak jalapenos from Aunt Erin's nachos when she wasn't looking.

Special shout out to Puppa's favorite O's fans (though he won't publicly awknowledge liking anyone who supports the Orioles). Since we already had our tickets for tonight before Puppa and Uncle Justin had their early morning walk yesterday Puppa told the Winners that they could have our extra set IF they did not wear anything in support of the Orioles. They did a great job complying and even babysat Little Dronkey so we could go visit Uncle Doc in his seats.

What a fun night! The new stadium is great! It's such a radically different experience than RFK. Tomorrow we're heading down nice and early to go exploring so hopefully next week Puppa will post some cool pictures of the National's new home and my summer vacation playland.

Until next time...
--The Dronks.

Nationals Country

Yet more proof that this is Nationals County. Found this sign on 270 south between Clarksburg and Germantown on Monday night. I almost peed my pants. My wife thought I was screaming at another driver on the road.

24 nights from tonight. I can't wait.

Good-bye RFK from 'The Dronks'

Hello Dronkey here again! Today I went to the last Washington Nationals game at RFK Stadium with my Puppa and Mommy. Mommy's parents, the Mays', the Tirens, and 'Aunt Connie' were there too. It was a fun fun day!
My daddy told me (lots of times!) that the RFK stadium was made for a old baseball team called the Senators a long time before I was born. I saw some of those people today. They were old people but looked happy. (I think seeing them probably made Doc Mays happy.) They went away and then a couple years ago the Nats came!! And now the Nats are getting a new stadium so they don't want to play at RFK anymore.


This is me watching the game from the high up seats. I moved down later to watch the game with 'Aunt Connie.' I like her a lot. Especially because I just met her today. I think she gets me. ;-) You can almost see the cool t-shirt Mommy made for me today. I forgot to get my picture taken of me with my cool shirt. ('Aunt Jean' do you have one?)




This is the picture I've been waiting all season for: It's me and Teddy Roosevelt! The President of the United States of America! He's famous. I heard everyone say his name really loudly today. Everyone says he's a loser but I just think he's silly.


This is one of Mommy and Daddy's favorite players. His name is Wily Mo Pena. He didn't play last night and Mommy thinks we could have definitely used his hitting. (Did you catch that? Thanks to Doc Mays, Mommy and Daddy went to 2 Nationals games this weekend. In fact they were at RFK twice in less than 12 hours!!)


At the end of the game they did lots of special things to celebrate the end of the use of RFK for baseball games. Screech jumped off the roof of the stadium! I'm glad he didn't die.


This last one is for the Mays'. We saw a license plate for you on the way home. Too bad it's already taken. It was pretty creative.

The End.

Hooray for the Nationals and their win today! Thanks to Doc (and Mrs. and girls) Mays for sharing so many games with us and being friends with Dronkey. Can't wait 'til next season!

PS--Mommy said I need to tell everyone that Puppa is all better now. If you heard that he having some "complications" (something called 'Dry Socket') and had to have three 'emergency' appointments this week after his teeth came out... but it's all better now. I gave him lots of snuggles and spent lots of time helping Mommy take care of him. I also gave him lots of milkshakes.

Dronkey goes to a Nats game

Hi, its me Dronkey! I went to my first Nationals baseball game today with Mamma and Puppa (he's a HUGE Nats fan) and my new friends Charlie and Melissa. They just got married and moved here from Nebraska. That sounds far away (although they say I come from China).

Puppa was really essite'ed about a president race. He said Teddy got robbed...

It's ok, I got a Teddy bobblehead of my very own!


I met Doc Mays. He and Puppa are friends and he teaches us about baseball (Puppa pretends he knows).

I had a good time. Its past my bed time. Mamma says I get to come back for the last game at RFK. I don't know what that means. Goodnight.

Where Have We Been?

We really can't believe it's May already!! So much so that I keep writing June in my journal whenever I write in it. (Puck, I found more instances of me wrong-dating AND reading the wrong Morning and Evening. What on earth?!) April was by far the busiest month we've had since our wedding and we wanted to post a quick snapshot of all we did and saw--if you haven't seen us lately or missed us, this is why. We promise we weren't avoiding you...

• After a fun and also sorrowful weekend in New York the first week of April we came home to practically take up residence at Covenant Life for the SGM Leadership Conference. While rocking sweet new t-shirts designed by the one and only Matty-Matt we served at the conference bookstore from 9am-11pm every day. It was a great break from the normal routine of a work week as we served alongside some of our best friends, the Remsnyders, got to be buddies with the coolest dude we've ever met from Nah'Or'leans, watched our favorite Drewbie lead with skill and wisdom, and were well fed by SGM all the Krispy Kremes we could eat and the occasional real meal. :-) Plus the added highlight of getting to interact with the pastors we admire and respect from all over Sovereign Grace.

• Andree got a new job. (More on that to come. He has two jobs now. What a hard-worker!)

• On a quiet night at home we were surprised to see Doc Mays' phone number ringing on the caller ID. After deciding that they might not be dialing the wrong number Andree answered and we were both floored by their thoughtfulness and generosity when we were invited to go to a Nats' game with the family. There are few things that my husband loves less than the DC area and its sports teams. We had a great night out with the Mays' and Andree especially enjoyed getting to know Doc Mays more.

• We took a road trip up to Orchard Park, New York (near Buffalo) with Dad Kless and Clarisa to spend a weekend with Grandma Kless. We had a great time seeing the sites where Dad grew up and where Grandma grew up. (A lot has changed since they were young!) Highlights are obvious: Becca's first trip to Niagara Falls, family dinners at Taffy's hot dog stand and for wings at Duff's, and of course, seeing Uncle Dave's hot new Charger. (I think it's a guy thing. I thought the car was nice but couldn't quite appreciate it as much as Andree and Dave.)

• Sovereign Grace Church of Frederick took over our home for a few days as Becca prepared for the kick-off of their first course of Starting Point (aka their first new members' class). We also enjoyed being able to visit the church again and see all the wonderful people who make Becca's job such a joy. It's amazing to see how that church is growing! The kitchen table was held hostage by Starting Point materials as Becca made up packets.--Praise God for the amazing growth in that church's midst!

• Finally this past weekend where we hosted a special surprise party for the one and only Ky-B Ky. There truly is no one like him in the world and we enjoyed spending the evening with our friends and being grateful for the young man who has brought together so many different groups of people. (We love you duuuuuu-de!)

Andree being "soooo nervous" as he waited for Kyle to walk through the door. (He's cute like that.)Birthday boy!

That catches us up to the present! If we disappear again don't worry. We have a busy end of the month coming up with a road trip to NA'07 with Mr. and Mrs. Sethasaurous. And then spending a romantic weekend away together in DC doing all the things we like best: eating and exploring!

Comcast + Nationals = Happy Husband

File this in the "anybody who cares" department...





Beginning September 1, Comcast subscribers in the DC area will FINALLY be able to watch their home team, Washington Nationals on television!!!!!

Praise God.

Click here for more information.

The wife would like to add that within a minute she knew exactly what her husband's "guess what!" signified. He's baffled at how she did this... Two months and she's already got him all figured out. ;) (Or something...)