home run derby!!!!!!

last night we had the opportunity to go to the HOME RUN DERBY!
WE WERE BEYOND EXCITED!!!
as most of you all know, the all star game is tonight, in st. louis, at busch stadium! we will have 3 players there, representin' the lou!!!!! whoot whoot!

the #1 vote getter in BOTH LEAGUES, our spectacular first baseman, ALBERT PUJOLS.
one of my personal favorite players, our gold glove catcher, YADIER MOLINA.
and one of our outstanding pitchers, RYAN FRANKLIN.

all weekend long, there have been activities going on around the city and the excitement has been growing (although the highway i take to work is being shut down tonight at 5PM until after the all star game due to the high security because pres. obama will be at the game, so im not really sure of the best way to get around all this mess so i can go to work...guess you have to take the good with the bad!)....
i do not get to go to the game tonight, but matt does, and yes, he will be taking our camera!
anyway....back to the home run derby last night. we had a blast! it was so exciting! i went picture happy.... just being there...the sights, sounds, crowd, atmosphere.....i really cant put it in words...so heres some pictures of some of the sights....

our home run derby tickets, the banners on the stadium, an all star archway photo op, the city skyline,the beautiful sunset, and the outfield grass with the arch and our old courthouse (see it in the pics?) cut into the grass....

our pride and joy in st louis, PUUUUUUJOLS!

what a stance!

at the end of round one, there was a 3 way tie for the final spot to move onto the second round...there was a swing off....and PUJOLS advanced to the second round! ahhhhhh, the suspense and excitement!

a view of the far left field bleachers, and all the people in the concourse behind the bleachers. this is where the majority of the balls were hit...hence the asses-n-elbows standing room only! if you notice, on the screen (above the bull pen, below the bleachers) where it say "last home run: 471 ft". that home run ball actually went OVER these bleachers and INTO that mass of people standing behind in the concourse!

holy cow thats far! and that wasnt the longest one hit...prince fielder it the longest home run, a whopping 503'!!!!!!pujols advanced to the second round, but didnt make it to the finals. that was between fielder and cruz....and fielder won. he had a grand total of 23 home runs! and several of the longest too!we had a fantastic time.....even if we had standing room only (no seat for us) and pujols didnt win

after the derby, we were able to get tickets to the major league baseball all star gala (thanks to our friend schlem)...this party was the shiz-it! free food of all kinds, beer, wine, and entertainment! matt and i went to each food station and sampleled a little of everything! toasted ravioli, chicken jambolia, beef brisket, little potato patties, pulled pork, and on and on and on! then the desserts.....little cheesecakes, chocolate covered strawberries, gooie butter cake...you get the idea!!!

the entertainment was a highlight for me...NELLY performed! i LOVE nelly and his music! its takes me back to when i was a tad younger, running around with my BFF, dancing the night away at the clubs!

nelly........dancing like nobodys business!

after nelly, chuck berry took the stage! hes a hoot, dressed too funny, playing guitar, singing and shaking his hips....and hes like 80 years old!!!!

we got home and in bed at 3AM! we had a blast!

it was a great night!