Friday, July 20, 2012

West Coast Zeitlers & Anaheim Angels

Rancho Santa Margarita, California


Zeitler Household


We left LA and headed south through the LA traffic.  We finally got to Uncle Dave and Aunt Colleen’s house in the early afternoon and spent some time just hanging around with Uncle Dave watching the British Open and getting familiarized with the kegorator.  It seems like the kegorator is a must-have in the California Zeitler household.  Sean also has one.  Aileen and I will definitely get the one we gave Dad going when we get back.

Bill has been collecting some souvenirs from each ballpark - check out the collection!


Hope
Michaela, Mackenzie, Hannah (left to right)
When Aunt Colleen got home from work we went over to Erin’s house for a nice family barbecue.  We met her husband Brock, and their four girls, Michaela, Hannah, Mackenzie and Hope.  Apparently, Mackenzie and Morgan McKillop are born 4 days apart (1/24 vs. 1/28). 

They were super friendly kids and put on a little gymnastics show while we relaxed in the backyard.  Sean and his new bride Meghan (last Sept) also came over.  Unfortunately, Sean and Uncle Dave were both fighting illness and not feeling well.

Sean & Meghan
Saturday morning started like any other morning – except that I ran a cross country 5K race.  Seems Uncle Dave had signed us both up.  Aileen chose to sleep in a little and do her own run.  I guess once she heard Meghan – an avid runner – say that she didn’t like that cross country course because of the hills, that made the decision for her.  I ran the race which was held at the nearby school that Uncle Dave and Sean coach track at.  The race was brutal.  5k is short, but the hills got me and by 8AM it was already pretty hot.  I survived, I guess.
Aunt Colleen & Uncle Dave

Mackenzie & Michaela
After the race we went to the Angels game.  A whole bunch of us were going including Aileen, Uncle Dave, Aunt Colleen, Erin, Brock and the four kids.  Erin and Brock drove separately and showed up a little later.  The game was a big game against their rival, Texas.  The Angles had beaten them the night before and cut Texas’ lead down to 5 games. 

The Gang
The entrance to the stadium was one of the nicest so far.  They had two very large Angels helmets sitting outside the main entrance. Check out the pics.  Aileen and I sat with Uncle Dave for an inning or so and then walked around the stadium.  The stadium was rehabilitated a few years ago so even though it was constructed in 1971 it had many of the amenities of current parks.  When we got back to our seats we found Erin, Brock and their family.  Except for Aunt Colleen who was walking around somewhere trying to keep the one-year old Hope occupied.  The Rangers crushed the Angels 7-2.  Sorry, Uncle Dave!
Brock, Uncle Dave, Hope


Cheers & Happy Birthday to Gramps
After the game we went to Sean and Meghan’s house.  Meghan’s brother Nick was in town and he was helping replace all the windows in their house.  We hung for a little and got familiarized with Sean’s kegorator.  We met up with Sean, Meghan, Uncle Dave, Aunt Colleen and Nick later for some “Ballpark” pizza.  Sean was feeling much better and we got a chance to get to know him better.
Aunt Colleen & Hope

On Sunday the 22nd the four of us went to breakfast at Brock’s Bagel Shack in San Clemente.  The place was great and we had New York-style bagels for the first time in over four weeks.  The place was located in a beach community and the customers definitely felt like California beach people – dogs, surfer dudes, and of course, blond-haired girls.

It was a great few days with the west coast Zeitlers.  It was really nice to get to know everyone a little better, although we missed Pete.  It’s a shame we don’t all get to see each other more often.  Of course, we threw out the invite for them to come see us in NY or PA.  Uncle Dave and Sean are thinking about doing cross country camp again in the Poconos in next year or two, so I told Aunt Colleen she should come too!  Both Aunt Colleen and Uncle Dave were great hosts, and we’re so thankful for that special time with them.  Check out their little sport mobile – the Mini Cooper.  They both love it.


















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