This past 4th of July weekend was our first attempt at dragging Linnea through a multi-day ultimate frisbee tournament.  Overall, the event was a success and Linnea had a good attitude on the field.   There was one other bbay (14 months) on the team with us.  Miguel and I picked up with a group of players from Nanaimo, B.C.  We didn't know most of the team but we wanted to play in the tournament, so we accepted the invitation.  As the days drew nearer, I had thoughts of bagging out so we could leave the chaos and unknown behind us.  How was she going to sleep on the field?  Food?  How would we heat up the food and what if she cries the whole time?  Think of all the packing and unpacking and ugh - what a lot of work!

Soon it was Saturday morning and the alarm sounded.  Miguel and I went into action and had the car packed up, kid changed and in the carseat, and were heading down I-5 by 7:45am.  The tournament was 3 days long.  We played 6 hours of frisbee each day and overall, Linnea did great.  Miguel and I would trade her back and forth as we played a few points and came off the field for a few.  We passed her off to welcoming teammates and everyone helped out.  We only had two major problems.  1- Napping.  We tried and tried and could not get this girl to go to sleep.  To her credit though, Potlatch is not really a sleeping environment.  At any one time, there are people yelling, blowing horns, playing loud rock music, dancing, hooting for drinking games, running around in chicken suits, full body pink spandex, moose heads and clown outfits.  It is doubtful that anyone could sleep through the chaos.

Our first night, we paid for the lack of sleep during the day as Linnea woke up screaming at 10pm in the hotel room.  We tried all we could think of to calm her down, and we must have put that pacifier back in her mouth a hundred times before we resorted to taking her for a drive.  The car was more of a soundproof box than anything - as I was certain we were keeping the entire building awake.  Within 5 minutes of driving, Miss Linnea was sound asleep with the pacifier hanging loosly from her lips.  We drove for 40 minutes and transferred her back into the crib successfully.  She woke again in a couple hours and so I put her between us in the bed - where she slept until morning.  It was a rough one for all of us.  The next day we learned to feed her more throughout the day, and to nurse her laying down in the bed until she fell asleep.  We also learned that we love King size beds.  

2- Drinking.  Our child loves to eat and drink everything.  Well, out on the frisbee field, that includes adult beverages - and they are everywhere!  PBR, Gin & Tonics, Coors Light, Red Bull.  Whatever we're drinking out of those shiny containers sure looks good to Linnea, and she'll scream and twist and churn if we don't give it to her.  Luckily we made it through the weekend without our 9 month old getting sloshed from an unattended drink - but there were a few times when I had to pull her entire fist out of someone's mixed drink.  

Our team was placed in the D-Pool (out of pools A-F) and we won 4 and lost 4 games throughout the weekend.  We played hard and Miguel had his usual stellar catches and throws that turn heads up and down the field - so that was fun for all of us.  Linnea was a good sport and she cheered for mom and dad - especially when prompted.  Thanks "7 Potatoes" for a great weekend.  Our big adventure comes to a close and Linnea is once again happily sleeping in her own little bed.