A kickball game with Jeff Gordon and friends :)

Haylee was asked at our last clinic appointment if she would be interested in playing a kickball game with Jeff Gordon for the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation and Kick It For Childhood Cancer Foundation during race weekend and of course, we said yes! 
We had to be at AMS this morning at 9:30am to get started and it was an absolute blast!!  Haylee played with other children that we knew from the AFLAC Cancer Center.  It was nice getting the kids together outside of the hospital for a fun event.  We got credentials to be in the infield since the game was played on a grassy area right at the entrance of pit road.  After all waivers and releases were signed, they took us to the drivers meeting room to get organized by teams, get to know teammates, and wait for Jeff Gordon to arrive.  Once he got there, he spoke to the crowd about what Kick It is and recognized the now 12 year old boy, Quinn, who created the foundation.  He is a cancer survivor himself and also has MS.  We had to wait around a bit because practice was going on on the track. 
After we got situated at the 'field', the game began!  On Haylee's red team was: Haylee, Beth (a patient), Quinn, Samantha Busch (Kyle Busch's wife, who took a liking to both Haylee and Mason), Jaqueline Butler (David Ragan's wife), Rutelege Wood (one of the co-hosts of the show Top Gear on the History Channel), Jeff Gluck (NASCAR reporter), Marty Smith (ESPN reporter), and a few others I wasn't too sure about.  Not sure of everyone on the blue team but a few NASCAR reporters.  Jeff played 10 minutes per team until the game was over.  He was limited in what he could do so he played catcher unless he was kicking.  He said his office didn't want him to play in case he got hurt, like a broken ankle!  We would've felt so bad if he did get hurt!  All was well...no injuries from anyone today!  Haylee played pitcher for her team and used the soccer skills she learned to 'coach' her teammates on how to kick the ball better (and we noticed everyone on her team took her advice!).  The times she was 'up to bat', she would launch the ball everytime!  It was noticed by other parents as well...that's my girl!!   She got into the game - going after the ball, tagging people out and she even threw the ball at Jeff Gordon to tag him out. 
While Adam, Mason, and I were standing there watching, a guy who looked very familiar to us walked up and starting talking to us asking us if we had someone in the game and where we were from.  We told him that our daughter was the pitcher of the red team and where we were from.  A bit more conversation went on then when all was quiet, I asked Adam if he was a driver because he looked familiar.  Adam asked him if he had someone in the game and he pointed out a blonde he said was his wife.  Adam asked if he was a driver and he said, "Yea, my name is David. David Ragan."  How cool!!! 
I had an open mouth, insert foot moment with Kyle Busch's wife, Samantha (in my defense, I didn't know who she was before this moment or I would've chosen my words more carefully!).  Conversation was as follows:

Samantha: Haylee, who's your favorite driver?
(Haylee looks to me for answers)
Me: We're Jimmie Johnson fans.
Samantha:  Who's your second favorite driver?
(Again, Haylee looks to me for answers)
Me: Well, anyone with Hendrick Motorsports would be second.
Samantha: Well, what about Busch?
Me: Oh no, we're not Busch fans.
Samantha: Not even a little?  Kyle Busch is my husband!
Me:  Oh my god! Serious?  I am so sorry!
Samantha: No, no!  That's ok, really.  But you like me, right?
Haylee and I: Yes, yes we like you!!

She said it happens all the time and wasn't the least bit offended by it but I felt about an inch tall for sure!!  She was so nice and liked my kids (she kept wanting Mason to hug her and he wouldn't and she was always around Haylee). 
We had an absolute BLAST!!  It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences and we did it together :)  We almost didn't go because we are going to the Sunday night race too and didn't want to make the trip twice with gas being what it is.  Thanks to Nonna for that extra 'push'!  Enjoy the pictures (there was tons more than what's on here but that would've taken lots more time.)!!

Sitting in the Drivers Meeting room waiting to get organized

Red team and Blue team

Jeff Gordon talking to everyone

Haylee and Beth

Jeff handing out signed Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation hats...Haylee opted out of her bandana and wore her hat.

clockwise from Haylee: Haylee, Jeff Gordon, Jacqueline Butler, Samantha Busch, and Beth strategizing for the Red team. 

More strategy talk :)

David Ragan watching the game!!

He was hot :( but don't let that face fool you...he had a good time eating the ice from the water cooler!

Haylee getting ready to throw out another pitch.

He made it on base with Carrie and Lindsay.

Haylee on base with Carrie and Lindsay

Pitching to Jeff...

Jeff launching the ball...look at that form!

Jeff running to 1st base.

Jeff playing catcher for the Blue team and Haylee getting ready to kick.

And there it goes!

Both teams after the game.

Rutledge Wood (in the glasses), Jeff Gordon, Haylee Kate, and Quinn (Kick It founder) next to Haylee

Mason and Jeff :)

left to right: Samantha Busch, Jacqueline Butler, Haylee Kate, and Mason