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This weekend was the
first annual Natsfest at Nationals
Park, and boy did I have
a good time.  I’ve been waiting for this
day for so long, and it was great to see Nats fans all over

the park in the
middle of winter!  The event included
player autograph sessions, clubhouse tours and a special Kids Zone.  I spent most the day in the Kids Zone and there
was so much to do in that room that I didn’t know where to go first!  I “rocked” the crowd after playing some
guitar (hero that is), learned that I really need to practice my tee ball
skills, bounced in one of those huge bounce house thingies, and signed a bunch
of autographs!  After spending most of
the day there, George, Tom, Abe, Teddy and I made our ways over to the Stars
and Stripes club to meet some other fans. 
Before I knew it, the event was pretty much over and everybody headed
home.  Natsfest was so much fun and got
me even more excited for opening day!

 

The next day I headed
out into DC along with a bunch of the players as part of the Nationals caravan.  The first place we stopped was Amidon-Bowen Elementary
School in SW Washington where
the students were treated to a special assembly.  The players

handed out red curly “W” hats to
all of the students and stressed the importance of reading.  Next, the players each took turns reading to
the students a Dr. Suess book titled, Oh
The Places You’ll Go.  After
the book was finished, the principle announced to the students that they were
in for a special treat that would be arriving from behind the curtain on stage
since they were behaved so well.  That
special treat was ME!  I jumped out from
behind the curtain and onto the stage. 
The students were shocked to see me! 
I did my favorite belly dance, much to everyone’s delight, and stayed
around for pictures.  I was thrilled to
see that so many of my friends were enthusiastic about reading, and I knew they’d
all have very bright futures.

 

After we left Amidon-Bowen
Elementary school, we were off to the
Children’s National
Medical Center.  When we got there the players and I signed
autographs and entertained the children who were staying at the hospital.  I helped a bunch of children color the “Screech
Pictures” they all had and realized most of them could color in the lines
better than I could!  It felt great to
brighten up the days of the children who all needed an extra cheering up.