Your First Tennessee Football Game

Dear Abby,
The time has arrived.  Mommy and Daddy could not be more excited.  You are attending your first Tennessee football game.  GO VOLS!!!
And, of course, you had to attend it with style!  Orange fingernails and toenails, that is!

  

 Yep, you got a special pedi/mani, a little Mommy/Daughter bonding time.  Katie Bug went to Mimi's to visit while we prepped for an epic weekend!

We left early Saturday morning and headed straight to our tail gate where we met Chloe and Cole, who were attending their first game, too!  We (the 'dults') sort of planned it this way.  We had a nice little tailgate set up with 5 or 6 couples all bringing their kiddos for the first time, or at least one of their first time.  It was a perfect game, too, because it was an afternoon game (6:00) and the opener, so everyone was excited, and against Austin Peay, so, well, we knew we'd win, by a lot (read we knew Daddy wouldn't be angry after the game!).  I have to say, it really couldn't have gotten much better.  We arrived around 11 and everyone soon gathered.  We had a great space and lots of room for you kiddos to explore/play/get filthy!! 

 You and Daddy and I took a little tour around campus, just enough to make you tired, and made a pit stop at the infamous Torch Bearer.

 We also dropped in the bookstore where I determined you are not meant for cheerleading uniforms.  Now that Emily is a cheerleader, you wanted one to wear.  I tried 2 different sizes on you and both showed your belly.  Unacceptable in Mom's book!  Thankfully you didn't mind too much and were ready to get back to see Chloe and chase a grasshopper around!

 You three girls were looking good in your power T's!!

 A bit later in the day, Daddy decided he needed to visit his old fraternity house (he works with a guy who's son is now there, so we had to say our hello's - but secretly I think he just likes going by, for memory sake).  So we decided for some reason to drag you kiddos with us!

 And, then let you dance on the steps of the ATO house!  Yep, that's you dancing at a frat house at the strong age of 4!  It was all in good nature though.  Everybody loved y'all!

On our way back from the frat house, we got to catch a glimpse of the football team getting off the bus. Mr. Andrew (one of Daddy's oldest friends) was tailgating with us and does not have children and did a great job of playing the fun uncle role and hoisting you up on his shoulders!!  

Soon after that, we met up with Miss Erin and her 'three girls'.  You struggle with remembering their names, so we just go with "the three girls" and it works fine!  We got to watch the Vol Walk with them and everyone was getting super excited about the game!

 And before we knew it, we were off to the football game!  Go Vols!!!

 We didn't have seats beside Cole and Chloe, but we promised them we'd come visit after the first quarter if all was going well.  

 For the time being though, we enjoyed watching the game together!

 While you didn't exactly get the full gist of the game, you knew that we wanted the ball in the end part of the field, and, we did it - a lot!!!  So that meant a lot of Rocky Top!  You would sing and do your cheer, but at the end of every song, you'd ask "Can we go see Chloe now?".  Finally the first quarter ended and I agreed to switch seats with Mr. Matt so you could sit with Chloe.  I'd say you were pretty excited about that...

 You three of you enjoyed the 2nd quarter together and seemed to entertain the folks around us, too! 

 After the halftime show (yes, I made you sit all the way through the alma mater!), we headed back to the tailgate and gathered our stuff.  You were so proud to say "the orange team won and the red team lost" and we were happy to hear it!!  

We gathered up the remaining bit of the tailgate and all rode back together to the hotel.  You made us all laugh because Miss Auburn and Mr. Matt were in the way back seat together and you kept saying "You two are in love!!!!"  I think you need to stop watching television!!  

We made it back to the hotel and decided we needed to hang out with everyone just a little bit longer (read - the daddies wanted to watch a little more football!) so everyone gathered in our hotel room and chillaxed.  Now, I have to say, it was quite the intimate circumstance considering we had a standard room with 2 queen beds, but 4 adults and 3 kids!  But it was fun, except the cable was out due to the weather.  We eventually made our way up to Chloe's room where they had the much fancier room including a living room and separate bedroom, so we stuck you kiddos in the bed with a movie on.  Later rather than sooner, we made our way back to our room slept, slept, slept!  I had to wake you up the next morning and it was so dark in our room you said "Why are we leaving so early?"!  It was 9:00 and we were about to miss breakfast!  

To make the weekend even more spectacular, Aunt Jill and ML asked us to join them on the boat right down the street.  We figured, why not!  Can't hurt, right?!  You enjoyed the ride and eventually enjoyed a very long nap!! 

 ML surprised us by taking us all the way to the stadium.  We had never seen it from the water but have every intention of experiencing the Vol Navy very soon!!

 We had a great day on the lake with Aunt Jill and ML!!

 We made our way back home eventually (Sunday night) and guess who was waiting there for us?  Papa Rob.  He had so much fun a couple weeks ago that he decided to bring Gramma up to visit this time!  They knew not to expect much out of us Sunday night (and they didn't get much!!) but Monday was Labor Day and the last day for the Y pool to be open, so we took Papa Rob there.  You somehow got him to climb to the top of the slides, too!  I thought that was pretty funny...

 

After the pool, we ate a quick lunch and that's about the time the tiredness kicked into to gear.  A complete meltdown while walking around downtown Franklin was the sure sign that you needed to get home quickly and get a nap!  We said our goodbyes to Papa Rob and got a good afternoon rest and early bedtime!
What an incredible weekend we got to experience!  Daddy and Mommy both went to Tennessee and we both have a special place for UT football in our hearts, so it meant a lot to be able to take you and share that with you.  We can't wait to take you back!  Go Big Orange!!!!
Love you!