Daddy & Olivia Day

Well, the time finally came. I had to "train my oldest in the way she should go". This past Saturday I took Olivia to her first Alabama game. She has tailgated with us several times and loves the environment of the BAMA Nation but this was her first exposure to the game environment.

It all started early Saturday morning as just me and Olivia went to the Waffle House for breakfast. She wanted to know more about the football game (I swear it was her idea). So I took out a pen and some paper and explained to her what a QB, Running Backs, Tight Ends, and Offensive Lines were all about. I explained the Coaching Staff and where the Cheerleaders would be and how first downs worked. Breakfast was great and how she and I combined ran up a $18 tab at WH I still don't understand.

When we got to Tuscaloosa later in the day we went shopping. We bought her "anything she wanted" and she picked a pink Alabama fleece and a pink Alabama visor. We bought our pom poms and even picked up some things for Ella. Then we made our way to the Quad to meet B and Jason. Olivia climbed the climbing wall, ran and played on the blow-ups and just had some kid fun... then came the serious business. What I had waited on was about to happen.

As we entered the stadium her little eyes were huge! There was so much to take in. She watched the band, we saw Grammie and Paw Paw, we bought snacks and made our way to our seats. As the game progressed she was all in to it. Every time Alabama would get a first down she would turn to me and yell, "First Down Alabama". When we scored, and it was often, she would give me a high-five and yell "TOUCHDOWN". She enjoyed the game but I learned a very valuable lesson... new things are to be experienced with family. I couldn't have had a better experience than with my baby girl... pink Alabama stuff and all.

The Great Escape...

Thank the Lord for long weekends. Saturday morning Karie and I woke the girls up and suprised them with a get-a-way vacation. We had their bags packed when they got up and didn't tell them where we were going. They were so excited! We ended up at Ruby Falls and Rock city and then a weekend in Chattanooga. Who knew Chattanooga had so much to offer? We had a blast and it was good for the Andrews' family to have a weekend escape.

As you can see, we also went on a cruise down the TN river on the Southern Belle (Karie and I had a flashback to Chi Cruise days) and we also took the girls on their first carriage ride... (they played like Aunt B at her wedding) and they even got to drive the carriage. We swam in the pool and just had a great weekend together. We also found out that Olivia can NOT walk down the street without jumping, scratching, or pulling on something. Ella is the accident prone baby and is a threat to spill her drink, have ice cream all over everything, or spill whatever shouldn't be on anything she is wearing. They are amazing and we had a blast.

Roll Tide Roll

Well, if you know me at all then you know this blog had to appear. Wow... what a game this weekend. Alabama simply stated... "unloaded on Clemson". Preseason rankings don't always stand up when it is first and ten. I lit the cell phone up as I watched my beloved Crimson Tide whoop up on Bowden's boys from SC. I had so much fun watching that game and it could have only been better if I had been with my dad and my brother. But unfortunately we were all spread out. I was in TN, my dad in AL and my brother in CA but it didn't matter... in our own place in our own way we whistled a little Rammer Jammer.

Who knows what this year will hold for the Tide? But I can't imagine a better way to start it!