We're Going to the 'Ship!

What an adventure...that's all I can say!  When the Dawgs made it to the College World Series, I was ready to go.  But the schedule of games was kinda crazy so we couldn't go right away.  So we decided that if we made it to the finals that we were in!  When the Dawgs won of Friday we started making our final plans to head to Omaha.  And so it began!

 

I had already booked a hotel (wishful thinking) so we had the hard part out of the way.  Seth and Freddie were ready to come too, and with Hollis already in Omaha, it was shaping up to be me and the boys.  Even at six months pregnant and sharing a hotel room with four boys I was not going to miss this!  We broke in the new car very well by putting over 1700 miles on it in just a few days!

 

Getting up there took 14 hours and included two stops for food and gas.  We passed so many State fans on our way there.  Every time we would wave and cheer with the other car!  When we were going through Kansas City, Jeff and Freddie suggested getting some real Kansas City barbecue at a famous place.  We looked up the closest restaurant and found one right off the road we were on!  And wouldn't you know it, that restaurant was located inside a casino.  Funny how that happens, huh?  So after a quick bite and some time at the tables, we got back on the road and decided to make it all the way to Omaha late that night.

 

The next day was Monday and the day of our first game.  We were all so excited!  We got up and headed to the ballpark to stand in line for the daily ticket lottery.  Tickets were the craziest thing at the CWS.  Each morning they had a lottery to give you the chance to buy reserved seating.  If you didn't get those tickets, you could buy general admission for seats in the outfield.  That was fine with us, but the concern was that they sold as many of the GA tickets that they could and only had seating for 5,500.  So you still had no guarantee to get in!  While we were standing in line for the lottery, a huge severe storm came and sent everyone running for cover.  After it passed we got back in line to figure out we didn't get the lottery.  We got nervous when others started lining up for the GA seats and decided to get in line early that afternoon.  I felt like we stood in line all day!  But we did get a seat by game time and we were ready to cheer on our Dawgs!

 

The atmosphere was crazy.  There were so many State fans it was unreal!  It was like a "Where's Waldo" game when trying to find a UCLA fan.  They just weren't there...and we were!  We cheered, hit beach balls around and just generally had a fantastic time.  After the loss that night, we went back to the hotel exhausted from our long, long day.

 

The next day the boys took pity on my tired and pregnant self.  I think my swollen feet were the clincher.  So they let me skip out on the lottery line that morning and I met up with them at lunch.  After learning the day before that we didn't really have to get in the GA line so early, we decided to enjoy Omaha with lunch and drinks.  It was a much easier day on me!

 

Omaha was so nice to us.  I think they were thrilled to see the maroon turnout to their city.  Even though our Dawgs got swept in the finals, everyone was still so proud of them that we were all there.  To see our team compete for a National Championship was amazing.  We had another long day of driving home to end our trip.  We were exhausted, but all agreed we would do it again if we could!

 

 Starting our first day in Omaha! 

Standing in the rain for tickets...yes, we're crazy! 

 We stood just behind this spot waiting to get in

 View from our seats

 Getting to watch some batting practice...that's what happens when you get into the game two hours early!

Look at all that maroon!

 The first pitch

 Seth and I made it on ESPN!  Too bad Jeff and Freddie went to get food!

 Seth, Freddie, Me and Jeff

 The next day we tried different seats...didn't work

 We had fun anyway!

 The boys outside the stadium

 Me (and baby) and Jeff

 So sad to see this and it not be in maroon

Best thing I saw all week!!

A Murray Goodbye

Last weekend we made our last trip to Murray before Mom and Dad made the big move.  It was very bittersweet for me.  I am thrilled for Mom and Dad and their new retired life at the beach, but saying goodbye to the only home I've known for the past 25 years was tough!  But it was a perfect final weekend for me. 

 

When we got there on Friday, we went to a party that Mom and Dad's friends threw them.  It was so sweet and we all enjoyed ourselves!  After some yummy food and drink, we all said a few of our first goodbyes to the people that have made Murray our home.

 

Saturday was my birthday and I could not think of a better place to be to celebrate.  The boys got to play golf in Murray one last time, so we girls spent the day just playing in Murray.  After lunch at Dairy Queen we went to the splash pad for some water fun!  We made it home just in time to watch the State baseball game and watch us win our first game at the World Series!  We then headed out to the lake to eat a birthday dinner at Patti's- one of my favorites!

 

Sunday was rough.  Mom did the children's sermon at church and it was so special that Morgan was there to sit with her during the last time.  Kinda brought everything around full circle.  That afternoon we came home so that Mom and Dad could pack the last few things before the movers came on Monday. 

 

I did a last walk through the house that held so many memories for us all.  It was more than just a house, it was our home.  I had lived in each room at one point in my life.  Even with just one bathroom (yep! That's right!) it took such good care of us.  I can't imagine growing up anywhere else.  My favorite thing about the new home in Alabama is that I get the same calming feeling when I walk through the door.  My home was always a safe haven for me and as we are leaving it I'm realizing that it has never been the house, but the people in it.  That is another reason why the new home feels the same!  I cried as we left, but I know that there are many new memories to make at the beach!

 Party time!

 Mommy and Morgan

 Beautiful girl

 The Schwettmans, Mom and Dad, the Williams and the Canerdys

Wonderful friends and hosts for the party!

 Yummy birthday lunch

 Pretty cool splash pad

 Fun with RoRo

 Packe, Morgan and RoRo

 A family birthday pic

 Make a wish Morgan!

Morgan helped me blow out my candles- a perfect ending to a perfect birthday!

Goodbye Elm Street

HealthWorks! Garden Day

Last week at work we decided to fill our three plant beds with some fruits and veggies.  I knew Morgan would be excited to come because she has taken an interest in planting and growing things...especially flowers.  This would be great if I had any sort of green thumb- but I don't!  So Morgan was going to have to get her growing "fix" at HealthWorks! where other people could tell us what to do.  It was hot but we had a good time digging in the dirt and planting tomatoes, herbs, cantaloupe and sunflowers!  I hope Morgan will still think it is cool when we come back to watch them grow!

Some of our crazy staff and families 

 Getting ready to plant

 Morgan really was a good helper

 We also had a little ice cream party after our hard work so we could cool off!

 Yummy!

 Mary Katherine and Abby hanging out with some of our kids

 Me and Abby as protein and dairy

Morgan was worn out from the fun!

Loving our Diamond Dawgs!

Last weekend State's baseball team hosted their first Regional in 10 years!  And of course we were there.  It was a great weekend and Lauren got to join us too!  We got to go to the first three games and cheered our Dawgs on with 11,000 of our closest and personal friends.  Ha!  All games were such a great atmosphere.  There truly is nothing like a baseball game in Starkville.  We got to break in the new car with three trips to Starkville!  Yes, last weekend we went to Jackson to visit with the Leddy's and came home with a new Honda Pilot.  Color me happy!  Sissy even followed us home so she could spend a few days with Morgan while I headed to Murray to help Mom and Dad pack.  Since she was still there she kept Morgan for Friday night's game so we could have a big kid night...thanks Sissy! 

 

Not only did the Dawgs win the Regional and now head to Virginia for the Super Regional, but we got to spend some great time with friends.  Lauren spent the weekend with us and I think Morgan fell in love with her.  She still talks about Ms. Lauren and her pretty hair!  Seth came for the weekend too and sat with us during the games.  And then on Sunday we had lunch with Michelle and Garett before the game.  We even went back to their house to see Sam.  Morgan LOVES their dog Sam and we had to go love on him for sure!  We couldn't have asked for anything better!

 We had to get there really early to get a seat!

 Mommy and Morgan

 Lauren and Morgan

 Family pic at Sunday's white out.  Thanks for participating Morgan.

 Morgan and her Daddy

Go Bulldogs!

A Zoo Day!

Jeff had a day off of work and we took advantage and made a trip to the Memphis Zoo.  We could not have picked a better or more beautiful day to spend outside...it was perfect!  We had such a great day.  Morgan loves the zoo and it's fun to see the animals through her eyes.  This trip we got to feed the giraffes and she was all about it- until she got up there.  Then she made Jeff do it!  But I think her favorite was the dark cave.  The first time we went inside she was nervous.  But she wanted to go back!  Inside the dark cave lives the bats and other night animals.  But she thought it was great to see the porcupine!  One of her favorite books right now is, "How Do You Hug a Porcupine?"  If you ask her she will tell you, "Very carefully!"  Silly girl.  It was a great day and we all three enjoyed it!

 Loving the giraffes

 "Hey silly bear!"

 Checking them out

 Family pics

Silly face on the hippo