Liberty Bowl: Game Day

Game Day at the Liberty Bowl finally arrived, and boy were we ready! 

It had been such a long and fun filled week, that we were ready to get a "W"!

Here's our official team photo:

 And, our police escorts. These guys were amazing to get the players and us wherever we needed to go!

 The girls ended up staying at the hotel with my mom. It was just too cold for them to be at the game, and MC was already getting the sniffles. I'm thankful that my mom gave up her ticket to stay with them. 

So, my stepdad and I went to the game and enjoyed a pre-game BBQ meal, and then looked forward to freezing our hiney's off!

 Here I am at the game. My parents ended up bring some extra hot hands as well as one of my stepdad's waterproof hunting coats. I'm not normally a camp girl, but I was so thankful to have this coat! Between the coat, blanket, extra layers, and poncho, I was pretty warm.

 DJ's dad and stepmom also came up for the game, as did his mom, sister, and brother-in-law. We love having family join us and cheer for TU!

 I was pretty nervous through the first quarter of the game, but our boys started turning it around the middle of the second quarter- and boy did they turn it around, because we ended up stomping over ISU. I loved seeing their fans begin to get quiet and then start to leave. 

 Our boys celebrating after the win.

 And, the trophy presentation.

After being to five bowl games in our football career, we finally pulled out a win! It was amazing watching our players put their heart and soul into the season, and to see all of the hard work by the coaches and staff. 

We have been so blessed to work with such an amazing coaching staff and to be here at Tulsa.

Liberty Bowl: Parade and Gala

I don't have any pictures from Saturday of the bowl trip, but it was spent at Pottery Barn outlet, Williams Sonoma, and then later that afternoon, shopping at the mall with the coaches wives. Nana came up on Saturday to spend time with the girls!

The team went to church on Sunday, but we decided to stay at the hotel, mostly because we needed to rest, and because we didn't have church clothes. We ended up going to lunch as a family, and then we met Pops and Grandma Dee at the hotel.

DJ had a busy afternoon of walk throughs, and then meetings, and we were kept busy with the bowl parade on Beale Street.

It was freezing cold, but the girls were bundled in their jackets! When we arrived ISU fans were everywhere, and that is not an understatement. It was ridiculous! We finally found a spot to watch the parade, and then we asked if the ISU fans could part a little bit, so G could at least go up front and watch. Thankfully, they not only allowed G to get up front, but they allowed me to push the stroller forward a bit, and let me go up front with G. 

At this point in our trip, MC was getting a cold, and not feeling well, but we kept her bundled as much as we could. 

 Here's TU's band and cheerleaders. 

 Nana also met us back in Memphis to watch the parade. 

 MC enjoyed playing with pom poms and even enjoyed her first sucker. 

 Both girls loved the necklaces that were thrown at the parade. 

We headed back to the hotel after the parade, and I got ready for the President's Gala at the Peabody hotel. The gala is a huge fundraising event for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. All of the wives were invited to attend. 

 We had a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, and a performance by The Temptations.

Pops and Grandma Dee stayed at the hotel and watched the girls while DJ had meetings to get ready for game day!

Liberty Bowl: Incredible Pizza & Graceland

Friday was full of events for the families! We were offered the choice to go to the Memphis Zoo, which I've heard is spectacular, and sadly, we all declined because of how cold the weather was! It gave the girls and I a chance to sleep in on Friday morning, and we headed to Incredible Pizza for lunch.

 I only had these two pictures taken while we were there.... I didn't imagine how big Incredible Pizza would be and all of the activities there were to do! We were given a private room and all the pizza and food we could eat, and generously given a 90 minute card of free play.

I remember going to game places as a kid, putting in coins, and anxiously awaiting for the tickets to spew out of the machine. But, with the card, all we did was swipe and after the game was finished, the card would memorize the amount of tickets you had won!

There was also a little kids area, which was a bit more appropriate for G and MC. They both loved the merry-go-round, and I let G ride in this little car first and MC was dying to have a turn. She loved it! In fact, she did not want to get off and cried when the ride came to an end!

We had a lot of fun on our lunch trip, and afterwards, we headed back to the hotel to pick up players and then we were off to Graceland!

I have been to Memphis several times, but never to Graceland, and even though I knew the girls needed naps, I selfishly decided to postpone them so we could visit the King's castle. I was trying to explain to G who Elvis was, and told him he was the king of rock-and-roll. She became very fascinated that we were going to a king's house and asked if the Queen would be there and if there was a princess.

The girls had fun riding together on the bus.

I wore MC in the sling, and G walked and listened to the audio-play headphones that gave you history of the house and of Elvis. I decided to forego the headphones, knowing MC would just pull them off. You also weren't allowed to take flash photographs, so my pictures turned out horribly. I think this is the best I got!

At Christmas, they hang red drapes in his house, although the rest of the year, the drapes are blue.

We toured the living room.

 And then, his parents bedroom on the first floor, the dining room, kitchen, downstairs bar, and then the 'jungle room'. Finally, we went outside and saw Lisa Marie's swingset, and then went into an office, and then on to a trophy room, where many of his gold records are displayed, as well as costumes, clothes from movies, and Elvis' and his Priscilla's wedding clothes.

We saw his grave, but it was raining by then, and I was just cold and knew the girls were miserable, and I could not wait to get back across the street!

When we finally did, we went to tour the rock-and-roll museum, as well as the car museum.

 Finally, we went to see his airplanes.

It was such a rainy afternoon, but we really did enjoy ourselves. The girls both fell asleep on the bus ride back to the hotel and afterwards DJ and I took them to Corky's for dinner while the team went to a rodeo. 

Liberty Bowl: Welcome Event

This years welcome dinner for the Liberty bowl was at Autozone park. I remember going there to watch baseball games when I was in college, so it was fun to go back!

DJ did a great job getting the girls dressed and ready, since I was heading back from the St. Jude visit.

I'm always a little nervous traveling with the girls on a chartered bus. It confuses me, because I want the girls in their car seats and I want them to be safe. I felt more comfortable last year with G, because she was getting bigger, and I just wore MC in the bjorn, but I was really nervous this year with MC. Thankfully, our buses had seatbelts, and I made both girls wear them. I know I probably could have dragged their car seats on the bus, but they're huge and it's just so much to carry while already being overwhelmed. Anyway, here's MC sitting by DJ on the bus.

 When we arrived, they sent the players to the 2nd floor and families to the 3rd floor. It was admitedly nice being able to have just families and our friends to interact with. However, they completly underestimated the amount of people between TU and Iowa State, and there ended up being no where to sit! Thankfully, TU arrived first, and we did have a table, but many people found suites or sat on the floor. Can you imagine, trying to feed G and MC on the floor!

When we arrived, we found our seats, got our drinks, and waited on the others to arrive, and for the food to finish being sat out. There was even a roasted pig. I was kind of shocked and already determined that I would not be eating it, but G however, was thrilled there was a pig, and told everyone she would be eating the pig meat. And, she did!

 Dinner was really good, we had BBQ sandwiches, some of the best potato salad i've ever had, pasta, and the pig.

After we ate, there was entertainment for the kids in the players locker room downstairs. I was so glad that they had thought of our kids and ways to keep them busy and entertained!

Here's G showing off her ladybug ballon animal bracelet.

 Then, she got her face painted.

 He did a great job!

 After letting the girls play, we decided to walk around for a bit and show the girls the park.

Then, we headed across the street to the Peabody hotel. DJ had never seen it, and I hadn't been since my senior year in college. (My sorority formal was there.)

We then went back to the event for dessert and to check out the trophies.

 

The players had a gaming competition, followed by a singing competition, and we were able to listen to the sounds of both teams singing.

 It was a fun evening, but we were glad to head back to the hotel when it was over!

Liberty Bowl: St. Jude Visit

Our first few days at the Liberty bowl were pretty uneventful. DJ, the girls, and I arrived on Christmas night, and ordered room service for dinner, since we weren't familiar with the area, and it being Christmas, figured most of the restraunts would be closed anyway.

The following day, DJ had to set up meeting rooms, and head over to the practice facilities, so the girls and I unpacked for our week long stay at the hotel. We all went out for lunch, and then the girls and I went shopping at Target and Carter's. I needed to pick up snacks, and it had turned off super cold, so I needed to grab one more warm outfit for the girls. The girls fell asleep in the car, and I figured I would just drive and get familiar with the area while they took their naps. The team and staff finally made it to Memphis later that evening and we joined the wives in the hotel restraunt for dinner.

On Thursday, the team had a scheduled trip to St. Jude Hospital. Not all of the players get to partake, and not all of the staff gets to go, but somehow DJ was chosen to go this year. I got a babysitter for the girls and went in DJ's place (He wasn't finished editing practice film.)

In preparation for this trip, I was pretty emotional. I just kept thinking of my own children and how blessed we are that they are healthy! I couldn't imagine seeing these sick patients (little kids!) laying in their hospital beds with their little bald heads. It just broke my heart thinking about it, but it was also something that I really wanted to do. I just kept praying that I'd have the right words to say to a family if I had the chance to talk to them. But, if I didn't, I just asked that I would have the right prayers to pray.

One of our coaches (pictured below) has a daughter that at age 4 was a patients at St. Jude Hospital. He spoke to the players before we loaded the bus, and told the players, these are just kids. They have cancer, they are not defined by their cancer. He told them to smile, talk to them, let them know they loved their shoes! That they'd write their names on their own shoes on game day, and that they'd be playing for these kids! It was such a testimony to hear his own story about their time at St. Jude's and how his daughter is now almost a college grad and is living cancer free!

 Upon arriving at the hosptial, the players took pictures, and we went inside. The lobby was so cheerful! The waiting room had video games and fun activities for the kids! It was such a happy place!

While waiting for our guides in the lobby, our coach saw a patient in a wheelchair with ballons. He didn't hesitate a moment and went to ask him what the ballons were for. I think the spoke for at least 5 minutes if not longer.

We were given a tour of the hospital. The statue outside, listed the date found as 1960, when in fact, the hosptial was founded in 1962. But, they just didn't get around to changing it. One of the first donations to St. Jude was a penny, which has been placed in to the statue. The cost to operate the hospital is over a million dollars a DAY! Can you believe that?! Patients are not asked to pay, and patients aren't turned away.

We aslo saw the building that Chili's restraunt is sponsoring. Do you ever eat there? They have a huge fundraising drive where you can color a chili pepper for $1.00 and it will be hung in the restraunt. Then, they have one day a year where 100% of their profits go straight to St. Jude! How amazing it was to see the building those donations were going to!

In one area of the hosptial, is a bust of St. Jude's founder. It is said, to rub his nose for good luck.

We actually did not get to go beyond the first floor of the hospital and into the patients rooms. It's too big of a risk to have people walking through the hospital and taking the chance of infecting these kids whose immune systems are already weak. I think for me, as much as I would have loved to see more of the hospital, and patients, it was an answered prayer. I'm not sure I could have held my emotions together.

The players were set up at a table, and patients who were able, were invited to come downstairs and receive the goodies brought by Tulsa, and to get players autographs.

We were not allowed to photograph any of the patients. For one, it's a hospital, not a zoo, and two, it would be a major HIPPA violation. It was so amazing to watch our players interact with these kids. They ranged in ages from 3 to teenage years. Some of the kids just looked so tired and worn out, and others were so upbeat. There was one child who went through the line and videoed all of our players on his hand held gaming system.

 Above each of our players were these alphabet plaques with these poems. They just touched me so much.

 As we were finished with our tour, and walking back to load the bus, I saw this sign.... i'm going to copy it somehow for my office! I was thrilled to learn, that the hospital offers ST, OT, and PT, as well as a schooling for their patients. How amazing would it be to work there?!

I think God totally answered my prayers about overwhelming emotions. It was overwhelming, but I held back any tears that may have flown while we were there. Seeing the smiles on these kids faces- it just made it worth it. It was hard to be sad when they were just so happy!

I pray that these kids will be cured of Cancer. That these doctors will have the healing hands, and that God will give the doctors and patients strength. 

Christmas Vacation iPhoto Dump

I haven't finished uploading and editing our bowl trip pictures, and I haven't had the chance to blog since Sunday evening, so this is the next best thing- an iPhone photo dump of random picutres from our trip.

This is the day we left. I should've known by the amount of stuff in DJ's truck that there was no way we were making it back to Tulsa in one trip. This picture also makes me question having a third child- I guess we can just strap that one to the roof.

I love when MC falls asleep in the car. She's just so sweet, and for this trip, we turned her forward facing. She had been forward facing in DJ's truck for about two months, but not in my car, and not in this carseat. I really wanted to wait until she was two to turn her, but it just made for an easier trip for all of us. Now that we are home, she is still forward facing in my car. (Before we left she would pitch a fit about not wanting to get in her carseat.)

This picture was taken on the Friday of our bowl trip. We had an outing to Incredible Pizza and to Graceland. I overheard one of the hotel staff members say that my girls looked like hippies from Woodstock and it made me chuckle.

G loved riding the bus with her bestie football friend. They were such big girl and talked the entire way back to the hotel.

Friday evening the team and staff went to a rodeo. DJ and I decided that after being out all day, we needed to grab a bite to eat and get the girls in bed. We went to original Corky's BBQ in Memphis and ordered entirely too much food. But, it was good!

On Saturday, we went to the Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma outlets. Yes, outlets. I was in PB heaven!

Later that afternoon, the girls stayed in the hotel with their nana, and I went shopping with the wifes. I was 12 weeks pregnant and snapped a photo. Pardon the mess of clothes behind me (it's hard living in a hotel room for a week!) But, i'm starting to get a bump here, so I thought I should capture it.

After our trip we went back to my mom's for a few days. I got a glimpse into our future of having three kids. I had to watch my niece, A, while her mama worked and while mine took my grandma to doctor appointments. I'd say, it went rather well, although both of the little ones stayed in their pj's all day.

My mom was in high-heaven to have all three of her grandgirls with her!

And, I must give a shout out to my SIL, for bringing me this candy on Friday night! My mom had a cinnamon candle burning, and it smelled like hot tamales would taste and I got an instant craving. I ate half the box that night.

And, this is totally random, but I just ran (figuratively speaking) to the candy machine in the teacher's lounge, and it took my money and only halfway rolled out the peanut butter m&m's, so that just tells me that I should go home and call it a day.

Happy Hump Day!