Chase - a Wolfpack fan? (Dad is not pleased with this turn of events!)

If you have read previous entries you know that we have a babysitter who we adore named Whitney. She happens to be a student at NC State (we try not to hold it against her). She also happens to be dating a wide receiver for the football team (#80 Mr. Bryan - as Chase refers to him). Last year, Whitney and Bryan were gracious enough to allow Chase and I to come to a game and sit in the family and friends section. We literally sat first row behind the visiting team and Chase was mesmerized - especially when Bryan came to give him a high five before the game started. Over the course of the year, Whitney and Bryan have become members of our family. We have them over for dinner around the holidays, we celebrate accomplishments and special occasions together and we remind our kids how lucky they are to have such special people in their lives.

Fast forward one year and Chase was going to the home opener with Whitney, her mom and Bryan's family. Of course, he didn't know this. Why? Because you don't tell a child anything you don't want to hear about incessantly until it is time for them to actually attend the event. Whitney showed up Saturday morning to take Chase and it was on! I got a phone call from a very excited little boy on his way to watch the Walk of Champions and see Bryan before the game started. He sat through the entire game and even some of the post-game activities while waiting for Bryan to finish for the day. It was a 12:30 kickoff and he left the house at 9:00 AM. They sat in the blazing sun (it was mid-90s during the game) and munched on hot dogs, snacks and juice while the Wolfpack put one in the win column.

After the game, Chase was lucky enough to go to dinner with Bryan and the gang. He then came home in a trance and showered and was put to bed. He slept like a log but when I came home, I heard every detail. Here are some of the pictures that I got from Whitney throughout the day.

Walk of Champions - first time Chase will get to see Bryan

Pre-game warm ups

Game time

He has the Wolfpack sign down to a science - again, Dad and I aren't too sure about this move!

Bright sun and he wouldn't wear his hat because the only one that fits is a Carolina hat and the light blue was not approved in that stadium

Chase with a friend watching the game

Walking hand in hand with Mr. Bryan after the game on the way to dinner

This boy completely adores not only Whitney but Bryan as well. They are showering him with love and allowing him to be a part of a world that most kids only dream exists. My problem, trying to explain to him that Mommy doesn't have good seats when she goes to games!

Whitney and Bryan, I know that we have said it before but I honestly don't think that words will ever be able to express just how special you are to us. You have welcomed us into your lives and blessed us with your kindness and generosity. You are amazing role models for my kids and it makes me proud and honored to say that I know you on a such a personal level. You are both to be commended for the outstanding impact you have on not just the lives of my boys, but the lives of every child you come in contact with. Don't ever forget what a blessing you are to us and remember that you will always be thought of as family.

South Bend here we come!

So it is no secret that I am a die hard Notre Dame fan. I try to see one game in person every football season. It has been three seasons since I went to South Bend for a game. The last couple of years we have seen them at Wake Forest and against Maryland in RFK Stadium outside of D.C. When the time came to plan for this year's trip, I asked Jason if we could make the sojourn to South Bend. My brother and his wife were going to join us and it was their first game in 4 years so it could turn into a family occasion. We booked the room, made the decision to fly directly into South Bend instead of Chicago and got got our game tickets. The biggest potential obstacle - the kids. No way was I taking the boys on THIS trip. While I am excited to bring them to South Bend and expose them to the "Irish way", they aren't quite old enough to really understand and my trip would change dramatically.

With that in mind, we started with Nana (Jason's mom). We try very hard to not ask grandparents to watch the kids because we want them to enjoy being grandparents and not be 'in charge' and have to 'enforce the rules'. But this was a special circumstance - right? I then set out to find her 'support network'. You see, the boys are good, but they are exhausting - even for me who does it all the time. For someone who isn't conditioned it takes training, both physical and mental, to be ready to deal with them 24 hours a day. Enter - the patchwork babysitters. We all agreed that having an extra set of hands for the afternoon crankiness, dinner preparation and baths would benefit everyone. Then that sitter would stay the night so Nana could get a full night of sleep uninterrupted. Here it what it looked like:

We left on Thursday around lunch and Chase was in school. We had a classmates' Mom bring him home so Nana didn't have to deal with the triplets for pick-up. Then Teresa came over around 3:30 or so to start her shift. When Teresa left at 6:30 on Friday morning, Nana got Chase ready for school and the little boys ready to go to the YMCA. Chase's friend picked him up for school and Nana and the younger boys went for some time at the YMCA. Mom-mom and Pop-pop (my grandparents) arrived a little before 11:00 to help with lunch and watch the triplets while Nana went to get Chase from school (early release day). They stayed until Sarah got there a little after 5:00 to start her shift until 8:00 or so the next morning. Chase got picked up by Whitney as a surprise to attend the NC State home opener football game (that will be an entry by itself!). Teresa came over around 4:00 and Chase got home around 7:30 to join them. Teresa left the next morning around 8:00 and Mom-mom and Pop-pop came over around 11:00 for lunch and more play time. We got home around 4:30 and the boys were more than excited to see us.

They had a great time with Nana and all her helpers but they missed us just a bit.

As for Jason and I? We had a great time. Other than some flight issues on the way to South Bend, we finally arrived and met our friends for dinner Thursday night. Then went back to the hotel to hang out and visit. Friday was spent wandering around campus and seeing how much it has changed in the last 3 years as well as having lunch with my Aunt and Uncle (my Dad's sister and her husband from California). We picked out the tree that is going to be dedicated in my Dad's memory and spent the day taking in more of the sights. We ended the afternoon listening to the band trumpets in the administration building (the home of the famous golden Dome) and watching the band kick off the stairs of the Admin building on their way to practice in the stadium parking lot. We went back to the hotel to have a few drinks, play some bags and just visit. After all, there were 21 of us not including the law school friends who joined the son of a couple we were there with. Saturday tailgating started around 8:30 for the game. We headed to the stadium around 1:45 and were there in plenty of time to watch the teams warm up, enter the field and have the band play the fight song. The Irish won and a good time was had by all. We went back to the hotel to try and finish all the tailgating food we had (not successful) and visit a little more. We headed home on Sunday to try to return to life as we know it.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

The tractor trailer that moves the team equipment for road games

National Championship trophy and 7 Heisman trophies on display at the Gug

Joe with his 'drinking hand' behind the hotel where we tailgated

View from our seats during the game - thanks Uncle Rick and Aunt Pat! The students are on the middle and right side in all green shirts. Pretty awesome sight to see in person.

After an Irish win listening to the band

Mom, Matt and I - first trip all together without my Dad - still hard

So the teaser in this entry was about Chase and his football game. As you will soon see, he had almost as much fun as his parents did! Read the next entry to hear all about it...