Winter Wonderland

Okay, I'm joking about the wonderland part. The snow was cool the whole week before Christmas, but I'm just about over it now because I don't know the last time I saw the grass. Or the sun for that matter. Jordis loves it though. You will notice no pictures of Xander in this post because he is not a fan of snow. He pretends to be, but after a few minutes he's pretty much f-i-n-i-s-h-e-d. He's like his mommy, doesn't like to be wet or cold. After our 5 or so inches of snow last week Jason took the kids out to build a snowman. It was dry snow and not good for packing, so it didn't roll very well. Xander helped briefly, but not before I was able to get outside and take pictures.

The kids had spent all morning fighting over what the snowman was going to wear. My mom had given them a snowman kit a few years ago so we had a perfect carrot nose. The snowman turned out really cute except that they wanted him to wear a hat. But apparently it just wasn't staying on.

After the snowman Jordis decided to try a snow angel.

The next morning we got up and the snowman looked a little different.

Jason had found some sticks at work and gave him some arms when he got home.

And since this post is featuring Jordis, didn't she look cute on bowl day? Unfortunately Ohio State and LSU both played on the same day so we had to get creative with her clothing. She chose LSU dress with OSU socks and hair accessories. I'm thinking she would make a good Dorothy for Halloween.

Sadly, this is not the picture I intended to use. In the one I took Jordis had thrown up her hands in a big "block O" and was shouting "Go Bucks!" However, I traded in my cell phone and the picture didn't transfer during the download, so I don't have it anymore. That's okay though, Ohio State won and LSU, I think, got beat by a Big Ten team, which I've been told will never happen. Hmmmmm.....

I love fall!

I've been thinking for awhile that life is too short to live in the same place your whole life, but I can say that I absolutely love fall in Ohio. Not only do Jason and I both have birthdays, but it's definitely the prettiest time of year. These pictures don't even do it justice.

We can start getting out cozy sweatshirts

There are great nights to sit out on our deck with the firepit....and no mosquitoes

We have random days of Indian Summer

Love to get ready for Halloween

Enjoy our apple cider.....hot or cold

And, even though they're having a bad year, Ohio State football.

It doesn't get much better than this.

OSU vs. Navy

Thanks to my cousin I had the opportunity to go to the Ohio State vs. Navy football game Saturday and watch my dad march in Script Ohio. He was in the OSU marching band for 7 years and I'm so proud of him for being part of such a neat tradition. There are more alumni band members than there are spots available for Script Ohio, so getting to march for it is based on a lottery. I was really lucky that my dad got a spot and I was there to see it.

We met early so we could get to campus in time for the skull session. This is when the marching band performs their pre-game and halftime music before the game and people can come and watch. However, on Alumni Day, the current AND alumni bands play, and it's the best show of the year. Seats are hard to come by so we got there 90 minutes early and found two seats in the second row.

Here's my dad standing up in the middle when they asked people who were in certain age ranges to rise and be recognized.

John Glenn and his wife were honored as I-dotters for one of the quadruple Script Ohio's to be performed at half-time.

A brief visit with my dad between the skull session and pre-game.

We were right below the Navy section and frequently entertained by their uniformed fans.

Part of the half-time show

I taped the four Script Ohio's so I don't have photos, but I did take one at the end. Coach Tressel started a new tradition of the football team coming to sing the alma mater to the band after the game.

Cousins! We had so much fun. This is the third game she's taken me to and we've had perfect weather every time. We also enjoy getting gyros afterward. It occurred to me that the past two times she's taken me to a game we've ended up going to the National Championship. We'll see if third time's a charm.

Thanks, Carol, for sharing your ticket with me, I had such a great time! And thanks also to my mom for babysitting until Jason got up. The kids are still talking about their fun craft.

How Could I Forget?

In my posting about last week I didn't mention we watched a LOT of baseball. LSU baseball, that is. They won the College World Series!

Apparently it doesn't matter which sport you watch, but LSU has a knack for taking things to the last minute. I get enough of this from Ohio State during football season, but I guess LSU likes to keep up the excitement all year long. Poor Jason had to keep leaving for work part way through the games, so I would send him text messages with important updates. Anyway, since Ohio State was not involved I happily cheered for the Tigers, became familiar with the roster, and I think I may have even shed a tear when they won the series.

Or when Mikie Mahtook got that great RBI double in the 6th inning of game 3.

Or when Coach Mainieri hugged his dad after the final game.

Maybe.

I was all alone and there are no witnesses, so you can believe me or not. But here are a few of my favorite moments from the series.

Geaux Tigers!

Rounding out the trip

I've been dragging out this vacation for far too long. Following our stint in New Orleans we went back to Thibodaux. We had to stop here first in Metairie though. The last time I was here was the day after Ohio State lost to LSU in the national championship football game and I couldn't even stand to be in there. But it was bearable this time, even with the cashier who was complaining that her brother married some woman from Ohio and has starting liking Ohio State now that he lives "up there." After I told her that's where I was from she redeemed herself a little by saying how pretty it was here and that she loved shopping at Easton. Anyway, we are now the proud owners of these cups. I even drink out of them occasionally.

I don't remember (I know, odd for me since I remember EVERYTHING) where or what we had for lunch on this day. But I do recall that we checked in to our favorite hotel and the kids and I all took a nap. I have no idea if Jason did or not, I don't recall asking, but I think he was watching TV.

(Yes, Jordis has her finger up her nose)

After our siesta we headed over to Uncle Keith and Aunt Sheila's. A group of family had gathered and we sat outside enjoying the nice day while the kids played.

For dinner we met up with Jason's childhood friend, Jerad, his wife and little boy, and his parents. It was the only time we were able to get together our whole trip, so we were excited to see them. Jerad's wife is pregnant and wanted fried catfish, so we went to her favorite place, a local hole in the wall called Boudreaux's. Jason's aunt had told me the fried chicken was really good, so that's what I got. And she was right. The hush puppies were even better. It was a fried food bonanza. Everyone was trying to broaden my horizons so I also tried fried okara, fried catfish and fried oysters. Jason shared his fried crawfish with me and I had some onion rings, too. Jerad and Christy bought us dinner which was so unexpected and generous. We bribed the kids to take a picture together after we ate.

We went back to the hotel and called it a night. We had to get up for some shopping the next day.

There's a traitor in my midst!

I thought Jordis was with me. She used to say "Go Bucks!" and get excited about wearing matching shirts. I was counting on her to carry on the Ohio State tradition since Jason already brainwashed Xander into favoring the SEC, which is a no-no here in Buckeye Nation.

But this is what I got on Saturday...


And then yesterday she wanted to wear this.....

....and she enjoyed it. Even wore purple barettes and picked out purple and white socks.

OSU lost one game and she's already jumping ship. Little does she know that LSU pulled off that win against Auburn at the last minute Saturday night. She's such a daddy's girl.