Family in Feast and Feria

ETA: I had a bad link at the beginning which I've fixed. Now it makes a little more sense.

I've mentioned before our Fall Traditions with Football. This year Penn State Football had their opening game on the first of September, Labor Day Weekend.

Because of the location of the placenta, we had to get doctor's approval for traveling and attending the games. After securing a temporary handicapped tag and words of caution, my OB gave me clearance, thinking that before 24 weeks I'm at less risk.

So Labor Day weekend we packed up to go to Nana's. Saturday Dh, Ds, my MIL, and I loaded up the car and headed for Happy Valley for the game against Florida International. We did things a bit differently than from the previous years, parking in the handicapped lot, and I took the shuttle inside the stadium to my seat. But we all had a glorious time. Ds was just beside himself with excitement -- the band, the Nittany Lion, the football players, the cheers, the crowd, the food -- it was all wonderful!

This past weekend was the big Notre Dame game. I've always been a Notre Dame sympathizer, and have enjoyed going to a few ND games in my single days. When I first met dh in 1999, I looked at the 8 year projected schedule. ND vs. PSU was planned for 2006 and 2007, first away, then this year at home. I made the date with dh right then -- I'm going to go to that game, God willing! And with each football season the Big Game came closer.

Until at last September 8, 2007 arrived! Dh and I packed up the tailgate food and left ds to spend the day with his Nana. We invited a couple, friends from Pittsburgh, to join us. The grill worked well, the food was all delicious, and the conversation was wonderful. Our location in the parking lot was perfect -- all the other tailgaters around us were quiet and low key, so it was a very relaxing time. I used the handicap shuttle and met some wonderful people. Central Pennsylvanians are some of the nicest people.

The rain held off, and besides being really hot and sticky, everything was just wonderful. I had no complications, baby and I made it. The baby definitely could hear the crowd and music and was kicking all night long. Penn State fans were all wearing white, so the stadium was a "White House". The crowd was electric, the game was great, and Penn State beat ND, 31 to 10.

Dh and I spent a wonderful 12 hour date together. The day was even better than I expected, after my 8 years of hoping and planning! And if this will be my last game of the football season, because of pregnancy travel restrictions, it definitely ended in a Grand Way.

And although I like ND, for this game I cheered for the Blue and White. After all, it's a family love and tradition.