Deep in the Heart of Texas: University of Texas

One of the things of Carter's and Damon's bucket list was to see parts of the University of Texas while we were there.  I was searching one day and found where we could take a tour of the stadium so that quickly became a MUST on the list.  It was WELL worth it I must say.

While we waited for our tour, Carter loved seeing the big posters of former UTexas stars.

On the tour, Carter kept his eyes open for anything and everything, but he especially LOVED seeing all the Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley things.  He told our tour guides (who were just college students) more than once how Colt got robbed for the Heisman!

LB kept saying ALL of this would be so much better if it was Alabama!!!

She cracks me up! 

The BEST time of all was when the tour led us through the tunnel and out onto the field.

Our sweet tour guide even played the Texas fight song so Carter could run out just like the big guys!!!  He thought he had arrived!!

He thought running out of the tunnel was great until he realized they had a REAL jersey AND helmet for him to wear!!!!

More Colt in the trophy room....

If the boy had been born 4 years later - he would have been Colt instead of Carter!

Bring It On: LSU/BAMA Edition

How lucky are we?  Our principal is a HUGE Bama fan and so for the National Championship game, we got to wear jeans to school!!!! (a very big deal)  Now, I am team teaching this year with Jill - who is great, but she is an LSU fan (for those of you who don't know - I am a BAMA fan).  We have already had one go at it this year and got to have another.  She got some girls on her side and I had my crew.  We took these pics before school that morning, and I just love them!!!  We really were nice to each other!

FRIENDS - despite the shirts! 

Just BRING IT!!!!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!

I was a good winner and wore my houndstooth with pride

for the rest of the week!

The Night of the Moving Tailgate Party

Our Sunday school class from church had a great night last week.  We spent the night celebrating SEC football at its best, great food and wonderful fellowship by having a tailgating progressive dinner!  It was so much fun!!!!  We started the night at Cliff and Sherry Thompson's house (the first and last couple who got their picture taken by me!!) for appetizers.  We had buffalo chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, different chips and dips, etc.  It was great!  I was also introduced to white tea - OH MY GOODNESS!! Lipton hit the jackpot there and I will be getting some - raspberry flavored!

It was a great place to start the night! Then, we moved down the road to Anthony and Adana Buttrum's house for drinks and games.  They had iced down canned drinks and games galore for us to play.

Moving down the road, we wound up at Tony and Melissa Allen's house for the main course. They created a hot dog bar for you to create your own hot dog with every kind of topping imaginable!!!  Tony and Melissa just moved into the house so it was so nice for others to see what they have done with it!  Of course, the UT/Florida game was on the big screen at this house (and it flipped back and forth between that and the Bama game).

I left a little early and crossed the street to get to our house where everyone came for desserts/drinks. The desserts were actually across from our house at Joe and Sarah Ellis' house. I was not able to go over there as I was getting ready for them to come to our house.  Sarah had desserts to go at her house, so they got their desserts and came to our house.

Under the carport, we had Coke floats or other basic drinks for people to enjoy as they just sat around the house and relaxed watching football or just talking.

It was a GREAT night and we have already put into plan something for later in the year.  It was nice that all 5 houses were in a mile from each other! In fact, the last 3 houses, people could just walk from one to another.  We are so blessed with a wonderful church family and wonderful Christian friends.

If ANY of you have a great tailgating drink idea (non-alcholic), please send it my way!!!! I had the hardest time finding one.

Every man at some point in his life is going to lose a battle.

He is going to fight and he is going to lose.

But what makes him a man is at the midst of that battle he does not lose himself.

This game is not over, this battle is not over.

- Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights

Changes Since Last Year

We were a divided house.

While most times we could ALL cheer for Alabama, . . . 

or Texas . . .

and be happy about who won.

Last year we were not all going to be happy.

Somebody was going to walk away with a loss.

Somebody was going to not be happy.

Somebody was going to get to be champions for the year.

However, we all walked away with a greater love and appreciation for one

special football player whom we all, no matter what team we were yelling

for, wanted to see succeed. 

This year neither team did well enough to be in THE game this year.

(Although my team did well in my opinion!)

We have been so happy with the work of our guy this year - 

even though we don't always get to see him play.

We missed him wearing the Texas uniform.

Games just were not the same without him.

We know he is doing well and we still appreciate all he has done

and continues to do.

So, even though some things have changed - 

some things remain the same.

We love our teams.

We love college football.

We love our favorites who play the game of football.

We love our favorites who play the game of life.

Until next year . . . .

A Surprise . . . A First . . .

Saturday night, we were gathered around Damon's brother's dining room table talking about football.  Carter mentioned that he really wanted to go to a Titans game - one day.  Dustin (being in on the secret) told him that maybe when he was 30 or 40 he could go to a game.  Carter, in turn, told Uncle Dustin that maybe when he was 10 he could get to a game.   . . . and the conversation ended.

Sunday morning after Bible class and church, Damon was trying to get Carter to hurry.  

He looked at Carter and said, "Come on, we need to get going!"  

Carter asked him where they were going and Damon asked him, "Where do you want to go?"  

Carter said, "To the Titans Game!!"

Damon replied, "Then let's go!"

This was the reaction we got!

Taken with my iPhone and the fact he was jumping around - the reason it is blurry!

 The Welch men (minus Johnathan) hit the road and had a great time at the game.  Damon was a trouper and took a camera so I could have pictures of this first for Carter!

The Titans scored as soon as the guys got to their seats - on the 5 yard line, 6 rows from the field, on the Titans side.  Don't feel too sorry for them!!!

 One SUPER excited boy!!

Final score wound up being 31-17!

A BIG win for the Titans!

(and then the camera battery died so no more pictures were taken!)

Thanks to Dustin's friends at church for the amazing tickets!

Dear Colt McCoy,

Dear Colt,

I have been meaning to write this letter to you for sometime now. I am writing as a mother, an Alabama football fan, but, most importantly, a Christian. I have laughed telling people I am a Texas fan by marriage. I love college football so willingly watched Major Applewhite, Chris Simms (not so willingly there) and Vince Young play. However, I never formed an attachment to any of them - until four years ago. As you have gone through Texas, my now 6 year old son, has turned into a college football fan and an even bigger Colt fan. He runs around in his Texas football jersey being Colt - we have even had to call him Colt. However, usually after he reminds us he is Colt, he looks at us and tells us, "And I am going to church tomorrow after the game because that is one thing that makes God happy." He knows and realizes how important your faith is to you. Because of seeing how important it is to you - as you play your sport - he tries to make it a priority as he plays, goes to school and leads his life. You have taught him something that as a mom I have tried to talk to him about, but you have shown him how to live it. I can never thank you enough for all of that.
Our house was divided on January 7 - some of us cheering for Texas and most of us cheering for Alabama, but I can honestly say we were all cheering for you. Our hearts were broken when you were put out of the game and I struggled to explain to a 6 year old boy how he would never see one of his heroes play in a Texas Longhorn uniform again. While some of us were happy with the Alabama win, the wind was taken out of us because we knew how serious your injury was.
Thank you for always "standing on the Rock." Thank you for not just talking all the talk about being a Christian but for living as a Christian. Thank you for taking your faith seriously. Thank you for being a hero on and off the field for my little boy. You will always have a fan in me and my family.

May God's richest blessings flow down on you and yours and may He continue to bless you as you bless those around you!

We Are Back!!!

Thursday night we went to Wayne and Kim's to watch THE game. We had lots of good food to eat, but, I think only the kids ate! The rest of us were a tad nervous! We enjoyed being together and cheering on our team. The game was not what I thought it would be. I think it TIDE is back on the football scene and I am so glad. I am not a fair weather fan, who will always stand by my team, but it is a little sweeter when you are winning!

Kim and Wayne trying to enjoy part of the game
When we realize we actually had won the game!
Carter and LB giving Katy high 5's!

Carter wanting to give me one!

Watching the trophy ceremony

National Championship Rookies - this is the first one mine remember.

They were 2 and 3 when Texas won.

This is Katy's first!

Until next year . . . . . ROLL TIDE ROLL!

The Day Our Family Is Divided

Well, today is the day. This morning all four of us are very happy people. By tonight, only some (or one) of us will be happy. Yes, today is the day MY BAMA teams plays HIS TEXAS team. I was told I had to leave the house which meant I was taking the kids with me because at that point both of them were pulling for BAMA as well. However, things have changed a bit. I am still leaving the house only to go to Kim's house so we can both yell together. Damon, however, has to work until midnight tonight. (Bless his heart.) He says he is making a shirt that says "Do not tell me the score of the game," and is hoping to make it home without hearing ANYTHING about the game. Then, while it will take us 4 hours or so to watch the game, he will sit and watch it in a matter of 2 hours - maybe (depends on how good the game actually is to him!) - thanks to the amazing DVR!

I should have known this would be the year we played each other because pictures like these taken from last year did not happen. I still can't believe we are playing each other. We have been dating/married for almost 14 years and this has never happened. I have always been supportive of Texas and ever since Colt McCoy has been the quarterback I have been a relatively big fan of Texas! So it is with a heavy heart (on Colt's account) that I will be pulling against them tonight.

As for the kids, we have tried not to make our problem their problem. Laura Beth from the get go has supported the TIDE in amazing fashion, if I do say so myself. She tried to see if she had a different BAMA shirt she could wear for each day this week, but we didn't. I am sure if the Tide comes out with a win the short sleeve smocked Bama dress will be worn on Sunday to church.

Carter, oh Carter. Right now, Carter is wearing BAMA gear but has declared (as we knew he would) that he does not know who to cheer for - Texas or Bama. He likes them both and how can he cheer against Colt McCoy who goes to church on Sunday? (I feel your pain there, son!)

I told Damon last night that I was glad we were playing Texas in this game because if we win (which he thinks we will) I will be so very happy! However, if they win (which I think they will), it won't hurt as much because it is to a team I like and respect. (If it would be to some other Big 12 or Pac 10 team I might be physically sick.)

I am sure something will be posted tomorrow but until then . . . .

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

A House Divided

Well, it has happened! Our house will officially be divided on January 7, 2010. Damon's team - Texas - and my team - Alabama - will be playing each other for the "big trophy" as Carter calls it.
We have been very blessed that in our 13 years of being together our teams have NEVER played each other but this is about to change.
The kids say they are cheering for Alabama - I promise there was NO prompting on my part with this (I was in New York when the games were being played and they called me to tell me). Laura Beth will stick with her choice but I am sure Carter will change his mind multiple times before the game begins and during the game.
I have been told to find somewhere else to see the game which is probably a wise move. So, we will see how all this unfolds. Some people in the house will be happy - some will not. I am sure we will all survive this event and be better and stronger for it!!!! Until then . . . .

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

Friends, Food and Football (?)

Our friends, the Osments (Sid, Sheri and Nicole, plus Adam), invited the Scott family and our family over to Camden, TN, for a Sugar Bowl party last night. We loaded the van ALL (even Damon) decked out in our Bama gear thinking we were going to have a great night of food, friends and football. Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad, I guess. We had a wonderful time with the Osments - what hosts! We all enjoyed being together, yelling at the tv and giving Katy a hard time about John Parker (we are all glad he is gone!). The food was UNBELIEVABLE!!! We had every kind of food imaginable on every kind of Bama or football platter imaginable! We all ate and ate and ate. It was decided that we all eat when we are depressed - which leads to the football. I don't want to make excuses and I don't know what happened. That could have been the most horrible and embarrassing game I have ever watched. That is all I am going to say on that matter. In spite of the horrible game, it was a great night with friends. Thank you for the invite and all the food!

The Crimson Tide had a much better season than I ever thought they would have this year, so I must think positively and always remember:

Roll Tide Roll!

A House Divided

A house divided can it stand? In our case, yes. We have been very blessed that my team (Alabama) and Damon's team (Texas) have never played each other. Therefore, we can stand. We have a mutual understanding (that has been tested at times) that I gladly cheer for Texas and he gladly cheers for Alabama (this is where we have had some issues) in all games, especially big games. We lived high for awhile thanks to the BCS had us number one and two, but thanks to Texas our hopes of a home national championship was dashed. I was hoping to post these pictures tomorrow while both of our teams were playing for their conference championships but thanks to the Big 12's ridiculous rules, I am posting them today because tomorrow we will ALL be in our CRIMSON and white - cheering for a Bama win and an Oklahoma loss (sorry to all my new blog friends who are OU fans). Then, and only then, will we have a chance to see if our divided house can stand!

I think I see next year's Christmas cards coming from something like this. . . . . .