SAINTS v. TITANS - 09.02.10

This was Gusley's 2nd NFL game and 1st New Orleans Saints game! We had a great time! We ate popcorn, french fries, chicken strips, cotton candy and I think I drank a gallon of Sprite! It was HOT! The plan was for Jake and his pal John to go to the game and mom and dad bought tickets to go as well. At the last minute a friend of Jake's back in LA called to see if we needed tickets. She gave him 6 club level tickets and there were 6 of us that ended up going to the game...SCORE! We thought Gus was going to need a ticket, but I guess he was just too cute that they did not question his age :-)! He lasted the entire game! I must say it is different when you are at the game and your team is the away team, but it was fun to get a rise out of the Titans fans! Though we lost it was still a good game and a great experience!

Gus and Pops waiting to meet Jake and John outside the gate.

Breesus! Breesus! He's our man!!

Cheese Mommy!~

I heart Pops for this cotton candy!

Lovely!

Shovelling it in!

Who Dat!

Moving on to the popcorn.......

I think he is going for a record of how much he can fit in his mouth!

back to the cotton candy and I guess I was in his way :-)

Gus in seat #2...he was so proud of his #2 in his seat!

Special Father/Son night!

Trying to stay awake by eating!

What a fun night! Anything Gus sees with a Fleur de lis on it he tells us "Saints" or "Go Saints"! It really is in the blood!!

Gus' first NFL game

Today the Titans had their first home pre-season game. They played the Arizona Cardinals. My boss has season tickets and Jake asked if they were being used and they weren't so he took Gus to his first NFL game. I met Jake in the city and we swapped. I packed Gus a little lunchbox with some snacks and a drink and a couple diapers and wipes. He insisted on carrying his lunchbox, which was adorable. He put it down at Jake's office, but then as soon as Jake told him they were leaving he immediately grabbed it and pushed it more than halfway up his arm and gave a big "Nah"!!

They headed to the field and I headed to Trader Joe's and a few other places. I thought that Jake and Gus would beat me home, but it was the other way around! Jake called at 10:30pm and they were on their way home and he said Gus had a blast! They left in the forth quarter the Titans were up 24-3. He said when they walking back to the car they got to see a fireworks show and Gus enjoyed that as well. Gus had his first taste of cotton candy at the game and had a little girl a few seats down to play with (no one was between she and her dad and Jake and Gus). Overall I think they had a really great time. Jake said Gus was very good and it captured his attention for most of the game. They just got home and Gus is out like a light. He barely flinched while I changed his diaper and cloths! Can't wait for his little football uniform...he is drying to put on a helmet like his big cousin William!! Thanks, Penny for the tickets! I know that they were put to good use!!

The following are pictures courtesy of Jake being a single parent for the night! I asked if he would be taking the camera and his reply was "ABSOLUTELY!" I love that man! Thanks for the pictures, Jake!

On their way to the stadium!

Getting settled in their seats!!

Holding on tight to his coupon book that was in his cup holder!

What a view!

Dad, I can't believe you and Mommy have been holding out on the cotton candy!
This stuff is GOOD!!

Go TITANS!!

Notice the lunchbox on his arm!! Watching the fireworks after the game!

Please note, that just because Gus' first NFL game was a Titans game does not mean we are jumping ship on the Saints! Who Dat, baby!!

No just any old Wednesday.....

For the last 2 months (give or take a few days with the holidays) Jake's uncle has been undergoing head and neck radiation treatments for cancer on his tongue. 35 treatments to be exact. Today was his last treatment!!!!!!! We are so happy for him that the treatment is over. We are just hoping that the side effects start to simmer down for him as it has been rough.



I have been wanting to write a post about him, but thought that this would be the most appropriate day....HIS LAST DAY OF TREATMENT!!!! Jake and I went to bed last night saying that we are so happy for him that today is the last day of his treatment. He is a huge fan of the Saints so this is a huge week for him...SAINTS WIN THE SUPERBOWL and HIS LAST DAY OF TREATMENT. I just can't say it enough. DA, we are rootin' for you out here in middle Tennessee. I have to tell you that I have always admired your overzealous outlook on life. When you are around there never seems to be a dull moment and someone is wetting their pants at one of your hilarious jokes!!!! You have so much will power, a great attitude and the mind strength to overcome anything!! You are an inspiration to both Jake and I. We find ourselves in deep conversations about how mind over matter is the key in many situations in this game of life and we always seem to come to the same conclusion.......you are such a great example of mind over matter. We love you and hope that the side effects subside quickly so you can get some relief. We will continue rootin' for you (and the Saints!) here in TN and will be praying that you can take that big gulp of water you so deserve.



DA has a blog and is documenting each day how he is feeling and what he is going through in the hopes of helping others out there that are going through or may have to go through the same thing. If you have a minute check it out and send a well wish his way!


We love you, miss you and certainly can't wait to see you!!
xoxoxoxo,
l*j*g

Oh when the SAINTS go marching in!!!!

Oh how proud we are to be in that number!!!!!!

Oh my goodness. Hell is freezing over, the second coming of Christ is near....Breesus Christ that is, pigs are flying somewhere, NOLA overcame the high waters from Katrina, I can't wipe the smile off of my face, my dad has finally witness the Saints go to AND WIN the Superbowl...I hope he was on the over (I guess wearing his Cha-Ching shirt and pants has finally paid off), Gus participated in his first ever football pool and he won $25 (Jake won 1Q and mom won the other 2Q's), Jake's uncle has waited his entire life to see this moment, and having been diagnosed with tongue cancer at the beginning of the season all of the wins week after week really kept his spirits up. This is what comes to my mind when I think of what happened tonight. History was made and lets hope that it keeps repeating itself!! With all that said this is a great way to start a new decade and it seems like it is just going to keep getting better!! This day is a day that every Louisianian has waited his/her whole life to see.

Even though we are not physically there in NOLA, we feel the feeling that everyone there is feeling....UNITY. What a feeling! This was the most watched television program ever....107 million viewers tuned in....AMAZING!!


This feels like a dream. It seems so surreal. Here is our night in pictures......

Marley trying to figure out how to get to the balloon....






Haydel's Bakery King Cake shipped from NOLA from Aunt Lisa! Thank you, it was delicious!!




Putting the grie-grie on Peyton Manning....get him where it hurts!

GAME FACE??

Daddy Dat, Mommy Dat and Little Baby Who Dat!!!

Trying to catch the game on his portable tv?? It is analog so it catches nothing....poor child!

He loves his balloon! He has a tight grip on the string at all times!!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!

A little harmonica playing by Daddy and Gusley!

Sweet Success!!

Believe Dat!!!! Gus slept in this....shirt over jammies! He was precious when he woke up!!

Breesus Christ!!!!

Saints Superbowl Picture

With the Superbowl only 4 days away I thought I would share the New Orleans Saints Official Superbowl picture with my fellow fans!!!!! We are getting ready for the Superbowl here in TN. We all have new Saints shirts and Gusley has two! I guess he will have a wardrobe change sometime during the big game! Aunt Lisa sent him one that says "BELIEVE DAT" and I just finished ironing on a Fleur de lis on a black shirt for him!!

This is an interesting little fact that lots of friends have been posting on FB so I thought I would share it to!

This will be the 44th Superbowl. Obama is the 44th President. There are 44 days from Christmas to the Super Bowl. The Saints franchise is 44 years old. On Super Bowl Sunday it will be 4 years and 4 months since Katrina. The Saints won in 4 minutes and 44 seconds overtime.......Will the score be 44 to 4? Who DAT!

NOLA Craving Satisfied!

For the NFC championship game I made a spinach dip and deep fried bow tied pasta to go along with the dip. The came out very close to Copeland's back home. I think I just didn't have as much 'extras' i.e. fried shrimp, oysters, fish, onion rings, etc. in my grease!!! It was delicious and Gus ate his share over the course of 3 days. We will be having this again soon, very soon!!!

Jake and the little Who Dat after they won!!!

The bow tie pasta all fried up!

Spinach dip already had a taste test!!

Mummmmm, Mummmmm Good!!!