HOMECOMING WEEKEND! Parades, football and movie stars!

Well it certainly was a fun-filled and action packed weekend around here! I don't know what I'd do without Sunday to unwind and breathe. Although the usual Sunday "chill" day is about to ramp up with Drew's football team doing volunteer work while Jen and I head out to get pumpkins and mums for fall decor. I guess there's always the work week for relaxation! Ha! We started out the festivities with the kids riding on a Coaches' kids float in the MSU Homecoming parade. The weather was beautiful, a sunny and crisp fall day. Followed by tailgating with my best girlfriends on another picture perfect fall day. Then the fantastic game that resulted in  a WIN, 26-6 and a 7-0 record! First time in 44 years! The highlight for my GF's was the arrival of actor Gerard Butler from the movie 300 - or world famous Spartan Leonidas and the ever famous chant heard throughout all of Spartan Stadium on any given Saturday on a big 3rd down defensive stand..."SPARTANS! What is your profession?!!!"

forgot my camera for the parade so the iphone photo was the best I could do! Back of the float.

tailgating with great friends! Kris, Jean, Chris and Heidi

Kris and me - she's batting 100% for wins and game attendance!

Coach Hoke comes out for the pre-game "good luck smooch"! Works every time! Well almost...

Fat daddy tries to get a pre-game smooch from his girl

she still thinks smooching is "Gross!" Thank goodness...

the girls pose with Johnny Spirit...

one of them looks kinda guilty...like she has something to get off her guilty chest...hmmm I wonder who it could be? Is that a smudge on his bike??? Naaaah!

Jennifer and Maddie at the game! Come to think of it Maddie is also batting 100% for game attendance and wins!

Here's actor Gerard Butler getting the crowd fired up pre-game

Here's Gerry finding his seat and here's where my girlfriends lost ALL interest in the game!!! Hahaha!

Give us a smile Gerry!

He's admiring one of the Coaches' kids

post game in the locker room - another iphone pic

yes there wasn't much game watching from the girls! They decided to get a photo of his butt for prosperity! 

Finally back home and exhausted but to some very happy dogs that their people are home! Rest up until next week!! Make it 8-0!

Fall cleanup - what a mess

Well poor Tommy. He has very little time off these days during season and spends his Friday mornings on "Pond Boy" duty and leaf cleanup! This backyard is a FAR CRY right now from the beauty we enjoy during the summer with our Japanese "Zen" garden pond and outdoor living room, firepit and general awesome backyard fun.

summer...

fall

a pond boy's work is never done

ugh what a mess

mastering the art of the 3 dog walk!

Rivalry Week! MSU v UM

Well I am very happy to post that WE WON again in 2010!! We are now sitting at a fabulous 6-0 and a #13 national ranking. Final score MSU 34 UM 17. (coulda been a bigger beatdown but MSU kept it classy and took a knee at the end instead of running it in from the 10 yard line for a TD or kicking a field goal). We headed down on a bus with all of the families and friends, Ed and Laura who are such wonderful hosts! We had a great time with them as always and the tailgate was terrific. The ride home was even more fun - champagne and fun celebrating a victory! We have homecoming versus Illinois this next weekend and all of the coach's kids are riding on a float in the homecoming parade. Pics coming on that next weekend!

so I'm a bit behind - this is tailgating at the Wisconsin game. It was COLD! and rainy...

Jen gets to hang with Sparty at one of the coach's kids bday party in the indoor facility

hubby and me pregame. See the coats? It was COLD!

Jean tries to hitch a ride on Johnny Spirit's bike but if he catches her she's DEAD!

tailgating prior to the Michigan game. OK - so in one weekend we went from 50 degrees to almost 80 degrees! Welcome to Michigan!!

Crazy Laura!

Ed is tending bar - he does that well!

they had a parachuter (paratrooper?) fly in and land on the field delivering the game ball!

it was way cool

kids rocking their Spartan Spirit!

Me with my buddy Pat Conlon and her beau

Final score...happy day!

Team rushes the field and heads to the Spartan section to sing the fight song and proudly display the Paul Bunyan Trophy who returns to his rightful place in East Lansing!

A gang of former players

 girls after the game! We were very happy!!

We had a celebration party at our house after the game when we got home and our favorite Michigan fans came by. Tom and Sheila Jones! They are great sports and as difficult as it must be to come into a houseful of happy Spartans after their team lost they always do and show great spirit for their team and congratulate us! One sidenote - don't let the smiles fool you - the only reason they look happy here is from numerous bottles of what Tom is holding in his hand!

Mango Hoke

Well I figured I should give an update on the youngest of our "children" - Mango. The baby we brought home from Belize. She is doing very very well and is a happy little puppy although not so "little" anymore. She tipped the scales at 28 pounds the other day - a lot considering she was a mere 5 pounds when we brought her home with us! Here's a shot of her when we brought her home...

little baby - this was when she was in the shelter and Jen was working us over to take her home

testing out the FAA approved carrier

getting to know my new brothers...

not putting up with any crap!

hanging out with Dad

there she is traipsing around the pond...

we installed a doggie door thinking it would make our lives easier...

but THIS is what I came home to most afternoons!! Somebody had been rooting around the pond and digging up pond plants and bringing them happily in the house to chew up on the couch! I wonder who it could be???

So now we cover the couch with a couple of duvet covers when we leave! We are one step away from putting plastic on the couch and becoming The Castanza's!

Hard to get mad at THAT face! Although Dewey was none too pleased that she pinched his chewy - note the TWO bones shoved in her mouth! She is definitely an island dog!

Murph heading out the doggie door

the culprit near the scene of the crime!

who me???

Murph is chillin out back on the deck enjoying one of the last days of an Indian Summer!

Curled up with her "Woobie". How can that sweet face be such a devil?!!