On a typical game day, we put on our orange and blue, and say goodbye to Daddy while he goes to the stadium to help lead the Marching Illini through a pre-game show, half-time show and post-game mini-concert for fans who linger....
This game day, however, Ryder, Rylee and I joined Daddy in the stadium for the festivities while Cole and Cora stayed home with a babysitter. Next year, I think Cole could sit through a game with us, but this year I took my oldest who is interested in every play and my youngest, who sleeps through the whole thing!
Here, the Marching Band spells out "ILLINI" in the pre-game show...
We have season tickets given to us at the beginning of the year and often give them to friends since I am not about to try and take all my kids by myself to the game! This time, I invited my friend, Nicole and her son Jacob who is Ryder's buddy from church to come with us! She brought crayons and coloring books....so smart!
Here's the view from the top of the stadium...
The upper deck is the student section, and the lower deck is the entire Marching Band, all 350 students! John is down below them on the field level...
...in the light orange hat at the bottom of the picture :)
Ryder was wearing one of Daddy's hats :)
Ryder and Jacob :)
Enjoy this video capturing a fun moment :) Ryder kept asking me questions about what was happening in the game...he was very into it as you can tell from the video :) I did my best to explain it all to him, though half the time I was wondering what was going on too...remember...we were there for the band!
That morning it rained...I was our first day in the low 60s and I was worried we'd be freezing! Did I stay home? No...I wrapped my 5 week old up in the super warm bunting my friend Candice gave me when Ryder was born, put a hat on her and put her in my sling...she was the warmest one in the stadium and slept through the whole thing, except when I fed her in the bathroom at half time where I met another mom with her 6 week old!
Half time show...
John on the ladder conducting...
We had the best time and I'm SOOOO glad we went! I came home feeling energized by the adventure of it all :) We even got to walk on the field afterward with the band as they marched out. If we were here next year, I would think about taking all the kids! I'm getting braver and they're getting older...a great recipe for adventure!!!
What an exciting and special day!