First Auburn visit
On Saturday, we headed to Auburn for the first time in 8 years. Our first stop was the Auburn Wesley Foundation, where Jen and I spent much of our time during college. Here we are with David, the director there that also happened to marry us.

The church next to the Wesley Foundation, Auburn United Methodist Church, is where Jen and I got married. We wanted to show the girls inside, but it was locked up. So, we got a picture on the front steps.

Just outside J&M, JJ posed for a picture with his Mommy.

We took a family picture in front of the Auburn sign. It was a hopping place, with a line of people waiting their turn.

We spent a bit of time hanging out on the lawn in front of Samford Hall.



Molly was on a mission to find a pink Auburn hat (it’s hard to read, but it says “auburn tigers” in white). We bought it at J&M, but told her she had to wait until we’d taken some pictures without it. Here she is after we let her put it on. I think she likes it.

Molly and me, in our Auburn hats, in front of Samford Hall. :)

Leah and Mommy are showing off their Auburn tattoos. Leah liked hers so much she kept it on all day Saturday, all day Sunday, and until after school on Monday.

4 kids, 4 Auburn outfits, 4 Auburn hats. Taken in front of Samford Hall on Auburn’s campus.

The girls were so excited about seeing Aubie that when Molly saw this big, blowup Aubie, she just had to take a picture with him.

We’re finally on the way to the game!

About to head in to Jordan-Hare Stadium.

We found our seats (which I was very thankful were not in the upper deck as that’s a bit too high for me) at the very top of the lower deck. Well, they were actually one row down, which we found out when the people who actually had these seats informed us of our mistake.

Inside the stadium before the game, G’Mom taught Leah how to use binoculars.

Jen and I are ready to see an Auburn game at Jordan-Hare for the first time in a long time.

These Auburn fans are ready for the pregame show.

Leah spent much of the game watching on Mommy’s lap, using the binoculars she stole from G’Mom.

The crowd was pretty full despite the fact that Louisiana Tech was not the toughest opponent. In case you were wondering, the kick shown here went in.

The girls were very excited to get to see Aubie. Here he is in his royal garb knighting a police officer.

The half time show was lots of fun. Since it was Homecoming, the Auburn band was joined by the alumni band. Our cousin Mike (who had Molly in his wedding as the flower girl) is the trumpet player with a white fedora on the back row.

Great Aunt Jan (Mike’s mom) was also in the alumni band, playing piccolo. She’s harder to pick out, so I’ve spotlighted her.

Our little family is enjoying the game.

Well into the game, the kids are still cheering. Leah did at points get tired of watching and want to leave, but she recovered well.

In the fourth quarter, the girls and I headed down to the alumni band to visit great aunt Jan and cousin Mike. We had fun visiting and getting to be down right by the field. And whenever something happened on the field causing the band to play, we got to be right in the middle of it.

When we visited the band, we got to see the game from all the way up front, right behind the hedges. It can be hard to see what’s going on from that angle, but it’s really cool to be so close to the action. This change of angle was the perfect thing to reinvigorate the girls at the end of the game. Molly loved seeing the game up close, and the 5 year olds were intrigued by the hedges themselves.

Leah decided to show Mike how prickly the holly hedges were.

Yes, it was hilarious. Mike’s got a nack for getting little kids to laugh.

Rolling Toomer’s Corner has been a long-time tradition at Auburn. Since the tragic poisoning of the trees, the rolling has expanded to the entire lawn in front of Samford Hall. Molly was excited to get to participate in this tradition.

JJ was amazed by all the action.

Jen showed Leah how it was done.

Then it was Leah’s turn to give it a throw.

After that, we picked up some pizzas from Mellow Mushroom and headed back the Wesley Foundation to chow down. Then around 8:00 we hopped in our vehicles for the drive back to Birmingham.
I can’t believe you hadn’t been there in 8 years! WOW! Looks like a fabulous trip to make up for lost time!