Sugar Bowl!

What an awesome game... I get excited just writing about it! I was lucky enough to get to go and Amanda joined me, she was a great cheerleader. We had such a good time, the fans were deafening (or maybe I am just getting old) and the game was the best I have ever seen. The first five minutes were incredible. The Utes know how to play incredible football. They moved the ball so fast down the field it was sureal to me. I think I sat gaping during the whole first quarter. And listening to the announcer with his deep southern accent make it even more sureal. I almost felt bad for Alabama...but not that bad. I think because we had a few "misplaced" fans sitting in the seats in front and behind us and they were rather obnoxious, especially the one who spilled her beer on me, uggghhh! The highlight was sharing the game with my family back at home...thanks for all the texts, it felt you all were there with us.




I grew up watching football with my dad. I think all of us "kids" have fond memories of sitting on my dad's bed or in the basement watching games. It paid off to be able to explain the game to Amanda and have her actually understand it, which to me was amazing (with how quickly the game moved) that she even caught on to anything besides a touchdown. Although Amanda was a little droopy eyed by the fourth quarter, she had a blast. I think she will always remember that experience, it being her first football game and the Sugar Bowl to boot. What a treat! I know I will always remember it. Thanks all who helped make it happen, especially to Dave who hung out with Maren and Spencer, who were both feeling under the weather, in the hotel room. You are awesome! Dave said Spencer was playing with his football in the hotel room and looked at the TV and connected the two and was entranced with the game for a few minutes thereafter. Even he enjoyed the action.
We enjoyed a few New Orleans sights as well. It really is a fun city to visit, for all its negative conotations, there is a lot of good there. It was nice to see that most of the city has recovered from Katrina as well.
Here are a few more pics from the New Orleans Audubon Zoo we visited the afternoon before the game...





And a few from the Riverwalk Marketplace, downtown New Orleans, where we had lunch Saturday watching the barges go up and down the Mississippi...