Sea of Red

via

To some, it may just be another typical Saturday morning.  Yet this Saturday marks the beginning of the Nebraska football season.  In addition, it is our first year in the Big Ten!

Yet let's be honest - when does the excitement begin?  For our family, I don't thing it ever really ends.  But I do know that once I start the fall semester I am happy to at least know that means that college football is coming soon!

via Husker Locker

When I lived in Nebraska, I remember the Friday night pep rallies.  Part of the marching band would come in and play There is No Place Like Nebraska...and everyone would clap or sway along.

Then early on Saturday morning you could go by the Student Union area of campus and have some hot dogs and pop as you were surrounded by other Husker fans.  Parts of the marching band and cheerleaders would be around the quad playing music and doing cheers.  You would see people (including young children, students, Larry the Cable Guy, elderly men) wearing their red proudly (some in more crazy fashion than others). 

via Husker Locker

via Google Images

via Google Images

via

Then you waited outside Memorial Stadium to get in (once the gates would open).  Surrounded by other dedicated fans who were the first to arrive in what once was a empty stadium that would soon be crammed with over 70,000 people.

via Huskers.com

via Huskers.com

It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. 

One thing I have always been certain of, Nebraska has the best and most loyal fans in all of college football.  We have had sold out home games since 1962 (we're approaching 50 years folks!).  We follow our team to support them for away games.  After the game, the fans try to be very gracious, whether we win or lose.  So here is to so many great seasons and to a great first year in the Big Ten Conference!

GOOOOOO BIGGGGGGGG REEEEDDDDDDD!!!!!  GO BIG RED!!

You know you're a mom when...

There have been quite a few instances in my life where I've thought to myself, you can tell I'm a Mom even when my kids are nowhere near me.  I'm sure all moms have those moments.  So I've decided to list (and share) about some of these experiences that I've encountered lately as well as ones that I recall from my Mom :).

You know you're a Mom when...

• you sign a check (front or back) with a crayon.  (I was waiting at the bank and needed to sign the back of a check to deposit.  Couldn't find a pen in my purse for the life of me.  I did, however, find a 4-pack of crayons that Owen begged me to bring home from a restaurant.  Little did I know that he had done me a favor!)
• you can eat a meal in under 5 minutes.  (It seems like I'm always busy trying to make sure Owen has something to eat or feeding Quinn (or trying to finish myself before feeding Quinn) that I can wolf down my meal in World Record Hot Dog eating speed if necessary!  I can unfortunately carry this mentality wherever I go.)
• the best idea for a vacation for yourself involves your husband taking the kids on vacation and you get the house to yourself!  (Ok, am I alone on this one?  The idea of getting the house all to myself for a day just sounds like the biggest treat!)
• your alarm is blaring so loud it could wake the house and you don't hear it, but if your child sniffles in the middle of the night you are awake in a second.  (Ok, so I can't sleep through the blaring alarm, but I can through a rain storm).
• the last time your FaceBook pic wasof you was...Hmm, don't remember when.
• your definition of "clean" would nowhere near pass the health inspector if they were to visit (organized clutter is close to my definition of clean anymore).
• when asked to sing a song the first thing that comes to your mind is "Fairytale Villiage"from The Backyardigans. (And there are so many more than I can sing as this is Quinnie's favorite show).
• you find yourself watching Sesame Street more than an hour after you have put the kids in bed (now this could be because I'm too lazy and tired to get up and get the remote.)
• when you put on make-up and your husband wonders what the special occasion is (anniversary? birthday?  what did I miss???)
• you consider catching your child's vomit as a victory (husband caught it on the plate the other night - good work Daddy!)
• even more sad, that you can witness your child throwing up and still continue eating (ok - please tell me I'm not the only one here!)

It is amazing that becoming a Mom can make a person a lot less modest (the way we have to be able to talk frankly and share our bodies when we have the baby!). 

I'm sure I'll do another post about this so feel free to share your favorite "you know you're a Mom when.." moment!

Back on the C25K wagon

C25K - Couch to 5K.  I had started this program back in May and had every intention of completing it.  Then something called summer classes started and I was a little busy (two 3-credit classes (one of which I was re-doing my entire notes for a book change) I was teaching, plus a 3-credit independent study and student research).  Ok, enough complaining.  I had gotten through only the first 3 weeks of the program (see here).

Now, I would like to get back to it.  I have found a 5K to register for (November 19th) to keep me motivated.  A friend is even willing to do it with me! Now that I have put it in writing that should give me more motivation. 

The program is literally designed to take you from the couch to running a 5K in 9 weeks (I have about 12 weeks to get ready!).  With as much as I want to do this to show everyone that I can do it, I really want to show myself that I can do it.  Running is one thing I just chalked myself up to not being good at and have continuously used it as an excuse.  So now, I hope to prove myself wrong and do it!  Please keep me honest and give me encouragement through the program.  I'll try to post about it once a week to see how it is going for me!


Oh, and in completely unrelated news, I got those shoes I wanted :)