Wahoowa

Charlottesville in the fall is truly magical.

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Especially when it's football season.

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Russell and I try to get to one UVA football game a season, but last year we didn't make it. That made this year's trip all the more anticipated. Plus, it was my Dad's fraternity's 100 year anniversary on grounds. Why do I care about that, you might wonder?

Because my dad has been an integral part of my UVA experience. I grew up going to football games and tailgates (back when you didn't have to donate a bazillion dollars a year to get a parking space), basketball, lacrosse, and other sports games with him. I used to visit him at the law school where he worked sometimes, or run around the Lawn with him on sunny days after eating a picnic. I think I was in high school before I realized that the UVA fight song, sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, wasn't an original composition. (Just ask my kids, it's one of the few songs I know all the words to and has lulled them to sleep in their beds many a time.)

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But back to the fraternity. Most of my dad's best friends, who were then our best family friends, came from his fraternity. For years and years, I've gone to the party at his fraternity house before football games to be with my dad and his Theta Chi family, even though I don't know a single brother my age there. Yes, there have been many a strange glance directed our way from the brothers, wondering what those "young girls" were doing hanging with the" old guys" every year.

Thank you to Diane Lewis for several of the photos at the party below.

So it was with a happy and proud heart that we headed to his house for the festivities this year. The house just completed an amazing renovation (and if you've ever been in a UVA frat house, you will be amazed). I mean, hooks for coats and women's rooms in the party space? Heaven.

The pre-game party was cold and early (9 AM). The kids ran around a bit, but their favorite spot was the pool table or the buffet.

I caught up with old friends. Below are Margaret and Charlie Faulkner, Grady Lewis, and my Dad.

Anson took a break to guard the kegs. Very important job.

Here's a shot of my Dad talking to Bill Sullivan in the new Willie Alexander Room.

This room is particularly special, because it commemorates a man my father has long supported and loved. He was an African-American man who worked at the fraternity for years, and was like a father to many of the men. My Dad wrote the following words that are now hanging in the room:

On another note, we then headed to the game to watch UVA get crushed. Superbly crushed. Needless to say, we didn't stay to the end of the game. Little did we know, Charlotte was in the beginnings of a terrible flu. Must be why she was so mellow. :)

This was the kids at halftime. Ah, the joys of technology.

Later that night, Dad's friends the Johnstons hosted a wonderful buffet dinner at their house. It was like going home, literally. They live not far from where I grew up (Dad lives in a different part of town now), so being in their house and looking out at the backyard was like being a kid again. Speaking of kids, I got to meet up with Kerry Lewis, the daughter of one of Dad's fraternity brothers, whom I hadn't seen in ages.

We also took a quick jaunt to Oakhurst Circle, the site of our first home together (sort of). During Russell's last year of medical school, we lived together for the first time in the house you see below. I do believe it hasn't been painted since. We planned our wedding there, had a party to celebrate Russell becoming an American citizen, and enjoyed his graduation from medical school and our wedding before jetting off on our honeymoon.

I hope I've turned my tarheel-born children into Wahoos. What do you think? Now on to my 20th reunion plans. Yep, Russell and I graduated UVA in 1994, so it's coming up. Can't wait.

Ford Family Feud

The other night we headed to another Carolina Hurricanes game with a new friend of Anson's he met in middle school. As we entered the arena, a young lady came up and asked us if we'd like to participate in one of the games they hold during breaks.

Russell's immediate reaction was, NO WAY. Hmmm, not surprising. I convinced Anson to do it with me, although in the end all four of us ended up participating.

We were tagged for a Family Feud game. The question was, "What are you most likely to find under your couch cushions?"

Anson and I immediately came up with Coins and Food. Russell piped in with Remote Control. Then we were stumped. After a few wrong answers, we went to the crowd for help, and pulled out the win in the end with Keys.

The whole thing was projected onto the Jumbotron between the first and second periods. We won a gift card to Golden Corral, so watch out, we are ready for some all-you-can-eat!

Happy Halloween!

I'm getting a hard time from some people about why I haven't posted in a long time, so...I'm back!

I love doing this, but sometimes life gets in the way. Like Halloween, for instance.

Usually we carve pumpkins, roast the seeds, get crafty, and so on. This year, not so much. Rather, we went to a few parties, so focused our efforts on trying to imitate the best food offerings on Pinterest.

I started with trying to find something that wasn't junk food, because I know most of the people at the parties are little ones. This plate of clementines with celery was a huge hit. I can't tell you how many people came up to me and told me what an amazing job I'd done. Really? People, anyone can do this; it's all about presentation. Sure, I might have a bit of citrus under my nails a week later from peeling them, a blind eye from juice squirting in it, and a whole lot of celery left over, but it was worth it.

Speaking of presentation, I couldn't bring just the "healthful" option to a Halloween party, now could I? Charlotte helped me make these caramel apples. That girl peeled all the wrappers off two bags of caramels. She deserves a medal for that!

When we were done, they looked pretty pathetic at the bottom where the caramel drips down and creates a nasty looking pool. I couldn't let all that hard work go to waste. Candy corn and harvest M&Ms to the rescue. An added benefit--the candy sticks to the apples when you pick them up, enhancing their appeal. Voila! Another Martha Stewart dish to amaze your friends.

The first party was specifically for kids, and was the night before Halloween. I brought my handsome other half. Just a cute shot to show you what he looks like these days, since we rarely get our photos taken.

Later in the night, Charlotte showed off her artistry by "face painting" Russell's arms. (He vetoed the face.)

You might remember that Charlotte is the reigning Bobbing for Apples champ. Let's just pretend she wasn't on the tail end of a stomach virus, shall we? This year, she didn't disappoint. She went in for the kill (5 times actually), and every time in, grabbed an apple. She ate almost all of them, too.  Thank goodness, because I think it kept her from overdosing on candy.

Anson tried, but wasn't as successful.

Now, on to the most important part, the costumes. Charlotte was a Greek Goddess, which fit her to a T.

I mean, look at that gorgeous hair! It only took a few bottles of hairspray and a gallon of whiny tears.

Anson's too old to go for cute; he went straight to the grim reaper costume in the store. The grim reaper with neon orange shoes.

Like last year, we went to a party and trick or treating in a friend's neighborhood on the actual Halloween night. I got this cute shot of Charlotte and her friend Sofia, who was Cleopatra. They looked perfect together.

That is, until the night ended. Then Charlotte looked like this.

That's Charlotte for "take me home." They were home, candy sorted and traded, showered, and in bed by 9. I call that a successful night! Oh, the bag of chocolate Anson gave me didn't hurt, either.