The second we found out that ASU would be playing in the GoDaddy.com bowl game AND it was in Mobile, we knew we were going! Lucky for us we have fabulous friends that took us in for a few days! We had a terrific time with the Graham’s and really enjoyed our trip!
We left Wednesday night and drove to Jackson, MS. Spent the night and got up and drove the rest of the way on Thursday. We got to Mobile around 4pm, it takes longer with a baby that takes forever to eat and a 3 year old that has to use the bathroom every hour! We are so grateful to Brett and Kristen for putting up with us for 4 nights! And Stratton had so much fun playing with Ian and Kate! Ian tried to teach Stratton all about cars. The kids knowledge about them is kinda crazy. He knows all the makes and models. He even gave Stratton a Aston Martin Hot Wheels car. It was bright blue. Every time we saw a bright blue car out Stratton told us it was a Aston Martin. . .so Ian’s lesson’s apparently didn’t do much good! They played really well together, there were just a few incidents and fights.
Stratton, Ian, Kate and Arden
Friday Ian and Kate both had school, so we decided to try and take Stratton to the beach! Even though it’s so cold if we are that close to the beach we are going! We stopped at Lulu’s for lunch on our way to G.S. and it was good. Stratton ate a ton of shrimp! He loves shrimp and fish! Then we headed to the beach! To our surprise he loved it. It was pretty cold, the sand was cold and the water was freezing! I didn’t think he’d want to stay long so we didn’t take any toys. Next time I’ll know better! He would have stayed all day! And he wanted to know where his beach toys were! Oops. Arden didn’t like the cold wind so Jarrod took her back to the car and they hung out in the warm car while Stratton and I played on the beach. After I finally convinced Stratton that we needed to go- his feet were turning blue- we sat on the boardwalk for awhile and dried off. Then we made a stop by the outlet in Foley on our way back to Mobile. Both kids fell asleep so we just drove to each store and took turns going in! It took longer that way, but at least both kids got a decent nap! Then we met the Graham’s at a local gem of a restaurant called Kravers. It’s good to know the locals! And the folks eating there were so friendly and talkative! Of course Arden draws attention anywhere we go! We got back to the Graham’s house and Kristen had made chocolate chip cookies! What a awesome hostess she is!
Saturday we didn’t get up and out too early. But getting 4 kids ready is not an easy thing! Brett had to work but the rest of us went to Fairhope. Which is just the cutest little downtown area. We had lunch in the French Quarter area at Panini Petes. It was really good! And a really cool little place! There were other Red Wolves there (as there were everywhere we went!) and the chef/owner was milling around and we got to talk to him, he was super nice. We had planned to let the kids play at a nearby playground, but it was just too cold and damp. So the Graham’s went back to their house to get Brett and we ran by the Bass Pro Shop. Of course the kids fell asleep again on the way there, so I sat in the car while Jarrod went in and shopped. When they woke up we did go in for just a minute, but we had to leave so we could get ready for the parade and fireworks in downtown Mobile!
Waiting patiently at Panini Petes
Pretty sure Kristen told the kids to ‘Look at the camera!”- Nope. Not going to happen!
Saturday night we went to the parade and fireworks in downtown Mobile. It was such a neat experience! The parade was a lot of fun! Stratton kept calling it the “football-christmas parade”. It was more like a Mari Gras parade with some cool floats, bands, local motorcycles, the cheerleaders and players and more! There were fellow red wolves everywhere! So many people we knew were there! We had coffee and hot chocolate at a little place called Serda’s. I ended up having to leave the parade about halfway through to do feed Arden, and I went back into the coffee shop! The kids LOVED the parade. And Arden hung in there for awhile till she got too hungry! There were beads and moon pies and all sorts of stuff being thrown from the floats! Kate caught a big teddy bear! Stratton got a ton of beads and some little beanie baby type animals! The fireworks were good too. But by the time it was all over we were tired! I had Arden in the baby bjorn and my back was killing me! But she did great in it, so it was worth it! There’s no way you could have had a stroller with the crowd!
Before the parade
We brought Kate and Ian Red Wolves shirts so they wore them on Saturday!
At the Parade
“See my beads, Mommy!”
Brett and Jarrod had sore shoulders the next day!
Arden snuggled in the baby Bjorn, she liked the parade, too!
StAte Cheerleaders!
Fire-breathing dragon! (it had real smoke)
The team hotel with red lights in honor of the Red Wolves and the fireworks!
On Sunday we got up went to church with the Grahams, we saw some Valley View folks there too! Then we had lunch at a Mexican place and took the kids back to the house for a nap. . .it was really hard getting Stratton down! We decided to have dinner before the game at Felix’s. It was awesome. It was right on the bay and if you get seated in the right place you can see the battleship. I would highly recommend it! After we ate the Graham’s and Arden went back to the house, while Jarrod, Stratton and I went to the GAME! It was so much colder than I had anticipated. We should have taken more jackets and some blankets! We were not impressed with the stadium to say the least. But we had a good time. There were lots of people we knew there and it was really cool to all be together so far away from home! We ended up leaving at the end of the 3rd quarter because Stratton was falling asleep and I was freezing ( my feet were hurting they were so cold!). We watched the end of the game on the Grahams TV! And guess what?? We WON!!
Courtesy of Stratton
Having fun, but so COLD!
Monday we got up and left around 11 am. Kate and Ian both had school, so it made it easier to leave but Stratton still wasn’t 100% sold on the idea! We thought we would stop in Jackson on the way back and spend the night again, but we were so ready to be home in our own beds that we just decided to go for it! Arden was better on the way home. Both of them fell asleep after we had dinner at around 7:30 and slept most of the rest of the way home. We got back home around midnight, got the kids changed and back in bed and I think we actually got to sleep about 1:30 or so. Stratton was up by 8 am, so Jarrod took them to Daycare and then he went in to work at noon while I stayed home and did ALL the laundry and put stuff away and unpacked- fun! I love going places but I sure hate coming home and having to deal with the mess!
We had such a great time! However if they go back next year, I think we have decided that we will go to all the pregame stuff but watch the game on TV! Haha! Big thanks to the Graham’s for letting us stay with them! It worked out so well to have kids for Stratton to play with, and having a babysitter for Arden Sunday night! They were awesome hosts!! Kristen and I got to talk a little, but I think we are too old for those “all night” talks like we used to have! I hope one day we can return the favor, but we will never live anywhere interesting like they do!! We are planning to go back to Gulf Shores sometime in May so maybe they can come stay in our Condo on the beach for a day or two!