Tailgating

One of the perks of living so close to Notre Dame is that we can easily walk to campus.

Campus is beautiful! Green lawns, huge trees, buildings that flow together in style and placement, tasteful splashes of color from flowers, and two huge lakes that harbor geese, ducks and mute swans. There aren't any specific bike paths, but it is our favorite place to ride bikes together as a family, or go for walks.

Another perk of living so close is that we can easily walk to campus on Football game days and enjoy the festivities.

Now, tailgating definitely includes booze for most people around here, but it isn't at all what it's about for our family. Alumni, students, faculty/staff head over to campus, set up their tables and hibachis (or gas-powered massive grills), tables spread with all sorts of food. On-campus groups set up their grills and tables to serve hamburgers, hot dogs, brats to raise funds for their organization. People wander around on cell phones trying to contact their friends. Many people get drunk.

We try to head up early enough to enjoy the food and fun atmosphere, but avoid the drinking part as much as possible. The girls enjoy watching the band march across campus and seeing the leaping leprechaun and cheerful cheerleaders as they lead the band across campus to the football stadium playing the school song. We all enjoy eating the food, and running into lots of friends from all sorts of places (church, school, work).

This year, in order to make it more family-friend, Notre Dame has offered the Irish Green where there is live music, more food venues (elephant ears, snow cones, etc.) and our friend Twister Mike. He's a member of our ward, and is an amazing balloon sculptor. He's made some very fun balloon toys for the girls. They also have face painting. This has made our experience even more fun! The balloons, the designs painted on their faces, and the walk with our family- fun together time!

Of course, Travis and I enjoy watching the football games at home. (Travis has attended two games in the stadium, but I've yet to step foot inside those famous walls). Zoë asks periodically if Notre Dame is winning, but her sisters are not so interested in the game. Although, Miranda likes watching the TV and saying "Oh, Crap!" when people get tackled (Hmmm, maybe I need to change my vocabulary), and she's learning how to signal TOUCHDOWN with her arms (She can say it when prompted).

Football days are fun, a little crazy, and we love being part of these Notre Dame Football Traditions.

Oh, and have you heard? They are moving the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta, Georgia. We'll be sad to see it go- we've loved the parades and showing off this little piece of history in South Bend. If you want to come see the museum, you'd best come visit us before next year...