We Did It!!!

The Gamecock baseball team defeated UCLA tonight to become the 2010 National Champions!!!

I will admit, Jeremy had to wake me up! I sat thru so many baseball games in the past 2 weeks and what do I do but fall asleep in the 10th or 11th inning! Thank goodness for DVR because once Jeremy started screaming, "Leslie, We did it, we did it!!" I immediately made him rewind! Then I was wired and it was well after 2 a.m. before I ever went to sleep. We were so ecstatic. I had tears in my eyes watching the celebration take place. We are some really proud Gamecock fans!

I'm a diehard Gamecock fan which means I don't just focus on one sport and I am anything BUT "fairweather"! I grew up a Gamecock. When going through photo albums at my parents' house you will have a tough time finding photos of me that aren't Gamecock related in some way. Our parents had 2 season tickets for awhile and even after they gave those up they would try to pick a game to take us to. Oh how good was my Mom's tailgate meal...home fried chicken strips with homemade honey mustard, potato salad, and baked beans in a jar wrapped with aluminum foil. My mom even made us Gamecock cheerleader outfits! And we sure did love Cocky! I remember asking for Carolina-Clemson football tickets for a Christmas present and getting to go to a Carolina basketball game for a birthday present. We would usually attend the Carolina Spring Game (for football) and then we'd head on over to take in a baseball game too if they were playing.

Growing up, I was a really sore loser. On the way home after a loss I would complain about mistakes made in the game all the way home! My senior year of high school I had the privilage to attend I believe 3 or 4 home games. The first game of the season we won and I was present. However, the 1998 season was finished 1-10. I still ache when I think about the loss to Marshall by a field goal.

After graduating high school in 1999, I went to Carolina as a pre-pharmacy student in the fall. Our football team under Coach Lou Holtz went 0-11 that year and being the ever loyal fan, I sat through every home game even until the end of each game. That season taught me a whole lot about my attitude on being a sore loser! I learned there are so many more important things in life than winning and losing sports events. Don't get me wrong, I still care a whole lot but I've gotten a whole lot better too. (For example, when someone tells me they've set their wedding date for the fall I think they're nuts for planning a wedding during football season!)

My sophomore year of college Carolina began the season with a win against New Mexico State. After a 21 game losing streak we were so happy for a WIN that the goal posts came down! And as a student, I was right there in the middle of it all! I even submitted an essay to one of the schools' websites and was selected as "Fan of the Week"! That season was so much fun and was topped off with a victory over Ohio State at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, FL. I had the opportunity to attend that bowl game and was extra excited since my favorite player, Ryan Brewer, had such an amazing game. I stood in my seat with tears in my eyes feeling such a sense of pride to actually be there for our 2nd bowl victory in school history! We had so much fun that we repeated the next year with another trip to Tampa defeating Ohio State again!

Once Jeremy and I got married we became Gamecock Club members and have worked our way up to Full Scholarship Donors with 4 season tickets in the West upperdeck. We've been fortunate to travel to Lexington, KY (win of course), Athens, GA (win), Baton Rouge, LA (loss but LSU went on to become the 2007 National Champions that year), and Birmingham, AL (2010 Papa John's Bowl loss to UCONN). We're planning to go to The Swamp this fall so we'll see how The Register's away record pans out. Our ultimate goal is to see every SEC stadium.

We are passing on our passion for the Gamecocks to Riley. My parents surprised me with a gift to Riley in the delivery room after he was born. It was a small Cocky doll that says "Go Gamecocks!" and plays the fight song. That was so very special to me for his first gift to be a little Cocky! Riley's hospital pictures were done in a garnet Gamecock gown, white gamecock cap, white gamecock socks, a Gamecock blanket, and his little Gamecock! There were only 2 games left in the football season once Riley was born but you better believe he was decked out in Gamecock attire to watch the games on TV! He has pretty much every Gamecock item you can imagine...a football, a basketball, books, jersey, windsuit, t-shirts, sweatshirt, shortalls, squeaky shoes, toothbrush, Mr. Potato Head, etc. He says, "Go TickTock!" for Go Gamecocks. At daycare when the director would tell him Go Tigers or Go Clemson he would cry (seriously). Now he has the whole toddler class saying "ticktock"!! He attended his first basketball game in the 2009-2010 season and he attended his first Meet the Gamecocks last football season (2009). We hope to take him to his first football game this fall. I hope as our little Gamecock grows up he will have the passion and love for Gamecocks like we do!

Being a Gamecock to me is...

• jumping up and down to 2001 then getting goose bumps from it even though it is 100+ degrees
• staying to hear the alma mater being played after football/basketball games
• walking a mile to the stadium from your tailgate spot
• not allowing Riley to wear orange
• not coloring with orange crayons (I bet Riley won't either!)
• naming our dog Garnet
• flying a Gamecock flag outside which entails random acts of rudeness from the neighborhood kids
• insisting on decking the car out for road trips...flags, magnets, etc.
• paying for not only a donation at the full scholarship level, but on top of that seat premiums, 4 season tickets, and a parking space all in the hopes that our child will have the opportunity to grow up going to the football games!
• having a Carolina Christmas tree (1 of 4 trees at my house)
• calling my dad to discuss the game afterwards (or at least the next day)
• standing in long lines for the bathroom at Williams Brice
• flying to New Orleans on a plane with ALL Gamecocks fans out of Cola
• working on the ultimate tailgate...so far we've got the flat screen TV, an antenna, a vehicle with a hookup for all of that at the back, a Gamecock Tent, tablecloth, napkin holder, Cocky salt and pepper shakers, dishes, containters, you name it...
• keeping up with all Gamecock stuff thru TV, radio, and/or internet at all times

I was born a Gamecock. I am a Gamecock Alumna. I married a Gamecock. I'm raising my son to be a Gamecock!

We hail Thee Carolina, and sing They high praise! With loyal devotion, remembering the days when proudly we sought Thee Thy children to be. Here's a health (arm up like a toast) Carolina Forever to Thee!-our Alma Mater

Toddler Time at the Registers

So our little man is 19 months old and totally a full blown toddler! He's running around, climbing up on furniture, singing, putting his own shoes on (sometimes on the wrong feet), telling me to put my shoes on, bossing "Gah-net" around, etc.!

Riley with his "B B" (blankie)

I don't want to ever forget hearing him say "IWuvOoo" for the first time. So sweet sounding that I almost cried! Nor do I want to forget hearing him say "Mamen" at the end of the blessing. I love how sometimes he closes his eyes during the blessing and sometimes he bobs his head back and forth if we say "God is Great"...like he's dancing to the blessing! And I don't want to forget the precious memory of telling him and Ava-Reese it was time to say the blessing and how not only did they both hold my hands but they reached out and held each others hands too!

We've gone swimming the past 2 weekends and Riley is starting to come around. It's so funny how last summer he was so young and would kick himself around the pool in his turtle float but this summer at 19 months in a swimmies/jacket type thing he clings to me for dear life! Oh and he'll only kick a few good kicks then stick his legs straight how and make you pull him around,lol!

Riley ready to go swimming, saying "cheese"

Riley swimming with Daddy

So back to the shoes. Riley is OBSESSED with shoes. He not only says "shoes" but he says "crocs" too! And if I don't put shoes on him right away when getting him dressed in the morning, he will open up his shoe/sock drawer, pull out matching (yes matching) shoes and bring them to me saying "shoes"! Just last week we were all in the kitchen getting ready to leave. My shoes were at the garage door. Jeremy and Riley already had shoes on. Riley looked at my shoes, looked at my bare feet then picked up my shoes and brought them to me saying, "shoes"! If you ask him where his crocs are (he has 2 pair) he will find you a matching pair,haha!

Riley trying on Daddy's shoes before work

Now onto my soapbox. I think children should be taught manners. We've been working on "please" and "thank you" since Riley was able to speak. Most of the time he says "thank you" when you give him something but he's a little slower about learning the "please" except when he's "working" you. So how is it my 19 month old can say thank-you but little 5+ year olds can come in my store and you never hear a "thank you", "please", or "yes/no ma'am"? My parents and grandparents stayed on us and our manners so I pray we will do the same.

On a side note our family has been going through a difficult time. July 11th will be a year since my grandmother passed away. Our grandfather is 92 and overall has been in really good health. He has had some minor things to come up over the past year but we hit an unexpected rough patch last week. Turns out he had a duodenal ulcer that bled out while he was being scoped. We didn't know it at the time but while he was in ICU they constantly kept an O.R. booked just for him b/c they expected to have to possibly do emergency surgery. They had also done a full workup on his heart because his enzymes were elevated and they felt like he was about to have a heart attack. Then being 92 he suffered some various urological issues as well as severe pain from arthritis in his knees. He wound up with 2 cortisone shots in his knees and has to walk with a walker for now. But we are praising God because overall considering all he has been thru he is doing GREAT! My Mom is the best daughter to him and I only pray that I can be as good of a daughter to her as she has been to her parents.

Last Day in Phoenix!

Well I started the day at urgent care because my rash from the hotel in Sedona had spread all over my back and down my legs and was painful. The doctor assured me it was not bed bugs and not shingles since it crossed the mid line. He was baffled as to what was causing it so he gave me a 12 day course of steroid and is treating me prophylactically with Cipro just in case I picked up pseudomonas in the hot tub when we went swimming on Sunday. Then we all went to lunch with Libby at Red Robin. Riley loved that place! He ate onion rings, french fries, and mushrooms but wanted nothing to do with the burgers! Then Casey took us for a drive around Phoenix to see where the D-Backs play baseball, where the Cardinals play football, where the Suns play basketball, and where the Coyotes play hockey. Riley napped thru the tour and Mommy did too but I woke up to see all of these places! After riding around Phoenix, the White Tank mountains and some other mountains we went back to the Randels' house to hang out until dinner.

Jeremy and Casey with 3 of the 4 dogs...Kira, Hunter, and Chloe. The only name Riley said all week other than "Gah-net" was Chloe!

For dinner we went to Arriba Mexican Grill. Their t-shirts said "Don't Drink the Water...Drink Margaritas!" It was awesome food. Riley's cheese was larger than a dinner plate and he ate over half of it! I enjoyed Carne Azada and Jeremy had enchiladas.

I feel blessed to have met up with Casey in college. It has been close to 5 years since we had seen each other and we just all picked up right where we left off! She and her family were so gracious to us showing us all around and taking time out of their normal routines for us!

Last night photos at Arriba's:

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium

We spent most of Thursday at the zoo and aquarium. Libby, Casey's Mom, works part-time at the aquarium. We started out at the petting zoo. Riley made himself at home quickly. He wasn't afraid at all he just walked right into the middle of the animals and would pet them and talk to them as they walked by. There were 7 and 8 year olds hugging the fence, haha! When we were waiting at the fence to go in as a new animal would walk up to Riley he'd say "hey!" and let them lick his fingers. He likes to call all animals "Gah-net" after our dog, Garnet.

After the petting zoo we went to see some turtles. You could touch their shell but we had to stay on top of Riley to be sure he didn't try to "pet" their heads:

Riley loved all of the exhibits but we just have a thing for turtles since Riley is our little Turtle!

By far Riley's favorite party of the day was seeing the giraffes and Jeremy fed one!! We also got to pet the giraffe. It's fur was much rougher than I had expected it would be because it looks so smooth.

Riley checking out the monkeys

Riley was worn out so we checked out the baby animals while he took a quick nap. We got to see a baby lion eat his lunch, a baby kangaroo being bottle fed, a baby porcupine pee all over the place, an ocelot getting bottle fed, and a baby warthog.

Of course Riley woke up for lunch...we got to eat in front of a large tank at the aquarium!

Jeremy and Riley petting the stingrays!

Jeremy feeding a stingray that almost flipped out of the tank!

Jeremy feeding another stingray some shrimp!

I wasn't sure if I would be able to pet the stingrays but I did and it was amazing! I was so glad that we all did it! They are much softer than I had imagined that they would be. When they feed they suck from the middle of their body. And when they sting they don't actually sting but they scratch you. However it hurts so badly that you think you were stung.

Riley standing up to look at the turtle standing up on the other side of the window!

Riley loved the aquarium as much if not more than the zoo. He would run around pointing at tank after tank and talking to the fish! He touched every animal that you could touch including the starfish and sea urchin...which also involved him splashing a bunch of water out of their tanks too, haha!

This one penguin would follow Riley and I as we'd walk along its tank!

We even took Riley on the water logs! On the ride we got to see some monkeys and birds that we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Riley really liked the birds but didn't seem to care one way or another about the logs. He didn't show any emotions...no laughing or crying!

I'm holding on to Riley for dear life!

We were pretty wet but dried off fast in the Arizona dry air!

Next we took a boat ride and got to see some turtles, baby ducklings, gazelles, an albino kangaroo and much more!

Then we took a ride on the "choo choo"!

We saw several ostriches but Riley loved seeing the giraffes again!

Libby bought Riley this stuffed giraffe and as you can see he was WORN out from our fun day!

Later that evening Libby and Raub came over to babysit Riley and play with Lego's while Jeremy, Casey, and I went out for sushi at Nakama Sushi! It was excellent. We started out with an appetizer called Monkey-Brains, it was really stuffed mushrooms! We over-ordered though because we didn't realize the sushi rolls there are so much larger than here. One of my favorite rolls was a flaming sushi roll topped with lobster! And the ginger was white and spicier than what we get here. If I lived in Phoenix I'd spend alot of evenings at Nakama for sure!

Uh Oh...Bump in the Road.

Everything was going great until I got in the shower on Wednesday morning in Sedona. When I cut the shower on I noticed 3 tiny spiders and thought they must've been on the shower head so I drowned them in the water and started taking my shower. Then when I reached for my shampoo bottle I noticed a bunch of spiders....like over 20! So I yelled for Jeremy and he starts killing spiders and says what's that on your back? I had a HUGE rash all over the left side of my back. We packed up quickly and went to check out and got our room for free. The manager assured us she was 99% sure that there were no bed bugs.

We took the scenic route back home to Phoenix and took a ride through the mountains and through the towns of Jerome, Prescott, and Wickenburg.

When we got home we were worn out so we just ran to the grocery store for a few items and to get some Benadryl for me since I seemed to be having an allergic reaction of some sort. We ordered a pizza from this place called Papa Murphy's where they fix the pizza but you bake it at home. We had a 5 meat Chicago style pizza and it was really good!

Roadtrip Day 2: Grand Canyon to Sedona

On Tuesday morning we woke up to temps in the mid 30's and it started SNOWING at the Grand Canyon! Riley loved it! We just couldn't believe we had gone from the 90's in Phoenix on Monday morning to the mid 30's at the Grand Canyon on Tuesday morning! Even though it was cloudy it was so beautiful to see it snowing at the canyon. The pictures just can't capture the beauty of it!

On our way out of the park we saw wild elk on the side of the road!

Sedona was about a 2 hour drive away. Sedona is known as "Red Rock Country" and it was beautiful! We had a view of red rocks from our hotel rooms. Once we checked in at our hotel we headed out to see the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is a chapel built into red rocks. The views from this elevation were beautiful.

Then we headed to Tlaquepaque for some shopping and an authentic Mexican dinner at El Rincon. We had their specialty...homemade machaca beef chimichangas and Riley enjoyed their cheese quesadilla! Then we did some shopping in downtown Sedona complete with dessert from a fudge shop. When we got to our rooms we had just missed sunset but it was beautiful nonetheless!

Grand Canyon

On Monday, Casey drove us out to the Grand Canyon. It was around a 4 hour drive but what a beautiful drive! We saw lots of desert and breathtaking mountains. We reached elevations up to 7,100 feet! Some mountains were still capped with snow that had not yet melted. For lunch we stopped at Wendy's in Tusayan, AZ right outside the Grand Canyon. Lets just say this Wendy's didn't have a dollar menu. They capitalized on their location with a combo costing $8 per person, haha!

We drove into the park and stopped at the visitor's center to take our first walk at the canyon and how beautiful it was. There are no words to describe one of God's greatest masterpieces. Here is our first view of the canyon from the South Rim:

Breathtaking. Tears to the eyes. All I could do was whisper a prayer of thanks to our Creator for allowing me to see one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.

When Riley first saw the Grand Canyon he pointed and said, "Wo-ow!" I guess nothing describes it like the view thru an 18 month old child's eyes! He kept saying "Oooo...!"

We did quite a lot of walking then drove to check-in at the hotel located right ont he South Rim, El Tovar. This hotel was wonderful with its history and the staff was wonderful with suggestions and they had excellent service.

Once we were settled in our rooms we took another walk along the Grand Canyon Village past the other hotels, cabins, restaurants,and shops. Then we took the shuttle along the Hermit Historic Road stopping at many sites. This area is not accessible to cars. We ended up at Hopi Point for the sunset. The wind gusts were extremely cold (it was in the 50's at sunset) and Riley had windburn so Jeremy and I had to take the shuttle back about 5 minutes prior to the sun finally setting. But what we saw was still beautiful and amazing!

With sunset being at 7:23 and our having to make a trek back to the hotel, it was pretty late so Jeremy stayed with Riley while Casey and I got a reservation at the El Tovar Dining Room. We enjoyed our girls night and our waiter was even so kind as to deliver Jeremy his dinner to our room! Casey and I enjoyed smoked salmon crostinis and spinach salads with apples, bacon, gorgonzola and shallots. Needless to say we were only able to take a few bites of our main courses: grilled pork chops with smoked gouda and green chile cornbread dressing!

I can't think of a more perfect way to spend one day at the Grand Canyon! It is so amazing the way it changes colors according to where the sun is shining. It is one of the most peaceful, beautiful, spiritual places I've ever been.