It was a total "Rudy" moment. Our second son, Ethan has wanted to see an Ohio State Buckeye football game his entire life.
Being from Ohio, I've raised the kids to be Buckeye fans even though they've grown up in North Carolina. My Grandpa was good friends and went to college with the Ohio State football coach, Woody Hayes, so our family has bled scarlet and gray for decades.
We've never taken the kids to a game though, not even the campus for that matter...so when Ethan's 14th birthday came along, my best friends kicked in. Sissy and Shane are two of the most Amazing friends on earth. I've known Sissy since before time and she along with our group of hometown friends are still together to this day. When they got four tickets to a game this fall and mailed them to us for Ethan, you can imagine his reaction.
The day finally arrived and we eagerly hurried home from school/work, driver's ed class...and drove until around 2:00 in the morning to Ohio where our other Awesome friends, Amy and Scott let the four of us crash for the night. After a yummy, hearty breakfast, we gave hugs and were on our way.
It was impossible not to be so swept away at how happy Ethan was, driving to the stadium. He couldn't believe it. We couldn't believe it, but when we finally approached, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at how much I'd cry, which is ridiculous because no one should cry in football.
What reeeeally made me want to cry though, was how much I'd forgotten how cold it could be in Ohio. Our two boys were determined not to cover their football jerseys with their coats and I admired their tenacity...but It. Was. Freezing. Cold.
Nearing the stadium, we parked and jumped out of the heated car, only to be blasted with artic air. From that minute forward, in such rare occasion, everything that could've gone right, did.
We took the boys to the Skull session which is across the way from the Horseshoe where they have somewhat of a pregame. The kids listened to the band play. Yes, I cried. It was a lot to take in and seemed absolutely surreal to tell the truth.
Leaving for the stadium, my husband took us to a tunnel area where the players came and went to warm up for the game. (I'm using the word 'warm' figuratively.) Ethan's eyes widened as coaches and player after player passed back and forth. High fiving, fist bumping...there were kids and fans lined up to see them and Ethan, Preston and my husband, Adam knew so many of them. I had no clue who anyone was, but loved seeing the excitement from the kids.
Then, it was time. Tickets in hand, we followed the fall sounds and smells of hot chocolate and nachos, fans bustling in and out while we searched for the right section to the entrance of our seats. Adam led the way with our boys in between until he stopped, looked back and smiled. "This is it."
I don't know that I could've been prepared for the view. In complete disbelief we approached the field, the stadium was wide open with so many colors, music, cheering, the entire disbelief of being there in real life was magical to say the least.
We found our amazing seats, snuggled in and prepared ourselves for what we could only imagine.
It was nothing less than phenomenal. The fans, the energy the band, the players exploding through, the F-18 fly-by, the screaming, cheering, touchdowns...on and on it was one of the best days of our boy's lives and ours.
It's not everyday you get to actually watch a dream come true, but for that day we did.
When it was time to go, we gathered our things, began to walk back to the car when Adam said there was one more thing he wanted us to see. Taking the boys to where the trophies were kept, he told them what he remembered about the different games.
If the day wasn't already beyond any hope of perfection, buses pulled up as the football players began piling out and walking by while Ethan, Preston (and Adam) could barely contain themselves. A coach and two of the players were unbelievable enough to stop and talk with the boys. Ethan was beside himself as Malik Harrison and Damon Arnette spent time with them while Adam and I stood in disbelief.
There's absolutely zero chance we'll ever be able to top that day. It was as though God was looking down smiling, He maybe even had Grandpa and Woody Hayes by His side. :)
Happy Birthday, Ethan. May all your days be as magical as that one and know there is no dream or wish too big.
THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER , SISSY AND SHANE! None of it would've been possible without YOU! THANK YOU, AMY AND SCOTT, TOO! You are So Wonderful!
Thank You to Malik Harrison and Damon Arnette. We will never forget the time you took with our boys and you'll never know what an outstanding impression you made.
We're back in North Carolina now where the weather is warmer, but so are our hearts. It was a day to remember without question and an experience we'll cherish for a lifetime.
O - H!
Being from Ohio, I've raised the kids to be Buckeye fans even though they've grown up in North Carolina. My Grandpa was good friends and went to college with the Ohio State football coach, Woody Hayes, so our family has bled scarlet and gray for decades.
We've never taken the kids to a game though, not even the campus for that matter...so when Ethan's 14th birthday came along, my best friends kicked in. Sissy and Shane are two of the most Amazing friends on earth. I've known Sissy since before time and she along with our group of hometown friends are still together to this day. When they got four tickets to a game this fall and mailed them to us for Ethan, you can imagine his reaction.
The day finally arrived and we eagerly hurried home from school/work, driver's ed class...and drove until around 2:00 in the morning to Ohio where our other Awesome friends, Amy and Scott let the four of us crash for the night. After a yummy, hearty breakfast, we gave hugs and were on our way.
It was impossible not to be so swept away at how happy Ethan was, driving to the stadium. He couldn't believe it. We couldn't believe it, but when we finally approached, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at how much I'd cry, which is ridiculous because no one should cry in football.
What reeeeally made me want to cry though, was how much I'd forgotten how cold it could be in Ohio. Our two boys were determined not to cover their football jerseys with their coats and I admired their tenacity...but It. Was. Freezing. Cold.
Nearing the stadium, we parked and jumped out of the heated car, only to be blasted with artic air. From that minute forward, in such rare occasion, everything that could've gone right, did.
We took the boys to the Skull session which is across the way from the Horseshoe where they have somewhat of a pregame. The kids listened to the band play. Yes, I cried. It was a lot to take in and seemed absolutely surreal to tell the truth.
Leaving for the stadium, my husband took us to a tunnel area where the players came and went to warm up for the game. (I'm using the word 'warm' figuratively.) Ethan's eyes widened as coaches and player after player passed back and forth. High fiving, fist bumping...there were kids and fans lined up to see them and Ethan, Preston and my husband, Adam knew so many of them. I had no clue who anyone was, but loved seeing the excitement from the kids.
Then, it was time. Tickets in hand, we followed the fall sounds and smells of hot chocolate and nachos, fans bustling in and out while we searched for the right section to the entrance of our seats. Adam led the way with our boys in between until he stopped, looked back and smiled. "This is it."
I don't know that I could've been prepared for the view. In complete disbelief we approached the field, the stadium was wide open with so many colors, music, cheering, the entire disbelief of being there in real life was magical to say the least.
We found our amazing seats, snuggled in and prepared ourselves for what we could only imagine.
It was nothing less than phenomenal. The fans, the energy the band, the players exploding through, the F-18 fly-by, the screaming, cheering, touchdowns...on and on it was one of the best days of our boy's lives and ours.
It's not everyday you get to actually watch a dream come true, but for that day we did.
When it was time to go, we gathered our things, began to walk back to the car when Adam said there was one more thing he wanted us to see. Taking the boys to where the trophies were kept, he told them what he remembered about the different games.
If the day wasn't already beyond any hope of perfection, buses pulled up as the football players began piling out and walking by while Ethan, Preston (and Adam) could barely contain themselves. A coach and two of the players were unbelievable enough to stop and talk with the boys. Ethan was beside himself as Malik Harrison and Damon Arnette spent time with them while Adam and I stood in disbelief.
There's absolutely zero chance we'll ever be able to top that day. It was as though God was looking down smiling, He maybe even had Grandpa and Woody Hayes by His side. :)
Happy Birthday, Ethan. May all your days be as magical as that one and know there is no dream or wish too big.
THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER , SISSY AND SHANE! None of it would've been possible without YOU! THANK YOU, AMY AND SCOTT, TOO! You are So Wonderful!
Thank You to Malik Harrison and Damon Arnette. We will never forget the time you took with our boys and you'll never know what an outstanding impression you made.
We're back in North Carolina now where the weather is warmer, but so are our hearts. It was a day to remember without question and an experience we'll cherish for a lifetime.
O - H!
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