good stuff: 1st UT Football Game!!!

I used to enjoy going to UT football games growing up. We didn't go that often, so when we did it was a special event. I have always thought that Caroline would enjoy going to a game, but I have not thought that spending a load of cash on the chance that Caroline would sit still (not to mention have fun and pay attention) for 3+ hours was a very safe bet. However, the Vols are not doing so hot this year (driving demand and price of tickets down) and "I too, like to live dangerously." I let Beth have a much needed night to herself and Grandpa (my dad) and I devised a plan to take her to her first game - UT vs Miss. St.

Let me just say, I couldn't have asked for it to go any smoother - it was perfect. We thought it was going to be cold, but it turned out not to be so bone-chilling (in fact we didn't use hardly any of the complete extra bag of warm clothes we toted with us!) Caroline could not believe how many people there were. I snapped this picture when we first walked in and you can see the shock she was going through.

Grandpa had a friend that hooked us up with 2 tickets that were really great and we were able to get a 3rd ticket from a scalper on the way in that was in the same section as us. The stadium was by no means crowded and so we had plenty of room. Here is a screenshot from my iPhone showing the ariel view of where we sat.

One of Caroline's favorite parts was seeing the band play at half time (don't know where she would get that from!) Here she is clapping along.

She also loved meeting Smokey, even though I think it was actually Smokey Jr. I didn't get a picture of this but she kept saying all night, "I shake Smokey's hand. That Smokey...He's silly, Daddy!"

Here is Caroline and Grandpa at watching the game intently.

She did such a good job at the game and was so well behaved. Everyone around us kept complementing her about how well she did. Caroline even got involved in the game by cheering-on the defense and making some noise on 3rd downs - "Go. Tennesseeeeee!!!"

On the way back home we stopped by Walmart to pick up some essentials and she wanted to push the cart.