Orange and Blue

The Sparkling Cider Was Flowing Orange and Blue...
Katherine was making Orange and Blue Jello Parfaits

Megan decided the ORANGE part of our meal (snacks) was her favorite...

Katherine was overjoyed at the results of the Orange and Blue Dinner preparations.

The Table Settings were coming together...

The Snacks were placed in a festive container...

And we settled down for our family Orange and Blue Dinner as we watched the BCS Game to see The Florida Gators BEAT The Oklahoma Sooners for the National Championship! It was a hard fight. Both teams played well, yet in the end, The Florida Gators came out on TOP. It's GREAT to be a Florida Gator...YES! It is also GREAT to be married to a Florida Gator!

For future Orange and Blue Dinners, I decided that John Klemas will be planning and preparing the meal. He gave me so many great suggestions on my Orange and Blue Dinner Post.

GO GATORS!

And to think....prior to meeting and marrying Ron, my LEAST favorite color combination in the entire palette was Orange and Blue. What can I say...what love won't do.....

My Cousin, The Sooner....

Gators VS Sooners or Cousin VS Cousin

My cousin, Karen, lives in Sooner Territory...Norman Oklahoma, to be precise. Tonight, the Sooners are playing our team, The University of Florida, Gators in the BCS Championship down the road in Miami.....Well, we have an Uncle, Bill, in Utah (who is NOT a Gators Fan..just ask him..or don't!) who loves to pull practical jokes. Knowing that Ron is the HUGE Gators Fan he is, and, at that point, he was still thinking the Ticket Fairy would land with tickets for the BCS Game, Uncle Bill put Karen up to one of his jokes last week....

Ring Ring Ring,

It is Karen calling to offer me "HER" tickets to the BCS Game because she wont be able to make it to South Florida. She cracked in the middle of the joke and told me, she just couldn't pull it off and it was Uncle Bill's idea. Well....I have been thinking about what I could do to beat him at his own game. Tonight I finally figured out what to do.....Read on...

Christmas Eve1961 at Aunt Marilyns house on State Street in American Fork, UT

This is Karen and her family, my Uncle Delbert, Aunt Betty, and her older brother, my cousin Jerry, and older sister, cousin Rita.

Tonight, just before Kick-off, I called my Uncle Bill in Utah. I left this message on his answering machine.... "I have to call now before KAREN and I enter the Stadium for the game. Isn't' it great we can attend the game together? Watch for us on TV!"

It was the best I could think of before the opportunity passed. HOWEVER....I am sure he did not fall for it..as I called from my HOME PHONE (duh!)

In reality, it would be awesome to go to a football game, or any event, with my cousin, Karen! I miss and love her!

Go Gators! It is Half Time and the score is TIED!

Get GOIN Gators!

In The Works

An Orange And Blue Dinner
For Tomorrow's BCS Game, I will be serving a dinner and snacks featuring Orange and Blue items. (I know...you are surprised)
BBQ or Orange Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Orange and Blue Jello Parfaits, Cheetos, Cheddar Cheese, Clementines, etc.
You get the idea. From past experience, I have to get my Blueberries and the Blue Jello today or early tomorrow. These items will be scarce in South Florida grocery stores tomorrow.
Remember, I am only a Florida Gator by marriage...my blood is not Orange and Blue like Ron's. The Orange and Blue Blood is, however, a dominant gene...which is why all of our children got it (whether they attend the school or not)

Do you have any other suggestions for Orange and Blue meal or snack items?

The BCS Ticket Fairy did not land here, so we will be watching from home, which, after attending The Orange Bowl Game in person last week, Ron says is his first choice.

GO GATORS!

Go Gators

It's Great To Be A

Florida Gator

(Even if it is by marriage)

The Florida Gators rolled over the

Alabama Crimson Tide in the

SEC Championship game today.

31-20! Go Gators!

National Championship Game....here we come!

All is well in the Gator Nation!

Go Gators!

OVER-RATED: "FOOTBALL WEATHER" For those in all points north....You can keep it....Wearing layers of clothing while shivering at a football game is NOT fun. I tried it yesterday (not by choice) and decided shorts and flip-flops mix well with College Football. The sun shining on our section saved the day!

UNDER-RATED: A Day In "The Swamp" with 90,000 of your closest friends while watching your husband play in The University of Florida Gator Alumni Band!

He Still Has The Touch!
Yep...that's my husband...The Gator Band Trumpet Player during the Half Time Show on Florida Field. To see all the alumni charge on to the field with the current band is breathtaking. There is electricity in the air!

Two of his biggest fans.....Me and Alison!

(After we shed a few layers of our insulated clothing! This is one of those days that every ray of direct sun was welcome on our section of The Swamp! The shade was freezing! I know....freezing is a relative term....freezing for FLORIDA!)

I got to go home with one of the Band Members.....My Husband

and Best Friend!

At this point, it was time to start putting the layers back on!
I know, if you are reading this from a "true" winter area...you are amused.

If you have ever experienced COLD in Florida, then you know what I mean...

COLD is COLD here, even if it is for 2 weeks out of every year.

Go Gators...

In case you did not hear..They BEAT the Citadel yesterday.

It was not even close enough to make the game exciting.

The Gator Nation

The Gator Nation

An afternoon with 90,000 of our closest friends at

The Swamp

University of Florida Homecoming Weekend

Ron and Jeffrey, Pre-Game

Me with Ron, Pre-Game Jeff, Alison, Me, and Ron Post-Game at our Seats

Ron and I had GREAT seats. We were seated on the first row

directly above the icon representing the jersey of former coach,

Steve Spurrier. It was an easy landmark for my friends in other

areas of the stadium to find me with. Jeff and Alison sat in the

student section and joined us at the end of the game.

Jeff and Alison

It was great to see them!

Me with Ron

Jeffrey, Alison, Ron

At Jeffrey and Alison's totally cute apartment.

They have a perfect location right off campus

They are ready for Halloween.

Katherine and Megan stayed at Jeff and Alison's apartment

during the game...it was better for ALL of us that way.

(not one time did someone ask me how much longer until the game is over)

They enjoyed the parade the day before, being in Gainesville,

staying at a hotel, and being on a family trip.

Game Day tradition...head to Sonny's BBQ for dinner.

Yummmmmm. Megan was sharing a little love with Jeffrey

while we were waiting for our table.

There is nothing else quite like spending an afternoon with

90,000 of your closest friends in The Swamp.

We arrived home well after midnight. Tired, happy, and ready for our own beds. A cool front is moving in to Florida (cool for, Florida) . We could not have ordered better weather than we had this weekend (except for a little drizzling at the parade on Friday) No direct sun until the 4th quarter of the game on Saturday. Just a perfect weekend all the way around.

Go Gators!

Gainesville or Bust

We are taking a much needed break this weekend as we head to Gainesville for Homecoming Weekend at University of Florida. The girls will miss school tomorrow (shhhh, dont tell Megan's LSU alum teacher). Being in Gainesville tomorrow ensures that we can attend the parade and enjoy the festivities and energy in every pocket of town. There is just nothing quite like Gainesville on the weekend during Football Season. If you have been there....you get what I am saying. There is just nothing quite like it.

We look forward to seeing Jeff and Alison, also. They are the ultimate Florida Gator fans and so much fun to be around. I am not sure Jeffrey will allow me inside the city limits without a batch of THESE. Fall is officially ushered in with the first batch of Jeffrey's all time favorites.

It's Great To Be A Florida Gator (or at least married to one) I married in to the Gator Nation.

Have a Wonderful Weekend.

I am off to finish packing and baking....

WoooHooo

Guess What Starts This Weekend???

Guess Who Will Be There???

College Football... Specifically.... Gator Football

(Is there any other College Football?)

Ron and Andrew head to Gainesville via Orlando tomorrow....

Opening Game This Saturday!!!

The First Game this season for Ron

The First AND Last game (in person) for Andrew...

Andrew leaves for LDS Business College in Utah

ONE WEEK FROM YESTERDAY!

GO GATORS!

Time To Break Out The Orange and Blue!!!!

(It is always out here, what am I thinking!)

Are you excited for College Football?

Who do you cheer for?

Does your fall revolve around College Football?

Go Gators

Gators Victory!
A perfect Thanksgiving Weekend... A Perfect Day In The Swamp..
A perfect way to end the 2007 Football Season!
The UF Gators beat The FSU Seminoles!!!
Ron, Jeffrey, Alison, my brother, Brent, Alan (Ron's Brother) and his son, Robert(an FSU student) were all at the game.
The Gator "Ticket Fairy" found a ticket for Ron and Brent for this sold out game.
After Thanksgiving Dinner in Gainesville, we spent the night at Cabot Lodge, where Jeffrey works. We braved the Black Friday crowds for a short while yesterday, then headed to Orlando We ate dinner with my parents, played Phase 10, and then left Ron there with Brent.
The girls and I drove home last night. With the movie "Hairspray" blasting, the ride home zoomed by. Of course, I got to listen from the front. It is amazing how much more I caught when "listening" only to a movie.
Today... we set up the Christmas tree... pictures to follow. I love setting up my Christmas Tree.

Go Gators

Florida Gator Alumni Band Weekend

Ron got his trumpet warmed up and off he went! Go Gators! Go Ron!

What an amazing experience just to watch the former Band Members, Majorettes (still fitting into their college uniforms-an impressive event in and of itself!), Flag Corps, Twirlers, Cheerleaders, etc.

They all march out at half time in front of the current Gator Band.and perform a song alone before the current Gator Band joins them for another song, and other traditional University of Florida Songs. I must say they sound incredible alone...after so many years....many, many years for some of them.

Let me say... there were some 40+ year olds in their college Twirler and Majorette Costumes (think tiny, skimpy, little fabric, nothing to camoflouge the years....) They simply looked amazing. What a motivater to put that on every year!!!! Were it not for the fact that they their shoes were different, I could not tell most of them apart from the 20 year olds. WOW! I will just say.... WOW!

We had great seats, sitting right behind the Band... all the Tubas were a few rows ahead of us. At first I thought...oh no... we won't hear a thing. That was not the case, but in The Swamp, the noise level is so loud, one should never expect to hear much but the crowd and the band!

Sitting by the band was totally fun. They keep the entire stadium Rockin'
Throughout the game, many of the Alumni Band members would play along with the Band. Especially The Fight Song. The high scoring game gave plenty of Fight Song opportunities.

If I could have ordered weather, this day would have been it. Not a cloud in the sky. Freezing temperatures in the morning (we were bundled up) and then perfect temperatures in the afternoon. Game time was amazing. We were in full sun the entire game and were never hot. Jeff and Alison were in the shade and said they got chilled at times.

Here I am with my Rock Band Star Hero! Pre-Game

When we started out in the morning. It was too cold for the girls to sport their Gator Cheerleader outfits. Katherine managed to put her top on. I think I am the only person (other that the opposing team players and fans-which was a small number-FAU Owls) in the stadium of 90,000 who is not wearing some form of orange and blue

Here he is...ready to line up and march on to the field. This must be so exciting to return to an activity of your college days that you loved so much. What an experience then and now!

Go Gators!

Go Gators

Guess Where We Head Today..... One Guess....
Ron is marching in the Gator Alumni Band during Half Time this Saturday when the UF Gators play the FAU Owls. Watch for the exciting photos!
Gainesville, FL is such a fun place to be during College Football Game Weekends!
We're off!!!!
Go Gators!

Go Gators

University of Florida Homecoming

The Parade...Gator Gallop...Pancake Breakfast at The Institute...Gator Growl...The Fireworks... The Game...Mr. 2 Bits...The Swamp

There is nothing like UF during Homecoming Weekend.

Ron took Katherine and Megan (Yes, I was home alone for 2 1/2 days..dont be jealous! I got soooo much done all locked up in my house alone!!!!!) to Gainesville for their first, of many more to come, Homecoming Weekend.

Ron and Jeff at The Swamp

At the Parade.... Megan and Katherine find a dog to love wherever they go.
The Chomp... This is one of the first actions all of our children learn how to do. The words follow shortly after... Go Gators!!!!

An afternoon at The Swamp with 90,000 of their closest friends...

Go Gators

Week 3 of College Football.

Ron is in Gainesville for the

University of Florida Gators vs Tennessee Vols.

He has a great place to stay with our son, Jeffrey, and gets to

re-live his college days visiting The University of Florida campus. If you know a Florida Gator.. you know their blood is seriously Orange and Blue. There is nothing like SEC College Football fans. Their passion leaves nothing to the imagination as to who and what they stand for.

It's Great To Be Married to a Florida Gator. I know am a rare exception as I am so happy to see my husband's zeal for College Football. He does not do enough for himself and this is one time of year I love to see him enjoy.

Congratulations, Alison!

Alison Rakes graduated from University of Florida this weekend! With her Education Degree, she is an official "Edu-Gator" Now on to the Masters Program!

Alison is Jeffrey's girlfriend. We have enjoyed their visits to West Palm Beach for two weekends in a row.

Hopefully, we have not scared her, and they will make the drive from Gainesville often. She survived one of our family Phase 10 games and endured all the family photos and stories we could cram in. Hopefully, Jeffrey was not too embarassed. They are a fun couple and bring out the best in each other.

Go Gators! Go Alison! The world is yours! I'll make sure you have some lollipops the next time we are together! (One of her favorite snacks!)

Go Gators---Again!

For all my "Gator Nation" friends and family.... Oh Yes, it's great to be a Florida Gator!
Congratulations to the Men's Basketball team for winning the National Championship for the second year in a row!

Go Gators!

Orange & Blue Dinner

The Final Four Basketball Game
My all time least favorite color combination is... Orange and Blue. Since marrying in to the "Gator Nation", I have made friends with this color combo, although it is still at the bottom of my list of choices.

The Gator Basketball team won tonight, meaning, Monday, April 2, they go to the Final Game of The Final Four College Basketball National Championship!!! They play The Ohio State Buckeyes. This photo shows our Orange and Blue "Good Luck" dinner last time they played Ohio State for the National Football Championship and WON!!! Another Orange and Blue dinner is in the works for Monday. Blue jello, Blueberries, Carrots, Oranges, Orange Soda,etc, you get the picture.... I know now to shop early... last championship game there was not a blueberry or orange cheetos to be found after trying several stores in the area! These fans are a force to reckon with in every pocket of Florida.

Here we are in "The Swamp" as the Gator Football stadium is called. We were at a fall Football game where my husband got to march with the Alumni Gator Marching Band at halftime. What and experience for him to participate in. We enjoyed watching the band, the game, and all the crazy fans in and outside of the stadium. People watching at its best!

GO GATORS!