Missouri

This past weekend, Adam and I headed to Columbia, MO to watch Alabama. This is Mizzou's first year in the SEC and we didn't know when we'd play there again, so we decided to make the trip. We spent an afternoon in St. Louis touring the Anheuser Busch brewery and going to the top of the Arch. We had a lot of fun on what was probably our last trip alone for a little while!

These were the nicest stables I've ever seen!

And the nicest brewery! Not that I've seen many, or any!

Bottling plant

Drinking my Pepsi after the tour! 

Such pretty trees we got to see all weekend during our 20+ hours in the car!

View from the top of the arch

Cardinals stadium

Outside at the bottom of the arch. We got a picture at the top, but it wasn't very good.

Pre-game and pre-rain

We weren't at the top, but we were about 5 rows from it! 

The Hill, standing room only

We were SOAKED by the end of the game! 

 The game was the second worst game, weather-wise, that I've ever sat through, but we stuck it out until the end. Or, almost the end, there were about 2 minutes left in the game. We got a great win though, so it made it a little better. Roll Tide!!

Football Season Begins

Adam and I started off the football season headed to Dallas for our big game with Michigan in the Cowboys Stadium. Danielle, a friend of ours that taught with us in China lives in Tyler, TX so she made the drive to come see us in Dallas. We just spent time walking around the mall, eating lunch and catching up. I'm so glad she was willing to drive to come see us. I miss her! 

Dandur (her nickname in China) and me

Roll Tide

We attended an Alumni pre-game tailgate party!

Cowboys Stadium

View from the top, literally!

BamaJam 2012 and Taylor's fun

Pepsi is the title sponsor of BamaJam in Enterprise, AL. Adam had to be down there on Thursday to meet and greet customers, etc. He was able to get Wes, Amber and me some tickets for Saturday night. We headed down and had a great time! Although, we were up a little late. I think I'm too old to stay up until 1:00am! 

Shot of the crowd...crazy! 

We also got to meet Uncle Kracker and Sheryl Crow. On Friday, Adam got to meet NEEDTOBREATHE. (And by meet, I mean get our picture taken.) 

NEEDTOBREATHE

Uncle Kracker

Sheryl Crow! 

 Here are some pictures of the concert.

Kid Rock's opening

Mama Donna and Papa Rex kept Taylor while we were gone. On Friday night, after Taylor helped Hilary fix her hair, they went to dinner at Moe's BBQ and then took Taylor to her first movie, Madagascar 3!

Hilary is VERY tenderheaded, so this is LOVE!

Then, on Saturday, they went to Jeremiah's 1st birthday party! So far, I don't have any pictures from it, but here are pictures from Saturday night.

Mickey tattoo on her belly. Mama Donna didn't want it to show at church the next day.

Stickers, stickers everywhere!

Such a good cookie, Aunt Hehe!

 Then, it was time for a bath with unintentional bubbles! Mom turned the jets on and out came bubbles! Two of the jets were turned up and not into the water. Mom and Hilary apparently got soaked, and Taylor thought it was all hilarious!

Taylor likes that funky straw! 

It was a great weekend, although a little exhausting for all of us. I think we're all still recovering!

ToadLick Music Festival

This weekend, Adam got us TIP (Toadally Important People) tickets to the ToadLick Music Festival in Dothan, AL. It was awesome! We got down there Friday night in time to see Sawyer Brown, one of my favorites from back in the day. They sang a song off their new album that was great too; it is called Smokin' Hot Wife!

Later that night, Clay Walker performed! He was really good! I had so much fun singing his songs. I sent Hilary and Erin a text message with his picture. They were jealous! We (and Lindsey) used to sing his songs ALL THE TIME growing up! He sang all of my favorites, except Hypnotize the Moon.

In between the two, Jake Owen performed. I knew a couple of his songs, but we took off to the TIP Lounge for more dessert. I felt a little old enjoying Sawyer Brown and Clay Walker more than a newbie, but I just don't listen to country music like I used to.

On Saturday night, we got to see Sara Evans perform. I took several pictures of her, but between her shiny outfit and the spotlight, none of them were good pictures. Montgomery Gentry and Dierks Bentley also performed, but we didn't stay for their shows. See admission above that I just don't listen to country music like I used to.

You can't see them in this picture, but I do have on cowgirl boots!

Also, to make the weekend even better, Adam and I went to see Hunger Games before the concerts started. I hestitated to read the books all last year, but finally took the plunge over Christmas break and LOVED them! I read them on our Kindle, but enjoyed them so much, Adam gave me a set for my birthday. So sweet!

I think this movie was a much better adaptation of the book than the Twilight adaptation.

While we were having our fun, Taylor had fun with Nannie and Papa!

She LOVES to ride the golf cart!

What?

Every morning and afternoon, to and from school, there are several different animals we see--horses, cows, donkeys, goats, and even a buffalo! (You'd think we live in the country, but no.) She is always talking about wanting to see those animals, so Nannie told her she'd take her to see donkeys the next time she visited them. Nannie was true to her word and took Taylor to feed some donkeys!

She wouldn't let them eat out of her hand.

We all had a great weekend and were super exhausted when we got home. I know Nannie and Papa were exhausted too! Taylor is a handful!