OSU Homecoming

Ohio State's homecoming was a few weeks ago, and the fraternity I advise is known for their homecoming floats in the parade. So I spent a few evenings that week helping them out with the pomping, which is taking small sheets of tissue paper and stuffing them in chicken wire. There is a technique to it and I was taught the correct way to do it at my very first float build session last year. I was not doing it correctly prior to this. #mybad

The guys get SO into the float build and I get so giddy to see a group of 35 college age boys so into the largest craft project I've ever seen. There is no detail missed when doing these floats. If it doesn't look right, they'll tear it apart and do it again. This is why they've won this float competition the past four years. I can't take credit for anything because they come up with the idea on their own. They might consult me about certain details, etc. I can take credit for how they decorated the 'championship trophies' on the 2013 float. I did tell them to use clear plastic and put a light inside to make it shine. I like to think that's why they won, but I'm pretty sure it was the 1/16 exact scale of Ohio Stadium and the larger than life Brutus that kissed the national championship trophy. :)

Between all the guys and an entire week, I think they put around 450 man hours into this project. They came in just a tad over budget, but since they won, they actually made money thanks to a nice $1,000 first place prize. And of course, no one slept all week.

No OSHAA rules were violated during this process.

Brutus is going to stomp the Rutgers helmet into the ground.

Sometime around 1am.

Finished product from the front. (The shorty shorts make me uncomfortable.)

In the parade.

I am a proud advisor, but there really wasn't any other floats that compared to this one. Very proud of them and all their hardwork. They represent the fraternity well and most days I'll claim them. :)

Molly and I went to the parade and sat with the guys that were not riding on the float and then watched the pep rally in the Ohio Union. It was hot and sweaty, but there were some really cool balloon artwork pieces around. I especially liked this balloon block o.

{My coat is the 2013 version of this one.}

On Saturday, I actually got to go to the homecoming game with Stacie. Cara was also in town and she and Molly ended up going to the game too, but they were on the opposite side of the stadium as me. But I had a great time and even though it rained, I stayed dry in the suite! :)

Molly, myself and Cara at the O Zone prior to the game.

Stacie and I before the game.

Stacie and I at the game.

They have the BEST cupcakes in the trustees suite! :)

TBDBITL

It was a cold, wet game, so there weren't a lot of people left for Carmen Ohio.

Even though it was cold, we warmed up with hot chocolate and coffee before leaving! :)

It was great to see so many friends - old and new - during homecoming weekend. I love later games too, because then there is more time for socializing with everyone at tailgates. And thank you Stacie for letting me be your date to the game again. :)

Ohio State is so special to me because it is my school. I graduated from OSU. The diploma on my office wall says The Ohio State University. When I sing Carmen Ohio I know every single word because it is my alma matter. I don't just cheer for the football team 14 days out of the year. Sometimes I get so annoyed with people that didn't go to my school, but still claim to be the biggest Buckeye fan or sing Carmen Ohio like it's their own song. Maybe that's wrong of me, but I'm pretty loyal to my school and I am so glad that I chose to be a Buckeye 12 years ago. I can't think of another university I'd want to be a part of for the rest of my life. I'm a proud alum.

Moore Wedding

Last weekend my sister's best friend got married. Molly served as the Maid of Honor.

The wedding was held at Miranda's family farm and the ceremony and reception took place in one of their fields, which is where I know she spent lots of time as a child and young adult working with her livestock projects. I love that they had it somewhere so special.

It ended up being a little chilly on Saturday. I froze. It was 80some degrees earlier in the week and 40 degrees on Saturday. Go figure.

BUT, it was gorgeous!

Molly standing at the alter. Crying.

Miranda and her dad.

Molly and Clay

My adorable sister

With two of my best friends. {Earrings from here.}

Wickham ladies with the bride.

At the reception we did some dancing after dinner and just hung out for a while. The flower girls are adorable and they sang a few kareoke songs, along with the groom and groomsmen. Ha!

After Mom and I left the reception, I ran over to Piketon's homecoming dance to see Payton and Avery all dressed up. It was Avery's first dance, so I didn't want to miss that! I do not like how I look in this photo, but it is what it is. It's my little Avy Becca! Now all grown up and in high school!

Sunday we did some lounging around, then Mom, Molly, John and I went to the Beaver Octoberfest for the parade. Of course, we also had lemon shake-ups and a corndog. And kettle corn! Then when we got home I did a little buckeye 'harvesting' and picked up all the buckeyes that had fallen from our trees. Not too bad this year, but also not great.

Life Lately

The month of September was busy, busy, busy between FSR and a visit day I was coordinating. So I was really excited when that visit day was done and I was able to enjoy the weekend.

A little snapchat sharing my excitement for the day being a success! (and over!!)

 As soon as I got home from work on the day of my visit day, I headed to Cincy to watch Molly run in the Cincinnati Beer Run/Glo Run/Newport Octoberfest Run. The website talked about the run taking place during a festival, so John and I were excited to go along to cheer her on, but it wasn't much of a festival. Although, there was German music, some yodeling, brats, sauerkraut and beer. So I guess it was a German festival. Just a very small one.

This was Molly's first 5k other than running in the Dogwood 5k's with me, so I was really proud of her for registering and running it. :)

Pre running.

Molly and John with Cincy in the background.

John and I sat on the bridge and waited for her to run by. There she goes.

Molly's in that picture crossing the finish line.

All participants got a beer mug.

This pose was for our mom.

After she and John finished their beers, we headed to La Rosa's for pizza. It was my first time eating there and I really liked it. But I also just really love pizza.

Saturday we went to campus to tailgate for the Cincinnati game. Molly and I watched the game from Tineygate (get it, like Hineygate (RIP), but at The Little Bar??). Anywho.... Luckily the Bucks pulled off a big win over the Bearcats.

Me, Molly's friend Brian, and Molly at Tineygate.

 Sunday a group of my college friends came to down and we had a small shower for our friend Katie who is expecting her first baby at the end of October. A few of the girls that have younger babies brought them along.

Stacy and Sydney, Sarah, Me, Katie, Ashley, Sarah, Monica and Mitchell, and Abra

Sunday night I went to the grocery store and saw this 'locally grown pumpkins' sign and the pumpkins were from Bainbridge, which is where a lot of my family is from! So that was a nice little surprise and made me smile. :)

Last week Molly and I raced to Westfall to watch Payton and Avery play basketball and got there in time to see them serve 3 times before they lost and the game was over. Womp. Womp. 

bump, set, spike.

 I have first birthday parties and weddings to add to this mix, but there are enough pictures to make it into another post, so I'll just leave you with a picture of my baby.

I'm Bowie and I'm cute.

Ohio State 4Miler

In late September I ran in the Ohio State 4-miler run, which finishes on the 50 yard line of Ohio Stadium. Last year it was in late November and it was absolutely freezing. This year it was super hot and I was sweating the entire time. I can't win.

Anyway, it wasn't a good race for me. I'm not a fan of running places that I know what is ahead of me. So when I'm in front of the Ohio Union and about ready to die I can' think "oh the finish line must be just around this corner" because I know it's on the other side of campus and is a long ways away. But anyway, I did it.

This years run went down the new tunnel/ramp where the team walks on Saturdays, so that was cool. And of course it's exciting to be on the field inside the stadium as well. If only there were 100,000 plus people cheering in the stands, I might run a little faster. :)

Running into the stadium.

Heading down the tunnel. The sides say "Our Honor Defend".

This giant Block O on the ceiling right before the end of the tunnel. I wonder if it's a light?

Running down the sideline to the endzone.

Heading for the 50 yardline.

 Both years when I have ran I've ended up finishing by myself because I haven't trained and am really slow and my running friends leave me behind (which is what they should do!).

Horrible selfie, but I'm done.

Erin and I with another 5k (plus!) done. {My favorite homage tee.}

After the race we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch. I jumped in their football player cutout to get my photo taken and apparently my 'tough face' that I make looks very similar to a 12 year old girls' duck face. Ugh.

Quack.

My boss is a runner and he says the difference between a runner and a jogger is an entry fee, so I feel like I need to get registered for another race so that I have something to work towards. Because I have been majorly slacking in the gym department these last few weeks.

 

Cave Climbing

A few weeks back Molly and I were wanting to enjoy the nice weather and get out of the city, so we went to the Indian Caverns in the Powell/Lewis Center/Delaware area. We'd seen the signs and always talked about going, so we went.

The caves were not at all like we had expected. We thought there would be caves we could climb in, etc, but it ended up being a lot smaller and unnatural that we had expected. For example, there were lights and speakers down in the caves and after about 5 minutes we had seen everything. So that was a little disappointing. Especially because we had to pay $9 for it! 

(Side note: DO NOT PAY for the petting zoo. We did not, but the people in front of us did and we walked over to look at it and it was only 2 goats! $5/person to feed 2 goats? Um, no!)

no idea what this was a picture of now that i'm looking at it.

A fossil in the cave wall.

Molly climbing the stairs.

The stairway was called "Fat Man's Nightmare". Molly said her hips were too wide for it.

 

 

Cave explorers

While it was a fun little sister outing, it definitely wasn't the big hiking, cave exploring excursion like we had imagined. So I think we need to go to Hocking Hills sometime this fall and check out those caves.

Alma Homecoming

A few weekends ago I went back home for the day to visit my grandparents and attend the Alma Homecoming. The homecoming is something I've been going to off and on since I was little. All of the past and present residence of Alma come back for a little covered dish reunion. 

Alma is a little dot of a 'town' on a map, if it's even on a map. If you drive south on 23, you probably pass a cute white church, a log cabin that's now an ugly apartment building, and a gas station. That's it. (For a while there was also an adult bookstore, but they said it was outside of the jurisdiction. You know, the jurisdiction of nothing!)

Anyway, that's home for my grandparents and that little white church is my 'home church', all 14 regular attendees. :)

Because I completely missed/forgot about Grandparents Day, I went home the following weekend and spent the day with Mam and Papaw at the Alma Homecoming. The food is delicious. There were 3 different kinds of noodles, and yes I ate all three kinds. I love reunions because I love to eat! Especially reunion type food - mashed potatoes, chicken, noodles, green beans, meat loaf....yum!

  

One thing we do every year at the Alma Homecoming is have a crawdad race. Each year all of the kids go to the creek (crick?) across the road and get crawdads, then they race in two tracks (made from gutters). Now I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I may have been the runner-up in the first ever Alma Homecoming Crawdad Race about 20 years ago. I retired after my big win. :)

 

Everyone eating - and yes, crawdad is spelled wrong in the sign and they still use it year after year.

My Mam and Papaw taking advantage of a little bit of shade.

It was a great day spent with my grandparents and Uncle Randy. After it was over my grandma and I were hanging out in the back of the car while Papaw was talking (normal for us) and I was going thru the 49,390 maps they have tucked in the car doors. I found this one of Franklin County. It's fairly old because none of the people listed on that map have been in office for at least the last 8 years. Dewey would have been the last to leave and that was in 2006. So it's probably 10+ years old. No wonder we get lost when traveling to Columbus. :)