Back to the 'burg

James and I will take advantage of just about any opportunity to head back to Williamsburg.  This year,  we analyzed the fall schedule to identify a weekend where we could catch a football game.  It was a bit of a goldilocks effort, with some games being too early in the day (and overlapping with soccer games) and other games being too late in the season (and risking freezing in the stands).  There was one game, though, that was just right.  

Last Saturday's game against Delaware was at 7:00 pm, right in the middle of September.  We gambled that the weather would be good and knew we'd have plenty of time to get into town after soccer games.  

We made a quick stop at the hotel to change out of soccer clothes before claiming a prime early-bird parking spot about a block from the stadium.  Of course it helps that WM football tends to be not nearly the massive draw as the games at PSU, or even UVA for that matter.  Even so, having spent several years as students scoping out parking spaces, we celebrated our small victory.

We love showing the boys the campus, in the vague hope that maybe it will feel like a home away from home by the time they are juniors and seniors in high school...

Posing with Mr. Jefferson on campus:

and in CW:

Almost as important as TJ is the still-relatively-new mascot:  the Griffin.  While we still resent the NCAA taking away our Tribe feathers, we do admit to liking the Griffin.  Rudy was disappointed that we wouldn't buy him at ($17!!) stuffed Griffin.  And, as one of my Facbook friends pointed out, this picture wouldn't be nearly as charming if they were posing with one of the other mascots considered:  a pug.  

Showing off some Tribe pride:

We met up with the kids' summer babysitter for an early dinner.  We're thrilled that she loves W&M as much as we did!

 

This was early in the game.  Before it turned into the worst. football. game. EVER. Really - I have never seen anything worse.  Every time there would be a decent first down, there would be several horrendous efforts to follow.  For the first time ever, I saw a field goal get blocked and then returned for a 92 yard touchdown.  Uh...go Tribe??  We finally just started telling ourselves that they must have a young team and in a couple years they're going to be ah-may-zing.  

(Still it's a rough football season.  PSU, WM, and even the Steelers are all hurting...)

We left the game because of lightning during the third quarter.  Play resumed after a 90 minute weather delay, but we were snug in our beds by then!

The next morning we claimed another prime parking spot a block off DOG Street.  Another beautiful day meant more time for strolling around CW.  We checked out a few of the colonial shops and gardens.  Who knew you could grow pomegranates in Virginia?

We met up with Brian, Rebecca, Lila, and Ike.  We missed Lila's birthday party the previous weekend but we still wanted to celebrate with her.  We had lunch at the Cheese Shop (sigh), opened presents, picked out a treat from Wythe, and even did a quick craft. 

Lila wanted to show off her new birthday scooter, so we walked (scooted) over to old campus. 

Lila had already informed her parents that she wanted to go to college with Ikey someday.   We did our best to sell her on W&M.  Although Brian declared he doesn't want them going far away or to a good school, lest he risk his kids moving too far away from him.  (I wonder if that's why he and I were never too strongly encouraged to study abroad??)

I love how Lila is scooting around Lord Botetourt in this one:

We played our second game of tag in the Sunken Gardens before heading back to DOG Street.

After the game on Saturday evening, we drove the kids by the campus art museum to see it lit up at night.  Of course Brady wanted to go back.  It was a timely visit, as they had a display on ancient Greek pottery.  Unfortunately, the rest of the museum was closed (and, much to my irritation, they still charge full price!)

As much as we wanted to stick around all afternoon, it was time to face reality and head home.  At least we got to round out the weekend with a Steelers loss in overtime.  Sheesh...