Our Last Day in Boone

 

Saturday evening we took a trip to the App State football field to see their facility they had built since we last visited. Big Papa had to give us the grand tour. We started at the very very top, the press box.

We worked our way down through the floors weaving in and out of the various rooms. We stopped in the chancellor’s box for Ava to pose for a few pictures- she is getting really good about posing ;) I think she thought she was something sitting in these seats right on the 50 yard line.

We were looking at all of the rooms they have for the players and coaches and happened to run into the head football coach himself. He talked to Ava a while about her green and white tights- little did he know she is as crazy about football as he is!

The facility is very nice, right down to the black and gold toilets with the App “A” engraved on them- no kidding! However, I think Ava was most fascinated with the players’ lounge area where a few of the coaches’ kids were playing- she made her self right at home!

We did manage to find her something pink in the place- a weight in the weight room of all places ;)

One of the most impressive rooms in the facility is the locker room (of course). It’s a beautiful room with stone walls and columns. Past players are able to pay for a locker and have their name and number on that locker. We found Big Papa’s and had Ava stand inside it.

They had a group of recruits visiting with their families and had some things set up on a table in the locker room. We grabbed one of the helmets and put it on Ava. We had to tell her to hold it since it was so heavy, I was afraid it might break her neck just to sit it on her head.

She didn’t know what to think- haha! It sure was funny looking- she didn’t leave it on for too long, I don’t think she liked not being able to see out of it very good.

Adam labeled her is future little linebacker and I said…Ummm….- NO! :)

After touring the stadium, which is by far the most beautiful facility I have ever seen, but then again, I haven’t seen many, so that may not be saying much…. (no, really it is beautiful) we headed to eat dinner at Big Papa’s favorite- Sagebrush. We knew Ava would enjoy the peanuts the have by the bucket! Before we went to eat Adam had been wanting to ride up Howard’s Knob. It’s a mountain that looks back over the city. The day before Adam and I had taken off on a mini road trip while Grammy and Ava stayed at the house. We were just sight-seeing and he tried to find Howard’s Knob without the map…big mistake, especially in the snow! We ended up in some ‘Mountain People’ areas and kept waiting for people to come chase us away with guns- haha! We turned on this one road and at that point I wasn’t sure we would ever make it home because it was covered- COVERED in snow and didn’t look like anyone had driven up or down it. Although I will say it provided for some beautiful scenery, especially as the sun was setting.

We obviously did make it back home safely and Saturday night before we went to eat, Big Papa showed us the way to Howard’s Knob. We climbed and climbed and climbed! We ended up on the back side of the mountain the roads were really dicey. We ended up deciding to turn around before we got into a situation we couldn’t get out of, especially since it was getting dark. Well, Adam turned into a drive way and went to back out of the driveway and ended up starting to slide. I think all the oxygen was sucked out from the gasp both Grammy and I made! haha! Poor Adam he had a car full of drivers that all knew how to do it better than he was. We ended up (after a little more sliding and several small backwards and forwards movements) getting turned back towards the bottom of the mountain and headed back into town. I told Adam later that I think he was meant to drive in the snow- especially with as calm as he was as we all tried to tell him how to drive ;0

Ava slept the entire time! She always misses the excitement, which is probably a good thing in these situations!

After eating and getting back home Ava was in the mood to dance. Fortunately for her, her great-grandparents are expert dancers. She was in heaven.

I’m pretty sure Grammy and Big Papa were ready to take a break from all the Princess movies Ava asked to watch whenever the tv was on. She wasn’t really into Big Papa’s westerns- haha!

We had a great time and wished we could have stayed longer- especially Ava! She wasn’t ready to leave and has asked to go back to Grammy’s house (or to see snow and ski) several times!

 

On the way home we pass through Columbia and called Elyse to see if she was free to meet up with us. We stopped and had a late lunch at a place called ‘Lizard’s Thicket’. Talk about an interesting name! It was southern cooking that was a good fit for all of us. Ava like sitting next to her sweet cousin. I think she was almost eating off Elyse’s plate by the time she was done she was sitting so close to her! Oh, and she has officially named her ‘Leesee’- so Elyse you should feel loved now that you have your official nickname ;)

We were ready to be home by the time we pulled into the garage at home, but we were already missing the mountains! Hopefully we will be able to visit more often now that Ava’s a little older and easier to travel with. A big thank you to Grammy and Big Papa for their wonderful hospitality.