Nix: Party of 5: Alabama game and pumpkin carving

Brad and had plans to fly to Tuscaloosa for the weekend of the Alabama v. Tennessee game. Our flight was cancelled, so we drove the 9+ hours instead. It was an exhausting, but fun weekend. Our good friends Ryan and Kathleen and Elizabeth and Bentley were in town, which always makes for a good time. Our seats were fantastic (thanks to Kathleen's dad who is a TN Senator) but right in the middle of the TN section.

Pumpkin carving is a Nix tradition that I love. I don't love the gooey insides, but I do love how excited these kiddos get. James wanted to count each pumpkin seed, and Luke was as happy as a clam to just kick his ball around. Natalie, true to form, wasn't particularly fond of the gooey insides. James and Natalie drew their pumpkin faces---pretty good, if I say so myself.

Some random, sweet pictures:

James takes a baseball class once a week at Tanglewood park, which just happens to be the Bush's neighborhood park. When they are in Houston (and not in Maine), the Bushes go to the same church and service as we do, and they usually sit about three rows in front of us. Barbara routinely walks her dogs at Tanglewood park, and we have seen her the past two weeks. On this particular day I had parked next to the handicapped space (not actually in the space), and her Secret Service had me blocked in. I so wanted to get a picture of Natalie with Mrs. Bush, but I resisted the urge to bother her. I did snap this.