Football with Friends

Just returned from a big day in Ann Arbor, watching Michigan football in the freakishly summer-like heat. We left the girls at my parents, picked up Chris and Sarah at 7:30, and drove through Starbucks before heading back to the old stomping grounds. It was a gorgeous morning there - Farmer's Market in full swing, people out walking absolutely everywhere - and we hit Zingerman's first to grab favorite sandwiches, pickles, and brownies for some tailgating. We parked in a yard, got out the chairs and football, and sat in the shade, enjoying some great food, cold beer, and relaxing conversation with no kids around to interrupt. Fantastic!

Then, we walked to the game, where we immediately became a part of the 100,000 hottest, sweatiest people in America on October 6th. It was hot. It was really, really hot. Despite the heat, we did the wave, talked and talked, and even managed to cheer appropriately after paying attention to some good Michigan football.

On the way home, we had an early dinner at Common Grill in Chelsea. So many good memories there; it's the place Jason and I used to go for a splurge, meet friends for Sunday brunch, and celebrated Jason's dental school graduation with our families. Still really yummy.

We hit a traffic jam just east of Grand Rapids, which made us a tiny bit grouchy, but did give us more time to listen to Richard Marx (and personally admit that I used to listen to "Endless Summer Nights" alone in my dark room on the night before school started and cry while smelling Baby Soft perfume - WHAT???), plan future trips to Hawaii and Europe, talk about which cars Jason thinks are "sharp," and gossip about people we know from college.

Meanwhile, my parents had a really fun time with the girls. They went to the Pumpkinfest parade, saw Brett and Meagan at the store, and participated in the craziness that we call "meals with our kids" around their dining room table. Jemma did great, and Annie got over her morning sadness after some cuddle time with doop.

Now, everyone's back in their own beds and we're looking forward to another strangely summer-like day tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe, we'll sneak in one more trip to the beach before it really feels like fall.