Watt's Happenin': A Lil' Bit of Texas in California

It's back to the grind for me...for today anyways. I've had the luxury of sleeping in for the past few weeks (like no kidding sleeping in...I'm talking 11 am sleeping in...but staying up til 2 am leads to that!) because Brian hasn't had to go into work really except to show his handsome face and check email, but now that the squadron's back...it's all changed...for me anyways! Brian's been getting up with Luke and taking the am shift, like he did in NV, and I put Luke to bed, but now he's got to head into work around 7:30am, so we're in the process of switching duty times! Not entirely sure how I feel about that because I've gotten so used to putting the little guy to bed at night, it's sort of my down time with him. It gives me time to love on him and reflect on how blessed my life is...seriously...I really do that every night! It's hard not to when I'm rocking such a sweet little guy and the room is dark and quiet. But because Brian's schedule has changed, I suppose I've got to be flexible! We'll see how it goes!

I digress...point being, since Luke's down for his nap and Brian's at work, and I really just DON'T want to clean ;), I figured I get a little more catching up on the blog done.

So we got to CA the last week of the Cowboy's 3 week training camp here in Oxnard. We couldn't miss that opportunity! We got here Tues. am and our home goods were to be delivered on Thurs., so we headed to see the Boys on Wed. I had Mom mail us some Cowboys apparel from the gift shop at the stadium so we'd be prepared! So off we went...to see the Boys and all their glory (because they weren't losing to another team at that point!!!!)

We get into the area and, of course, there are 'pro/gift' stands there. So I go shopping! Meanwhile, Brian and Luke walk around and after I purchased my PINK jersey (woo-hoo!) I walk over to Brian paying this lady $20 for what we thought was an admission to the field to watch the practice. Brian explains this to me and the lady says, 'that's only good for you, sir'. So we fork over another $20...we assume Luke is free. So we show our official badges (to a volunteer who didn't really seem to care about them) and walk down to the field sideline.

I look around and we seem to be the only ones wearing these badges. Well, after more investigation (and reading the back of the badge) the only thing this badge does for us is gets us onto the field (exactly where we're standing) 30 mins earlier than the general public. WE WERE THERE IN THE AFTERNOON!!!! So this thing did us no good...except 10% off of purchases. Great. You're welcome, Jerry Jones, for our $40 contribution to your billion dollar empire...you're welcome! Oh, and we get buy one get one free tour to the stadium...wow! WE'VE ALREADY TOURED IT!!!! Well, Brian did get in trouble for wandering last time into unfinished parts, maybe we can tour again and see those parts! GEEZ!!!

Well, I suppose the badge served one other purpose...

...Luke entertainment! ha!

So we watched the Boys practice! Yay! And took a lot of pictures...some of which I'll share...

It was soooo much fun, Luke just couldn't take the excitement anymore....

He conked out!

While at the 'spend way to much money on Cowboy stuff' stand, I found a small helmet in hopes of possibly getting a couple of autographs as there is a section for children under 12 to line up and scream and yell and beg

Coach Campo in the 'autograph alley'

...Luke was more interested in the helmet...

it was too small, but we tried!

it probably would've fit him when he was born though!!!

So it was nearing the end of practice as noted by 'the huddle'...

...so we headed to get 'tickets' to enter autograph alley. Brian approached the lady in the ticket stand and she asked where the child was...he pointed to Luke and she said, 'no.' What? The sign says children under 12. She asked, 'can he walk in line?' Brian retorted, 'your sign says children under 12.' She replied, 'can he walk in line'. Brian replied...you get the point. This went on for a minute...I'm NOT kidding. Give a lady a little bit of power...SHEESH!!! And challenge my husband...double SHEESH!!! So at the end she says, 'we're sold out anyways'...they only sell (of course they're for sale...you're welcome Jerry Jones...greedy old man!) 75 per day. Could you not have just said that in the first place, lady??

So we walk on and Brian's disappointed. So he tells me and Luke to sit on the bleachers and he'll be back (we're still feeling the sting of being taken for the $40). Brian leaves and comes back 10 minutes later with 2 VIP passes! ha! He went and talked to some guy in his 'I'm Brian and I get what I want' talk and there you have it...we're now VIPs! So we go in the super special VIP section (with all the other 500 VIPs...ha!) and hang out and wait for the players to exit the field.

The players start walking away from the huddle and wouldn't you know...they go out another exit on the other side of where Brian's standing. So I ask if my pass gets us to that side and the man says, 'of course!'. By this time most of the players have left without signing autographs. So I take a few pictures...


Coach Cupcake!

And then, but who do I spot under the cabana hat and big sunglasses???...

...why it's Jerry himself (he must have had some work done!).

Brian and Luke have walked over by this point and we're just hanging out waiting to see if we can swindle ol' Jerry over to get his autograph. While standing there, but who do I spot???...

CHRIS HARRISON!!! (from the Bachelor!!!). So I HAD to get a picture with him! hahaha! He's actually from Dallas.

So then Jerry is standing within shouting distance and being the upstanding onlookers that we are...we began to shout! Heckle, more like it. I said to Brian...AS A JOKE...we should yell, 'hey Jerry...will ya sign my baby?'. Why oh why, I'll never know, but, leave it to him, Brian yelled it! Oh geez! So we were now 'those people'. Wow! We also yelled, 'Hey, Jerry, we paid for your stadium, will you give us an autograph?' Oh my! We at least got a chuckle from the cop guarding Jerry. Meanwhile, ol' Babe Laufenberg (a local sports reporter) was there and he was kind enough to answer our 'cat calls' and headed over for a picture and signature...

And then...behold...the man himself starting walking our way....YEE-HAW!!!

He signed our helmet! YAY!

So our day was made! This was as close as we got to Tony:

The prince rode away on his chariot!

It was a great day! It was time for dinner, so we headed to Chili's. Here's a picture of Luke in the car...shows off his newly broken through teeth...