Labor Day Weekend Trip (Part 1 of 2)

My husband, Toby, and I went away on vacation for the long holiday weekend. We went to my family's home in southern Virginia to visit with my mom and sister. I am originally from Alabama and I (along with my parents) went to the University of Alabama. College football is huge in the south and because my state didn't have any professional teams, everyone cheered for the the two major universities (Alabama and Auburn). Now, my husband is different because he was raised outside Pittsburgh where pro-teams are everything. So when we got together, it was easy for us to cheer on each other's teams because there were no conflicting interests. He has learned all about SEC football and one of the nations biggest college rivalries and I have learned all about the Steelers. We even have a flag pole that hangs outside of our house and my Alabama flag hangs on Saturdays and his Steelers flag hangs on Sundays. It worked out perfectly that the opening day of college football was on the first day of the weekend. Alabama played Virginia Tech in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. It was one of the biggest games of that opening weekend and even ESPN's Game Day was on hand to celebrate. The game was huge because both teams were ranked in the Top Ten, but it was Alabama that came away the victor. My mom had ordered all four of us new Alabama t-shirts to wear along with having our pom-poms. These are some pictures from that first day there.

Me and my husbandMy mom grilling our dinner.

Our pug, Oliver

My mom and sister's little girl pug, Hope.

My mom and sister's baby boy pug, Tucker.

The family pet, 10-year-old Samson - the Great
Pyrenees, in a short summer haircut

Samson, the 'gentile giant'

During the game, Oliver started to get sleepy and my
husband decided to stick a pom-pom on his head.
Even though he looked funny, he was a good sport about it.

Toby and Oliver