Remembering 9-11 (in Clemson)

I can still remember EXACTLY where I was ten years ago when I watched the tragedies of 9-11 unfold before my eyes. Austin was just a month old. I'd gotten up to feed him, and turned on the Today show when live reports broke in of the first plane crash into one of the twin towers. I called my mom to tell her to turn on the tv to see what had just happened (no one knew why or what exactly had happened at that point), and literally as we were on the phone watching together the second plane came in and crashed into the other tower (which sent the message of this being intentional)...VERY scary! That day changed so very much for so many people! And, it has meant a lifetime of an ongoing battle/war for what my own children know. I feel SO grateful for all the soldiers and their families that have sacrificed everything for us to remain safe and free here in the United States! This weekend there have been LOTS of ceremonies to help everyone remember...even at the Clemson game!

A twenty-one gun salute ceremony for a fallen soldier! LOTS of tearful eyes in the stadium! This certainly made me think of some friends of ours, Kay and Brent (and Noah and Brittany and Logan), who lost their son not too long ago! Their strength continues to amaze me!!!!!


Part of the half time show....They did an excellent job!!!! Everyone was SO quiet while they marched!!!


Heading into the game...(THANKS a MILLION to Bruce and Caroline for giving us their tickets!!!!!)! We had a blast!


Showing off his tatoo!


Austin enjoying a "Tiger Float"...vanilla ice cream, orange fanta, and purple/orange spinkles on top (thinking you could make a USC version with red fanta and black sprinkles...good for the USC/Clemson game!)


My three TIGER fans! :) Love 'em to pieces!


Very fitting to see the red, white, and blue balloons be released (mixed with the Clemson orange) beside the Memorial Stadium sign for today's game!!!! The balloon release is always one of my favorite parts of the game! So pretty!


Logan watching the balloons rise higher and HIGHER...I must admit, I watch 'em too! Austin kept his eye on ONE, white balloon as long as he could.


The balloons a little higher up!


Logan entertained himself with the Flip Camera towards the end of the game! NO telling what is on that thing at the moment!

Labor Day Weekend with GREAT Friends!

It had been almost TWO years since the last time we were able to get together with our VERY good friends!!! Busy schedules and my school work finally allowed a break this past weekend, and we made the trip to Raleigh to see them (they came here last time!)! It was a MUCH needed break and visit! I'm sure everyone has at least one of these type friends...it doesn't matter how long it's been between the last visit, it feels like Christmas Eve when you are driving to get there just from the excitement! Then, when you are together, even though you are tired, you just don't want to go to bed because there's just too much to say, do, catch up on!!! We're already looking forward to or next visit in just a couple months!!!

Some of the BEST kids I know! I'm still amazed at how well they all get along and play each tme we are together! It REALLY helps they are about the same age and have the same interests! Logan and Austin have both said they wished they lived right next door!!! US TOO!

Two HAPPY couples!!!! SO GLAD we are both where we are! :)

Gosh, we LOVE this family!!!! It had been TOO long since our last visit! We've already planned our next one to ensure that doesn't happen again!!! And, next time, we'll get to meet Baby Eli!!!!! (Michelle, I PROMISE not to steal him!!!)

Clint, Dakota, and Roger...I still can't get over how "big" Kota has gotten!!! So proud of all he's accomplished!

This was outside near Brasa's! Austin said, "I didn't know those things really existed! I thought they were just in movies like Superman and Underdog!" LOL!

The things our boys do for their Mommas! None of them really LIKE taking pictures,but they know they don't really have a choice! :) (Kyler, Ryan, Logan, and Austin)

Silly shot! What boys DON'T like to do these?

Labor Day Dinner Fit for a King!!!!

Oh-My-Goodness....is about what sums up this place!!! This was one of the BEST dinners we have ever eaten, and the way it's served makes it quite an experience for everyone you are with! I don't know if we have a Brasa's in SC,but if we do I HIGHLY recommend going!!! It's truly like "Meat Heaven" and before going I really was thinking that ALL my boys were going to LOVE this place (and it would just be ok for me). There are two buffets FULL of authentic Brasillian Foods that you help yourselves to....now, keep in mind, this is NOT like a Ryans...on the buffets there are appetizers, salads, and sides. You start out fixing a plate of "stuff" from the buffets, and when you are ready for them to start serving you the meats, you FLIP YOUR ROCK! What a fun thing for the boys! Each person has a rock at their seat. When they come out with the fire roasted meats on the large skewers if you wanted what they had, you would flip your rock to the green side and to the red side if you didn't want it (13 different types!!!!).

From the buffet...my favorite soup was the cold Pineapple, Mango, and Passion Fruit soup (almost tasted like a yummy breakfast drink). Logan liked it too! Other favorites were the Shrimp Croquettes, Fried Bananas, some sort of sauteed mushrooms, mashed potatoes with cheese and scallions, and a sweet/dill spiced carrot...oh, and chocolate drizzled strawberries!!! I wish I had taken a picture of the buffet because it was beautiful (complete with big banana leaves for all the food to be presented on)!!!

I feel a little silly going on and on about our dinner, but it was so good and unlike ANY place we've been to! Each table has a waitress and various meat servers that come around. When they come out, they present you with what they have. If you want it, the slice you some to sample (and you grab it wth these cute little tongs that are also at your setting) moving around the table to each person. If you want more, you just tell them. With 13 different meats coming out (pretty constantly unless you flip your rock to red) there wasn't a whole lot of getting more at first because you wanted to save room for tasting it all! I will not be able to remember all of them, but I'll try: Picanha (one of my favs.!), Bacon Wrapped Chicken, Bacon Wrapped Filet, NY Strip, Garlic Beef Tenderloin, Pork Tenderloin, Sausage, Parmesean Crusted Chicken (my absolute favorite!), Ribs, chicken legs, Leg of Lamb, Chicken hearts, and I can't remember the other two but I think they were some sort of beef. I didn't try EVERYTHING because I got too stuffed, and there was only one thing that I would NEVER eat (though some at our table really liked them!!!)...chicken hearts...BLECK!!!!!!!!!! I was gagging at the thought and REALLY had to not look! All the meats that come out look magazine picture worthy and are steaming hot and juicy with that fire grilled crust (not burnt anywhere though)...YUM! I am STILL full and we ate almost 15 hours ago! Ha! Almost forgot the most delicious chocolate cake and cheesecake for dessert (only had two bites because I couldn't fit anymore in my stomach though I would have liked too!). I'm thinking this really is how kings would eat! Being served right at their table with samples of all the BEST foos, and if they wanted more they just said so....and it literally would appear by your side (hot, ready, delicious) again and again. Oh, almost forgot (again) the grilled, whole pineapple sprinkled with cinnamon...YUMMY too! (Austin's fav.!) Certainly something we will try to make at home! Can you tell how much weenjoyed our dinner????? If you have one near you (or are ever near one someplace else), GO!!!!

Austin was more excited about coming here on the way in than Logan, but once we got inside and got started wth dinner Logan's excitement GREW!!! He loved being able to use the "big boy" knife, and he was loving the food so much he said when he grows up he's going to build his house next door to this place so he can come eat here every day! LOL!

Not the 'best shot' of one of our meat servers, but the best one I could get (without missing out on all the YUMMY food they were bringing out!).

I am not one to try new things when we go out to places, and there are FOR SURE some things that I just will NOT eat (ever), but Brasa's offered a great atmosphere, a fun-filled dinner, and literally the BEST dinner we might have ever had!!! It is nota get you in the door and out place! You linger and chat between food coming...not somewhere you would go often, but somewhere you should go if you want a wonderful dinner experience (especially if you have company in town that have never been!). You will NOT be disppointed, and you will NOT be hingry again for a VERY LONG TIME!!!!!!!!