Rise and Shout!

This past weekend was really something to shout about!  First of all, let me say how much we appreciated everyone's desire to come for our retirement party--which, actually, never took place.  We now know that we will be here one more year with George's job.  I, however, am just going to finish the school year and will be done in June!   

The whole weekend had been planned months ago with the retirement party to be held on Friday, then many of us would travel to Atlanta after the party Friday afternoon, and be there for the BYU football game against Georgia Tech.  With the change of plans and no retirement party taking place, some people cancelled their tickets to come to Florida until we really did retire, while others came anyway.   Those of us who did go to the game felt it was well worth it!!!

After I finished school on Friday, George and I left for Atlanta--which takes nearly six hours.  We arrived in the evening to find Kevin, Connor, and my dad there.  They had been having a great two days in Atlanta after flying out from Idaho and Utah together.

 Grandpa, Kevin, and Connor had visited the Coca Cola Bottling Company.

 They, also, visited the CNN Studios . . .

 and, of course, they got on the field of the Atlanta Falcons Football Stadium.  Kevin has his dad's touch--don't ever say it's impossible to get inside a football stadium!

After George and I arrived at our hotel which was the same place Kevin, Connor, and my dad were staying, we had fun talking together, then we were all pretty tired and just went to bed.  The next day, we decided to tour around the city a little and see the famous East Lake Golf Course which Connor really wanted to visit.

 

East Lake is a Pro Golf Course where the Tour Championship was held in September of this year.  Brandt Snedeker won that tournament.  (Tiger came in 9th.)  Clubhouse can be seen in the rear. 

Everyone watching as the golfers were teeing off.

Notice the two guys in all-white--they are the caddies and carry two bags apiece.  No golf carts on this course. 

It was pretty funny--as the golfers came by, we told them we were their gallery.  They said we'd better be careful because they were all Georgia Tech graduates.  I guess they had seen our BYU shirts and hats.  Anyway, little did they know what was going to happen to their Alma Mater on homecoming day in a few hours!

 After enjoying the beautiful golf course scenery, we headed for the stadium on the Georgia Tech Campus.

Four generations!

I was so mad when the guys in yellow took my little sandwich bag full of Halloween candy out of my purse.  Was a little bag of pom poms a safety threat or did they just want me to buy their food?  Either way, I didn't see the guys throwing it away.  I'm sure they just enjoyed an early Halloween treat!

Soon we met up with Kent and his former missionary companion, Dan.  They served in the Guatemalan Mission for the Mormon Church as 19 and 20-year-olds, and have remained friends ever since.  He  now lives in California, but they meet up for games quite often.

We had a fun group--Rhonda (on the front bench nearest the camera) is such a great family friend and was a roommate of both Amy's and Natalie's in Provo, her friend (sorry, I can't remember her name).  Kevin, Connor, Kent, Dan, and Grandpa Rigby.  All in all our group was represented by California, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Georgia, and Florida! 

 So this was absolutely hysterical, if it hadn't been so obnoxious.  This little kid comes in with an airplane taped to his head.  The only thing was--it was poking Kevin right in the face!

What parent would actually let a kid do that?  Kevin was a great sport and said nothing.

  
Look at Kent snickering and Connor smiling.

 Finally, the kid takes it off--thank goodness--before the game actually starts.

Of course, we had to be there for the warm-up.

With the effects of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Sandy, it was still pretty windy and very cold for us Floridians.  By the time the game was over, we were pretty chilly!

Too bad this was Georgia Tech's Homecoming!

Here comes the Cougars!  There were actually quite a number of fans for BYU there!  Of course, they let the missionaries come in their white shirts and ties--they all put on their suit jackets as the game went on and it got chillier!  (They are up in the left hand corner, but I didn't get them in the picture.)

Seriously, Cosmo was the best ever!  When the Georgia Tech Band started playing the Gangnam Style music, he danced and was a hit! 

Then he did a standing back flip which was just amazing--even the Georgia Tech photographers were filming him!

The cheerleaders were pretty great, too!

Yes!

At half-time, I saw Connor fraternizing with some of the opposing team's fans.  I thought, "How cute!  He is getting to know some of their fans!" 

Come to find out--Connor knew both of them.  The girl is a great friend in his class at school.  They came to visit their grandpa, and he gave them the jackets since he is a Georgia Tech fan.

Great grandpa and great grandson having a little chat.
 

We were one happy bunch of people--BYU defeated Georgia Tech 41-17!!!!  Great game!

Walking back to the subway entrance, we saw the beautiful colored leaves.  We don't see much of that in Florida!

After getting back to our hotel, we decided to eat at Johnny Rocket's in Underground Atlanta.  Grandpa George had to get his ice cream shake!

Saying "Good-bye" came way too quickly.  Kent was staying at a different hotel and would be flying back to Washington the next morning.  Kevin and Connor were, also, flying back the next morning to Utah.

The next morning we took one last look out our window at Downtown Atlanta, ate breakfast, and started the six hours for home to a wonderful meal prepared by Jeff and Amy.  Great weekend--Rise and Shout!  The Cougars really did come out!