Friday Night Lights

So, as you know, Eric spent the majority of his first semester as a teacher coaching quarterbacks for the school football team. It ended up being a HUGE time commitment, even more so than we expected. So, needless to say, now that it has come to an end, he is breathing a little easier. If you ask me, he's a rock star for taking on that task on top of the already daunting one of figuring out how to be a teacher and lesson planning for his two math classes. How he stayed sane, I may never know.

Unfortunately, the team didn't have the season they hoped for, but I think it was a great experience for Eric and I know he really enjoyed being able to interact with the kids on a more personal level than the classroom generally allows. I think it was also cool to just be immersed in the football world again; it has been a long time for him. (Unlike the rest of the coaches on the staff, he did not play at the collegiate or professional level ["The League," I'm told it's called], but he did play high school football and looked wicked hot doing so.)

Personally, as a former band nerd myself, I also enjoyed being back under the Friday night lights, and it was extra fun to take Ellie for her first taste of it, too. A woman after her mama's heart, she particularly loved the bands and would dance up a storm whenever they played. When they stopped, she would ask for more. Unlike her mama (well, the younger version of myself), she also was interested in the actual football game. She'd get very excited as soon as she caught sight of the field and would start going on and on about "ball!" She enjoyed clapping and cheering from the stands, and also liked trying to spot Coach Daddy on the sidelines. When we left each game, she would spend the ride home asking, "Where ball go? Where Dada? Where band? Baaaaaaall! Where are you?" She couldn't get enough.

Rather than recap each game we went to individually, I thought I would just share a few of my favorite pictures from the season. Enjoy!

Before Eric's first home game v. Ponte Vedra in September

"Ball!"

In the stands

Go Big Blue!

Eric looking all coach-like

The band performing at halftime

Halftime hugs (we always left after halftime, but made sure to say bye to Eric first!)

My mom was in town to see the Middleburg game

Signing "more" to the band

Touchdown Generals! Cannon firing under the scoreboard

Engrossed in the game

Halftime kisses through the fence

Football is exhausting.

VIDEO: A 15-second look at Generals football

Also, on Eric's bye week, we were able to go to another school to see his high school alma mater play locally. It was fun to be able to be at the game together for once! Eric's school lost, but it was still a fun evening.

Decked out in black and gold to support her Daddy's alma mater

Eric's school played Raines at The Graveyard

Let's watch some football!

Oh, these two.

Goofy selfie

VIDEO: A look at just how much Ellie enjoys the band

Although I am most definitely glad to have Eric around more now that the season is over, Friday night football games definitely added some extra fun to our fall!