On Wednesday, February 10th we headed to Chapel Hill for an extended weekend to watch a little Carolina Basketball and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Carolina Basketball. We were very lucky to have Eric and Amy invite us to stay with them for several days. We enjoyed getting to spend a little extra time with them and letting Payton play with Eric a little more than usual. Payton loved going to Eric's house - he had lots of toys too! Just like a kid!
Eric and Payton
Wednesday started with a very disappointing Duke game. I guess they can't all bring a W - and this year, we weren't even expecting it - but when its Carolina v. Duke you never know what can happen! Payton is clearly the biggest Tarheel fan in the "U-2" league (for all you non-AAU, youth sports minds, that would translate to the "Under 2 Year" league). I only saw about 3 other kids at the 9:00 game.
Amazingly enough, Payton sat and watched the entire game. He only fussed once with about 1:30 to go in the 2nd half - I think he was just frustrated with the Heels!
Thursday and Friday we enjoyed some free time in Chapel Hill and visited with as many friends as we could. We enjoyed lunch and dinner at some of our former favorite spots, had some time at the mall, and took Payton to the Basketball Museum for the 1st time. He loved the basketball museum.
There is a regulation size goal in the museum with a ball permanently "stuck" in the net. He was determined to get that ball down and spent most of his time in that area requesting that we get the ball for him so he could score! He was quick to point out familiar faces - like Tyler and Michael Jordan (he has learned who Michael Jordan is in a few historic Tarheel photos and was able to point that out in the museum) and he enjoyed finding his Daddy and Eric Hoots in a few team photos.
As Friday evening rolled around, we started looking forward to the beginning of the 100 Year Celebrations. My parents came to Chapel Hill to get Payton and he spent some time with them at my cousin Kim's so we could make it to the events minus the little guy. He had a great time visiting with family while we had a great time celebrating with old friends. As we were walking in to the Smith Center on Friday night, it started to snow. We heard from friends that it was also snowing in Charleston! Payton was seeing his first snowfall at my cousin's house. By the end of the game on Friday, Chapel Hill had a nice blanket of 3- 4 inches of snow. So did Charleston! We were bummed about missing the snow in Charleston but we both agreed that the 100th Anniversary of Carolina Basketball was probably a little more special than the snow in Charleston - we may never live to see snow in the lowcountry again but we will probably not live to the 200th Year Celebration of Carolina Basketball either!
Friday night was awesome - a video tribute to Coach Dean Smith that made me cry like I was at a funeral and a few chuckles at watching basketball players from the 1940's shoot a few hoops!
Saturday was a long day but well worth it at the end of the day! We got Payton back from my parents and enjoyed a few minutes in the snow with him.
Payton took his wool winter coat off and threw it down - he may look cold, but he wasn't! We only paused outside long enough for a few pictures. Payton loved to look at the snow but he still has no interest in touching the snow! A snowman would have been out of the question!
We celebrated Johnny's 30th Birthday with a surprise party at Jenny's.
Uncle Kade, Mommy and PaytonAlmost 22 weeks Pregnant with Baby Boy #2
Payton with Leslie and CJ
A few of the "Greys" - CJ, Kade, Jenny, Johnny and Chad
We enjoyed the Carolina vs. State game.
Chad and all the other former basketball letterman were recognized at half time.
Chad is in the back, left corner.
Chad, Kade, Johnny, Kristin, Jenny, Allison, Emily, Chris.....
Chad leading the way for the "2000's" onto the court
Payton enjoyed the Tarheel win!
Payton headed back off with my parents so we could enjoy the rest of the evening and the rest of the celebration. We enjoyed time with Chad's friends and former managers, had a great dinner which was very nicely organized and held in the concourse of the Smith Center and then heard several former players from each era of Carolina basketball speak to all the former lettermen in attendance. It was great to hear from my favorite childhood players as well as a great player who my mother grew up cheering for!
Johnny and Hilary
Ray and Allison
After the program, we headed to Franklin Street for a little more time with our friends. Our extended weekend had quickly come to a close.
I have always been a Carolina basketball fan and Dean Smith has always ranked pretty high in my book but a celebration like this can only make one appreciate the Carolina basketball program and the Carolina basketball family even more. It is truly an honor to be married to a "member of the family."
Sunday morning we packed up and headed to meet my parents and my cousins for a nice lunch before heading back to Charleston. We were very grateful to Eric and Amy for the hospitality and to Kim for letting my parents and Payton stay with her for two nights!
Despite the overall bad season, the Celebration of a Century was well worth the trip!
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