University of Notre Dame Day 1

I struggled this year trying to find a unique gift for Chris' big 32. I thought of every trip imaginable and finally found one that I knew he'd love. I worked really hard on keeping it a secret all the way up to the last few weeks and then I blew it! I told him this year he'd get two gifts in one. He'd be able to see his dads family but most importantly he'd get to see Notre Dame play! To this day his aunt and grandmother live just down the street from Notre Dame and it's always been a stop for them anytime they would visit. It's so bad I can recall several stories between Chris and his dad and brother where moments in time are recalled based upon who was playing for ND this or that year..."Oh! That was there year so and so played for Notre Dame" or "I was about 10 because I remember my mom buying that Notre Dame sweatshirt the last time we visited my grandma." It's so funny to hear them. I've always known that there was huge pride in his family pulling for the Irish but I thought it was just the Kotowskis who were this way...NOT SO!!

We got to South Bend on Friday and went straight to the school to load up on stuff for Saturdays game and to check out all the activities that were scheduled for the students and fans. Wow! I could not believe the number of people and alumni that were there. We walked into the book store and all you saw was green, blue, gold and a sea of people. I mean this place was elbow to elbow packed and people were throwing money down like it had no value. Please know that a t-shirt ranges between 20-35 dollars...a plain ole t-shirt and these people were buying them like they were going out of style. With it being Chris' birthday I tried to play it cool and said honey buy what ya want...I know my husband and he's frugal...I knew we'd be fine! I promise you, we looked in that store for a good hour and a half. The poor boy was on sensory overload but we eventually made it out with some really cool goodies.We decided to check out the campus after cutting our way through the mass crowd at the bookstore and I tell ya, I don't think there is a more beautiful campus. There are these beautiful trees everywhere and the building have a old heretic flare to them. It's absolutely stunning to just walk through and take in. We had so much fun just opening doors and seeing where they led or hopping in line with everyone else just to see what they were really in line for and to our surprise it paid off. In the dome we were able to see the bag pipers play Amazing Grace and a few other Irish jigs and in the Basilica we were able to partake in a quick prayer and see the players enter for mass and we even were able to go and see the field a day early. It was so cool! I'm telling you this school has so may traditions and so much pride that you can't help but fall in love with this team! Go Irish!!

Irish Bag Pipers

Basilica Church

Chris in front of Touch Down Jesus. It's actually their library but it's called this because it looks over the field and it appears as if Jesus is in the end zone with his hands raised in the touchdown signal.

Pretty tree with the Dome in the background.

Inside the Dome.