Kevin and I were two of what seemed like very few Michigan fans that made the trip to the Gator Bowl (so much for all that bitching from M fans about "just wanting to go to a bowl game"). After Coach Rod got hired (we are still huge fans), we promised each other we would go to his first bowl game. Sadly, it took three years BUT the Gator Bowl happened within a month of our 10th anniversary so we made the trip. It was the first time we were away from both boys so we made it a quick trip. We got into Jacksonville late on New Year's Eve afternoon and it was so nice to feel the warm Florida sun on our cold Michigan bodies. We headed straight to the Cheesecake Factory with all the windows down on our miniscule Chevy Aveo - we wanted to soak up EVERY bit of warm weather. At the Cheesecake Factory, we ate way too much. In fact, I can't remember a time when I was more physically uncomfortable after a meal! It was so worth it, though.
After our early dinner, we headed to our hotel. Rather than stay downtown, we really wanted to stay on the beach so we hit up One Ocean Resort in Atlantic Beach. This, however, was a surprise to me. Kevin had booked it and not told me so I was very excited as we pulled up. It was an awesome place and after getting settled in, we checked out the dark beach and took a long walk around the nearby town area.
We were so tired from traveling that it was so hard to stay awake to ring in the New Year. We managed, though, and as the clock struck midnight, we were on the beach listening to the tide roll in and out (and to fireworks off in the distance). It was, by far, our best New Year's Eve together! The next morning, we had breakfast by the beach and then played in the ocean and gathered a ton of sea shells for the boys. It was a perfect day and I almost didn't want to leave the ocean to go to the football game!
And, yeah, the game. It started out nicely and then went straight into the crapper. My expectations were low - I didn't think we would win - but it still sucked. It was nice to just sit in the sun for 3-4 hours and cheer on Coach Rod in what would be his last game with Michigan. Another bonus was our halftime visit with Mike and Nayla, whom we never get to see.
After the game, we headed straight for the airport to catch our flight home. After a bit of a delay, we made it back to cold Detroit around midnight. We went straight to my parents' house so we would be there when the boys woke up the next day. Overall, a great - yet exhausting - trip! We're so glad we took the time to do it, that we celebrated 10 years together. It was warm and sunny and we had a great time together, no matter WHO won the game!
