Peanut Chewning: Eagles Weekend 2008

What the heck is Eagles weekend? When KC and I first moved to Dallas 7 years ago we promised among other things to stay in touch with our friends but more importantly to NEVER, EVER become Cowboy fans. Since the Eagles will play a game in Dallas every year (being in the same division) we decided that would be a perfect weekend to schedule a yearly get together. Last year was the first year that we did nothing. Why? Because the Eagles game was scheduled for December 16th and my due date was the 17th.

Here is the email that KC sent out to our friends announcing that for the first time we would not be celebrating Eagles weekend in Dallas (we celebrated the year before it was just a very small celebration since the game was on Christmas Day):

Good afternoon sports fans,

It’s that time again! The schedule for the upcoming NFL season has been released and the planning needs to begin for the migration south to attend this years festivities. As most of you veterans already know, there are only a few things that could cause us to cancel the big weekend. For you rookies that don’t, last year was one of them. The game fell on Christmas and only a few of us could attend. This year’s game will be held on December 16th. What else could cause the 6 time hosts of the biggest pilgrimage south in the history of pilgrimages to cancel the festivities you ask? Well, as luck would have it, Laura and I will be expecting our first child, who has already adopted the nickname “Peanut”, on December 17th, the day after the Eagles/Cowboys game. If all goes as planned the 6 time hosts will be watching the game from the hospital and for the first time since 1984 neither of us will care about the result.

With this news, the landscape of the migration south for the Eagles game has changed forever. With the recent additions to the Marseglia and Gonzales families and the soon to be addition to the Palsky and Chewning families the next generation of Philadelphia Fans will need to be groomed by the “old timers” who came before them. We may be trading in this year’s Eagles weekend and the festivities that go along with it for the little munchkins but next year we will come armed with babysitters and big wheels to keep them under control.

See you guys this summer.

Until next year,

Sincerely,
The Official Chairman of the Annual Migration,

GO BIRDS!!!

I still tear up a little when I read this. I can't help it. We didn't exactly have babysitters and big wheels this year. Maybe in a year or two when the kids are old enough to occupy themselves for at least 15 minutes (wishful thinking?). We did have a few friends come from the north including my sister and her boyfriend. My other sister lives in Houston so she avoided Hurricane Ike and headed to Dallas a day early. And then stayed a few days after for which I was SO very thankful for (right in the middle of KC's business trip and Sam's sickness). But Sam enjoyed her first Eagles weekend. I think our days of sleeping 23 people in our little house might be over. After a night at Pete's Piano Bar you aren't too particular about where you sleep. But with the addition of the kiddos comes a new generation to drill on the importance being a good fan and new traditions. From the pictures below we are off to a good start.

We're thinking about walking at this point (but do so much better with MeMe holding our hands). Ignore the evidence a Target/Old Navy shopping spree in the backgorund. The day after this picture is when she took 3 steps! And last night we had 4! Maybe we'll decide we want to walk after all.

Sam cavorting with the enemy camp made up of Jill, Brooke, and Allison. Darn Cowboys Fans!

Future Cheerleader? The closet thing in our family is Auntie Shannon's drill team experience

Auntie Dev, Auntie Kara, Auntie Ande, and Me (One of my favorite things about Eagles weekend is having a lot of my favorite people in the whole world all together in one place. Such a nice thing to look forward to every year.)

My Dad and some of his girls (where are you Auntie Shannon and MeMe???) With 4 daughters he is used to being surrounded by women.

This was during the game when we still thought we were going to win.

We got to meet Steve Young. It was really cool.

Auntie Ande and Auntie Kara

Sam's new House (we bought it that weekend). It was the best money I have ever spent. She plays with it every single day. Our new fascination is the mailbox. We keep putting things in there for her to find and she loves it. When they made this toy they thought of everything!

At the airport begging Auntie Ande and Uncle Jay to stay (ok, that might have been me not Sam)