Illini Cheer

A couple of  Decembers ago, when Mika was a baby, our little family spent some time with friends and family in Illinois. On the itinerary was an Illini basketball game in Champaign--tickets were purchased and Illini apparel was selected as well. Unfortunately, just a few days before the game, our entire family was struck with the dreaded stomach flu (I blame the Decatur Children's Museum), so none of us made it to the much-anticipated game. We haven't been back there for the holidays ever since.

This year I suggested to Forest that we get back at the stomach flu by trying once again to attend an Illini basketball game over winter break. This time, however, we planned for the game at the beginning of the itinerary rather than in the middle, in hopes that we would be less likely to contract an out-of-state virus before the game. I ended up bringing the residue of my Colorado upper-respiratory virus with me to the game, but thankfully I was able to keep it to myself (perhaps it was the half bottle of hand sanitizer I used in the car) and every one of us made it to Champaign the night of the game.

After getting some noodles for dinner and some over-sized T-shirts for Ramona and Mika (the racks were pretty picked-over), we found a parking spot near Assembly Hall and plugged a movie into the DVD player in hopes that Paula could get some beauty sleep before the game. After she (finally) caught a 30-minute snooze, we anxiously headed toward the entrance doors. Pep band music streamed out as herds of orange and blue fans streamed in. We hiked almost all the way to the top of the bleachers to find our seats (much to the disapproval of Forest, whose seniority once earned him season tickets all the way down on the court).

Ramona was old enough at this point to appreciate what was going on in the game, and enthusiastic enough to cheer for several home team baskets.

Mika, on the other hand, quickly became bored with basketball and was always looking for excuses to leave her seat. I spent most of the game taking Mika to the restroom as a result, but was quite thrilled to NOT be dealing with any tantrums or vomit instead.

Paula seemed generally pleased with the situation (thanks to that half-hour nap) and won lots of smiles for her on-cue clapping.

Overall a successful family outing--the end of which is most accurately summed up in one word: Blowout. For two reasons, one more pleasant than the other: 1) The final score ended up being 45-93, Illini, 2) On the car ride back to Jii and Baachan's house, Paula blew out her diaper badly enough to damage her already rancid car seat. No amount of Febreze could cover up its sorry state--we took it in that night and gave it much-needed wash. Paula got a good scrubbing as well, then finally let Forest and me go to bed at about 2am.

It was beyond exhausting, but now I can look back with satisfaction knowing that we fulfilled one of our little family dreams and made it to an Illinois basketball game together. Go Illini!