eminem would be so proud.

ok, let's just lay all our cards out on the table. 

i'm not really a football fan.

now i'm sure that comes as quite a shock to you considering all my sports apparel and avid support of all things espn, but it's true. 

BUT, i was super pumped to go to the lions/broncos game last weekend with mr. lesley's family. 

they lured me with good food at the tailgating and i couldn't resist. 

and their michigan spirit was also quite contagious.

i became a die hard lions fan in a matter of seconds.

i am also quite a newbie to tailgating, but i must say, this family sure knows how to have a little party. 

there was chatting....

delicious drinks and eats...

(including a box o' dogs and the biggest bottle of ketchup this side of the mississippi)

a little bags competition...

a birthday celebration for aunt carol...

prime people watching...

plenty of photo opps...

and maybe even a little beer pong thrown in for good measure.

(this was my inaugural game of beer pong and i was kinda amazing.

don't mean to brag, but those years of middle school b-ball game me a mean jump shot.

and yes, my college experience wasn't what most would call "normal."

hence the first time i'd played beer pong:) 

we left the parking lot full and in complete anticipation of a lions victory....

with a beautiful day and...

more tebow fans than i could count...

we were ready! 

mile high (or whatever they call it these days) sure knows how to put on a good show.

there were parachutes...

and balloons...

and smoke and jets and pride to be an amer-i-CAN!

thanks to his aunt and uncle's generosity, we had incredible seats...

and we all had a great time together, watching the lions dominate (sorry kari!).

we cheered, we high fived, we fist pumped,

and felt some pride returning for the city of detroit.

i still don't know if i can say i'm a football fan.

but i might be on my way to a conversion. 

oh, and in case you were wondering...

santa clause is definitely a lions' fan.

gooooooo sports!