Philadelphia Eagles Blog

I love my family & friends!

E*A*G*L*E*S EAGLES!!!

Get ready for football eagles fans!

How exciting have these past couple of days been for our Eagles!?!  We signed some really good players to the team that should help us on this upcoming season!  Watch out… our defense is looking pretty tough.  I’m definitely looking forward to my rookie season.

Today was Dani’s special day…her wedding day!  She had a perfect day for it too!  Where do I even begin describing her wedding?  From the church to the reception, everything was just absolutely beautiful!  It was also a great time to bond with some of my Eagles team mates.  To see the ladies outside of rehearsals and appearances is nice because we can all catch up on things and get to know each other better.  Janel, Cat and myself (the rookies) got to spend a lot of time together since we were all at the same table and had a great time!

I left Dani’s wedding early because my house has been full of people the past couple of weeks.  A lot of family and friends have been over to see my grandmother.  As I’m sitting on the couch typing away, I have little cousins running around the house, babies drinking from their bottle, cousins skyping with other cousins in the Philippines, Aunts and Uncles talking at the table and hearing the doorbell ring every hour.  I’m glad to have people in my life that care about my grandmother.   She is still pretty sick, were all waiting by her side and letting her know that were here for her and love her.  My grandmother is very special to me.  She has taken care of me since I was born and then when she started getting sick, my family and I started taking care of her.  It has been a rough couple of weeks but I want to and need to be there for my mom, aunts and uncles also. My grandmother had 9 kids.  They are all here now besides my one aunt who is still in the Philippines and my Aunt Alice passed away a couple of years ago.  My entire family is very close and I have a big family; like I don’t even know where to begin theres so many people.  I love my family very much!

Well I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Congrats again to Dani & Scott! I’m SO happy for you both

*Jamielee

Lights Out!

Hey Eagles Fans! I hope you had a wonderful week with the crazy weather we have been having.  This past weekend was yet another jam-packed weekend with fun festivities.  Friday my best friend Kelli came down to visit for the night.  She came down the shore to look at venues with her mom on Saturday for her wedding.   We decided to make it a girl’s night and just relax in since each of us had a tough week.  It was great!   I hadn’t seen her since our double date night in Avalon a few weekends back and we had a lot to catch up on.  Over dinner we talked about all her wedding plans and the plans she has for the cheerleading team she head coaches.  She also caught up on all the great things I have been doing with the Eagles and how my life has been going.  It was a mellow night, but it was exactly what we both needed.

Saturday was scorching hot.  We tried to lay out by the pool but it was too warm.  The sun had heated our pool so much that it felt more like a hot tub than a pool and didn’t give us the refreshing feeling we were hoping for when we jumped in.  We didn’t spend much time outside; we had to get ready for my summer work party anyway so we came in early.  We were lucky that by the time the sun set the weather was nice and cool, and we had an ocean breeze just in time for the “South of the Border” summer party.  It was wonderful; good food and the band had everyone dancing.  Sadly, I did not win any of the raffle prizes but most of the winners came from my office so I was still happy.  We had a blast.  I am very lucky to work with such great people; everyone is so friendly.

Sunday Dave had family visiting so his parents had a barbeque at their house.  We relaxed, lounging on floats in the pool while the guys splashed around playing basketball.  It turned out to be a nice day.  The sky was a little overcast in the morning but by the afternoon the clouds parted and the sun was shining.  It was another hot day but the pool was cool and refreshing.  Although it was sunny I could hear thunder off in the distance.  I didn’t pay attention because there were no clouds in the sky.  Later in the afternoon there was a complete change in the weather.  The temperature chilled instantly and the sky became dark.  We had just finished bringing in all of the barbeque stuff when the rain just poured down.  The storm was strong; it tore tree branches down onto the cars and onto the streets.  Once the rough winds and rain died down we headed home, only to find that we had absolutely no electricity.  Since we have well-water that runs by the electric, we had no running water.  We made the most of what we had; I opened all of the curtains and lit all of the candles in the house.  It was a little too quite so I put my beach radio to work and played some tunes from my Ipod.  When we got tired of playing Gin, we changed it up with a game of Go Fish, which I won, and then Dave taught me a little bit about Poker.  We had absolutely no air conditioning, which as you can imagine, the house became a sauna after the sun was beating down on it all day.  But I prevailed and at two o’clock in the morning was very happy when I heard the central air conditioner kick on.  I have never been so thankful for electricity!  THANK YOU BENJAMIN FRANKLIN!!!

Stay tuned Eagles Fans, I have another amazing weekend ahead and I’m bringing you along for the ride!

See you out there!

Jessica XoXo

Eagles Fly Again!

Hey Eagles Fans!

I am ecstatic football is back! I don’t know what I would have done without the thrill of performing in front of fans, exciting games, and the possibility of a Super Bowl win! Wednesday’s practice took place at the Lincoln Financial Field, a place that seemed like my second home during football season. I was very excited to be stepping out onto that field again to prepare our dances for or first preseason game on August 11th!

Go Birds!

There’s also been a lot of excitement going on in other areas of my life. My parents came to visit me down the shore this past week. We went out for a late birthday dinner at the Continental in the Pier at Caesars. I love this restaurant because of its unusually fun food and family style dining. My favorite dishes by far are the buffalo chicken meatballs and spinach raviolis. After dinner, we looked in some stores and took a walk around the casino.

At Caesar's palace

The rest of the week was not as much fun. Tuesday was a sad day for me. A fun chapter of my life officially closed when I moved out of my apartment in West Chester. I had a year full of good times and great memories in that apartment. I am a little nervous for the fall because for the past four years I have been living either down the shore or at school, so now I have to do some apartment searching and find myself a new home. I guess the saying really is true that, “when one door closes, another door opens”, because although moving out of my apartment was sad, I am excited to see what lies behind the next door!

My last picture in my room at West Chester University

Have a great weekend….. E-A-G-L-E-S…..EAGLES!!!!!

And The Season Begins…

Hey eagles fans!

I’m so excited to say that the new season is in full effect again and I can’t wait until the first game! As the summer dwindles down, the rush of being on that field again makes it all worth it.  Football, I would have to say is my favorite sport and what way to root for your team then to be on the field next to them cheering them on to victory.  The pressure is on to beat the clock because we only have approximately two weeks until the first preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens and have so much to accomplish before then.  However, the group of women that we have on the squad are all amazing and I firmly believe that we can pull it off successfully.

Performing at a game last season

HUGE TROPHY !

Even with all the craziness going on around with the NFL news I still had a chance to travel to Ocean City, Maryland to enjoy a week at the beach.  I drove the 3 hours with my best friend Colleen, who I have mentioned before.  We left after I finished up practice last Wednesday night and arrived Thursday morning at 2 a.m.  It was a long day with practice and driving but to wake up the next morning at the beach was well worth it.  My old dance studio was actually down there for a National Competition which I watched for the last two days and they did absolutely amazing!  Their talent has grown so much and I miss dancing next to them up on stage.  They received above 4 stars for all their dances and two of the dances even made it to what is called, “Battle of the Stars” which is such an honor.  Only 87 our the 1700 dances made it to that competition and they were selected as one of them.  Also, for their one dance “Heads Will Roll” performed by the teen team won they won a HUGE trophy and when I say HUGE I mean HUGE.  :) The trophy was so big it was taller then the studio owner who is 6 feet tall!!  The trophy that they received was only given to 4 dances that entertained the judges the most out of all the 1700 dances in the competition.  The Battle of the Stars competition came the next day and they were all so full of nerves and excitement.  As I watched the dances being performance I was amazed by all the teams, there were a ton of studios that did such a great job.  Our dances were up next and all the parents and friends in the audition went crazy, including me.  I was so happy watching them up there, it almost brought tears to my eyes.  At the end of competition we got 4th and 6th in their category which was good and we were all happy even to make it to Battle of the Stars, they definitely worked extremely hard all year and deserve to get that far.

Awards at Battle of the Stars

One of the dancers on the team was my teammate at once, but she also has a special place in my heart.  Alexis is 10 years old and is an amazing person and dancer.  She is Colleen’s little sister  but I also considered her to my little sister.  I was there when she was

Alexis and I after competition

born and watching her grow up is so amazing.  She has danced with both Colleen and I since she was 4 and has grown so much as a dancer it is unbelievable.  To see just a little girl have so much power and performance on stage is crazy.  I am so proud of the young girl she is growing up to be and able to consider her family.  I am sure she will be a huge part of life for years and years to come.

After the competition ended on Friday, we continue the vacation in Rehoboth Beach in Delaware.  I was able to stay until Monday to get some beach time in but I will have to give you the rest of those details in the next blog.

WERE BACK TO FOOTBALL EAGLES FANS!!

Stay Tuned…

xoxoDanielle

Dick Vermeil Philadelphia Icon

Dick Vermeil, 30 years after going to the Super Bowl, remains a Philadelphia icon.   His attitude, enthusiasm, and cautious optimism were contagious and the team began to think it could win shorty after he arrived.  Some cursory observations.  I will give details later.

The team improved every until getting to the Super Bowl in 1980.  While not creating a dynasty, he broke the losing tradition. Each year there were some positive memories.

1976  Won 4 Lost 10

–signed Vince Papale, a walk on from St Joseph’s College;  this guy became hometown hero and sparked the team with his great special teams play;
–shut out the New York Giants in week eight 10 to 0;  their first whitewash since Thanksgiving Day of 1968; Defensive Back Randy Logan was superb against the run stopping both Larry Csonka and Doug Kotar;
–defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27 to 10  week 14 at Veterans Stadium, breaking a five game losing streak;  both Tom Sullivan and Mike Hogan ran for over 100 years; that is the first I can ever remember two Eagle runners doing that in a single game;
–In the win over Seattle, Roman Gabriel went 10 for 13 for 165 yards; that was really his last game; Gabriel threw only three passes held the ball for field goal and extra points the following year.

1977 Win 5 Lost 9

–traded Charlie Young to the Los Angeles Rams for Ron Jaworski
–drafted Wilbert Montgomery from Abilene Christian
–though Philadelphia was only one game better than in 1976, the record does not tell the whole story.  All but two of the losses were very close with two or three plays making the difference;
–the Eagles, for the first time in 10 years, won on opening day; at home against Tampa Bay 13 to 3;
–the defense was the main reason for the improved play; from 1976 sacks increased from 19 to 47 and interceptions from 9 to 21 ;
–Wilbert Montgomery’s breakout was game 13 at Veteran’s Stadium vs the New York Giants; he returned the second half kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown; Jaworski bootlegged one yard for the winning score with 29 seconds left; Eagles defeated the Giants 17 to 14, halting a four game losing streak;
–it was a soggy rain soaked day at Veterans Stadium with the New York Jets; in his first start Wilbert Montgomery gained 103 yards and scored a touchdown; the defense sacked Jets quarterback Richard Todd seven times, intercepted three passes, and recovered a fumble.  After going eight years without a shut out, Philadelphia got two in as many years.  Philadelphia 27 New York Jets 0
–as indicated, the Philadelphia Eagles won the last two games; that was the first time back to back wins in three years.

1978 Won 9 Lost 7

–This was the year of the “Miracle of the Meadowland.”  With 30 second left, Herman Edwards picked up a foolish hand off and returned the ball 26 yards for a touchdown.   While this was a game the Eagles should have lost, there were three losses should have been victories; at home 16 to 14 to the Los Angeles Rams and 16 to 10 to the St. Louis Cardinals; and 28 to 27 to the Minnesota Vikings on the road.  The team either failed or allowed a score with less than one minute left in those three games.
–Ron Jaworkski really matured as a passer and Wilbert Montgomery became one of the league’s best running backs; the angular Harold Carmichael continued his great pass receiving,
–for first time in the Vermeil era, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated a playoff contender, the Miami Dolphins 17 to 3; they held two other opponents to a field goal also with all three at home; the Green Bay Packers 10 to 3 and the New York Giants 20 to 3.
–the Eagles had a four game winning streak, their longest in four years,
–that 20 to 3 win over the Giants was the final game, giving them their first winning season in 12 years; both Montgomery and Mike Hogan gained over 100 yards,
–the Atlanta Falcons scored two touchdowns in the last three minutes to beat them in the Wild Card game 14 to 13; but it still was the first post season action since 1960 Championship.

1979 Won 11 Lost 5

–Philadelphia just continued to improve in all facets tying the Dallas for the best record in the NFC East,
–unfortunately Dallas won the complicated tie breaker, meaning the Eagles had no BYE week and had to play the Wild Card Game-
–the Eagles won six of their first seven including a 17 to 14 win at home over the Pittsburgh Steelers,
–the Eagles made three turnovers in the second  half which was the difference in the game,
–the Pittsburgh win was the first time the Philadelphia had beaten a team that eventually won the Super Bowl,
— after the 6-1 start, the Eagles lost three in a row, one at home vs the Cleveland Browns was winnable; Ron Jaworksi’s two interceptions from inside the Cleveland 20 at the end of the first half and fourth quarter were the difference,
–the Eagles broke the three game losing fling with a 31 to 21 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night; this was the first win over the Cowboys in five years and the first at Dallas in 14 years,
–the game marked the beginning of the Philadelphia-Dallas rivalry,
–on a Saturday Afternoon national telecast, the Eagles lost to Dallas 24 to 17, ending the  four game streak that began in Dallas,
–two of the five losses, to Atlanta and Cleveland, should have been victories.  Has the Eagles won, they would have had the BYE week and the home field advantage. The Super Bowl was within reach,
–the Eagles at home beat the Chicago Bears 27 to 17, their first post season victory since 1960,
–over confident, the Philadelphia Eagles lost at Tampa Bay 24 to 17.

1980 Won 12 Lost 4

–Despite losing Wilbert Montgomery for five games, the Eagles again to tied Dallas for first place in the NFC East Dallas.   The team was superb in every respect and Ron Jaworski was named player of the year,
–This time the tie breaker went the the Eagles not Dallas,
–There were two big wins both at home,
–Philadelphia Eagles defeated Dallas 17 to 10 in a turnover filled game; Dallas’ only score came on defense,
–the  Eagles defeated the Oakland Raiders 10 to 7. Their only defensive miscue was an 86 yard pass from Jim Plunkett to Cliff Branch to give the Raiders a 7 to 3 advantage;
–Jaworski’s 40 yard pass to Leory Harris set up the winning score; the Eagles won 10 yo 7.
–for the second straight year, the Eagles defeated a Super Bowl bound team, this time the Raiders, (see last highlight)
–Philadelphia earned the BYE week and the home field advantage throughout the playoffs,
–the Eagles defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31 to 16 in the semifinals,
–later I will detail to 20 to 7 victory over Dallas in the NFC Championship game.
–unfortunately, the team Oakland beat in the Super Bowl was the Eagles.

Dear Saint Anthony!

Hey there,

     So I am really upset right now because I have discovered that I lost my camera .  I can not even think of where I lost it and that makes me feel worse.  I had it two Fridays ago and that was the last time I remember using it.  It was a really nice Sony camera.  It was still in great condition too.  I love to take pictures and get them printed because I am a big scrap booker.  But my camera also comes in handy for cheerleading rehearsal and my studio work to video the dances.  I guess I have to just go buy a new one.  But I am still praying to St Anthony “please come around something is lost and cannot be found.”

      On a happier note, I am glad I can finally say Football is back !!!! Wow!  I am sure everyone is relieved and excited that we can get the season started.  We have a lot of work to get done for the first Pre-season game but I am ready! 

Go Eagles!

     Currently what is on my mind is school.  I must order my books for the semester and my parking permit before they are on backorder.  I can not believe that it is already the 26th of July! Where has the summer gone?  And to think that I am going into my senior year is so scary!  It feels like yesterday I was just graduating highschool.  Speaking of highscool, two of my girlfriends from school were down the shore when I was but I was so sick this past weekend that I couldnt make it out to hang out.  But I really do miss them and hopefully we can hang out this weekend instead. 

In Memory of a Faithful Friend and Companion

   Hi Eagles fans!  Did you all enjoy your week and have a fun or relaxing weekend?  Last week was a tough week for me.  My family dog that I’ve had for the past 11 years had to be put down on Thursday night.  My dog Allie, who has lived a few minutes away at my sister and brother-in-law’s house for the past 2 years, has had a spinal disorder for a little while now.  She is a German Shepherd, and according to her vet, this is a common problem for that breed.  About 6 months ago, she started having trouble using her back legs, and it quickly got worse.  She hasn’t been able to feel her hips or back legs for a few months, and she started having a lot of difficulty walking, standing, and even sitting.  The vet told my family that there was no cure for this disorder and that she would only get worse over time.  It was such a difficult decision to make, but my and family and I thought that it wasn’t fair for Allie to have to continue suffering.  My sister called me last Monday evening and told me that she would have to be put down on Thursday.  Needless to say, the rest of the week was pretty tough for me, and I was emotionally drained by the time Thursday came.  No matter how prepared you think are, I’m convinced that you can never actually prepare for a moment like that.  If you are a dog lover, I’m sure you will agree that a dog is not just a pet, it’s a big part of your family.  Allie was truly a family member, and I considered her to be one of my best friends and most loyal companions.  She has gotten me through some very tough times in my life, and I’ve also shared some wonderful memories with her.  Saying goodbye to her last Thursday was truly one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.   When I was 3 years old, my family and I got our first dog, Roxy, who was also a German Shepherd.  We had her until I was 15 years old, and she got very sick too.  I still remember the day we had to put Roxy down, and I knew that having to go through it again with Allie would be just as difficult.  It’s definitely the hardest part of having a dog.  I wish they could live as long as people!  I’d like to share one of my favorite quotes with you that pretty much sums up how I feel about dogs, ‎”Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. “   Below are a couple of photos that I wanted to take with Allie last week.  I’m very thankful that my sister took these photos a few days before I had to say goodbye to her.  I will cherish each memory I had with her forever.

Allie and I last Wednesday, July 20th

This photo was taken a few years ago when Allie was happy and healthy. This is exactly how I want to remember her.

 

     Well, I know I told you that I was excited for a fun weekend of white water rafting.  We have had this trip booked for a few weeks now, so we decided to keep our reservation and go rafting, even though our spirits were down going into the weekend.  I’m actually really glad we decided to go, because we had a great time, and it was nice to be outdoors, try something new and adventurous, and take our minds off of Thursday’s events for a little while.  I went rafting with my boyfriend Jesse, my sister Chrissy, my brother-in-law Dave, and 2 friends Ashley and Carolyn.  The rapids that we did were considered Class 3, and most difficult rapids are Class 6.  So, for my very first time rafting, it was definitely a challenge.  We were on the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania, which is about 2 1/2 hours from my house.  We spent 5 hours rafting, so the trip was an all-day event.  We left our houses at 6:30 AM and didn’t get back home until 7:30 PM.  I was VERY sore the day after.  I would love to go rafting again though, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun adventure. 

     Well, I have a pretty busy week ahead, and now we cheerleaders have to continue preparing for pre-season to start.  I’m sure you are all just as happy as I am that football is back   Have a wonderful week, and I’ll be sure to catch up with everyone soon.

 

Jen

 

 

Session one is complete, and there is DEFINITELY A 2011-2012 FOOTBALL SEASON!!

Hey Eagles Fans!

What an exciting day, because the 2011-2012 NFL season is ABSOLUTELY HAPPENING!!!!!  I am so excited to finally hear that there will be a full NFL season and I’m sure all of you Eagles fans are as well, because let’s face it what would we all do in the fall without football?!?  I’m glad that an agreement was reached.

Aside from that exciting news I mentioned in my last blog that Tomato Patch’s end of the session shows were last week, and I must say they all did a fantastic job!  I was so proud of all of the campers.  They performed amazing dance routines, they sang beautiful songs, and put on some great acting pieces!  All of these kids have a lot of talent to share, and I love being able to be a part of their learning and growing process as young performers.

Me with my Hip Hop class back stage

Me and some of the dancers at camp

As one session ended last week the second session has started.  Today was the first day with the younger group of tomato patch kids, and for the next 3 weeks they will be learning all of the pieces that they will be performing at their end of the session shows just as the first session did.  With the fact that this session is made up of younger kids it is definitely a lot different.  They are so enthusiastic and it shows that they have a lot of more energy and room to grow, so I find this session very rewarding as one of their instructors because you’re part of how they start to evolve as performers.

This week is also compromised of rehearsals, and on Wednesday night we will be going to practice at Lincoln Financial Field to begin to put together the pre-game shows that all of you fans will see at the Eagles home games this upcoming season!  It should be really exciting.

Another exciting thing happening this weekend is fellow cheerleader Dani’s wedding!!!!  I’m sure you have all been keeping up with her blogs about the preparation’s and this Saturday is the big day for her and her soon-to-be husband!  I will be attending the ceremony and reception and I can’t wait to be able to share this very special day with her!  I’ll be sure to take some beautiful pictures throughout!

Well that’s all for now…

Hopefully this rain that is happening right now will wipe away the crazy humidity and high temperatures that we have been having and bring in some beautiful, sunny, summer weather

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

xo – Kelsey

A little R&R before we hit the field!

Hey Eagles Fans!

I hope that you are staying nice and cool because this week has proven to be a hot one- “c’est tres chaud!” (as the French would say I was looking around at the grass in our neighborhood and everything just looks like straw- it’s actually quite sad which is why I am doing some rain dances because we need it! Now, I do love the summertime, don’t get me wrong, but truth be told…I really cannot stand humidity, which is quite ironic because I was born in July and have lived on the East coast all my life. A plus side to this hot matter is that I recently discovered a park by our house has this neat water area where the kids play and one day soon, I’m thinking I will have to make a trip down there and cool off myself!

If you have seen my video profile, then you know that some of the things I like to do to stay in shape are outside activities and one of them is kayaking! The other day, my fiance and I had some free time to hit the water and go kayaking. It was so nice to just relax a bit and enjoy the water, while getting a great workout! Here’s a photo I took on the kayak- I tried to make it somewhat of an artistic shot haha.

Having come off of busy, but fun days visiting with my relatives, it was a nice way to end the weekend. Jonathan and I had a lot of rest and relaxation amidst great company and engagement celebrations. If you read my bio page, then you also know that I talk a lot about my grandparents. They are so important to me and I find them to be two of the coolest people I know. Here is a photo I took of my Grandpa and I during some engagement festivities! It has been really special being able to spend time with my family and talk with about our wedding plans and I’m really looking forward to sharing more and more details as some of the things on our “wedding to do list” get checked off.

When I actually found my dress, my Grandma was one of the first people I told all of the details to. They are wonderful people and I am so happy that they are sharing in Jonathan’s and my excitement for our big day next May! Come to think of it, at the end of July, we will have been engaged for 6 months already! Times truly does fly by doesn’t it?!  Only 10 more months till we say these big words:

how cute is this sign from the party?

With a great week behind us, it is time to get back to work and the real world! I have been busy practicing all of our pre-game choreography, quarter break dances and sideline routines so that I am ready for our first pre-season game and my first game as a captain! I cannot believe that it is about 3 weeks away..can you?! I have strong faith in our team and really feel like it is going to be a great season! We have rehearsal tomorrow night and then a field rehearsal on Wednesday where we will be figuring out our spots on the field for the pre-game and going over our fight song routines etc.. But before all of that I have a busy day tomorrow with a print job in Philly. It sure will be a long day, but I am really looking forward to it.

Well ,I have to run, I am off to my basement to do some dancing and review all our cheerleader dance material. Have a great week Eagles fans and stay cool!

Xoxo,

Tracey

Courtney: Real Madrid vs. Philadelphia Union Appearance

Hey Eagles fans!

Today marks exactly one week till my birthday! I know you all have been ANXIOUSLY counting down the days, right?!

Today also marks one month (minus one day) till classes start… This is definitely a countdown that I wish could last a little bit longer. I can’t even wrap my head around the fact that I’ll soon be entering my last year of college!

Anyways, on Saturday I had an appearance at the Real Madrid vs. Philadelphia Union soccer game.

Even though it was about 100 degrees out, I had an AWESOME time hanging out with fellow cheerleader Claudette, Swoop, and all of the Philadelphia Union & Real Madrid fans. I was extremely impressed with the Real Madrid-fan turnout! I’ve never seen so many of Cristiano Ronaldo’s jerseys in one place!

I was beyond excited when I found out that I had the opportunity to do this appearance, because Real Madrid is my favorite soccer team! I studied abroad in Madrid last year when Spain won the World Cup for the first time in history! Even without historic sports events, Madrid is a crazy, feisty, and sleepless city. During the tournament, the celebrations and riots were just unreal. I got to watch the games outside on the main streets in the heart of the city, where they set up HUGE screens and had freebies (always a plus)! After each game, especially the semi-final win over Germany and the final win over the Netherlands, the entire city was flooded with red and yellow shirts of festivities and cheering.

People were climbing on top of street lights, buses, statues – you name it! I’m so glad that I got to be part of such a proud moment for Spain… it is undoubtedly a summer that I will remember forever.

At the World Cup parade the morning after they won!

In addition to the crazy soccer mayhem, it was also a great summer for me because of all the culture, food, language, and history that I got to take in. I’ve always loved traveling — I think it is amazing that you can learn so much just by being immersed into a different culture and meeting different people. On top of the incredible traveling I did within Spain, I got to go to neighboring countries such as Italy, Portugal, and Morocco.

At the Templo de Debod in Madrid, Spain

In Segovia, Spain

Watching the sun rise in Ibiza, Spain

In Rome, Italy with Marc, Alexa, Lupe, and Steve

In Merrakech, Morocco

At the Magic Fountain in Barcelona, Spain

In Lisbon, Portugal

I initially planned on keeping this blog post short, but I always go on endless tangents when I start talking about my summer in Spain!

Until next time – have a fabulous week…

– Courtney

P.S. …BACK TO FOOTBALL!!!

Raise your hand if you are PUMPED…!!!

Eagles football is back — see you all at training camp!!!!!!