Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp


About a mile or two down the road from us is Lehigh University. Each year it hosts the Philadelphia Eagles training camp for about three weeks starting at the end of July. The public is allowed to come and watch most of the practices and in addition to that they have a kids area with some inflatable slides and such. We didn't have a whole lot going on yesterday so we decided to check it out. Tomorrow all the veterans or the big name people arrive so I thought it would be best to go when the crowds wouldn't be as big. John-David has to work almost every day for the next three weeks so it was just me and the kids who went out for this adventure.
I really had no idea what I was doing but we found a spot on the bleachers that was pretty much right in front of the players. The offense and the defense were scrimmaging against each other so it was like we were watching a game. Now I have seen quite a few football games in my life time and I know the basics of the game but this was meant to be a dad/son bonding time. Jackson was asking me all sorts of questions and I was doing my best to answer but I think all the men around me were wondering where this kid's dad was because his mom should not be explaining football to him. I agree.
Jackson really enjoyed watching the practice but unfortunately his sisters weren't as interested. As soon as the meager offering of a snack I brought ran out so did the interest of his sisters.
This is a picture of a bunch of men that I don't know the names of that make a lot of money playing football.
I decided we better leave the bleachers before a real melt down begun from Kelsey. However trying to remove Jackson from the practice started a meltdown from him.
He was still mad about leaving at this point.
I can see why they have the training camps here. It is such a beautiful area that is so green. Down the street from Lehigh University is the Saucon Valley Country Club that hosted one of the LPGA 's tournaments a few weeks ago. But with the green comes a lot of rain to make it that way.
The play area was also free, my kind of activity:) Jackson didn't stay mad long once he saw the big slide. Even Kelsey got to go down it.
The bounce house was under the slide. This was Kelsey's favorite. The slide was a little steppe for her liking.



This was the tackling obstacle course. Jackson and Jocelyn loved it. Jackson loved tackling the obstacles. We could use one of these at our house.

We had a fun time at the training camp but I think that we are still Buckeye fans(their gear is a whole lot cheaper). We haven't joined the Philadelphia Eagles band wagon yet although Jackson got an Eagle Stamp on his hand and he says he is never going to wash it off. So far he has been successful in keeping it. But I think we'll bring along our dad next year.

3 comments:

Kari said...

Looks like fun! How is intern year so far? We miss you guys!

The Robert A. Meier Family said...

Poor Jackson had to spend his first NFL Camp with a bunch of women. Tell him I understand how he felt, because the women in my life have been getting in the way of my football viewing oppertunities my entire life.

Marianne said...

How fun! Too bad we don't live closer...I'm sure Ryan would have loved hanging with Jackson at the game;) Maybe he will get a brother soon:)