What a game!!

So yesterday was the big game...and what a game it was!  I'll go ahead and say that sadly, the Packers didn't win.  The Falcons managed to score a winning field goal in the last 45 seconds of the game.  It was neck and neck, back and forth the whole game.  I was up on my feet so often, that I don't know why I even bothered to sit down! 

The whole game was quite the experience!  We got to Atlanta, managed to park at a gas station (who was selling spaces for $40--but they were only 4 blocks from the stadium!), and walked to the stadium.  As we passed the lots for the season ticket holders, you could see tons of tailgaters, see folks tossing the football, calling out to passing fans and jeering opposing fans.  Packer fans were calling out to one another in excitement for the upcoming game, and people honked their horns and yelled out of the windows of their cars as they passed on the street.  Our first stop was Falcons' Landing, which is basically a carnival of game related booths.  We were walking along when my husband got pulled into a dance-off competition between the Green Bay fans and the Falcons fans.  First was a Packers' fan that started things off with the Worm!  It was pretty good!  Then the Falcons fan went with some moves of her own.  Then it was my husband's turn.  I'll just say that my husband is actually a pretty good dancer.  He's a goofball, so he doesn't mind making a fool of himself, and he just let loose with the South Kak hop and the A-town stomp and blew everyone away!  The Packers might have lost the game, but the Packer fans definitely won the dance-off! LOL!

Next we made our way through the line to finally get into the stadium.  There were lots of little shops along the lobby area.  Then we moved into the mezzanine area, where all the food vendors are, and where I got my first view of the field.  Wow!  That's the best way to describe what I was feeling as the field first creeped into my view.  The field looked so vibrant and bright.  The players were all warming up and their uniforms looked so crisp and sharp against the green and white of the field.  Fans were pouring in all over the stadium, there was a low rumble of voices as everyone was talking to each other and shouting to the players as they went through their warm up routines.  The smell of nachos, pizza, burgers, beer, etc filled the air, and the air was electric with anticipation.  We got a drink and some burgers and headed off to our seats.  We had just enough time to scarf down our food before kick-off.

As I said, the game was fantastic.  A close game back and forth up until the very last few seconds of the game.  After it was over, we managed to eventually make our way outside, where we were waiting to meet up with a friend who had seats in another area of the stadium.  While we were waiting, I ran back inside to use the bathroom.  While I was gone, Robbie actually met the in-laws of one of the Packers' players (James Jones), and had his picture taken with them!  I always miss the good stuff!  We eventually wandered down to where the Atlanta players were leaving to go to their cars.  We got some of their signatures, and our Falcon fan buddy even got his Decoud jersey signed by that player!  We slowly made our way back to our car, enjoying the walk together and excitedly recounting everything that had just happened.

We were all exhausted as we made our way back home to SC.  Not a lot was said, but the silence would be broken by the occasional, "What a game!" followed by more recounting of various plays throughout the game, and then we would all fall back into a tired but comfortable silence.  It was a wonderful day, and I owe all the folks that made it possible a BIG thank you!  Thank you Valerie for watching all the kids on YOUR birthday so we could go!  And thank you to my mom-in-law, Sandy, for buying us the tickets!  Go Pack Go!  :)

Going to see the PACKERS!!!!

I'm super excited right now!!  And, if you hadn't already guessed by the title of this post, it's because Robbie and I are going to go see the Green Bay Packers play vs the Atlanta Falcons on November 28th!!!  Yaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!  This was a bit of an unexpected, but oh so pleasant, surprise for us.  We had been talking all season about wanting to go, but knew we really couldn't afford it.

Well, in steps my Mom-in-law, who graciously bought us tickets as an early Christmas present!!  It was like, "Really?!  You'll pay for us to go?!  I can't believe it!!!"  And, my younger sister, Valerie, has been super wonderful in agreeing to watch all 3 children so that we can go!  This is especially wonderful of her because the game just happens to be on her birthday.  She's the best!  How many sisters do you know that would be willing to add another 3 children (1 with special needs) to take care of for their birthday present??  Hmmmm....I'm gonna have to get her something extra nice!

We've also got 2 of Robbie's friends going with us, though one of the friends is actually a Falcons fan.  So much for a trip with just me and my husband, but it's still going to be a much needed break!  I can't wait!  Jersey? check!  Cheese head? check!  Title Towel? check!  Tickets? check!  Now I just have to find a way to occupy myself until then!! :)

Gideon the Cowboy

Gideon is my 3 year old son.  And he is ALL boy!!  He loves robots, dinosaurs, cowboys, cars, etc.  He loves to wrestle around with my husband, to watch TV, and to sing, dance, run, scream, etc.  But man, does he have an active imagination.  He's constantly playing one imaginary scenario or the other.  Sometimes he'll shift from one into another, and you'd better be quick to keep up with his train of thought!

The other morning, Gideon came bounding into my room at about 7AM with his black, felt cowboy hat on.  "I'm Woody and you're Jessie," he quickly informed me.

"Well, Jessie's going back to sleep," I replied.  (It had been a long night with my 1 year old heart patient son, Atticus.)

"No, no, Mommy.  I'm Woody and you're Jessie!", Gideon reaffirmed to me.

OK, I thought.  I'll give him a mission.  "Listen Woody!  Do you hear that?!  It's your teddy bear!  He's trapped and you have to save him!  Quickly!  Don't waste time!"

And with that, Gideon smiled and ran out of my room.  I lazily rolled back over and cuddled with my husband, who was snoring away, oblivious to the interchange I had just had.  A few minutes later, Gideon comes bounding back into the room, teddy bear in hand, and gives the bear to me.

"Oh, thank you!  Thank you!", I said in my best bear impression.  "You SAVED me, Woody!"

And my wonderful Gideon, without missing a beat, reaches up, touches the corner of his cowboy hat like he was straight out of an old-timey western, and says, "My pleasure."  I laughed so hard I almost rolled off the bed, all while Gideon stood there looking rather pleased with himself.  This is the sort of imagination I'm talking about.  There are numerous other stories similar in addition to this one, but this being the most recent, I thought I'd share it.  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!  LOL!