Game day

Super Bowl Sunday, it's the Arizona Cardinals against the Pittsburgh Steelers. First of all Chad was out of town on a conference in Tennessee. His boss was a huge Titans fan and she thought they were going to the Super Bowl. She had all the employees come out a day early so they could attend the party at her house. Too bad for her, the Titans did not make it. Chad was bummed that he had to watch the Cardinals play in another state and not here with his family and friends. I mentioned to Chad that we have been together for every major game and if we lose this game because we are not together watching it, it would be all his fault! HaHa

It was my official last day to "cheat" on my diet for my March figure show. All day I ate clean and had a great workout. The boys and I were headed over to our friends house at 3:30pm with a few of our other neighbors in Glendale for the festivities. I decided to bring all the "bad" treats in my house over there so I would no longer be tempted to eat them. I started with a box of brownies. I made them and ate with a big glass of milk. When we arrived there was so much food out and everywhere. I started with the wings, nacho chips, cheese dip and salsa, 2 taquitos, triscuits, and cream cheese with Raspberry chipotle sauce...my favorite! I sat down to watch the game finally after chit chattin with the girls.

The first half didn't look to good. Things just weren't going well for us like they had been in the playoff games. Arizona turned the ball over at 2nd and goal and the Steelers ran it all the way back for a touchdown. I got up and had 5 brownies. I was getting text messages from friends all over the country and Chad and I were talking back and forth. My only thought was to go get more food and that would take care of my frustrations. During half time I ate more chips and dip, carrots and dip, big piece of chocolate cake with 3 scoops of ice cream, and a small slice of cheesecake. I was so full. But that helped me get over the first half of the game and I felt so much better! (yea right)

The kids were playing and having a great time with their little buddies. Watching the game themselves and playing other board games to keep occupied. Every now and then they would pop out and ask for food. Otherwise we didn't see them much.

During the second half things were looking up for the Cardinals. It looked like a real football game. We had possession of the ball more and were actually completing passes instead of turning the ball over. Everyone was so into the game, watching it with hopes of a win. When Larry Fitzgerald scored that last touchdown we all jumped with such joy and excitement, gave one another hugs and kisses. People had tears in their eyes. Wow, we can actually pull it off. One problem...too much time left. The Steeler's were getting closer and closer to scoreing and we just couldn't hold them back. One of our friends noticed that every time he had a brownie, our team would do really well. He kept going back for more and more. He just couldn't eat one more, that is when the Steeler's scored the game winning touch down with 35 seconds left in the game for a 27-23 win over the Cardinals. AHHH BUMMER!!!!

Arizona Cardinals are Super Bowl bound!!!

WOW is all I can say. Chad and I were lucky enough to get our hands on the NFC Championship Playoff game tickets. The game between the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles sold out in 6 minutes. No one picked the Cardinals to win except all of us fans. It was amazingly loud and crazy. Who would have ever imagined that we could or would make it to the Super Bowl? All the announcers and ESPN are in shock. We had hope, but there was still doubt. Everyone was against us from the beginning. Well, who would be for us anyway if you watched how we played all year. Our record was only 9-7. We made it to the end and got through the big games. We did what we had to do when the time was right.
My parents made it possible for us to go because they paid for our tickets as a Christmas present. Chad didn’t know it before he bought the first round playoff tickets. They told me to get good seats and don’t worry bout the price. This game we got 50 yard line, lower level, 10 rows up for $2500…. hahaha yea right. I’m kidding. We were up higher at the goal line toward the corner behind the visitor’s bench. There isn’t a bad seat in the stadium plus we prefer higher up. It was perfect! I am so grateful and thankful (to my parents) that we were able to be there and experience this.
On our way up to our seats we ran into a few friends along the way.

2 days later my throat is still sore. I can barely talk without a squeak because of all the yelling and screaming we were doing. The minute the Eagles were in a huddle or had the ball then entire stadium was on their feet yelling. The only sound I could make was a blood curdling yell. The lady next to us came back with earplugs shortly into the 2 quarter.

It was a nail bitter in the end. The Eagles were scoring, bad calls were being made, Chad was starting to sweat, and I thought I saw a tear as he was thinking we were slowing going down the tubes. I was getting text messages from friends and family asking us what’s up with our team, the boat is slowly sinking, or we’re blowing it. It just got louder and louder as the fans were getting more anxious. The Eagle fans came out of the woodwork as they thought they could pull off a win or something. It seemed like they were all sitting behind us. They were especially loud when Arizona had the ball at the end. Didn’t really hear a peep from them earlier when we were kicking their butt.

Arizona held onto their 7 point lead in the 4th quarter to win the NFC Championship and once again we were there to witness this incredible event. The Cardinals beat the Eagles 32-25. A former longtime Cardinal player along with Terry Bradshaw presented the trophy to the team.
Then it was time to head back home to pick up our kids who were at a football party with neighbors. Holy smokes...we're going to the SUPER BOWL!!!!! I can't believe it!! GO CARDINALS!!!

Rylan's last soccer game

Its been a rough couple of months. The Rattlesnakes only scored one goal the entire season. Not one a game...one for the entire season. (did I already say that?) Now, they did score on themselves a couple of times, does that count. ahhh nope! Ry was doing pretty good there in the middle of the season, playing the best he could with the older kids. Then I think as the weather got cooler he was not into all that. He would pull himself out of the game again and take breaks. Today he didn't want to play at all. Of course we told him Santa was watching and if he played well and was nice there was a possibility that he would bring some presents. Worked like a charm! They gave out medals today. Rylan was sooo proud. And we were too.

Rylan playing soccer

Rylan is now in his 5th week of soccer. He has come a long way since the first day of practice. We put him on a little bit older team so that he could be with his friends. Rylan is the youngest and smallest kid on the team. The first day he was extremely shy and had no idea how to kick a ball properly. The first game was really rough. Not only was it hot at 9:30am, but the older kids were running all over him. He came home hating soccer and not wanting to play anymore. After a couple more practices and the next game played with his buddies, he soon felt very comfortable chasing after the ball. Now he is running with the big kids and a gigantic smile lights up across his face. Even though they have not won a single game this year, its all about having fun...right?? We can score...but only on ourselves! Only a couple more games left in the season. He is getting closer and closer to being able to score. Go Rattlesnakes!!

Football shall rule our lives!!!!

Tonight we had Tanner's first parent/coach meeting for tackle football...yes, that's tackle football, Lord help us. Last year he played flag football and really had fun with it. He practiced 2 nights a week with games on Saturdays. And ya know if he missed a practice maybe once or twice, it was no big deal. Well this year, things are different. He is on the Mighty Mites Cardinals team and things are getting serious. For the entire month of August he will practice from 5-7pm Monday through Friday. You heard me correct, Monday through Friday!!!.
We were in the process of planning a trip to San Diego for a family vacation Aug 22-26. That means he would miss 6 hours of practice and would not be able to start in the first game...Sept 6th. They have to log so many hours of contact practice before they can play in a game. Not to mention he has team pictures on the 23rd. The coach pretty much says that unless you are dying, you need to be at all the practices. And every week they will need to study for 70 plus plays in the playbook. This is going to be alot of work for Chad and I! Tanner will pretty much have no life the entire month of August, and neither will we. So no vacations for us till we leave for Florida in November.