Super Bowl in Seattle

Winter was starting to feel like it was never going to end and I kept getting bombarded with emails from the airline companies. I started shopping for airline tickets to warmer areas of the country. Then I came across tickets to Seattle. I checked them out and found a deal that we just couldn't resist. Roundtrip tickets for $59!! What? The kids and I hopped on a plane to visit our family in Seattle. That night before we didn't even know if our flight would even go. We made it to the airport bright and early though at 5:30am. It was like a ghost town, probably people switched flights because of the massive storm that came through. It was early, so we needed to get coffee and donuts while we waited for our flight. Our flight was actually relatively on time considering all of the de-iceing that needed to be done before we could take off. My children hadn't been on an airplane for so long that they couldn't even remember flying. My older children were just little babies and my little kids probably weren't even born the last time our entire family was on a plane. We left the big, cold storm in Colorado for the a wet and cloudy Seattle. That didn't stop our cousins from driving over the  mountains to come and see us, and it didn't stop the kids from playing basketball outside.

Uncle Dustin turned 34, so we pulled out all of our cameras and had a party

complete with an ice cream cake!

Basketball skills were improved quite a bit while we were in Seattle. Even with the crummy weather it didn't stop the boys from going out and throwing the ball around.

We even had time to go to Lola's gymnastics meet, 

and Kai's basketball tournament. Good times!

Super Bowl Sunday came quickly and I couldn't believe I was watching the Super Bowl in Seattle rather than in Colorado with my Bronco buddies. At least my lovely Seahawks friend knew who to root for. These lovely ladies and I have been friends since high school. Now we're all grown up with kids of our own, so where else should we meet up than at a park? ;) Even with the cold weather it didn't stop that kids from running and playing tag. It was just enough exercise before game time. We had a small little gathering with family to watch the Broncos victory of the Panthers.

Go Broncos!!

We returned to Denver just in time to miss the Broncos parade downtown, but don't worry my Lutheran Stud made it to the parade while we celebrated at the airport enjoying all the added blue and orange and Broncos jerseys all over. Departure boards even celebrated with extra exclamation points to Omaha!!!

Snowy and Cold Football

It felt like winter arrived early and stayed late. It came fiercely and stuck around for days. The first snow of the season is always fun and exciting. The kids love to get outside as soon as they can and then I don't see them for hours.

     

Once the snow melted we thought things were back to normal again, but no, another storm was already on the way again.

     

This snow and cold made this football season almost unbearable, except that every game we went to was exciting, fun, and it ended with the Broncos winning! We also got to our seats and were greeted with orange mustaches in our cupholders during the Bengals game. We were told that by wearing the mustaches we broke a world record for the most people wearing false mustaches or something weird like that.

Brock Osweiler was our quarterback for all of the games we attended this past regular season. He was a fun to watch and moved around a little bit better than Peyton Manning. Not only was it a cold football season for us, but all of the regular season games that we attended were night games and games that went into overtime. Ugh!! We beat the Bengals. Yay! Hot chocolate was a warm consolation when Michaela and I were on a mission to find some cupcakes. Hey, we found each other at the game though we were two sections away from each other, so I guess we were 1 for 2.  Walking around during the game helped keep us warm and had us back in our seats in time to witness the game winning touchdown for the Broncos against the Patriots. It was such a satisfying win because of all the controversy surrounding the Patriots and all of their cheating. Savoring the win against Patriots was wonderful, but we had our eye set on the real prize which first meant playoffs. It was finally playoff time and tailgate time! Not only was it playoffs, but we got to go during the day. It felt a little warmer and the vodka helped with that too, I'm sure. Playoff time meant Peyton Manning was back! Everyone was excited. There weren't many dirty, yellow towels as there normally is in the crowd during a game versus the Steelers. I can't say that it was a pretty win or an easy win, but it was a win nonetheless. That win meant that the Broncos were moving on to the AFC Championship game!

             

 The entire city of Denver was excited for this game. Not only was it a rematch from earlier in the season, but a win meant a trip to the Super Bowl. The Broncos defense came out strong, especially against Tom Brady. They pretty much won the game for the Broncos. This was most definitely not a good game for Tom Brady or the Patriots. I think the Broncos sacked him four or six times. But hey, it was a win for the Broncos and that meant SUPER BOWL bound!! Confetti was strewn all over the field. Some of it even made it to our seats. My Lutheran Stud couldn't resist and he picked up a piece of it and now carries it in his wallet. Can you say, "Crazy?" Just kidding, babe! Love you. ;) We stayed for the trophy celebration along with about 70,000 other people and it was insane and surreal. Super Bowl here we come, or rather here comes the Broncos!

Playoffs

Way back in January, after we returned from Phoenix, we were totally pumped to attend the Broncos first playoff game after getting a bye into the second round. This photo right here pretty much sums up the great time we had at the game. It was all good. . . before the game started. Comcast hosts a fabulous tailgate party complete with Jaegermeister shots, beer, vodka mixers, and plenty of food to soak up all of that alcohol.

Miles, the Broncos mascot, had the crowd roaring before the game.

The Broncos made some impressive catches,

and a few good runs,

and even scored a touchdown.

They made some great tackles too!

But really, it was all downhill from there.

Frustration set in and little CJ had to hold the massive Ryan Clady back from getting in a fight,

while the little Ronnie held on to Franklin's jersey.

The Colts just made better plays.

They played a better game which sent a lot of fans home disappointed when the Colts won 24-13.

Can we just go back to that tailgating party before the game?

An End To 2014

After having a house full of sick children, over the holidays, we welcomed the invitation to attend the Broncos' last regular season game.

  

It was brisk, bright, and beautiful day for a football game. The cold didn't bother me too much because

we were given tickets to sit in the Champions Club. Woot, woot! As we made our way to that suite we caught a view of our pickup down below. Can you spot it? Ha! Probably not.

 

After riding escalators, walking long corridors, and getting on an elevator we finally made it to the Champions Club suite, and we were famished. It was a good thing we were hungry because there was prime rib, an open bar, a hot chocolate and coffee area, a whole section of cheese and crackers, fruit, a nacho bar, and

a ton of cute, tiny desserts. Where does one start?

For pregame entertainment we were wowed by the Denver Broncos Thunderstorm skydiving team.

They came in from all directions.

The Broncos then made their grand entrance through the big bronco tunnel.

After they scored their first touchdown it was good!

Emmanuel Sanders is only 5'9", but he can catch the ball like nobody's business.

CJ Anderson came out of no where to replace other injured running backs and now he's made quite a name for himself on this squad. We love him!

At halftime we were introduced to former players that were hanging out in the sweet. Can you spot and name them? Some of them multiple Superbowl rings.

Then they interviewed the skydivers and I hung out with them for a little while. They almost had me convinced to jump out of a plane with them.

We had pretty good seats and even had a little area in which my tiny, cute desserts could sit. ;)

The Broncos began pulling away from the Raiders in terms of the score, so it was a refreshing change to get a chance to see Brock Osweiler (17) come into the game for a few plays.

He threw a pass, and

it ended in his first touchdown pass of his career!

The Broncos smashed the Raiders 47-14. Go Broncos!

We left the game with a big high and were super excited to run into Kory Brunson while waiting for the elevator. Kory Brunson sang the National Anthem before the game and is the lead singer for the Kory Brunson Band. Last summer he played at the shopping mall near house! It was a great ending to 2014.