NFC Champions!!

It's the day before the Super Bowl and we are READY to celebrate the most exciting Super Bowl in history!   For those asking, I am 100% rooting for the Seahawks.  I grew up a die hard Broncos fan, and John Elway was my hero.  I didn't watch "The Drive", because I was too nervous and couldn't take it.  I cried when they lost to the Giants in the '86 super bowl, and then was tormented by blowout losses in '87 and '89.   All the pain and suffering made that first Super Bowl win over the Packers that much sweeter.

When I graduated from college I got season tickets to the Seahawks. I tried to make myself be a Seahawks fan, because I wanted my kids to root for the home team and wanted to truly be in it with them.  The season ticket holding thing didn't work... AT ALL.  I just couldn't get into the Seahawks and remained a loyal Broncos fan.  For the first Seahawks Super Bowl I felt like an outsider.  I was cheering for them, and even went to both home playoff games.  But I was a bandwagoner.  The Broncos were still my team, and my heart just still wasn't that into it.

Things began to change in earnest 3 years ago.  Jackson began to really understand football to the point that he would watch the entire game with me and really get into it  He naturally like both the Seahawks and Broncos and we watched the games together each weekend.

Last year the Seahawks stole Jackson's heart.  He found his heroes.   He gravitated to their personalities.  He lived week to week, floating with the victories, and sagging after the losses.  The big moment was the Packers game that I took him to on Monday Night Football.  I saw the tears welling up in his eyes as the Seahawks lined up for the last play, expecting the loss.  Then the miracle happened... Russell Wilson to Golden Tate on the most famous Hail Mary in NFL history.  

The transformation was complete.  At that moment Jackson was initiated into a world so many of us Dads know so well.  As a dad, you kind of know your kid will be crazy like you.  You wonder when it will happen, you wonder which team it will be.  And once it happened it was all over for me.   I was all in for the Seahawks.  I wanted that epic playoff moment with Jackson.   My dad and I went to the famous Game 5 Mariners vs Yankees Refuse to Lose game in 1995.    That was the most thrilling sports memory of my life.  I wanted that moment for Jackson.

Moments after the win on Monday Night Football vs the Packers, September 2012.  We have a Seahawk fan for life

Enter the 2013 Seahawks.  This whole season has been a roller coaster, the entire city captivated by this team.  After so many narrow escapes and thrilling victories, we got what we wanted: home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  I was lucky enough to find tickets for the playoffs, and took Jackson to both games.

The Saints game was a blur.  We were on edge for the whole game, and while the Seahawks had a small lead for most of the game, our nerves were getting the best of us.  Late in the game, with the Hawks up by 8, Jackson told me "I would give all of my spending money for some more points!"  Wish granted, Marshawn Lynch scored on BeastQuake II two plays later.  (I didn't take Jackson's money).

Getting amped with Richard Sherman at the Saints game

On to the NFC championship.  Beloved Seahawks vs Hated Niners.  Good vs Evil.  Our Refuse to Lose moment was here.  We just needed the Seahawks to come through for us.  Per the script, the game started with disaster.  Fumble, first play of game.  Double digit deficit for us in the first half.  A team that had come from behind to win time and time again this season would have to do it one more time.  Just like the '95 Mariners.  Would Jackson's heroes come through? Would they fail him?

Marshawn Lynch once again got it going with another epic touchdown run.... he's 'bout that action boss!  Russell Wilson with the perfect toss for the go ahead touchdown pass.  And at the end, wasn't it always destined to come down to Richard Sherman?  The moment will be frozen in time for the rest of Jackson's life.  The ball sailing towards Sherman with the game in the balance.  The way Griffey rounding third is still frozen for me 18 years later.  Tip... interception... ballgame!!! We are going to the Super Bowl!

So this family is 100% all in for the Seahawks tomorrow.  Kenzie, Jackson and I will be making Seahawk decorations all weekend.  And we will all have our blue Seahawks jerseys on tomorrow, with our hearts in our throats along with the rest of the Northwest.

GO HAWKS!!!

We will not fail as fans!

GO HAWKS!!!

Here we go... what will the next 3 hours have in store for us?!?!?

That look when your team just earned a trip to the Super Bowl

The celebration is on!

SUPER BOWL!!!

Chicago Dawgs

Some pics from our recent Chicago trip... we packed up the family and took to the road to watch the Huskies play Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago.  The kids had been eagerly anticipating a trip to a "big city", and Chicago didn't disappoint.  They loved the skyscrapers and were fascinated that a lake could look like the ocean, complete with waves and a nice beach!

Grady enjoyed the sights and sounds, and had fun staying in our apartment with Grandma Marsha while the big kids went to the game.  Jackson and Mackenzie keep talking about how much they loved Chicago, and how awesome it is.  Jackson was also pretty excited to have been in another state.  They are up to 6 states now:)

Hangin with Harry Caray.  HOLY COW!!!

hitting the beach, windy city style

Kenzie takes her show on the road

Farmer's market near our apartment

Deep thoughts.  Also good to remember that we are all unique and beautiful snowflakes

Sears Tower up close and personal

This one is for Dave Clark

Husky Warmup.  Dawg fans brought it big to Soldier Field

Kicking it with Harry Husky

SIS BOOM BAH!!!

Basking in the glow of another dominant victory.  GO DAWGS!!!

A little off the top!

5 Days before his first birthday, we decided it was finally time to cut little man's hair.    I have been resistant to the notion, because I think it's funny to see him with a big mess of hair, but in hindsight I like the new look!  Incidentally, there has been a running debate as to what color Grady's hair is.  Some of us say it is blonde, and others are just wrong in their opinions.

Before pictures:

Business in the front...

Party in the back!!!

Getting his haircut:

LOOKING GOOD!!!!

Suncadia and other stuff

Time for what has apparently eroded in to my "seasonal" update... I keep finding I'd rather play with my kids than sit down at the computer and write about them!

Grady has been keeping us all feeling young beyond our years, and we are just having the time of our lives watching this little dude fill our home with his big personality.

I'll start with a rundown of developments and accomplishments.  Grady is a very cute thumb sucker.  We didn't get a thumb sucker with J or M, so this is fun.  We know it probably won't be as fun in a few years when we have to put chili oil on his thumb to prevent him from embarrassing us when we take him to get his drivers license, but for now we find it very cute.

Grady settles in for a good night's sleep

Grady has mastered rolling over from back to front, and is getting pretty good at rolling from front to back.  Last night he managed to travel a good 10 feet with no artificial propulsion.  He also has "discovered his feet", and occasionally entertains sucking his foot thumb.

In contrast to his siblings, who both had dark brown hair and eyes at age 6 months, Grady is a blonde right now, with gray/hazel eyes.  More than anything, he is just a happy guy.  He has a big smile for anyone that wants one, and takes after our dog Smokey, in that he is usually content if he is just in the same room as his family.

Floor time, working on his rolls

 Grady is eating a wide variety of food now, and we've yet to find anything that he doesn't like.  Another trait that he does not share with his siblings.

Kenzie is her usual mix of athletic and fashionable.  This picture captures the current essence of Kenzie!

Grandad Werner and I took the kids to Mariners fanfest, where they played on the field, toured the locker room and got Brendan Ryan's autograph.

Jackson meets his hero, who asked him if he's also a shortstop.

Kenzie strikes a pose with the King.

Finally, we took the kids on a little Winter vacation to Suncadia, where we rented a house and just hung out, joined by the Werner grandparents and cousin Cameron.  Grady swam for the first time, J&M ice skated for the first time, we inner tubed, hot tubbed, played cards, read a lot of books, and completed about 23 pieces of a 1000 piece puzzle!

Grady enjoys his first ever swim.  We have yet to find an activity he doesn't enjoy!

Kenzie completes her 73rd run on the yellow waterside.

Jackson and Mackenzie loved ice skating... and never got injured:)

Winter ice bunnies

Snow racer

Chillin' with my homies after shredding the mountain all morning

Grady enjoys a nice thumb at the end of another relaxing day on vacation

Another close game of Uno

Kenzie and Jackson on a winter walk at Suncadia