My thoughts on the NFC Championship Game

I am disappointed that the San Francisco 49ers lost, yes, but I am even more deeply perturbed by the Seattle fans who so blindly support a classless role model who has zero integrity.  

A super bowl ring won't make up for Sherman's lack of integrity.

Niners v. Cardinals

Sunday was our first San Francisco 49er game of the season.  Sam and I brought Jackie and Joe to the game with us, and we had a great time tailgating with the McHones and Oliveros before we headed over to see the Ward Family.  

 We got to celebrate Matt and Whitney's baby boy who will be joining the family in April 2014.

Mike, Carina, Kelly, Dad

 Carina and Mom

 Jackie and I at the game

Lovely ladies and our amazing gentlemen!

Sam and I can't wait to go back in December for the last home game of the regular season.  

Football Season 2013

This is going to be a very bittersweet football season for me.  As you (hopefully) know, my family has had season tickets to the 49ers since Kezar Stadium, and at the end of this season, the 49ers current stadium at Candlestick Park will be torn down.  The new stadium will be built in Santa Clara, and it looks to be quite a work of art.  Unfortunately, Papa's seats on the 45 yard line, 15 rows up behind the 49ers bench were going to be $80,000 a piece for the personal seat licenses (PSLs) - that doesn't even include the price of the tickets!

So, Papa gave up his seats.  Dad is going to have one seat in the upper deck with some of his friends from high school, who we tailgate with every Sunday.  The plan is to buy tickets comparable to what we are accustom to when we want to go to games, and even if we were to spend $2,000 for all 6 (now 7, with Sam) of us to go together, it would be significantly cheaper than buying season tickets that we don't even use every week because we only have 4 family members currently living in the Bay Area.

What makes this season especially tough is that we were so close to our 6th Super Bowl victory last February and I was incredibly invested in the season as you can see here, here, here, and especially here in NOLA.  This year we have another great team, and it's going to be really tough to say goodbye to The Stick when it just seems to feel like we're returning to our glory days.

Too Good To Be True

Our tickets arrived yesterday...

...It's almost too good to be true!!!

People keep asking if I'm getting excited yet, and honestly, I have been so busy working on projects that I want to finish before I leave work on Thursday and trying to organize Hunter's schedule while I am gone that I have hardly had time to think about the weekend ahead.  It feels like weeks ago that Mom texted me we were going to the Super Bowl- and that was just a week ago!

We were referred a dog-sitter by the Grant family, who have been our go-to friends for all things puppy since before we even brought Hunter home.  They really recommended Linzy's company Passionate4Pets, and I know she stays over at their home when they're gone.  

Best laid plans went awry when Sam and I realized we are BOTH gone Thursday night.  Luckily Linzy was free and she came to the rescue- we are now the proud (?) employers of a dog-sitter.  I am sure Sam is still wrapping his head around it, but I am sure that Hunter will be better behaved for Sam.  

SF v GB Jan 12

So we all flew home for what could prove to be the last Playoff Game at Candlestick Park since next season is the last one before the new 49er stadium opens.  

Sam and I came up from Orange County before the game and Papa picked us up on the way to the stadium with Dad, Carina (in from CO), Ali (from SB), Mark and Brock (from HI).  It was our first game all together- Papa, his sons and all four grandkids.  What a time we had!

Matt & his wife, Sam & I... the next generation of the Ward-Santi Family

Brent came in from Arizona for the game, we ran into him at the airport the next day

Santi Family at the Tailgate

At our seats

Happy Belated Birthday to Ali