Packers Family Night

Okay, so if you know Emma, at all, you must know what an obsessive Green Bay Packers fan she is.  Ever since we moved here she's been this way.  Right after we moved here the Packers played the Bears to see who would move on and play in the Superbowl, which of course the Packers did, so then we saw them win the Superbowl that year too.  And I think all the hype and excitement coupled with the cheesehead hats which she loved turned her into this super fan.  And she's in love with Aaron Rodgers.  She wants to marry someone with the last name of Rodgers just so she can name her son Aaron.  Yup.  Die hard.

She will actually sit and watch an entire football game.  She'll cheer, boo, ask questions, and stay interested the entire time!  I know adults who can't or won't do that.  Myself sometimes included.  And every birthday and Christmas since we moved has included at least one item of Packers paraphernalia.  From stuffed dolls of Aaron Rodgers to shirts to dresses to hats and scarves, to cheeseheads, to nutcrackers, blankets, pajamas, and sleeping bags, she has it all.  I even made a cheesehead ornament for our Christmas tree since I didn't like any of the packer ornaments that were sold anywhere.  Yes, she bleeds green and gold.

So you can imagine her excitement when we told her we were heading to Green Bay for the Packer Family Night.  She was beyond excited.  We had never even been there to see the stadium, let alone go inside.  She looked like this the entire ride there:

We caravanned up with some friends who were also going so we could park by each other and tailgate.  We found out later that we knew several people who went.  Next year maybe we'll all coordinate more so we can hangout.



We got tattoos of course.  Then on to the pro shop for some souvenirs.  I got some earrings and a necklace (and a clear bag to take stuff into the stadium later), Eric got a shirt and a hat, and Emma got some socks and a foam finger.  She's wanted a foam finger for awhile.  We also got something else to hang on our Christmas tree, although as I sit here typing this I can't remember what it is.  I guess I'll be surprised this winter!

There were some students from some college there in the atrium building the stadium out of legos.

Aren't the players cute?

In a replica of Aaron Rodgers' locker.

Ate Brats and grilled corn, some pasta salad and had some chips and cookies (the corn makes this an acceptable and healthy meal don't you know) and enjoyed the company of our friends.  Then it was time to line up to go inside.  We made our way to the gate closest to where our seats were, and were herded inside along with everyone else.  We had some great seats!  And that was just lucky, because you couldn't choose where your seats were.

Enjoying some down time while we got dinner ready.

Our view.  Pretty good huh?  This picture is a little out of order, obviously, as the night lights are on.

Emma was thrilled every moment we were there.  And then when the team finally came out and she saw Aaron Rodgers - well, we could have gone home right then and she would have been satisfied.  We decided to stay though and watch the team warm up and play some scrimmage and have some kicking contests etc.  The fireworks at the end were a nice touch too.

She wanted to wear as much Packer stuff as she could in this picture, which is why she's wearing both her hat and her cheesehead, along with her hoodie around her waste.  Goodness!

I think the most shocking/amazing part of the day was when we were leaving (along with the other 63,000 people) and were trying to make our way out of the parking lot and to the freeway.  EVERYONE was taking their turn, and I didn't hear a single car horn.  Packer fans are the best!  At least my experience is that they are extremely polite.  Maybe things at an actual game would be different...against Bears fans or something...