The kids' first professional hockey game sets the bar high.

This weekend Zack scored some great seats to the Penguins game. Initially we were going to make a weekend of it in Pittsburgh, but since the weather was snowy/windy/yucky on Saturday we adjusted to make it a down and out for just the game. When we woke up on Sunday morning and really thought about roughly 6 hours in the car for a 2 or 3 hour game, I questioned whether to go or cancel. Then Zack said, "Come on. It'll be an adventure." So off we went. And I am just THRILLED that we did.
Arrived at the Consol Energy Arena, went to will call to pick up the tickets and proceeded to the Consol Energy Suite. Suh-WEET! I think that we are probably doing a disservice to the kids with sporting events. First they never quite appreciate the luxury that we get to partake in and they don't understand what a treat it truly is. But how do you teach that? For that I continue to search for the answer. But in the meantime, I live in the moment and soak in the joy these experiences with my family give me.

Arrived at the arena and went to check out the seats. Center ice. Not bad. Not bad at all!

The kids woofed down some burgers and then we strolled around the arena.

Nothing like a gin&tonic or beer after a long drive...















Here we are at the Kid's Zone.

During the game, Alex was intent on watching the play while CJ was focused on waving her sign at every whistle. But since the TV cameras were stationed directly beneath us, I was pretty sure that she wouldn't see herself on the jumbotron.

Of course, it was a never-ending buffet.

At about the 3 period, our friend and VP at Consol Energy stopped in to take us down to the Other suite near the ice. We swiftly packed up and followed him down. What a cool experience. The seats were on the board/glass right next to the Penguins bench. Under the seats was a bigger suite that looked more like a hip restaurant then a sporting event suite and the one wall was glass so you could see the players walking to the locker room from the ice. Super COOL!

It was here that the kids got to experience the players checking into the glass right in front of them....

CJ finally got on the jumbotron waving her sign....
(After the game, Alex, CJ, and I stood behind the player of the game being interviewed on tv. So we all shared a moment on the jumbrotron too!)

Alex got to go up and stand right next to the players....

Lou (the usher in charge!), made sure to get the kids at the end of the game to race down and be right at the glass. All the players walk into the locker room right there and the kids got to bang on the glass and see them all race off the ice.

Here the kids got to sit on the players bench with our friend's little girl too.

  










And we finished the game with our friends catching up in some of the best seats in the house. At some point during the game, I turned to Zack and said, "You know what? I think that this is our 'thing'. We aren't avid golfers, or a skiing family, or a world-traveling family. We do sporting events. And, boy, do we have fun doing them."

Yes, I will admit that Zack was right. It truly was an awesome adventure.