Early this October, Matt and Mateo had a chance to go to their first football game together in San Francisco. Matt's been a long-suffering Patriots fan (since 1973!) and has found the last 7 years most gratifying. (Notably, the week after I first saw my good luck charm Sarah at a Boise State game, Tom Brady stepped into the starting New England QB slot, and the team's run to their first Superbowl began - can there be any greater sign that we were meant to be?!!) Pre-child, we'd done our best to get to a Patriots game each year. But we'd taken a pass for the last few years, until the vagaries of schedule put the team out on the west coast for 4 games this season, not to return for several years. So we decided try for Seattle tickets (eventually proved unavailable, due to the Ticketmaster/Seahawks legal scalping racket - Don't get me started!), and added on a trip to the bay area. Sarah's Dad's family is from Sacramento, and are still scattered around central California. We decided it would be a great chance for Mateo and family to see each other - and Mateo got to see his first football game with his Papa, who came down from Idaho for the trip, and Sarah's Aunt Cathy, as devoted and eternal a 49er's fan as Matt is for the Patriots.
We flew into Sacramento, where visited with Sarah's grandparents, Don and Pat, and her Aunt Marcia and husband Klaus. Above, Mateo puts himself in the picture at the Sacramento Zoo. I think we've tried to pose in half a dozen of these things before; This is the first time he really got it.
We picked up Mike in Sacramento, and he had a great outing with the grandson. Mateo had changed so much since the last time, and he loved the zoo and the chance to play with Papa.
Mateo was still in an animal watching mood once we got to Marsha and Klaus's, and he spent a lot of time in front of their tank, staring at the fish (and experimenting with turning on and off the lights and pumps!)
We found this little frog curled up underneath a patio lounger cushion at Marsha and Klaus's. Mateo spent ages just quietly observing it, and then we let it go in the garden.
Mateo with Auntie Marsha and Uncle Klaus. We had a wonderful visit there, great food and company, and talking into the night. Their home is on a golf course, and like many of the residents, they have a golf cart that's used to tool around the development (they don't golf, but it came with the house) Mateo really loved riding around in it, and he even got to drive.
We flew into Sacramento, where visited with Sarah's grandparents, Don and Pat, and her Aunt Marcia and husband Klaus. Above, Mateo puts himself in the picture at the Sacramento Zoo. I think we've tried to pose in half a dozen of these things before; This is the first time he really got it.
We picked up Mike in Sacramento, and he had a great outing with the grandson. Mateo had changed so much since the last time, and he loved the zoo and the chance to play with Papa.
Mateo was still in an animal watching mood once we got to Marsha and Klaus's, and he spent a lot of time in front of their tank, staring at the fish (and experimenting with turning on and off the lights and pumps!)
We found this little frog curled up underneath a patio lounger cushion at Marsha and Klaus's. Mateo spent ages just quietly observing it, and then we let it go in the garden.
Mateo with Auntie Marsha and Uncle Klaus. We had a wonderful visit there, great food and company, and talking into the night. Their home is on a golf course, and like many of the residents, they have a golf cart that's used to tool around the development (they don't golf, but it came with the house) Mateo really loved riding around in it, and he even got to drive.
