Kinda Sappy, but I Want to Remember it All
It's been quite some time now since Alexis made up her mind that she wanted Santa to make the appropriate arrangements for her to attend a Penguins game. Forget the toys, the clothes, the books, all she wanted for Christmas was Pens tickets. Well, Santa is magical and all, but he doesn't have the power to alter the Pens schedule, so he had to work a little of his mojo and make things happen for the kid a wee bit before Christmas. In fact, with a thud and a clank, he somehow maneuvered through Alexis' bedroom window yesterday and left a little something under her tree.
We quickly ushered the surprised little Pens freak to the floor and urged her to open her present. (And, yes, Santa did manage to use the fugliest blue Dora paper anyone has ever seen.)
To be honest, I was a little worried that giving a kid paper for Christmas (albeit ridiculously expensive paper) was going to go over about as well as a couple of neck ties do with Mr. Husband.
Yet, she seemed to know instantly what the pieces of paper represented. Maybe that's because Santa and Sidney Crosby were allegedly in her room the night before and told her she was going to a game. I'm not even kidding, that was her story all morning long. Before she knew about the tickets. Or that there was a game.
She was excited about those pieces of paper.
She was nearly as excited about the new baby blue jersey Santa snuck in as she was those tickets.
She clutched those tickets in her chubby little hands and held them tight for hours after Santa dropped by. It was next to impossible to wrestle them from her, but she was more than willing to show them to anyone who asked.
When finally it came time to leave for the game, Alexis donned her new blue jersey and insisted on pairing it with a jean skirt and the stuffed Penguin she got at a game last year. She clutched that Penguin tight all through the game.
She grinned with glee every time she spotted Sidney Crosby on the ice, who was kind enough to wear his blue jersey so he would perfectly match Alexis.
Alexis' excitement all through the game was the kind of thing you wish you could toss in a bottle, seal up tight, and set on a shelf to cherish for years to come. It was the sort of warm fuzzy night that makes parenting a kid (who today yelled for over an hour, with shrieks that were drenched in misery, because she wanted some waffles but then refused to eat them) all worth while.
Better than worth while.
Perfect.
There's no feeling better than the one you get when you realize you have made your kid very, very happy.
Alexis had a fun little moment with her good bud Iceburgh, who was kind enough to come stand near us for a while. Alexis waved to him, smiled at him, and blew him kisses then promptly buried her face and cried fear-filled tears when he tried to shake her hand. Iceburgh is a classy mascot, though, and gave her a little distance before blowing her a kiss goodbye and heading to another part of the arena.
The Pens lost the game in Epic Fail style.
But a little two-year old didn't care about the final score because Santa made her dream come true.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Reader Comments (50)
This is awesome. She looks like she was completely starstruck with the experience.
I love it.
@Woy--It's still a little weird, though. She's been to a lot of games, just none so far this season. I know she still remembers the playoffs last Spring.
Look at that smile, Santa is awesome!
That is so sweet! Too bad they lost:(
I watched this game with my friend, and it was, to say the least, disappointing. Knowing that little girl didn't care one bit makes it all okay.
That is so sweet. She really is a super fan! What great pictures and memories.
Amy
What a hoot! I am amazed that she knew what the tickets were. She does seem to know what she wants, though.
I remember my own daughter wallpapering her bedroom with Dale Murphy posters and Atlanta Braves pennants when she was growing up. She told me later that she used to wish Dale Murphy was her dad. (HA! I used to wish that, too! He was a hunk!)
You are the best parents EVER. Merry Christmas, Burgh. :)
That's MY kind of Christmas present, and MY kind of kid. The heck with toys - give the child a lifetime love of hockey!
Life experiences shared with mom and dad are so much better than Dora-mobiles. Although I expect Santa will come through with some Dora loot, too. He's cool like that.
SOunds like ALexis is having the merriest Christmas ever!
Man... Miss O's dad would be flat on the floor from shock and happiness if she expressed that much interest in hockey.
LOVE how excited she was by the whole deal!
That is adorable! I can't wait for Maggie to 'get it'. Dan would be ECSTATIC if she got that excited about the Pens!!
I love that you did this for her, but is she psychic? I mean, after all Santa and Crosby clued her in before she opened the present. Did you get goosebumps?
Peace - D
AW!! I would be just like her if Santa left me Pens tickets. And airline tickets back to Pittsburgh. A girl can dream, right?
How wonderful! She looks so happy and like she had a wonderful time at the game!
Isn't that what everyone wants for Christmas - Pens tickets and a new jersery...
I absolutely love that last picture!
What a great experience to share with her. You did a great job. You will all remember it for a long time. And it's not even officially Christmas yet!
Have a magical season Burgh family!
oh i love it....she looks so happy and excited...especially love the pictures of her at the game. So sorry my crappy leafs had to find some game and beat your Pens
You, Ms. Burgh, have one AMAZING kidddo! (But you don't need me to tell you that!) So glad you all had such a fun evening - memories Alexis will cherish forever!
Aw, man. That totally rocks. I hope my children have just as fun and magical a time a A. They will just have to do it without Pens tickets, but that okay for now. Thanks for the cute pictures.
ciao,
rpm
I'm loving the sap. Someday she will totally remember this...I know there is no doubt you and Mr. Husband will never forget.
Merry Christmas!
Tissue please...and over hockey? Go figure!
Hallie :)
Fantastic. Great pics and story, BB. I think my heart grew a size or two today.
Lucky, lucky little girl. And I'm not just talking about the tickets. Or the visit from Santa AND Sid the Kid. I'm talkin' 'bout her mama (and probably Daddy, too;). Next year maybe Santa can arrange a win...
Is it strange that this made me tear up? I love it when kids get so stinkin' excited about going to games.
And that Santa brought her Syndey, too? Way too cool of the big guy! :)
Priceless! That's the Christmas spirit shining bright from Alexis eyes. Santa knew how to keep the magica alive! (Hugs)Indigo
I still don't get how she knew. Love the shirt of Mr H and the babe.
@AnglophileFF--You and me both. The whole thing was decided over the phone and nobody ever once mentioned it around her. I'm POSITIVE.
I think that is so cute that she loves the Penguins hockey team so much.
Good job Santa! I'm very happy that Santa wrapped the gift just like he's supposed to!
That's sweet that she is already a serious sports fan! I love it!
Santa sure rocks! And Burgh's mommy too!
That is amazingly sweet and wonderful. I am awestruck that Alexis discovered so young what it has taken me decades to learn - that the best gifts are experiences, not things. So lovely.
Though I'm sorry she logged her first Pens loss!
There is no better feeling than seeing joy in your child's eyes. Reading your post brought back fond memories for me of a time long ago with my own kids. Cherish it. It's gone before you know it.
That is awesome :) I love that she loves hockey so much. I totally want to go to a Pens game with her!!
Santa is the best! She looked so content at the game with her little penguin! What a perfect moment for the 3 of you!
BTW? I'm crying.
I love you and yours.
Merry Christmas.
I think this is so stinkin' cute there just aren't adequate words! I think it is so cool that you are able to share this with her, and that last picture is just so...so...stinkin' cute! Dank you for sharing with us... :)
Oh, the cuteness! What a special memory for all of you!
Oh the preciousness... The looks on her face in these pictures are just priceless. And you did a wonderful job and telling and showing us all about her magical night out!
Santa is alive and well! ; )
I love that she loved it. It's awesome when you hit the big one as a parent, making the magic in the eyes of your child shine bright.
That look of euphoria is the same one I get for football around my house. I can tell she totally loved it.
And Santa is way hawt to sneak into her room like that before Christmas. I'm impressed.
ohhhhhhhh, those are great pics!
I was going to say something about a team losing to the Leafs but then I remembered that they kicked the Oilers ass not too long ago.
Love all the pictures, she looks so adorable. And that blue is fantastic. Damn the Oilers and their navy blue and copper.
I LOVE this!! So happy to see other little girls loving their sports!
the pens should use that photo of her in her jersey in their marketing. priceless!
Darn. I wish I'd known you were going to be there -- we suffered through the scoring, too. But at least the Toronto fan a few seats down was cool.
i actually saved this post to read last because i knew i wanted to have time to savor it.
awesome.
You have by far the coolest kid ever.
She is seriously so cute! I love it! Look at her little face looking at those tickets! That's a great catch!
oh my gosh - never have I heard of a little one especially a girl wanting tickets to a game. That was so cool!! Makes me wonder...What if my kids are completely missing out because they haven't seen the first hockey game? *S*