Major League Soccer - DC

John received free tickets through a generous Veterans group (Veteran Tickets Foundation) for our family to attend a Major League Soccer game in D.C. (D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls). We decided it would be fun after Aubrey's own soccer game to keep this afternoon trip a complete surprise. It was very hot and muggy out so we started our trip off by stopping at good old 7-Eleven for popsicles all around!

About an hour and a half later, we arrived to the soccer arena for them to tell us that they only take cash for parking. Figures...we forgot to stop at the ATM earlier! I knew we were forgetting something. So we drove down Constitution street in the projects area of D.C. in a hunt for an ATM. No offense to anyone who may live in that kind of neighborhood, but I'm so glad we were driving through there during the day time. John stopped the car on a corner street (literally at a stop sign) at a little convenience store and I got in and out of there as quickly as I could so we could hurry back to parking and get to our seats!

{RFK Stadium - Washington DC}

Two lines later, we finally found where we needed to go to get our VIP tickets for the game - and the lady there to greet us was exceptionally nice! Thanked us for our service and support as a military family and gave us great seats - especially being 15 minutes into the game!

After walking the halls that literally smelled like barf (gross!), we got to our seats and boy was it LOUD! Fans from each team were banging these blow up sticks (whatever they're called!) and there were a few people positioned throughout the arena pounding on the drums. It added to the intensity of the game, that's for sure! I wasn't convinced that Andrew liked the loudness of the crowd, but I think he disliked the humidity making him dripping wet even more! This was his first big event to ever go to so we were excited to take him!

{The view from our seats - section 215}

{Kids watching the game}

{21 minutes into the game...still 0 to 0}

{It doesn't matter what ball it is...bouncy, basket, foot, soccer...he loves it!}

{So cute!}

{United player bumping the ball off his head. Like my soccer terms? Haha Told you I didn't know much about the sport! Still fun to watch though - and this was the first time using my 55-200 lens.}

{Throwing t-shirts for the crowd to catch}

{45 minutes into the game, still 0 to 0}

{Their smiles were starting to fade from all of the heat - they were well hydrated though!}

{D.C. United's mascot}

{Andrew wasn't a fan of the bird in the slightest and started to cry}

{He started to act up and get antsy so John took him up to a few empy folding chairs on the walking platform between levels. We knew he wasn't going to cooperate much longer}

{"It's time to go already?"}

We decided 10 minutes before the game was to end that it was time for us to leave. The kids were having a hard time sitting calmly, or reasonably, in their seats. Andrew was throwing a tantrum that I'm determined to believe would have been BIG (arching the back, screaming, etc - you get the picture!) if we didn't get ourselves out of there pronto! We had fun though despite the minor challenges of kids and weather! The Red Bulls had scored before we left, making it 2 to 0, which ended up being the final score - New York winning. Here are the highlights of the game if you're interested in watching the 5 minute video, courtesy of dcunited.com.

We were then off to our next mission: DINNER! :) But first, we made sure we were well enough away from D.C. (traffic) and stopped at IHOP.

What a fun family day! Can't wait to plan another outing!!

And hopefully this time, there is a changing table - or at the very least, a convenient place to change diapers! The top terrace of the arena on a picnic bench was, well, no picnic!! Hahaha Oh well, these are the little inconveniences I can laugh at now. But not then. I'm thankful for every single place that has a changing area provided. THANK YOU! :)