Birthdays and more Sports

Sunday we were invited down to Salt Lake for Brian's brother in laws birthday celebration. Since we had been invited down already to Salt Lake when Brian got offered tickets to the U of U game on Sunday afternoon from his old co-workers down there he accepted. It was fun going to catch up and to see what was new at the U and his old job. We also got lucky because the U who aren't the best basketball players kept the game super interesting and only lost at the end.

 It was a really fun day. We even had some crazy entertainment on our way back to our car. When we first left the arena we just had a guy in front of us. But about a fourth of the way back to our car the guy was joined by a girl who came running up behind us. The only problem she wasn't too happy with the guy she had just run to catch up with. So they started to have a pretty heated argument in front of us. It was pretty funny to watch after we were able to slow down and back away from them. They would have some silence, then start into heated whispers and then just yell it out. We thought they were going to start throwing punches a couple of times. Then the girl would storm off, then she would slow down and start yelling again. Then it would repeat. It was so funny and scary to watch. Brian and I kept laughing about it but at the same time were being super cautious. Although it was entertaining we didn't feel like we needed to get caught up in anything if punches were thrown. But when we finally decided we had a chance to get away from them by crossing the street, we actually put ourselves into a no sidewalk side of the street. This made for an interesting walk the last little bit to our car.
Once we got to our car though we headed to Holladay for the birthday party. We arrived a little early and helped get the last few things together. Then the rest of the family showed up, we started eating and had a blast catching up with everyone at the "kids" table. We ended the night with some yummy pie and visiting. It was a fun night.

Brian and I ended up staying the night so that he could catch a flight out the next morning. Then I got to hang out with Jan and Spencer (mostly Spencer) until that night when Cristy and Jeremie came to celebrate the "twin" birthdays. (Cole and Spencer have the same birthday.) It was nice to have company while Brian was gone but I guess I just need to get use to being by myself since Brian has other trips he is going to go on. But I had fun visiting and enjoyed the yummy soup, salad, and bread sticks from the Olive Garden. Thanks for letting me bum with you guys.

Hockey and Basketball

Brian finally had a night off that was the same as the last Hockey game. So we were totally ready to go and enjoy some USU hockey. It was great because it was even against the U.
We started out our date night by going to Wingers. I got a yummy  rice bowl with sticky fingers and Brian got some meatloaf. We then split a dessert and headed to the game to get good seats. We were excited to watch the game and spend some time with our friend Sam.
I only got a picture of Brian and I, but we had a lot of fun. The only sad part was that we lost in overtime. :(

Then the next night I was able to have my sister come and join me at the basketball game. I normally go by myself but this time had some company. It was a fun game with my favorite halftime entertainment. We won this game, had fun cheering, got some fun bandannas, I got to cheer on my sister in a promotion, and overall had a great night.

We actually kind of look like sisters.

Overall, it was a great start to a great weekend. I am doing a different post about Sunday though.

Super Bowl and New Niece

On Thursday last week, Brian's sister in law ended up getting induced. She gave birth to the cutest, tiniest (okay she wasn't the tiniest but she seems to be) little baby girl. We had Brian's dad's birthday dinner on Friday, then had basketball games on Saturday, and we thought we weren't going to be able to go meet this cute new addition to the family. After thinking about it though, we knew we were both healthy (which is great since I have kids sick every week and last week was a crazy one with them being out sick) and we couldn't guarantee staying healthy for two or more weeks until we could get a chance to see them. So on our way to Plain City to watch and cheer on our teams for the Super Bowl we decided to take a detour and go a little further to visit the family that wasn't going to make it.
I am glad we did because I really don't know when we would have seen them next and we would have missed the little stage which is the best one to get to meet them in.

After visiting with the family for a little bit, we decided it was time to go so we wouldn't miss kick off of the BIG game. Everyone at Brian's parent's house when we got there were cheering for the 49ers. Brian and I decided you have to have some competition so we were cheering loudly for the Ravens. BUT we were really cheering the most for the coin toss to be heads. Lucky for us it was and we are getting a free pizza again this year!!! YAY, FREE FOOD!!! Anyway, the game was fun to watch, the commercials were okay, and we got to spend some time with family so it was fun. Sadly, the majority of the family lost and they were pretty much not happy with the game. Some were so not happy that they lost interest and fell asleep. Good times, and great memories.

Deano sleeping while his team was making a come back.

I had to take several pictures to get one with these guys both looking.

This is the only picture I got of Mike being there because they were too close to the TV and I would have been blocking everyone's view.

I love the picture of us above but prefer the no bunny ear attempt. Plus these are better pictures of my hair cut. I promise it really does look cute. I just can't take a picture of myself with it.

Overall, this last weekend was a great one. We got to spend time with family and just have fun. Awww...I love relaxing weekends.

Snow Shoeing

My school does a unique type of PE for their middle schoolers. Instead of having a PE class they get PE days where they go and do different season related activities. In the fall, they went hiking every Friday for the whole day. Then in the beginning of the cold season they worked on the basics of a PE class, running, stretching, wall sit, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Then once we got snow they began snow shoeing and have two ski days. In the spring, they are thinking of doing self-defense. For a lot of these trips they need supervision. When they do snow shoeing, the students leave by classes and go for half of the day. This divides up who is available and makes each grade responsible for having one parent come to help out. Well this last week the eighth graders at my school didn't have a parent volunteer....which means they couldn't go. I had told a couple teachers that I enjoyed snow shoeing and if I could get someone to cover my one class of the day I could help out. So on Wednesday last week they asked if I was serious. I told them I was and we began to look for a way that I could help out the eighth graders. After much planning and prepping, I figured out a way and was ready to go.
Friday came and that morning while finishing up a few things, I got told a parent came to school that day to volunteer. I was bummed. I had worked super hard to get things together so that someone else could teach my class and I could go enjoy the snow and my students. I figured I would be staying but then all the teachers who were helping me with my one class and who I have helped out told me that I should still go. Luckily, they did still need someone to drive, so I got to go.

It was so pretty. But it was also super warm. I definitely got my workout in. We were split into groups of 4 students and the teacher. My group started out on a nice, packed down trail that felt like nothing and then decided to work our way back to the Vehicles off the trail and up the side of the mountain some. This is where we worked up our sweat. I started off this off trail adventure with my four students and two from another group we had met up with. Only  a little into the trail and one of the girls I was with couldn't get her snow shoe to stay in the right place, so she kept falling down.....which wasn't very good being on the side of a hill. She fell one time and started to slide down. So I suggested she go down and join the other group on the main trail. She agreed and I was down to 5 students with me. We had been walking this crazy path for about 15 minutes and took a much needed water break. This is where two more of my girls said we are heading back to the trail. We are tired. Then I was down to 3. The rest of us kept going for another 15 minutes, then due to my lack of knowledge of the trail decided to head back to the main trail since we were close to the beginning and it looped a little weird.
I only stopped to snap two pictures but I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed being able to spend time with the students I teach in another atmosphere. It was fun to see who was willing to accept my challenge and who wasn't when we decided to go off the normal path. I know that everyone who was with me had a lot of fun though. Plus they now know what it means to really snow shoe.

Basketball and Kid Watching

So back on the 26th, Cristy (my sister in law) needed someone to help her watch her kids. Her oldest boy had a soccer game and then had to go clean the Spectrum as a fundraiser for his soccer team. The other kids aren't allowed to participate because they are too young. So I was free and got to spend some time with the kids. However.....it was a BIG night up at the basketball game with it being football night that Brian helped me get two tickets and we went to the game. (Yeah these nieces and nephews are getting spoiled, I think this was their 2nd and 3rd game)
We went up nice and early to get in line for autographs. The autographs were suppose to start right at 6:00pm. However, there was a mix up in communication and we didn't get started until more like 6:45pm....if even then. It was a long wait but well worth it, since we made it through the line and got every single autograph. Kaylee was so worried that she wouldn't get Chuckie's autograph which was the only one she wanted so that she could give it to her brother.
After we got all our autographs we went and got a treat for the kids. Dippin' Dots. They had never had them before and were wondering what they were like so like a good aunt I got them for them. They enjoyed the delicious bubble gum flavor. Then went and brought me (I mean us ;) ) some Kettle Korn.

Getting our posters signed

Enjoying his Dippin dots

Enjoying her Dippin dots

Football Team

Tropheys

Playing some Basketball

Cheering Fans holding cut outs to try to distract the shooter.

We did also watch and cheer on the Aggies!! It was a super close game. We spent the majority of the game behind and then came back to be neck and neck with the other team. Sadly we lost.....but the crowd was all on their feet and we were all holding our breath as the last shoot was bouncing around the rim that would have tied us up.  It was a sad loss but it was the best and loudest crowd I have seen all basketball season. So I guess in a way it "woke" up our fans.
After the game we went home, started a game of Trouble, then paused our game when Brian got home to go help him bring in the game day sign, then came home finished the game of Trouble (Kaylee won), then started another game (I don't remember who won the second game....I think Cole did?), and last we did what anyone would do at eleven o'clock (at least it seemed that way with how many people/college students we ran into) we got some McDonald's ice cream.
It was a lot of fun hanging out with Kaylee and Cole. It was a lot of laughter and a nice relaxing time while having people with me cheering on the Aggies!!