Spring Break 2014

So this year's spring break was really weird, but we still had fun! For starters, Jordan has his national board exam tomorrow and Wednesday (so excited for it to be over, but prayers are appreciated) so he's been studying like crazy for almost three months, last week included. Spring break is normally in February but got moved this year to coincide with a convention all the professors like to go to so it was just bad timing. Consequently, we couldn't plan any fun trips or major outings knowing he would need at least part of each day set aside for studying. The second wrinkle in our spring break came on Monday when Jordan ended up randomly going to Nashville for the day to help fight for an optometry-related bill being considered in the state senate. It was a good experience for him and good study time on the bus there and back, but meant that we lost the whole day together. Lastly, I was asked to volunteer for the American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, hosted by Memphis so I was gone Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights and all day Thursday. We worked out a rotation where Jordan would go study in the morning and then he would come home and take over girl duty while I was at the tournament. I'm so grateful I got to work the tournament! Most people don't even know that I did media relations for the BYU men's basketball and women's volleyball teams for eight years before we moved here and then worked for Memphis doing the same thing our first year here before McKinley was born. I'm grateful that I get to stay home with our girls and wouldn't trust anyone else to be with them, but sometimes I miss working a little bit, especially around tournament time. I really loved my job!! I'm very excited to work the NCAA Regionals (Sweet 16 and Elite Eight) in two weeks! Anyway, overall, we made the most of the time we had together as a family and worked hard on the side :)

The fun actually started on Saturday. I was throwing a baby shower for a friend so Jordan decided to put together a "Dudes Group" and texted all the guys who were staying home with kids during the shower to meet him at the park! He's one awesome Dad :) The shower was a success, and then we spent the rest of the day playing. Monday Jordan was gone so the girls and I headed to the zoo with our friend Allie and her two boys to enjoy the beautiful weather. Tuesday, both girls had dentist appointments. It was McKinley's first time so I was really nervous about how she would do, especially given that she doesn't really like strangers. We knew Madison would do great since she had already been before and we had checked out some library books about going to the dentist the week before. Madison is really awesome at doing new things as long as you prepare her ahead of time :) Once McKinley saw Madison doing everything, she was totally fine! Madison actually had a couple cavities (in the back, the result of her insisting on brushing her teeth by herself) so we have to go back the end of April to get them filled. After that, we tried to go to our favorite park in Hernando but it was boarded up :( We were very sad, but we found another park and enjoyed the sunshine for a while before Daddy had to leave for a study group.

Wednesday was the first day of the tournament for me, and Jordan had a doctor's appointment and study group so the girls and I did our normal library thing and then Jordan and I did a quick handoff around 3 pm so I could head out! The evening games were between the 7/10 seeds and 8/9 seeds so not exactly stellar basketball, but it was still fun to be back in the game and on press row! Thursday was my long day - I was gone 12 hours and did four games!! It was actually kind of funny how tired I was when I got home - I used to work games until around 11 pm, then go out to eat with my colleagues (in case you're wondering, IHOP and Village Inn are the only places still open in the Provo/Orem area at that time) and then work on notes until 2 or 3 am and think nothing of it. Now I was yawning around 9 and ready to drop by the time I got home! But I got to see Memphis, UConn, Louisville and Cincinnati play, which was a lot of fun! Jordan had lots of fun with the girls at the park, riding bikes, etc. On Friday, the guys planned a morning study group so the wives headed to the zoo (yes, our second trip of the week ... we love the zoo!) and then had a picnic lunch in the park nearby. Friday's semifinal games featured Louisville vs. Houston (who upset SMU in the quarters) and UConn vs. Cincy. UConn had beaten Memphis the night before in the 4/5 game and then upset the top-seeded Bearcats Friday! Saturday was more of the same as Jordan spent the morning at the library studying while the girls and I played and went to Sam's Club with Jen, and then Jordan came home so I could head to the Championship game, which was won by Louisville over UConn. For anyone still working on your brackets, I was very impressed with Louisville ... they won all their games by double digits and were creative on offense and very active on defense. I know they're a four seed, but I'm calling it now - they're going far!!

So there you have it, our very last spring break! Next year, Jordan will be working for free in Arizona and then after that, the world is our oyster!

Saturday morning - this is how we roll. She loves to raid Madison's underwear

This girl has the CRAZIEST sleep positions

Two cute girls at the dentist!!

A seasoned veteran :)

Ready for her x-rays - she was a little unsure of the "blanket" since it was so big and heavy but she didn't protest and did great!

As Madison would say, "Um, what's going on here?"

Wary but accepting!

Again with the weird sleep positions. This one cracks me up because Jordan sleeps the same way, and I've never understood how he does it ... how does your leg not slide down without you consciously keeping it up there?!

On Friday, I put the girls in the super cute matching outfits we got from a friend for Christmas, and then I randomly ended up wearing a shirt the same mint green color. So I had Jordan snap a few pictures of me and my cute girls. McKinley was less than cooperative, as usual (the girl is a total cheeser and loves to have random photos of her taken but having her actually pose for a photo is impossible!)

At the zoo 

So I have to throw in a disclaimer for the rest of these photos. My job over the years has given me the opportunity to meet and interact with some pretty famous people in the basketball world, including Roy Williams, Dick Vitale, Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Rick Pitino and Larry Brown among others. At one point, I had both Clark Kellogg's and Gus Johnson's cell phone numbers in my phone contacts (this may mean nothing if you're not a college basketball enthusiast, but those are all kinda big names in the college basketball world). I have to admit I was REALLY hoping that Duke would be in our Regional this year - meeting Coach K is kind of a bucket list thing for me. Anyway, I've always been very clear about the fact that I'm not a fan, I'm a professional. My friends used to think I was crazy for not asking for autographs, pictures, etc., but it was really important to me to be professional. But as I sat courtside for the Championship game on Saturday night, it really sunk in what a swan song this was for me. My job isn't really something you can break into and out of very easily with how fast the technology changes and is definitely not family friendly so I really don't expect any more opportunities to do this. So during the second half, I decided to throw out all the professionalism junk and just be a fan! Which meant after how many years of having the privilege, I finally took some pictures! These are all pretty much Louisville since I was sitting right next to their bench and underneath their basket for the half. And I've always liked the Cardinals, especially Rick Pitino (Sorry, Erica!) From what I've seen and heard, he runs a clean program both on and off the court, which counts for a lot in my book. Anyway, here they are ...

Ready for the second half tipoff (and just so you know, none of these photos are zoomed in at all). The perks of the job - although, I think I'm ruined for life when it comes to basketball tickets - no seat will ever compare to the ones I've enjoyed with my job!

Louisville bench

Russ Smith, who was the tournament MVP

UConn's Shabazz Napier, the AAC Player of the Year

Coaching 'em up

I think this is my best shot. I'm definitely not a professional photographer!

The man

Andy Katz - funny story about this picture below

About five feet from me. Pitino paces like crazy! Louisville was up by 20 with about 12 minutes left and then UConn made a little bit of a run, which means they cut the deficit to 15. Pitino came unglued. He called a timeout and all he said during the break was "What the f***" over and over and over again. Then as they were heading out to the floor, he yelled at Russ Smith, "Will you just pass the f****** ball." The Cardinals scored on the possession, and Pitino screamed as they ran down the court, "Now play some f****** defense!" Definitely a far cry from my BYU days :) I actually stopped taking pictures of him at this point for fear he was going to see me and rip the camera out of my hands just because he could ;)

Donning the Championship gear

"How does it feel to be named the Tournament MVP?" "I'm going to Disneyland!" ;)

Luke Hancock hoisting the trophy with a little assist from his head

Me and Andy Katz. So after I took the picture up above of him just standing waiting for the game to end so he could do his on camera interview, he caught me. He looked down at me and smiled, and I just shrugged my shoulders, like "Hey, that's what you get for being you." So after the game, he came back over to me and said, "Do you want a real picture now?" Yes please :)