BB Part 2

Sorry, the anticipation was just to much!  I had to cut and run.  I can't stand it.  As I wrote, I felt myself holding my breath.  It is probably just because I am way too dramatic of a person and in my head things are 10 times more dramatic than in real life.  Now, back to the story!

I reached my hand in the bowl (well, really it was a plastic Minnesota Vikings Mug) and felt the papers at the tip of my fingers.  I held my breath and pulled out one paper, leaving only one in the mug.  I went to open it but first drew in my breath even deeper.  Then slowly unfolded the paper to read......

                                                      

Hee Hee.  So, guess what I did for the next almost 3 months!  I watched basketball.  If you don't know anything about Basketball, you might not know that the finals last FOR EVER!!!!!  Each bracket has the potential for 7 games.  Whoever wins the best out of 7 goes to the next bracket and the losing team is eliminated.  (so, if a team "sweeps" the score with be 4 to 0 and they won't play the remaining games - you get the point).

So anyway, that is what I have been doing in all of my spare time.  I think I only missed 2 games that the Warriors played -

In the end - the Warriors were declared the NBA Finals Champions.  They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers.  From the very beginning of the tournament, I said, Golden State is going to take it in Game 6.  Every one disagreed.  They thought that all 7 games would be played.  I kept saying it and I kept getting shut down.  Well, guess what - Golden State took it in Game 6.  AWESOME.  It would have been Awesome just to say that my team won!  This is the first time they won in 40 years.  They even had the NBA regular season MVP on their team - and then they got the FINALS MVP title as well as the CHAMPIONSHIP.  That makes it extra special - but you know what tops that off?

That I WON $210!!!!

So, I guess that will buy Tablecloths for the Wedding.  NICE!

Thanks for listening to me ramble.  But Sister, this is why I couldn't blog!  I was watching BasketBall~  Ha!

Me and Basket Ball

I want to start off this post by just saying:

                                                         
It is very true!  I am a Dallas Cowboy fan from birth!  And always will be.  I never really have watched any other sports besides football.  I am not an avid fan that HAS to watch every time football is on.  I do watch every time the COWBOYS play - but other games I can give or take.  Although, in the last few years, I love to watch them all.  But there will be more on this subject as the summer comes to a close because there are only 69 days till FOOTBALL SEASON 2015 starts.

So, will all of that said, I want to say one more thing before I begin this post about Basket Ball:

Last March I really watched BB for the first time.  My work does a buy in for the NCAA March Madness Tournament.  It is a $20 buy in, and then you draw teams.  So, no, you don't get to cheer on your FAVORITE team - you get to cheer on the team that you randomly draw.  Now, sometimes this is good and sometimes this is bad.  Last year, it really wasn't good for me, but since I wasn't a BB fan, I didn't really care, it just seemed like it was going to be fun.  

This year, I drew Notre Dame.

Notre Dame ended up making it to the Elite 8 and then lost on March 28 to the University of Kentucky by 2 stinkin' points.  Last year, when I watched, I didn't really embrace the game because I didn't know anything about it.  This year I decided I would learn about BB.  Why not, right?  How did I learn about it?  Well, I started watching the games with people.  I have decided, anytime there is a competitive sport on and people to watch with, it is a good time.  I figured out I knew more about BB then I thought I did.  I had learned the very fundamentals in Elementary School.  It is amazing how much you retain without even thinking about it.  But I began to learn the technical stuff.  The stuff like how many time outs each team gets; about foul shots, and some of the calls the refs made.  You know - sports stuff.  Anyway, I had 3 great teachers.  My 2 bosses and then Carlos.  So, I asked questions and they taught me.  

Several times while we watched these games (they lasted the whole month of March) we would catch a few NBA games.  One team that took our interest (I later learned it took almost the whole nation's interest) was the Golden State Warriors.  We would watch part of their games, talk about them, and discuss different news and things of interest we had heard about them.  

So, I lost my $20.  It was fine.  It was worth it just to hang out and enjoy the games.  But then, April 16th, Carlos asked me if I wanted in on the NBA Finals.  Last year I had declined - but this year, I had learned so much.  It works the same way, we draw the teams.  So, I agreed.  During the drawing, everyone talked about who they wanted to draw.  On the whole, I think that the San Antonio Spurs are the most fan based team in our company.  But, after they were picked, everyone wanted to pick Golden State.  Remember? - I told you they had sparked our interest earlier in the season...  Let me give you a little back ground:  We draw #s first to see what order we are going to draw teams.  Well, guess what # I picked - (I think it was - ) # 14 (out of 16)!  Can you believe that!?!?!?  Well, this entire time, I just sat with anticipation.  Each person that drew, eliminated one team from the pot.  And with each pass of the bowl, Golden State remained in.  

Is the anticipation killing you yet? - Well, we got down to the last 3 to draw.  Me, Steve, and Carlos.  So, I don't remember for sure if I was 14 or 15 but you know - we were all on edge!  The tension broke a little when Steve went to draw and jokingly said, "With my luck, I bet I draw the Pelicans".  The Pelicans were ranked # 8 out of 8 in the West.  And guess what!  He drew the Pelicans.  He was pretty irritated.  So, that left only the Washington Wizards and the Golden State Warriors.  It also only left Carlos and I left to draw.  

Drum Roll Please...........

I reached my hand in the bowl (well, really it was a plastic Minnesota Vikings Mug) and felt the papers at the tip of my fingers.  I held my breathe and pulled out one paper, leaving only one in the mug.  I went to open it but first drew in my breath even deeper.  Then slowly unfolded the paper to read......

All things May

I have been so stinkin' busy lately.  So, please forgive me for what might turn out to be a random piece of blurbs.

During the first week of May we celebrated Gladys being cancer free for 8 years.  This is such a celebration each year.  It really is a big deal and we really show it.  It is also a very emotional day for her, so Amber, the kids, and I always try to bring some comic relief into it.  I think she ended up with 2 cakes, lots of laughs, and lots of hugs.

On May 9th, I got to go on a "date" with Amber.  That was pretty cool.  We went to Farley's where a live band was playing.  We found ourselves picking out stuff online for the wedding such as plates, and silverware while we listened to the band.  It was fun.  I love it when we get to just hang out, without any real agendas or responsibilities.  So, here are a few pictures from that night.

Just messing around

Just Us

             

Dorky Smiles

Of course, I can't leave out Mother's Day!!!!  I got to take my mom to the movies.  She got to pick the movie and we all enjoyed it.  Even Scotty, tagged along.  It was quite enjoyable.

During the middle of May, I ended up in Albuquerque with my boss.  She had me accompany her to an ADDCP meeting.  This a meeting of an organization of Executive Directors of programs like ours across the state.  They do a lot of politically related stuff and then a lot of work on the Developmental Disability Movement and different things.  It was really pretty interesting to see them and kinda understand what they do.  This was a two day meeting.  We got to stay at the Route 66 Hotel and Casino.  So, after the meeting on the first day, we had dinner at Outback, and then hit the Casino and watched the Basket Ball game at an Irish Bar there.  (More about Basket ball in a little bit).  So, I was glad I got to go on this little trip.  I think that there are big things lining up for me in the future of this organization so I am being like a sponge and soaking it all up.

On May 15th and 16th, I got to spend some time with my family that I don't get to spend a lot of time with.  My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tom were down.  So, this meant I got to see Mimi, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Tom, Lisa, Rod, Court, Andrew, & Nali, Kaitlin, Hector, and Harleigh, Taunya, Ken, Aubrey, Riley.....the whole gang.  It was an exciting weekend because Aubrey had just won the state championship for Softball and was graduating.  But, not only was she graduating, so was Kaitlin!  So, it was a fun time.  I didn't get a lot of pictures taken but here are a few!

  Pictured above is:  Aunt Kathy and Kaitlin; Lisa and Harleigh (Kaitlin's baby); Ken and Taunya; Andrew and Courtney; and Uncle Tom holding Annaliese "Nali" (Courtney's baby) for the first time.  

We had a great time hanging out at the hotel; eating lunch at Margarita's; eating at Big D's Diner; and then eventually having a Bon fire out at Taunya's to celebrate the graduations. It was really great to get to hang out with my family. They r always so much fun. I wish they were just a tad bit closer!

On May 18th, I woke to Amber bringing me some garden roses.  It was a great beginning to my day.  

Super Sweet!

During that same weekend, the kids were all home.  Here are just some random pictures that we took while hanging out one afternoon.  

I am pretty sure they were cheering
Liah, Kili, Zeta

Nakomus, just resting

I love this picture of Amber and Kyli

A little dark but still sweet
Zeta, Nakomus, Liah, Kyli

Kyli and Brennen getting ready for take off

I had the great privilege to take Brennen to his first scary movie in a theater.  He wanted to see the new Poltergeist movie.   Amber got to go with us.  During the movie Brennen and Amber kept making jokes (I am positive it was to relieve the tension - which is the thing I love best about a scary movie!) After the movie , we all played in the arcade at the theater.  And I am so very proud to announce that I am STILL the reigning CHAMPION of AIR HOCKEY!    

On May 26th I got to go to Albuquerque again. This time I went to train at the Regional Conference for THERAP.  That was pretty awesome. I got to teach about 4 classes a day for 3 days. We hung out and watched more basket ball (which eventually will get it's own post). I got to go with some of my favorite people from work so you know we had a great time!  

Are you tired of reading yet?  Well, this next blurb brings us to the 29th, so we are almost through.  Hang in just a tad longer.  

After returning from Albuquerque, we celebrated Gladys's Birthday.  Amber made Mama a homemade cake.  It was so yummy.  Here she is serving it to all of these hungry kiddos.  There was a house full.  Even her sister's came to celebrate with her.  

                                                 

This was one of my favorite pictures from the day.  Nakomus's brother Zyler was messing with her.  See the lizard on her head?  That expression just cracks me up!

                                               

So, in conclusion I was not lying when I said, May is one of my busiest months.  It was plum crazy!

                                                              

So, I leave you with one of my selfies from the end of May.  

Not too Late!

I am trying hard not to go to long between blogs.  It seems though, that  a lot has happened since I blogged last.  Please forgive because I should have tons of pictures but I don't have any!

On May 7, we got to celebrate with Gladys

My SISTER is saying that I have to make a post or she will delete me.  So, I started this in May and so here is all I have.