date night

11 years ago before our wedding day, I decided to take Bryson on a surprise date night.  A father of one of my student's had a connection to get Jazz tickets, and I called him up and when I realized the price of the tickets, bought the two that I could afford.  We were waaaaayyyy up in the nose-bleed seats, but it was a fun game - anything was fun at that point in life, we were crazy in love - weeks away from our wedding - and we could have sat in a mud swamp and thought we were having fun.  Well....almost :) 

We were lucky to have another opportunity to go to a Jazz game - 11 years later we were back in the arena but with much better seats thanks to the gracious gift of tickets from my father-in-law.  I must admit that going to a Jazz game probably isn't in my top 3 date night ideas - but as a couple, doing something together it's in our Top 5....when we get the chance!  

I didn't grow up watching sports - when I made cheerleader in high school that was the first time I stayed through an entire game.  I remember that first game & thinking it lasted FOREVER!  I didn't have a clue about the games - I wouldn't call myself an air-head, but I didn't help the stereotype of cheerleader when that first year I started a cheer for defense when we were on offense, and when I was told by the other girls in my squad to go and stand on the key when learning a new dance....I wandered around the court hoping somehow a light would shine down on this magical key...what in the world was a key?!  It was rather comical those first few months of cheer - but then I started to pay more attention, learn from the other girls & I started to enjoy the games.  I didn't jump to being a crazy fan - but I do like sports & I like cheering for a hometown team....that was probably my favorite part of cheering in Montana because it always seemed like the entire town came out to support high school sports....the energy, excitement and love for YOUR team was the best!

We aren't super crazy fans....just crazy people :) 

There is a  lot of love and support for the Jazz!  It was fun once again to be sitting among others cheering for YOUR team.  It was a rather exciting game as we stayed about 10 points away from the other team for most of the game.  There were some awesome plays, rotten calls, and one of my favorite parts....great people watching :) 

I especially get a kick watching the bear - he is a great mascot!  Really plays it up with the crowd and goes to great lengths to do crazy tricks involving the crowd.  We were part of one these as he came up the stairs by us holding buckets of popcorn and then throwing them into the crowd....popcorn was spilling all over these people.  Bryson stood up and shouted for a bucket --- and we got one!  The bucket was hurled toward us, and after it dumped some on the people near us, it landed in Bryson's hands....and instead of throwing it back at the bear like many of our seat-mates wanted....we enjoyed the bottom 1/4 of a bucket of popcorn for part of the game.  Great treat at no cost - except for the popcorn down our shirts and in our hair for a bit :) 

It was a great treat to watch the Jazz, and enjoy a date night together.  We have heard that the best way to plan a date is to plan for the OTHER person....plan a date that they would enjoy from beginning to end.  We aren't quite to that level of perfection - 11 years of marriage and we feel like we are still at the starting gate in so many ways!  It's funny but someone asked us what our favorite date was in NYC ---- and I had to stop and think....we enjoyed the time we went to Mary Poppins, and we enjoyed dates when we got a chance to go to the temple - however, it was so expensive to get a babysitter and Bryson's schedule was always so random that we didn't go on a lot of dates there.  Now that we are here and Bryson's schedule actually has him off at night & weekends are time for family....we have been much more consistent at working to have weekly date nights.  And I must say that we like it a lot.  Thanks to family that help to watch our kiddos while we go.....we have really enjoyed dating one another again!  

Now, that we have done a Jazz game, I think an upcoming date night will have to include the symphony :)