Christmas in Wisconsin

Beautiful view as the snow started coming down

Since Christmas 2013 was spent on our honeymoon visiting Mexico via a wonderful cruise, we decided lets go completely opposite for Christmas 2014, Wisconsin it was. In reality Brennan had not been home in almost two years and his poor parents had been making the trip to California a lot in the last two years. Though there could be worst places than San Diego for your only son to move, just saying! 

Before the game

Always hard to be away for Christmas, thankfully technology helps a lot. I spent Dec 23 with my family at the Poinsettia Bowl to watch the Aztecs play. I know my mom loved it all her kids in one place for a few hours. There were not even any husbands this evening. Just the family. You do not realize it but those kinda days become few and far between. So it was nice to be just us Vessey's for a few hours. It was a good game of football. Close throughout with the Aztecs having a chance to win. But in the end we did not get the outcome that we had hoped for with an Aztec win.

Christmas/Brennan's Birthday

Brennan and I would leave for Wisconsin Christmas eve on the 1st flight of the morning. Thankful that weather was on our side for traveling. Which if you have traveled with me in the last two years I have not had one flight go on time. I know Brennan was worried my curse would continue. But all was good and we arrived without issue. Since we traveled on Christmas eve, made for Christmas and Brennan's birthday arrived quickly. Seemed like it snuck up on us.  We had a great Christmas day. I also spent some time of the morning on facetime with my family to watch them wrap up there Christmas. Also in perfect timing to see Sean get a new car.. Guess Santa thought he was a really good kid.  The rest of the day was spent celebrating Brennan and his day of birth. We went to the movies and saw "The Gambler". It was a good movie and different than what I expected. 

No Snow!!

A few days later.. SNOW!

Sadly I did not get my white christmas (which Brennan had promised me). Mind you this was my 2nd Christmas in four years in Wisconsin- neither of which had snow. Late on the 26th it started snowing I rushed out to play in it. But it only lasted a few minutes and did not stick. Then either later that evening or the next night we were headed to bed and Brennan noticed it was really snowing- needless to say we spent some time playing in it. That night they got somewhere between 5-7 inches of snow. I may have been the only excited person within a few hundred miles. From that point the weather was cold, but nothing crazy. Well that changed quickly and caused a very drastic change in temperature. The rest of the trip was very cold and usually started with a - sign. 

Deer in the backyard

After Christmas we had not really plans. Except for Brennan to see a few specific people. The rest of our trip was spent hanging out and visiting people. Spent a night out in Eau Claire with some of Brennan's high school friends. A few trips to the Twin Cities. On one trip to the cities we visited the Mall of America and had a fun lunch together, did a bit of shopping. That same evening we headed to Coach Hartman's house for dinner. Such a fun evening getting to know him and his wife even better. Brennan and I have a lot to thank him for. He really pushed Brennan to go to grad school (thank heavens he did). 

Stood outside in -10 for this picture

The last day of the trip we meet up with Brennan's grandpa for lunch in the Dells. It has a huge outlet mall, thankfully we were shopped out. Plus no way I wanted to be at an outside mall when it was that cold. It was great to spend time with Brennan's grandpa. Plus you could just tell how much it meant to him. 

Brennan made me try this on: guess it is a
Wisconsin thing

By the end of the trip it was a lovely -10, that is without wind chill. The coldest the thermometer said at one point was -13 while Brennan & I were driving back one night. Thus I was happy to come back to Cali. Even if when we arrived it was raining. Within two days it was a lovely 70. 

I made him go play in the snow.. I think he kinda loved it, even if he would not admit it! 

Not sure when we will get back to Wisconsin again. But cannot thank the Cassidy's enough for making it such a wonderful holiday and break.

Experience of a Lifetime!

Sweet 16

Sports are in my blood. I have had the privilege to attend some awesome sports events in my short lifetime. Of course I still have many that I want to be able to check off my list. One of the events I always wanted to see was March Madness- especially when it gets down to the last few teams surviving the winner go home event.

I can officially say I have attended the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 of Men’s Basketball. The experience was even more amazing because I got to watch my Aztecs play in the Sweet 16. I also got to experience a little of Brennan’s home state team Wisconsin.

Brooke and I went to the Sweet 16 together. I have to thank my mom for getting me the awesome birthday present of tickets to watch.  Brooke and I made a little half day of it all. We stopped off for lunch at the Irvine Spectrum.  Then we headed down to the Honda Center to experience the Sweet 16. On our way into the game it was amazing to see all the San Diego State fans. It just amazed Brooke and I. We have attended some of the biggest SDSU events and never did we feel so at home with the rest of our Aztec family. 

SDSU taking the court

Since the Aztecs were playing the second game of the night, many of the Arizona and Aztec fans came in a bit later. Not Brooke and I, we really wanted to take in the whole experience. That included getting to watch Wisconsin play Baylor. Sadly it was not that competitive of a game Wisconsin took down Baylor without much effort.  

After the Wisconsin win half of my dream Elite 8 was set in place. After allowing the teams to warm up, it was time for the main game of the night. All of a sudden the Honda center was packed full of loud fans. I have never experienced the cheering that took place. If U of A cheered, SDSU fans countered it.  The entire game was spent with both fan bases in their own locked battle of wills to out cheer the other. It was amazing. I can say Brooke and I got into the cheering and were fully engaged in the game.  I even got to see my teammate and good friend Erin Lester at half time of the game.

What a game it was worth every penny my mom spent. Only sad part was the Aztecs ended up losing a true battle. For a team that everyone claimed would be “building” I saw a team that competed. The game went back and forth just working so hard. In the last three minutes Arizona was able to get a bit hot and ended our season.

We may have lost but the experience was worth it. Also showed Brooke and I that there are Aztec fans out there. Hopefully this run into the tournament keeps them excited and they attend more events in the future.

As Brennan says "Go Aztecs!". Brooke and I left there with no voices and headaches, but as very proud San Diego State Alumni. Honored and proud to be part of Aztec Nation. 

Aztecs Warming Up

Tip Off

With time winding down. The end of a great season!

Elite 8: 

Wisconsin warming up

Sadly, my dream Elite 8 wasn't in the cards. Great news was that Brennan’s home state of Wisconsin was being represented on the West Coast. Saturday, Brennan and I headed back up to Anaheim to watch Wisconsin take on Arizona. At this point I was all Wisconsin, Go BUCKY!  We thought it was great the people behind us were Wisconsin fans- till we found out how annoying the one woman could be! Though it was funny because for the first time Brennan was able to hear the accent they had. While that made me laugh cause they sounded like all his relatives. Brennan had many jealous family members and friends back home in the snow, wishing they could be with us. It was fun to see him texting with all of them. Having them help tell us stuff we missed and us doing the same.

Wisconsin wins by 1!

Arizona got away quick but Wisconsin in true mid-west fashion fought for everything. It was a true home crowd for Arizona with their fans yelling just dominating the Honda Center. It did not keep Wisconsin down; they fought and won the battle to advance to the Final Four. It went down to the wire with Wisconsin winning with no time on the clock and by one. It was amazing to see the excitement of advancing. Then there is also the anguish of defeat. All of which is part of playing the game, but still hard to witness. 

A huge thank you to my mom!! You always make such amazing things happen, the our seats could not have been any better. You never cease to amaze me with the birthday gifts you have given me over the years.  You gave Brooke and I another special and amazing experience together! Then I got to have another experience that was completely different at the Elite 8 with Brennan. Plus he got to see Wisconsin play.  

Check the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 off my list of amazing sporting events that I want to attend.  Do not get me wrong, when San Diego State makes it back.. I just might be there in my Red and Black!