Nick's March Madness Trip

My dad has been going to the first round of March Madness Basketball for the last 12 years. Over time it has evolved into an annual boys trip. They've gone all over the United States: New Orleans, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Portland, San Jose, Salt Lake City... this year was Orlando. All of my brothers, my dad, and some of my dad's friends go. (the Hansen's have hopped on board the last 4 or 5 years). Nick is the first brother-in-law in our family so this year he was the new kid on the block. I think I was more excited about the trip than him! I've had people ask if I'm ever sad that I don't get to go, but to be honest I don't feel left out at all. I'm just so happy that Nick gets to go on a trip and have fun with my brothers and my dad that it's kind fun for me too.

They'd be gone for 30 minutes and they were already getting into trouble... Steve Arm Wrestling a 7-11 Worker for free candy

They all stayed at a big condo equipped with basketball courts and swimming pools. Usually they stay at a hotel, so it was nice this year for everyone to be in the same condo with big living areas for everyone to hang out together. They rented 2 big vans and would compete who can get home first everyday. The younger guys, Nick, Nate, Brody, Steve, Taylor and Brant were up every night playing basketball or sneaking into the pool in the wee hours of the morning. (did you guys ever sleep??) If you know my brother Steve, he is always creating random competitive games for everyone to play. Here is the cushion sliding game they came up with the first night: (I don't have any of Nick doing it, oh well)

They put a pillow about 20 feet from the front door and go to the other end of the condo onto the deck. Next they run off the deck in through the living room into the kitchen and slide on the pillow to see how close they can get to the front door.  Boys will be boys...

Day 1 - Universal Studios
-my dad bought the "fast pass" tickets so they got to skip all the lines! Nick hates waiting, or anything requiring patience for that matter (hehe) so he was on cloud 9. I have a weak stomach when it comes to rides so it was nice for him to go with the boys, they rode ride after ride non-stop all day

Day 2 - NCAA Basketball
This is what Nick was excited for the most, he LOVES basketball. Their seats were pretty good, but they couldn't get any in the lower bowl because they were all corporate seating. So they snuck past as many ticket ladies as possible to sit down in the empty seats. The first game was at 1:50pm ET and last one at 9:50pm but because of one OT game it didn't start till 10:30pm! They didn't leave the stadium till 1:00am...

Day 3 - Back to Universal Studios
-day 2 of Universal Studios, they hit up all the rides they missed the first day and hit up their favorite rides over and over again.

Harry Potter Castle

Day 4 - NCAA Basketball
More basketball... and more food....  This time I got to see Nick on TV a couple of times dancing and cheering, it was fun to see them all having a good time :) Then they went to an all you can eat meat place kind of like Rodizio Grill if any of you have been there in Utah.

Florida Game!

These 2 who make it all possible! 

Just to preface this video, Nick HATES sour candy. I don't know how they got him to do it, but this is better than giving a baby sour candy....