It was Cade's year to pick a destination for celebrating his birthday with papa and nana. Basketball has been his love sport from early on, so it was no surprise that he wanted to go to the Final Four in Houston with us. I drove to Brownsburg on Wednesday, March 29. On Thursday, March 30 April took us to the Indy airport for our 2:45 direct flight to Houston. Don picked us up at the airport and we went back to our Spring Hill Marriott hotel in downtown Houston. We walked to a food mall that evening for supper and then settled in for the night.
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| Packing and repacking |
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| At the airport |
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| We are ready to go! |
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| A quick burger before the flight. |
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| Houston, where we come! |
Friday, 3/31
Cade went with Don to the USA Basketball training camp practice. When they returned we went to the nrg stadium to watch U Conn in their open practice and watched some of the college all star game. Don had a late afternoon into evening practice and meeting. Cade decided to stay back at the hotel with me to watch the Iowa women in their Final Four game vs. #1 S Carolina. We ordered pizza and cheered the Hawks on to a victory. We decided if we could get tickets we would go to Dallas to see the final game on Sunday.
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| At the arena for open practices |
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| Cheering on the Iowa women |
Saturday, 4/1
Cade and Don had another USAB training camp practice with the elite players of 16 and 17 years old. GAME DAY. San Diego St. beat Florida Atlantic. U Conn beat Miami
Sunday, 4/2
Cade went with Don to the USAB practice on the Final Four floor! He got to watch a short practice, shoot on the floor and see the championship trophy.
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| Shooting on the arena floor |
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| The championship trophy |
Off to Dallas to the women's Final Four to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the final game. After a 3 1/2 hour drive we arrived in time for the 2:30 tip off. LSU beat Iowa, but it was so, so fun to be there. 3 1/2 hours back to Houston and it's bedtime.
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| Photo with Connor and Patrick from the Iowa men's team |
Monday, 4/3
Don and Cade went to the Houston Space Center for a tour.
Quick trip back to the Fan Fest at the Convention Center.
5:00 dinner at Papa Bros to officially celebrate Cade's 15th birthday. We had yummy started salads, and then shared a huge porterhouse steak with onion rings.
Final Four final game. U Conn beat San Diego State
Tuesday, 4/4
Cade and I had a 9:45 am flight back to Indy. Don headed to Portland for the Hoop Summit. Cade and I had time for breakfast in the United Club and then both got bumped up to First Class for the flight. April picked us up and we shared our stories of the trip with the family that evening.
