When people hear Duke University, they often first think of basketball. Although DUKE is much more than than just basketball, it has been a very nice perk of coming to this University for grad school!! My sister, Janalee, and her husband McKay came to visit us the first weekend of February... Oh, AND happened to come on the same weekend as a Duke bball game. Hey, we don't care what gets the visitors here... we just really like visitors!!
Our first stop was to the Duke Bookstore. Right when we talked in, we saw ESPN college gameday reporter, Jay Bilas. He was here for the game that night. He seemed a little bit annoyed that we were asking to take a picture with him, but put on a smile and asked, "Which camera"?
The Duke chapel was open so we got to go inside. It was beautiful as ever (even on this very cold, cloudy day). 
On our way to Cameron Indoor stadium we stopped by K-ville to show the Marriotts the craziness that is Duke basketball. Granted all of these tents are set up primarily for the Duke vs. UNC game in March, but the line for tonight's game was already forming... and it was COLD. We are all very thankful for John and his sacrifice to trade, give up, and usher so all 4 of us could go to the game together (and not have to camp out in the cold). You're the best sweety!!
Once we got inside we walked around on the court and the only other people there were the camera crews setting up for the game.
McKay was in heaven!! He and his older brother Mike have been Duke fans since they were little.
Jonah was pretty excited as well.
Laying on the court, just a few hours before game time!!
The whole gang
Thursday Feb 4th, 2010
Our first stop was to the Duke Bookstore. Right when we talked in, we saw ESPN college gameday reporter, Jay Bilas. He was here for the game that night. He seemed a little bit annoyed that we were asking to take a picture with him, but put on a smile and asked, "Which camera"?Jack, John, Jay Bilas, McKay
The Duke chapel was open so we got to go inside. It was beautiful as ever (even on this very cold, cloudy day). On our way to Cameron Indoor stadium we stopped by K-ville to show the Marriotts the craziness that is Duke basketball. Granted all of these tents are set up primarily for the Duke vs. UNC game in March, but the line for tonight's game was already forming... and it was COLD. We are all very thankful for John and his sacrifice to trade, give up, and usher so all 4 of us could go to the game together (and not have to camp out in the cold). You're the best sweety!! Once we got inside we walked around on the court and the only other people there were the camera crews setting up for the game.
McKay was in heaven!! He and his older brother Mike have been Duke fans since they were little.
Jonah was pretty excited as well.
Laying on the court, just a few hours before game time!!
The whole gang Jonah, John, Mel, Jana, Jack, McKay
Slam DUNK!!
Hangin on the rim...
McKay sitting in Coach K's seat.
Slam DUNK!!Hangin on the rim...
McKay sitting in Coach K's seat. We came home from touring campus, Hailey did a Cutco sale's pitch to Jana & McKay, we got ready for the game, then headed out! Thanks Hailey for watching the boys... I know they're always in good hands when you're watching them.
Let the game begin!!
Jana and I bought Blue Devil tattoos just for the occasion!!
Half time
another successful victory for the blue devils
Let the game begin!!
Jana and I bought Blue Devil tattoos just for the occasion!!
Half timeanother successful victory for the blue devilsDuke 86-67 Georgia Tech
After the game we took them to the Alaska Law Review room to show them where John spends a lot of his time. They got distracted with a little game of foose ball.
After the game we took them to the Alaska Law Review room to show them where John spends a lot of his time. They got distracted with a little game of foose ball.Friday
Friday morning we did a temple session in the Apex, North Carolina temple. It is located right off of highway 55 and although the smallest temple's I've ever been, it's very beautiful! We've been very blessed that it's so close... only 25 minutes away.
I'm pretty sure it was snowing when we came out of the session. It's was beautiful!
Later that afternoon John went to get caught up on some homework and I took the Marriotts to the Durham Tobacco Museum. Durham is famous for being one of the largest tobacco producing industries in the United States in the turn of the 20th century. 
This is a sewing machine inside their home that was used to make the bags the HUGE tobacco leaves were sold in.
Friday morning we did a temple session in the Apex, North Carolina temple. It is located right off of highway 55 and although the smallest temple's I've ever been, it's very beautiful! We've been very blessed that it's so close... only 25 minutes away.
I'm pretty sure it was snowing when we came out of the session. It's was beautiful! Later that afternoon John went to get caught up on some homework and I took the Marriotts to the Durham Tobacco Museum. Durham is famous for being one of the largest tobacco producing industries in the United States in the turn of the 20th century. This is a sewing machine inside their home that was used to make the bags the HUGE tobacco leaves were sold in.It was FREEZING cold and pouring rain the entire day, but I really wanted Jana and McKay to know what wonderful people the Duke family was and the thriving place Durham use to be... or still is! :) Well, there you have it. Our tour guide put on her rain boots, opened her umbrella and said, "Let's go"!
Large grassy area behind us has large crop of tobacco in the summer time (when the ground isnt' frozen and snow is on the ground!)
SATURDAY
We took them to downtown Raleigh. This is us in front of the state capitol.
It was space day at the Natural History Museum. 
They had little rockets the kids could build them set off in the sky. Jack's went so high, it got stuck in the trees.
Jack built an awesome planet out of styrofoam, toothpicks and a blank CD
Sweet Hailey offered to stay home so Jonah could have his morning nap. Hailey had been planning for weeks to go up to Shippensburg, PA to spend this weekend with John and Kyerin (John Jacob and Hailey's sister). But there was a HUGE snow storm on its way and we felt is was best for her to stay home... turns out we were right. They were snowed in for days!
Later that night, Hailey watched the boys again and we went out to eat at our favorite pizza place here in downtown Durham, Mellow Mushroom. Following tasty dinner we went to the local bowling ally. If you're ever wondering where everyone in Durham hangs out on a cold night in February, go to the bowling ally! It was PACKED.
how is it possible that after I don't know how many bowling dates I've gone on in my life time, did no one EVER tell me the correct way to hold a bowling ball. I had no idea this wasn't "normal". All these years... who knew?!? Thanks McKay for being more observant than any guy (or girl) I've ever been bowling with (yes, that is including my husband...)!!
Black light was awesome. Thanks for the fun night Marriotts!!
We had a "tail gate" party for Super Bowl Sunday. Basically it was just a good excuse to eat yummy food and introduce some of our neighborhood friends to Jana & McKay.
Jack Gochnour, Addison Spiers, Hailey Mills enjoying "spicy juice" aka anything with carbonation
Everyone went their separate ways to watch the actual game and we had our VCR all ready to record the game (McKay's tradition to wake up really early the next morning to watch it before any newspaper/talk radio starts). But our plan was to use the 3 hour blank VHS to record the 1st 3 hours, then just record over a random VHS we didn't care about. Well, apparently there's a lock on any "real" videos and you can't tape over them. so... I frantically rewound back to half time and caught the end of the game. I know... who still deals with VHS & VCR's?!? Someday when we're not students and have a TV of our own, we will get rid of all of our VHS's and have TVO to record things and won't have to deal with such silly old technology.
MONDAY FEB. 8th, 2010
We took Jana & McKay to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Let's just say they aren't the prettiest during the month of February. No flowers, colors, or baby ducks. I guess that's normal winter in most parts of the country... AZ is the exception.
Large grassy area behind us has large crop of tobacco in the summer time (when the ground isnt' frozen and snow is on the ground!)We always love visitors because that mean John gets to try a new North Carolina BBQ place. The boys got take out at Allen and Sons while Jana and I put the boys to bed. After delicious grub we watched Fever Pitch. Jana and McKay lived in Boston and have never seen that movie!! We changed that real quick.
SATURDAY
We took them to downtown Raleigh. This is us in front of the state capitol.
It was space day at the Natural History Museum. They had little rockets the kids could build them set off in the sky. Jack's went so high, it got stuck in the trees.
Sweet Hailey offered to stay home so Jonah could have his morning nap. Hailey had been planning for weeks to go up to Shippensburg, PA to spend this weekend with John and Kyerin (John Jacob and Hailey's sister). But there was a HUGE snow storm on its way and we felt is was best for her to stay home... turns out we were right. They were snowed in for days! Later that night, Hailey watched the boys again and we went out to eat at our favorite pizza place here in downtown Durham, Mellow Mushroom. Following tasty dinner we went to the local bowling ally. If you're ever wondering where everyone in Durham hangs out on a cold night in February, go to the bowling ally! It was PACKED.
how is it possible that after I don't know how many bowling dates I've gone on in my life time, did no one EVER tell me the correct way to hold a bowling ball. I had no idea this wasn't "normal". All these years... who knew?!? Thanks McKay for being more observant than any guy (or girl) I've ever been bowling with (yes, that is including my husband...)!!
Black light was awesome. Thanks for the fun night Marriotts!!SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
Feb. 7th, 2010
Warners, Mills, Gochnours, Spiers, Winders
(the other families we're missing are the Hansens, Pelfreys, and the other Winders)
MONDAY FEB. 8th, 2010
We took Jana & McKay to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Let's just say they aren't the prettiest during the month of February. No flowers, colors, or baby ducks. I guess that's normal winter in most parts of the country... AZ is the exception.
But, there was a really cool bird there. I love Jack's face.
Thanks Jana and McKay for coming out to visit us. We had a blast. Thanks for everyone else who watched their 4 kids so they could come :-) We LOVE when we get to share this wonderful place, school, experience with other friends and family members. It means a lot and we had so much fun!!
Thanks Jana and McKay for coming out to visit us. We had a blast. Thanks for everyone else who watched their 4 kids so they could come :-) We LOVE when we get to share this wonderful place, school, experience with other friends and family members. It means a lot and we had so much fun!!
1 comment:
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!! THANKS MEL AND JOHN!! LOVE YOU
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