NBA Jam Session

Today we went to the NBA Jam Session in downtown Phoenix. We caravaned to the Park in Ride with our friends, the Rudnick's. We boarded the crowded train and got on in two different spots, so we couldn't even talk to them during the 45 minute ride. As we pulled up to one of the stops near ASU, Ryan spotted Addy's sister, Anjie, and her family. They boarded the train right where we were standing. Ethan was excited to see Aidan, but after a while the crowded train got to him and they started hitting each other. We went our separate ways and joined the Rudnick's for lunch at a pizza joint near US Airways Arena.



After lunch we headed over to the Phoenix Convention Center where the Jam Session was being held. We discovered a huge line... which unfortunately set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Once we got inside we went to get on the elevator, since both of us had strollers. We waited and decided to collapse the strollers and go to the escalator. When we got to the lower level, we were a little taken back. It was loud and there were a ton of people and lots to look at. The Rudnick's found a booth where you could be an announcer and we saw a kid zone that Ethan would enjoy, so we split.


As we approached the Kid Zone we discovered another line. Ethan wasn't very happy at this point. He sat during the train ride, sat during lunch, sat in line and didn't want to do it again. He survived and made it inside and found... more lines. He had it and threw a fit which landed him in time out. When he got out, both Addy and Ethan had a nice wet spot on their jeans so we headed straight to the bathroom for a diaper change. He did a little better after he was dry and tried bouncing on a basketball and going through a bouncy maze (he turned around after the first turn). He still wanted to go on the bouncer and waited in a line worse than Disneyland. He finally made it to the front, got on the bouncer, discovered it was too much, got off, tried it again, and gave up. So did Ryan and Addy.

We found the Rudnick's, who seemed to have had it too, but David was in line for an attraction. Ethan really wanted to check out a Star Wars display, so we split again and planned on meeting the Rudnick's back at the Free-throw attraction. Ethan was excited to see Storm Troopers and R2-D2. He also tested his Jedi Knight Skills with Ryan. There wasn't much else, so we started looking for the Rudnicks without any luck.


We collapsed the stoller and started trying to get through the mass of people to get out. We saw another person that we knew from the ward we grew up in and finally found an exit. We headed straight for the train, only to greet it leaving. We waited for over 25 minutes and got on a way crowded train. As we departed, we saw the Rudnick's on the platform. We got to our stop and headed to the car when we noticed another train pulling up... with the Rudnick's. Overall, a crazy, loud, people filled day. The NBA Jam Session was not what we expected and something not recommended unless you really like standing in lines.

After we said our goodbyes, we headed to Pei Wei for a Valentine's dinner. As we pulled up, we noticed Ryan's parents sitting on the patio of an Italian restaurant next door. We surprised them, chatted, and then headed to Pei Wei to enjoy a romantic meal with a crabby 2-year-old.

We were beat by the end of the day and probably would have done it differently if the magic ball would have revealed the day.

ps... Ryan did make the day special. He woke up early and made french toast (Addy's favorite), eggs, and sausage and bought her yellow tulips with some wild flowers. She didn't do anything for him since she was going to the Jam Session, maybe she owes him.