For Christmas this year we wanted to give our kids the gift of "Making Memories". The kids however weren't in on our planning of this and it was a surprise to them. It was funny because they all kept mentioning that there weren't really many gifts under the tree this year. (They all know their dad well - He just loves Christmas and always feels there isn't enough under the tree and goes out and get some just little stuff but just stuff for the kids to unwrap. Well this year was different, I made him promise after we had made the decision on the "Memories gift" for each kid that we would stick to it and not go wild. He held up his end of the bargain. (sorry boys - No remote control anything this year) So Jared is the first to collect. If anyone knows Jared very well you know that he eats, sleep, lives for Basketball. So, on Tuesday - January 4th, he and Ty made their way to the Staples Center to watch a Laker's Game between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons. Jared is so excited the entire day he didn't even want to go to school. They left the house at 3:30 p.m. to go and eat dinner before the game and walk around the Staples Center. Since they got there early they were able to go all around and especially close to the court. Their seats were 14 rows up and right next to the Lakers Tunnel where they come out and go in. So exciting. Well the game was pretty much a blowout with the Lakers winning 89-65. But the best thing happened after the game. They decided to hang around alittle after the game and just take in the ambiance of the whole thing. The main players were all being interviewed by the media - Kobe, Pao Gasol(sp) and Derek Fisher. Well since they stayed alittle longer, they were able to see those guys going into the tunnel to the lockerrom. AS they were walking to the tunnel, Pao Gasol made eye contact with Jared and jumped up to give him a high five. "Wow" was Jared stoked or what? He called me right after and just from the tone of his voice I could tell he was smiling from ear to ear. Well that "Making Memories" gift idea had just paid off. I know that Jared will never forget this night he spent with his Dad at the Lakers Game.
