McCallister's Family Vacation

Day 7
Friday December 30th

Today was the last day of the McCallister's Family Vacation. We woke up to Janice and Shawn preparing breakfast for Ray and I. Shawn made omelets and Janice made homemade bread for toast. The omelets were filled with ham, mushrooms, cheese and onions. The bread was soft and moist. It was great with homemade jam. After our hearty breakfast we all had a slice of chocolate pie.

About an hour later Marie and Craig arrived. We played a card game before we left for Detroit to see the Great Lakes Invitational Hockey Game at the Joe Louis Arena; where the Red Wings play. Ray bought tickets for everyone for Christmas. There were two separate games.

The first game was played by Michigan Tech VS. Boston College. This game was playing for fourth and third place. Since we lived in Michigan and Ray went to Michigan Tech we all were rooting for Michigan Tech. The next game was Michigan VS. Michigan State. We were torn who to vote for but since we were all wearing Michigan shirts, we wanted Michigan to win.



One of my favorite players from the Red Wings


Before the game started Michigan Tech had a table set up advertising for their school. They had a small plastic swimming pool filled with bubbles, hula hoops and a block in the center. Their was a lady pulling the hula hoop up while you stood on the block which made you look like you were in the bubble. Like below:



They also had this: it was a spiny thing with wheels you stood on, then you held the tire with handles. There was a guy they would spin you and if you wanted to spin into a different direction you would turn the tire then you spin in the opposite direction. At first it was hard to spin in either direction. Like below:



My dinner before the game


Ray's dinner


The first game was close between Tech & Boston College. Within the last period & last minute of the game Tech scored a goalie to make it a tie game, 2-2. But the refs put the play under review and took the goalie back for one of the Tech players having a high stick. Boston College ended up winning 2-1.



The next game, Michigan VS. Michigan State was intense from the start. During this game it was way more intense than the first game. Each player was giving it their all. It came down to the last period of the game 2-1, Michigan scored a goalie to tie it up, 2-2.

MSU Lineup


Michigan Lineup


In Action






Then sudden death. We were all pretty nervous how it was going to end. Since the first 3 periods the Michigan State goalie was(rocking it)which means he was stopping every shot. As the period started you could tell the players were getting tired but each team did not give up. It didn't take that long and Michigan scored the winning goalie! The score 3-2.



After leaving the game, it was crazy! Try leaving a sports event with 17,000 people and trying to find your car in the parking garage. We got lost a few times, just going to the parking garage and finding our car. Luckily we remembered where we parked to ask someone how to get there. When we arrived at our car there was Shawn & Josh waiting on us.

Group Photo


We said our final goodbyes and got on the road headed south toward home. Our original plan was to get a hotel for the night but as we started thinking we thought it would be a waste. So Ray started driving and drove till 4AM. Then it was my turn, I drove till 8:30AM and Ray drove the rest of the way home. We arrived home at 11:30AM on Saturday December 31st.

We want to thank everyone for the wonderful gifts, the hospitality and for just being who you are.

Thanks,
Ray & Jess