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Oh yes, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and not the Andy Williams kind. Nope for the Stauffer's, it's hardwood and hoops time.

Larry and I don't need Christmas to feel all warm-n-fuzzy. We need the Dance, the Big Dance as in March Madness. Because nothing gets us as excited like a kid on Christmas than watching 68 college basketball teams, shoot, score, foul and battle their way to a national championship -- It's one of our shared passions and I believe made it easy for us to fall in love.

I met Larry several years ago, right around March Madness. He played basketball his entire life, and I attended Pitt, which inevitably would lead to my passion for the game as I would cheer on my college in many NCAA tournaments (25 tournament appearances to be precise )

In the beginning of our courtship, many dates were centered around watching all these games going on at once, reveling in those that ended with dramatic buzzer beaters, comebacks and big upsets.  Watching the tournament, often meant me sitting in a room full of men.  No women.  Just me.  At first, many of the guys would roll their eyes thinking "what the heck is she doing here?" Though he won't admit it, I am sure Larry got teased for bringing me around to watch the games.  But he didn't care.  I never once asked him to go shopping with me or watch a romantic movie with me or go visit my parents instead.  No, just like the guys I too watched in angst, with my bracket in hand, rooting for my teams and praying my bracket wouldn't go bust. 

And just like it was back when we first started dating, Larry and I still don't always agree on teams. For instance, the year I spent rooting (and not quietly for that matter) for Pitt while they played in the Sweet 16. This remains one of the "unspeakable" moments for Larry as Pitt's success would keep him from taking home the bracket. That wasn't pretty, but once a Panther always a Panther.

What we do see eye to eye on, is the passion of victory and the agony of defeat. I understand his hair pulling when a team burns through three timeouts in the first half.  I see why he needs to yell at the TV when a player chokes missing two free-throws in crunch time. It's easy because I am right there pulling hair and shouting too -- We get it! 

Yes, there are so many more reasons as to why I fell in love with my husband.  Too many to list.  But this is one I thought I would share with you as both he and I get ready to immerse ourselves in madness! The tournament tradition is in full bloom starting today, and it's got the entire Stauffer house excited! Hence, why my son spends countless hours running, dribbling, and shooting his pretend basketball around our kitchen island! Can you tell he's ours?! 

So who do you think will take it all home this year? In fact, let's make my Facebook page a hub for all things March Madness. Join in on our family tradition to talk about the upsets, the underdogs, and the celebrations with us on my page, Stacey Stauffer QVC!!