Our 2nd Monopoly Tournament

Yep. it's Tournament time again!

For the past year, Justin and I have hosted a monthly Top Notch Monopoly night. It's become a good way to boost camaraderie within the employees, and also a good way to invite them to our weekly Bible Study (sneaky? nooooo!) :) We provide all of the snacks and goodies and have those long industrial tables and chairs for everyone to sit. It's a super fun night! (Here we were back in June).

Well, all of that practice paid off because we participated in the High Desert's third annual Monopoly Tournament on Saturday and our team did GREAT!  

It was a great turn out with all proceeds benefiting Apple Valley Christian School, and Top Notch was one of the top sponsors. Two employees and 1 wife (Chris, Randy and his wife Jen) were all second round winners and got to choose a board game to take home. And Chris took 2nd PLACE(!) in the entire tournament, beating many, many experienced players. He did fantastic and represented TNN well.  

Way to go team!

June Monopoly night

 

It's official.. we are hosting monthly Monopoly nights for friends and employees at the Brown casa. If that's doesn't say what a WILD and CRAZY Friday night party it is, I don't know what does ;)

 

 

In all seriousness though, I love watching people have a good time. I also like forming bonds with some of the Top Notch team. The food is pretty tasty and well, winning is fun too ;)

Come on July Monopoly night!!

Monopoly Tournament 2013

 

When we first heard about our school hosting a Monopoly Tournament, the last thing that occurred to us was being part of it, lol. I mean, Monopoly lasts like 15 hours... it's the game that never ends! Seriously, I remember it being the loooooongest game ever.

 

But this is the second tournament that's been hosted here, and we were assured that if you actually played the game by the rules, it is much faster and way more fun. So, Justin, Yeo and the Richart boys got to practicing and decided that it actually was fun! (I agree but shhh, lets keep that little secret quiet, mmmkay?!)

 

So, with a group of Top Notch employees and the Richart boys, a team was formed and they competed at the High Desert Monopoly Tournament. The adults played in the adult division and Yeo and the Richart boys played in the junior division.

 

Turns out, Justin played against the Internationally known Monopoly pro, Ken Koury (who knew that people actually played this competitively?!?) Even though Justin had practiced many, many times, he wasn't quite as skilled as Ken, and Ken took him down :)

 

Lots and LOTS of players!

Yeo playing

William playing

Chris playing

Justin playing against a Monopoly pro

James playing

Pablo playing

There were pro-players who flew out from Florida, Texas and Arizona to compete. The TNN team didn't fare so well but Yeo took 4th place in the division, and was awarded some special edition Monopoly games that we've been utilizing well :)

All in all, it was a fun time. We bonded with the Richarts over many a game, spent quality time with each other and Yeo, and fund raised for our school. We didn't win this time, but the guys are already prepping for next year and planning 'training parties'. We are party animals around here people.

Top Notch Networks

When my husband started TNN, he began solo; taking computers home at night and working on them literally all day and night. There were times when I rarely saw him, times when I wasn't quite sure I wanted him to be doing this forever.

 

But he plugged along, hiring new guys when money allowed and eventually becoming incorporated.

 

God had a plan for my husband and TNN. Plans to grow him personally and spirtaully and plans to bring some of the staff closer to Him. This is Justin's mission field for the time being.

 

It's been 10+ years and TNN has grown tremendously. From one guy to 11 guys. From little mom and pop shops to major hospitals. From the High Desert to the entire state of California, with immediate plans to go across the US.

 

This was not my husbands doing, This was God's doing. And we are so, so grateful for Him and to the awesome staff at TNN who make working there enjoyable :)

PS- if you haven't checked them out, please do so here and on Facebook :)

Pizza eating contest

So a couple of the Top Notch guys got together last week for a Pizza eating competition at a local pizzeria. Our family, along with some of the other employees and their families, gathered together to watch these fools guys try to eat an ENTIRE 28'' pizza in less than an hour. The pizza was SO big that a local TV crew came out to watch these guys compete for the $100 prize.

Tom and Levi were allllll talk before they brought out the pizza,



which by the way had 2 add'l toppings, 3 Lbs of cheese (!!!) and was the equivalent of 45 slices.


Once the pizza's came out, we gathered around,


and watched as they went to town,


but after about half an hour, they were slowing down big time. So we started walking around, playing the arcades, and pretending to barf around the other competition so they'd hurl and be DQ'd trying to assist the other teams in quitting ;)


After an hour of eating, and about 7 lbs. heavier, the guys called it quits. They ate the most out of the four teams, but they had another huge piece to eat, which was the equivalent of about 5 slices. They just couldn't do it. It was waaaay too much pizza.


But it wasn't about winning or losing. I had a great time watching the competition, and seeing all the employees hang out together and have fun. Heck, even the Top Notch kids had fun!


Way to go TNN! You guys rock, even if you couldn't eat your weight's worth in pizza :)