Nacho Fridays!

This is not something you normally see when walking into the average kitchen! Over the summer when Carter was doing "Hell Week" for football tryouts he wanted a steady stream of nachos. It was what he was craving to eat. So Chan came up with the genius idea to bring home this nacho machine! They had 2 of these in their stores that we recently closed so all we had to do was order some cheese and we were good to go! Well when you order cheese it comes in these "bladders" and each one weighs in at 8 pounds! And on top of that you have to order a case at a time with a total of 4 bladders! Well we figured what the heck! Obviously it didn't all get eaten during Hell Week, so I started to tell Carter to invite friends over for a nacho party.... and so nacho Fridays began!
This is a shot of Carter and two of his friends Trevor and Parker. They have been coming over for Nacho Fridays for about 5 weeks straight! Some other football friends have heard about it too and I've had as many as 5 boys to pick up on a Friday after school! They all come in and load up their plates and eat and eat! And they have a bit of Kool-aid to wash it all down! It's turned into a fun tradition and I just love these boys! It's so fun to pick them all up and watch them hang out! And I'm happy to report we only have 1 bladder left! Yay! Goal is almost achieved! But you watch, now that it's a tradition, they're going to want us to buy more! Here we go.....

Alta Red vs West Jordan Blue

I am sorry to say I don't have pictures because I was unable to attend! :( Our family has been passing around some nasty illness and I unfortunately landed Bronchitis on Thursday. Chan had the same thing but thankfully he got medicine before I did so he was doing a bit better. But Brianne and I both stayed home because of our nasty coughs! Had it been warmer we may have braved going but it was still really cold out!

Will had a great game! He played right guard and did really well! They're whole team has finally hit their stride and they are playing well! They played West Jordan Blue and came away with an amazing win! 22 to 0! Yay! Hopefully I won't have to miss others!

Alta High Soph Team Game #8

Well we knew that this game was going to be different merely because the weather changed! Instead of the warm 80's it had dropped to a low of around 35-40! In fact the day of this game it actually snowed a bit! So we got all bundled up in our warm gear and headed over to the game. This is a shot of the very first play and #63 has a firm hand on Carter.
I was still snapping pics of the first play- and in this one Carter is basically on the ground. Not long after this shot there was a ton of kids on top of him. It wasn't long after this that my picture taking stopped for a minute because I was startled to see Carter STILL on the ground and holding his leg! It was a little scary!
He was walked off the field by the head coach and his line coach and sat down and the trainer followed to check him out.
Not long after he got to the bench I nudged Chan to get out there and see if he was alright. After wrenching on his leg (that was braced) for about 10-15 minutes they decided he had bruised his meniscus. He felt well enough to play, but his line coach told him to sit this one out.
Chan said he was mad he couldn't play more than anything. And that his foot hurt more from the trainer kneeling on it! That made me laugh and I knew he was alright.
It was a game riddled with injuries! On both sides! We had another player leave with a dislocated elbow, and they had a player that had to leave in a ambulance that never moved on his own! It was a game with a bad vibe for sure! I took him to the Alta trainer the next day and they actually feel it was a hamstring issue. He's been a bit swollen, but Chan and I both believe it was that brace we bought that saved him from further injury. It was basically someone landing on his leg and him being at the bottom of the pile that caused the injury. Things like this are bound to happen so I was glad we had gotten that brace! Makes me want to buy another one for the other leg! I'm just glad he's feeling a bit better! And I am happy to report that they creamed Copper Hills 43 to 0! YEAH!

He was also asked to dress with Varsity for the playoffs! It's an honor that they give about 10 Sophomores every season and this year about 8 skilled players Carter and one other lineman were asked! Chan and I are so proud of him! Way to go dude!

GO HAWKS!!

There is nothing better than having two things to watch at a little league football game! I get to watch my son out there AND my daughter! I love it! When she cheered for Carter's team I rarely got to go because I was with Will's team, therefore I didn't get to see Carter play or Brianne cheer :( so this year has been a real treat! I get to see BOTH boys play AND Brianne cheer! YAY!
I love this picture because of how she is standing and you can tell she is yelling!! She is VERY loud! I love it!
This group of girls is small, but they are all good friends! I am so glad too because Brianne just needs that kind of friendship and fun! It's been so good for her!
Gramma and Papa were at this game and Gamma gave her a big hug after her half time dance so I snapped a quick picture! Aren't they cute!
There was a cool rock wall behind them so we snapped a few photos of the girls after the game. There's one girl missing who wasn't there that day, but you can really tell how cute these girls are! I just love them!
I just had to get a goofy one! Aren't they funny!
My little cheerleader! I'm so proud of her!
Here's the hawk family! Chan (assistant coach), Will (player) and Brianne (cheer)! And me of course as team Mom! Pretty funny! Go Alta Red!

Alta Red vs Herriman Cardinal

To say we were ready for a win is an understatement! Will's team had a rough couple of weeks with those crossover games so we were dying for a win! Will was pretty pumped too because he was going to be the starting center for this game!
The first half there was a lot more smiles than in the weeks past! We came out strong and got on top fast! The other team hadn't scored at all by the half and we had scored at least two touchdowns! It was turning into a great game!!
This is one of my favorite things that this coach does. At the end of every practice during the week he pushes them and makes them run and always says it's for the 4th quarter so they'll have the energy they need to push through to the end. At the start of the 4th quarter every game he calls the boys around and they put their hands in the air with 4 fingers and he gets them riled up and ready to finish the game! I love it!
They kept on pushing and kept on scoring and their size didn't seem to matter! Look how much taller Will's guy was!
Here's a shot of him snapping the ball! He did a great job too! His snaps were right on the money! (and yes they are long snaps, not under center!)
Look at how big these Herriman kids were! Crazy right?! But thankfully we played our best and rocked it and won big 33 to 0!! Way to go guys! I knew you could do it!! :)
I am so proud of Will and how he is improving and proud of Brianne for doing such a great job cheering him on! Aren't they so dang cute together!

Alta High Soph Team Game #7

This was a good day! The weather was pretty warm but the sun was all out and these guys were ready! I got this shot of the guys while they were doing the Nebraska Prayer and Carter was leading it! Had I known they were going to do that on the field I would have gone down to get it on video! Oh well!
This was a great game! It's a very nice field and our guys were playing their best! Carter was lit up this game! He was playing great!
Not long after we get to the games we get this look- I'm guessing it's a "let me see where my parents are sitting" look? Either way I love it!
This is Chan's favorite picture of the season so far! He was a blocking fool and you can tell by how he's got this guy on his heels! We love it!
Now THIS on the other hand is a different look.... can you tell why? Well let me tell ya! He's on the defense! We rarely see him on this side of the ball so it was an even more exciting day! He was able to play nose guard for a few plays and since then has been practicing defense a bit too! He got through on every play and almost got a sack twice! Not too shabby for a lineman who hasn't played defense in 2 years!
Here he is almost getting his hand on the ball being thrown! It was close! We really enjoyed watching this game! It was awesome!
We had a very clear win! Our 2nd string guys were in by late in the 2nd quarter and we still won 54 to 27 (I know it's hard to tell in the picture!) Way to go Carter!

Losing Teddy

On Sunday September 25th our sweet Teddy was hit by a car and passed away. I have never had that kind of a loss for a pet and I was completely devastated, not to mention the kids. We have never had a pet that just fit our family like Teddy. He was such a perfect dog from personality to size and all. That night my friend Tammy sent me a poem that I just have to share and it's called Rainbow Bridge.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...


I just loved that poem! I kept reading it for the next couple days and also had Will and Brianne read it as well. They were having just a hard of time as I was! Carter and Chan were the strong ones who just kept giving hugs and saying it was going to be okay. In fact, the night it happened it was Carter who told me to go and call Tammy. Chan had left with Teddy to take him to the vet office and Carter stepped outside to call him to see how long he was going to be while I was talking to her. He told me that when he stepped out on the deck to make the phone call he looked up and immediately saw a shooting star. He told me that after he saw that he knew that Teddy has okay and that he was in heaven. It touched me so deeply when he shared that with me. It was so heartfelt and sweet. I will never forget it! Chan was amazing as well. He just held me as I cried and cried. And for several days after he would just call out of the blue and with a tender voice ask, "Are you doing okay?" He knew more than anyone how much Teddy meant to me and he told me he was sad too but that more of his sadness revolved around the loss I was feeling. He's an amazing husband- I am truly blessed!

I jotted down some memories of my sweet Teddy. He was my little dog, my friend and I want to always remember the things about him that gave me such joy! Here's just a few that I wrote down:

Eating a chocolate carmel that fell on the floor and getting it ALL over his face!
Bananas- his favorite treat!
Fries- whenever I had them he would pull the cute face to get one! (yeah it worked!)
Jumping out of truck window one day when Chan was driving.
Running into the screen door- several times!
Barking at cricket sounds.
Attacking Patrick (the stuffed animal from Spongebob that Brianne gave him).
Playing with stuffed animals.
Laying in the drawer in the office so he could be by Chan and I.
Growling at people in the drive thru.
Coming with me to pick up kids.
Hunting mice (and right before he died he sniffed out several, and we caught 2 a couple days later! I told the kids Teddy helped us get them.)
Going on vacation with us to St George.
Scratching at my leg when he wanted me to hold him.
Barking loud when I'd pick him up from the kennel- he could hear my voice :)
Hanging on me when I'd drop him off at the kennel.
Rolling on his back in the grass.
Sitting in the sun on the carpet.
Barking when we'd close the gate on his crate.
Belly rubs.
Playing with my hand under a blanket.
Baths in the kitchen sink and him rubbing his face in the carpet after and hating to be brushed!
Growling at Chan when he gave me a kiss.
Chan and I giving each other and him loves so he wouldn't feel left out. We would literally hold him in between us and he LOVED it!

It has been a hard week here at the house trying to adjust to his sweet presence being gone. I miss him the most when I get home from work in the middle of the day. He and I would spend a lot of time together then. And even the kids have remarked at how quiet the house is. But we have a little remembrance box (that Brianne noticed in a store) and I bought it. It looks like a book but it's a box and when you open it his tags, a photo, and the poem are inside. We will always have a piece of him with us and he will ALWAYS be in our heart. We love you Teddy!