Coming Home!!

I don't have much time to write as we have a plane to catch in a little while. But I wanted to get the first half of pictures posted from our BYU Homecoming trip. We got in on Wednesday and went straight to Provo to visit Morgan. We went and had dinner in the Cannon Center and met many of her friends. She is pretty happy here! This is Morgan's dorm door. We were able to visit her room as it was "visiting hours". Rozzie and Maddie each spent a night with Morgan and went to classes with her.
It was cold and rainy/snowy. We were there for the first snow of the season. Once the clouds lifted, the mountains looked so pretty!!

We went out to dinner one night with Morgan's boyfriend, Bradford. He is a very nice young man and they seem to have fun together. Katie joined us for a few minutes, too. So much fun to see her!! I think they like being in Provo together.

Travis was able to take some time to visit his friends Al and Lael. Eric was there, too. They were friends from Minnesota, when they were all just little boys!

Saturday morning was cold and drizzly, but we went to watch the parade!! As the band came around the corner, I got tears in my eyes. I'm such a wimp.

We were set up at the beginning of the parade. After the band and a few other groups passed, we started the hike across campus to the end of the parade. This was taken at the end. I really like this picture of Morgan and her fellow sousaphonists.

We got some nice pictures at the end, too.

Grandma and Grandpa came up from Hurricane to see Morgan march. This was really fun to have them there.

These girls were so happy to be back together for a bit.

Towards the end of the parade, Grandpa had a little fun!!

Lucky for you, this isn't the end of the pictures. I'll post again as soon as possible. It was BYU homecoming this week; Fleming Island next week.

Memories of a September Past

September is now over. It passed in a flash and was gone. Our days are very full. Everyone sleeps pretty solidly at night. No insomnia here. We are all looking forward to our little vacation out to Utah to see Morgan march in at BYU's homecoming.

Last weekend, Rozzie and Maddie went to the temple with the youth in our ward. There are three boys missing, but this is it for our youth. We are bottom heavy in Beehives and Geek-ons. They always have a good time on these trips.
Last weekend's game at The Bolles School was a disappointing loss. This week, we played at home against our in-county rivals, Orange Park. We beat them soundly. There was a flyover with two small acrobatic planes and they both took a solo pass over the stadium. Then they came over together and crossed right over the middle of the field. They were flying very low and VERY close as they passed. So close, in fact, that the crowd gasped. I gasped!! I was sure there was to be an accident. It shocked all my cheerleaders. They came running up to me asking, "Was that supposed to happen like that?" Like I had the answer. It was too close for our comfort. However, I love this picture!! All these girls are my favorites: Cheerleaders and Dance Team!! (And Swoopette)Saturday brought the Green Cove Springs Soul Food Festival and parade. Maddie had her first experience marching and found it to be harder than it looks. She had a good time. The weather was really nice.

Patrick got his "fuzzy dice" removed (as the vet put it) on Friday, so he was inside all day yesterday. He has never witnessed the new washing machine in action. He was spellbound. We found this very funny.

It is General Conference weekend which always gives me a great excuse to slow down and stay home. I didn't completely stay home yesterday, but I did watch both Saturday sessions. Maddie had friends here to tie-dye shirts. Rozzie and I decorated for Halloween. So things got done and I still stayed home. I was actually more productive yesterday than I have been in a few months, so it seemed. I didn't know if I'd even get decorations out this year, but the girls love it, I love it, and even Travis loves it. Today I get to watch conference and KNIT!!!

Are You Ready for some FOOTBALL???

We are well into football season!! YAY!!!! Here are my cheerleaders in a pyramid at our pep rally!! Go Eagles.
At that same pep rally, Rozzie and her dance team performed. Roz is so thrilled to be able to do a headstand now. Last year she was unable to hold a headstand and I worked with her a lot this summer on it. She practiced and was able to do it well enough to be put in a headstand for the dance. Notice the girl in the front in the hand stand. She can hold it forever. I marked Roz with her name, but it is hard to see. I have since figured out how to change from "pen" to "paint brush" as you will see on the next pictures.

That same night, I got this shot of the dance team on the field. Roz is more identifiable.

Tuesday night took us down to Green Cove Springs Junior High to watch the Cougars and listen to the Cougar Band. They are a small band by what we are used to up north, but it is what we have and they love what they do. I like it when they play, "I Got A Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas. Go Cougars!!

Here is a close up of Maddie playing the trumpet!! She really likes this.

Last night was the BYU/Utah game. We won't talk about the score and the horrors that unfolded on the gridiron. However, this was Morgan's first time marching on the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium in uniform. We talked to her today and got a full run-down of the day. She loved it. She was very excited and she reported being a little nervous. She loved the largeness of it all and had a fun time at the game. Go Cougars!!

Morgan's cousin, Katie, went to the game and took these great pictures for me. I have promised to knit her something. She was fortunate to be sitting on the side closest to Morgan, too. What a fun experience for Morgan to have, despite the horrible, worst-ever game.

This is a shot of the half-time performance. Both the BYU and Utah bands were on the field in a show of unity or something.

Morgan reports liking school and being happy. She is very glad to be out doing something different from Florida. She likes meeting new people and going to her fantastic religion classes. And she is happy to still be marching. One funny note: Morgan wore the same marching shoes from 8th grade through 12th grade. Her feet never grew. We got our money's worth out of those $20 shoes. She had to buy new white shoes at BYU. I guess she had earned it!!

Trav is headed back to Toronto this week. Wish I could go.

And Now For Something Completely Similar

Nothing has changed. Twenty-two years later, we are still married. And happy about it. Thing that are different include: hair color, weight, additional people in the family. We celebrated by going out to eat at La Napolera with Rozzie and Maddie, dropping them off at dance, and going grocery shopping at Winn Dixie. Be very jealous! This weekend, we had lunch at Maggiano's which is a favorite of Trav's (he loves Italian). I like Maggiano's, too. The stuffed mushrooms are my favorite!

The anniversary was Thursday night. The football game was Friday night. The first official game of the year is our big county rival, Clay High School. If you saw the movie "Easy A", that is where the story actually happened. Yes folks, down there in Green Cove Springs, Florida, home of the Blue Devils. We brought a crowd down there. Everyone wore white. The fans ordered 50 green vuvuzelas and green cowbells and used them all night. My favorite accessory is the eagle perched on the vuvuzela back there. He seems to show up at most of the games and is pretty hideous looking. The fans were in an uproar, but the game started out rough for FIHS. We were pretty nervous. Clay came out fighting.

#8 Brontrell is one of my students. He was very excited to be a captain for this big game. He looks pretty funny with his red mouthguard sticking out. He is extremely athletic and has great potential.

Along with the cheerleaders, the mascots fall under my jurisdiction. Imagine wearing those things in this Florida heat. They were troopers, though, and did a great job!! There is way to much to keep track of in this position. I was a nervous wreck.

The crowds were so thick that Travis, Maddie, and I sat down on the track for the game and really enjoyed being up close and personal. We went and sat on the football benches to cheer Rozzie on with the dance team. Here she is pictured on the far left. She seems much more confident out there this year.

This is my dear friend and co-worker, Cheri. She embodies school spirit. She is and English teacher and the drama teacher. She heads up all the musicals and stuff. She is easily the most beloved teacher on campus. And she is my dear friend. Morgan had her for English her freshman year. Cheri loves and supports everyone. She also confessed that she is the one who initially told the administration that they should ask me to be the cheer coach. I still love her.

Fleming Island pulled out the win in the end. After half-time, Clay seemed to run out of gas. It was a great game and a lot of fun to be there. It was really nice to sit by Travis for once! Maddie hung out with us for a while until she met up with a friend and toddled off.

BYU played Ole Miss yesterday. We watched the game and all of us were texting Morgan at the same time. Morgan and friends went to the Wilkenson Center (Student Union) to watch the game in the ballroom on a big screen with hundreds of other students. It was a nail-biter to the finish. Morgan called so we could hear all the screaming. She was very happy. She enjoyed her first week of classes. She loves marching band, although band camp was very hot and a lot of hard work. She is excited to get on the field at a home game.

So, thing are as they have been. You'll see more dance pictures and you'll think they look the same as the ones from last year. They aren't. I was sure glad to sleep in the past two days and am very grateful to have tomorrow off, too.

Back in the Saddle Again

School started this past week. Funny thing, we started school and Morgan had a week off! Maddie is off to class in her new Aztec print shirt. She is in 8th grade this year at Green Cove Springs Junior High. She looks forward to her last science fair project and band. This year in band, she'll be playing at the junior high football games!! It is a pretty exciting year.
Rozzie is now a sophomore. She is so happy to shed the title of "Freshman". She is off to Seminary at 5:45 am. We definitely miss having a teenage driver in the house!! Travis drives her there and I pick her up and take her (and three other boys) to school. By the way, the church is on the way to the school so it really isn't a bother to me. Rozzie is looking forward to another year of yearbook and dance team. She is also adding an AP class to her schedule, hoping for a little college credit.

I also went back to school. I am teaching my two English classes and a fashion design class. I've been displaying my old prom dresses for the fashion kids and they have enjoyed that. Sometimes I'm surprised at what I was able to do at the age of 15. I have also taken on the extra job of Varsity Cheerleading Coach. So far, I have been very busy during the day and very tired at night. It will be an interesting year. The cheerleaders have been really nice and there haven't been any problems.

Morgan had a great term at BYU. She had more fun than is legal. But, we all knew that would happen. She did well in her classes. I don't have any picture of her doing anything scholarly. But one of her friends posted this:

Yes, it is a mustache bandaid.

She is very excited to start marching band on Monday. She will have a very busy week. Since she is off this week, she went up to Alden's in Park City for a little rest. One night she texted me this picture and said, "This is what we're doing tonight."

I have always said, "you never know what will happen when you are at the Alden's." She loved flying over BYU campus. She has hiked around the mountains and gone on rides on the Ranger. She has used the exercise room. I think she is ready for the next phase!! A big thanks to Holly and Rick for feeding her, entertaining her, and just letting her stay there.

Just Like Lolla Lee Lou

I just looked for my Dr. Seuss book about Gertrude McFuzz who wanted more feathers and to be just like Lolla Lee Lou. The latest craze is to get feathers in your hair. The girls wanted to do this and that was fine with me. We waited and waited for our salon to get feathers and they didn't come in. We were in St. Augustine last weekend and we went to a salon one of Rozzie's friends suggested and they had feathers!!

I even got one!! There were really pretty purple feathers, so I decided to get one. It is hard to see, but it is there.

Last week was teacher planning. It was a rather hellacious week. I had way too many meetings. Then there would be cheer practice. So I spent a few days at school til late and got more things done. I still have a full day of work tomorrow. However, things have mellowed out and I feel that I'll be ready. No matter what, the students will show up and we'll do something!!

On Friday we had team pictures, so I thought I'd post that so you could see us all looking good.

So school starts on Tuesday. Morgan is off for a week at the Alden's. She reports to band camp next Sunday. All is well. All is well.

Shrimp Sandwich...

I was fortunate enough to get a little quilting in before school started. I had been saving these fabrics for just the right project. He was born in July. James Brannan is the proud owner of this here quilt. I have made a number of these quilts - I really like this pattern.
Here is a close up of the background fabric - primary colors, polka dots. These are a few of my favorite things!!While at the quilt store, I noticed this little table runner kit. It was just the right thing to change up my table. It was way cheaper than a new table!! My mantra has always been, "When in doubt, make another purple quilt." This one also had green which is my favorite combination with purple. It was a quick foundation pieced project. The foundation included the batting and backing so it was quilted when it was finished!! For the backing, I used a fabric that I have had since before I was pregnant with Morgan. Pretty proud of using that up!!

And here is what it looks like on the table. It even matches my laptop.

Travis was invited to go shrimping with a man he has been visiting with the missionaries. He was all set to go Friday night. Maddie kept hinting that it sounded like fun. I asked her if she wanted to go and she said yes. So she went. She had a great time and never even complained. She doesn't want to eat it, but she enjoyed the experience. They didn't get home until 2 am!!

Travis and I spent Saturday morning cleaning shrimp. I was pretty proud of myself for getting my hands dirty. We cooked some up, froze some, and gave some away. Travis wasn't thrilled to clean the shrimp until I mentioned that it was kindof nice to sit together for a few hours and talk. Then he didn't seem to mind it so much!! Patrick was very interested in the shrimps. We gave him a few to bat around. He had a good time with them!!

Shrimping is really a way of life for some folk here. Apparently, there was a very large gathering and people just treated it like a social get-together. I would suspect that shrimping is like gardening. People gather as much as possible, and freeze it for the year. Not a bad idea!!