Andrew and the twins share their birthday, so I baked some cupcakes for the team. Yup, PV colors, haha! 
Pre game warm ups!
12/29/16
more basketball pictures
Andrew and the twins share their birthday, so I baked some cupcakes for the team. Yup, PV colors, haha! 
Pleasant Valley shirt?
The reason this picture is so funny for me (everyone else, too) is because the shirts the tournament gave away say "Viking" and it's in PV colors, and Andrew's team is Chico High, the cross town rival school.
PV is just a really arrogant school, I'm pretty sure they were expecting to win their tournament. The sizes of the shirts were a few XL, lots of L, and a couple M. Most of our players are tiny! Most of PV players are large.
I do really like when tournaments give out t shirts to the players for winning!
Tournament Champs!!!
The first game was a blow out, Andrew's team was much better than Corning, but the second game (against a team from Sacramento) was super close, as was today's game. Today they played Shasta and the game went into overtime. The entire game went back and forth. Shasta was big and rough. We are NOT. Our big guys are nice. We have about 8 "ball handlers", a few "shooters", and only 2 "big guys". We have some fast guys, some good on defense, some ball hogs, even, but the coach was able to find some really good combinations all while giving everyone playing time. Two kids werent there, so he had 13 to get play time, while the other guy has 15, but, seriously, the other coach has about 4 kids who rarely get in the game. We would not have won with the other coach, I'm pretty sure. By playing everyone, the team was a lot more unified and seemed happier. By playing everyone, the players could go all out, work hard, then get some rest. They did the full court press, something the other coach never tried. I hope I am describing how pleased I was with the coach and the team.
The boys wanted to go to B-Dubs (Buffalo Wild Wings) after the game as a team. Most of them went and about 1/3 of the moms. We sat together and the kids sat together. It was kinda funny, and very unplanned, but 3 of Shasta's players and their parents were also at B-Dubs, right at a table near us! Awkward!!! How many restaurants are in Chico? TONS!
All of Andrew's baskets lately have been from shots, not just put back rebounds. This is unusual because his coach told him last year that if he attempted a shot from outside the paint, he'd get benched. It's so great to see him attempting and making shots! I also love that his teammates pass to him a lot. He's not the star or even a regular starter, but I think he's having an excellent season so far. I hope when his coach comes back (and the two players who were missing) he gets just as much playing time as he did these past three games!
Andrew is 15?!?!!!!?? What?
Andrew had a birthday a few days ago and I had to work all day. He had basketball practice. Lots of other stuff was going on and it was just a few days after Christmas, so really, it was not a big, great, wonderful, special day. But, I think he was happy with it. He got a Costco cake (big deal in our family, we LOVE them, haha), he got to go out to dinner at Olive Garden, and he got the best gift any 15 year old would want....cash, from both grandparents!!!
He's a great kid. He really has a good heart. He always does the right thing. We are lucky to have him in our family. He's a lot of fun. He's a joy. I am very proud of him.
He is well loved by many, especially me!!!
12/19/16
Andrew's Basketball Game
Andrew's team had a game tonight in Grass Valley a school that's almost 2 hours from Chico. It was a beautiful drive, though! I kept seeing scenery that I thought would make a good jigsaw puzzle. (My grandma always used to have a puzzle going at her house when we'd visit).
Andrew got to start tonight. He got a lot of rebounds, two blocked shots, and two points. He played well. Hope the coach was impressed.
I took some photos to share with Melanee and my dad (and William, if he reads this, haha).
Andrew is number 22.
11/8/16
Last Game
Football season is now over. It went by fast, but, seriously, seems like Andrew has been playing forever. He started training the first week of summer. He had a good season. Was a key player and played a lot of downs, mostly on defense, but got in as Tight End on offense a little the last two games and really enjoyed that. They lost the last game, but had a winning record of 7 wins, 3 losses. I think he will play again next year. Now its time for basketball tryouts!
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| He got to be one of the team captains. Here is a picture of the coin toss! |
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| He caught the pass in the end zone on a two point conversion. I didn't get a great picture because I was watching/then excited. |
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| And here's a picture just to show how beautiful the surroundings are up in Paradise! Reminds me of Lake Tahoe. |
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| My dad lives in Paradise, where the game took place, so he came and watched. It was great to have him there! It was cold, though! Luckily he had a jacket from Alaska! |
10/27/16
Football week 7
Today was the second home game and the second to last game of the season. There is no 1st place or league championship or playoffs or anything in freshmen football, but if there was, this would have been the game....Andrew's team has only lost once and Foothill hasn't lost, but had a tie, so this was pretty much the best two teams battling it out. But Andrew's team lost. And they definitely looked like the second best team, haha.
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| Andrew played guard today, he had been playing in the center, but now he was more on the outside. |
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| I didn't get a picture OF HIM CATCHING, but a second or two after I took this photo, Andrew caught a pass, on 4th down, and ran for a first down. This is a big deal because all season long he has only played on defense. He went in as tight end for the whole 4th quarter and made two first down catches. This one was about a twenty yard play and the second was was a 40 or 50 yard play (he caught it and ran, knocking guys over.) He also missed one, but it was thrown really bad...I was so shocked to see him in there on offense GETTING PASSED TO! His team and the fans (and there were even cheerleaders there) all cheered so loudly for him on the second catch! It was so exciting!!! |
This was not Andrew, but this kid made a ONE HAND touchdown catch!!!
10/7/16
Texas Trip details
I haven't had any free time to blog, but Scott and Bradley went on a duck hunting trip and Andrew is at the varsity football game, so I am FREEEEEEE.
I have been really busy at work because of the week I took off last week, but it was worth it!
I flew to Texas last Saturday (it was actually LATE Friday night, the red eye flight). I arrived in Texas sometime in the morning, early afternoon. We had some delays in Houston because a food truck hit the plane and made a dent, so the FAA had to come check it out. After deliberating for quite a while, they decided we probably shouldn't take that plane, so they found us a new one. I had already been given a boarding pass, so I didn't really have to worry about not getting on, but I did have to worry the whole 3 hours between flights because I was flying stand by and the terminal was CROWDED and the plane was SMALL. So nerve racking! I was lucky and blessed to get on, so I wasn't too upset about the delay, but the people around me were missing connecting flights and work and all kinds of stuff. I made lots of friends talking to the people around me, though! Houston has a huge airport, but we were stuck way down at the end of one of the far away terminals, so not that exciting. I saw an official looking person who was wearing a Blackhawks polo and typing away on a lap top, so I asked him if he worked for the Blackhawks, but he said, "No". I also saw lots of people in college shirts traveling to watch their teams play, I suppose. I saw some old ladies with tennis rackets on their way to a tennis tournament. People watching at airports is fun. There was a guy with a skateboard. I think he had to pay a bunch extra to bring that because we researched it when Bradley flew to Utah. I saw so much, but it would take forever to detail it all here! By time we got a new plane and waited for our turn to go on the runway, HUGH black clouds formed right in the direction we were headed at takeoff and I guess if there was any lightning, they wouldnt let the plane take off, so we were facing more delays. When we finally did take off, we headed right into that black storm....and got lots of rain, but we traveled through it pretty fast and got above it, so the rest of the flight was smooth sailing.
Melanee picked me up with Miles and Theo. I sent them a text when I landed, but my phone was on airplane mode, so the text didn't send until I was outside waiting. I could have seen them sooner! But when I finally did see them, I was so happy!
We drove to Melanee's new town, which was about an hour away from the airport (she used to live 5 minutes). Dax had lunch hot and waiting for us. I was starving! Their new house looked great. (I had never seen it with furniture and lived in before.)
I was tired the rest of the day, but I got to go to a dinner at the church with Melanee and got to watch the Quakes game, but fell asleep during both!
Sunday was church and I like their ward, but no one introduced me or talked to me much in any of the classes, which was weird, but they may have all just met me the night before at the dinner or just could tell I was Melanee's mom??? I dont know, but it's ok!
On Monday we went into San Antonio (after we watched Dancing with the Stars). We took Theo to the doctor for a check up and immunizations. Afterwards we got some McDonalds and went to the temple to walk around and take photos. Miles liked splashing in the fountain and enjoyed doing Andrew's tradition of jumping off the bench.
We also went to a few stores to try to find some clothes for Miles, Theo, and Dax to match a dress Melanee had with blues, yellow, and white. We found a shirt for Dax at the first store and a super cute outfit for Theo at the second. Just when we were about to give up on finding anything for Miles (the store really did not have a section between baby clothes and boys clothes) we found a perfect polo shirt in his exact size!!! He wasn't too happy about trying it on, but we also found a clearance priced fire truck shirt, so he was thrilled with that! He loves trucks!!! All trucks!
On Monday evening we went to a park that had a pecan orchard and took family photos. It was a great idea and I had an empty memory card....but, it was just a small memory card (the kind that come with cameras) and I was only able to take about 15 pictures with it, and everyone knows on photo shoots with digital cameras you just take a bunch and then edit them when you get home, I didn't have room to take a ton, so that was frustrating....but the ones I did take turned out really good....except the ones of Miles running, they were out of focus, and would have been SO PERFECT if they would have turned out!!! Also, Monday began our "week of soup" and we made Olive Garden potato, sausage soup for dinner. Tues was cheddar brocolli soup, Wed was super spicy chicken tortilla soup, and Thurs was won ton soup. All deliciously yummy!!!
On Tuesday morning we went to the park (after we watched Dancing with the Stars). It was a big nice park surrounded by tons of pecan trees. We met a guy who goes around collecting pecans and sells them by the bucketful. He said he got 800 pounds last year and 1,000 the year before. We wondered if that should be Melanee's new money making hobby. He said he got $1.50 a pound for them. Tuesday was also scrapbooking day. We had made a baby scrapbook for Miles when he was about 4 or 5 months old, so this time we scrapbooked a bunch of baby Theo pictures. I brought scrapbook paper and we bought some stickers, but we probably could have used some more. My papers weren't really baby colors, but I think the pages we did turned out great. I should have taken some pictures of them! Melanee still has some more to make with the rest of the pictures she developed. For the afternoon/evening part of Tuesday we went to Dax's junior high football games. He coaches the 7th grade and they have an A team and a B team. They play real tackle, real football in junior high in Texas with referees and fans filled the stands. There were even cheerleaders, a mascot, and a snack bar. Miles loved playing around with all the kids who were there. He made lots of friends. The only time he sat to watch the game was when we gave him a bag of fruit snacks. Theo was good the whole time. Melanee couldnt really have watched the game if I wasnt there because she would have had to watch Miles run the whole time. With me there, we could switch off. Much easier. Miles really doesnt ever sit still.
Melanee and Dax have Netflix and while I was there they just happened to begin a new show, so I got to see a show from the start. It was called Quantico, but I haven't watched any episodes since I got home, so I'm not sure if it was great or just ok! We watched an episode every night after the kids went to bed.
On Wednesday we went to the park with one of Melanee's friends and her kids that are both Miles' friends, so he had a lot of fun. We also went to the grocery store. I think we may have went to the grocery store or WalMart every day I was there (except Sunday, haha). The stores have grocery carts that have seats for both kids, so they like them. It also gives out buddy bucks for a chance to spin a wheel and win tickets, so its a good bribe to get kids to behave during check out. I think Wednesday was the day we tried to play in the back yard, but we were attacked by mosquitoes!) It may also have been the day we raked and swept the front yard. We went to a different park that afternoon. This park had a splash pad, a big playground area, a skate park, and its where the town soccer fields are located. Melanee had to go to a church activity on Wednesday night, but Dax and I had fun with the kids while she was gone. Theo didn't cry at all.
On Thursday, we played in the backyard and got more mosquito bites. I tried chain sawing some of the branches that had fallen off of trees back there, but the chain came off. Melanee and Dax went to the temple that evening and I babysat. It was the first time they had left the kids with a babysitter while the kids were still awake. I dont think they thought I could handle it, but I did fine. Theo didn't cry, Miles went right to bed (after a few cartoon videos). I think it was good for Melanee and Dax to get dressed up and go away for a little while. I think they had fun.
Friday was fun, too. We went to the town's brand new multi million dollar library and it was fantastic. Better than any library I've ever seen, including college libraries, and Seguin is a really small town, so it was unusual! Then we walked around down town and met a Sharks season ticket holder who was traveling through town on his way from Florida to San Jose. He took a picture of us, for us, in front of the World's Biggest Pecan....and we took one of him there for him. We also went back to the park by the pecan orchards that day. This time it was after school, so Miles found lots of big kids to run around with. We went to a ward dinner at the church, but left before the cake auction. Melanee and Dax went to the movies that night, something they wanted to do, but had never done since Theo was born. They got home late and I had to be at the airport early, so Melanee did not get much sleep that night.
Melanee took me to the airport for my 6 o clock flight at 3:30. We got there easily and she said she didnt get too tired driving home alone after she dropped me off, which is good. She also said she "slept in" until 9:30, which never happens while raising kids!!!
My flight home was uneventful like the flights there....except my feet were freezing after the guy in front of me spilled his drink on them, and my shoes, and my bag that was under the seat!!! I tried to sleep and I think I did, but I had a stiff neck and shoulders afterwards (and freezing feet). Sharon picked me up at the San Francisco airport and drove me to my dad's house (where I had left my car). It was a great drive, beautiful day and great company to chat with while she drove. We stopped at Subway for lunch and Sharon had got us some delicious and fancy individual bunt cakes. So nice of her! I am so lucky that she was able to pick me up and give me a ride all the way to my dad's house. Thank You Sharon, if you are reading this (and I still owe you for the bridge toll!!!)
Thank you Scott for doing everything here so that I could go. Thanks Melanee and Dax for having me. I have to go pick up Andrew, so this is not edited or proof read and I know I missed details. But just know, I had a BLAST! I love Melanee and her sweet kids! (and Dax)
I have been really busy at work because of the week I took off last week, but it was worth it!
I flew to Texas last Saturday (it was actually LATE Friday night, the red eye flight). I arrived in Texas sometime in the morning, early afternoon. We had some delays in Houston because a food truck hit the plane and made a dent, so the FAA had to come check it out. After deliberating for quite a while, they decided we probably shouldn't take that plane, so they found us a new one. I had already been given a boarding pass, so I didn't really have to worry about not getting on, but I did have to worry the whole 3 hours between flights because I was flying stand by and the terminal was CROWDED and the plane was SMALL. So nerve racking! I was lucky and blessed to get on, so I wasn't too upset about the delay, but the people around me were missing connecting flights and work and all kinds of stuff. I made lots of friends talking to the people around me, though! Houston has a huge airport, but we were stuck way down at the end of one of the far away terminals, so not that exciting. I saw an official looking person who was wearing a Blackhawks polo and typing away on a lap top, so I asked him if he worked for the Blackhawks, but he said, "No". I also saw lots of people in college shirts traveling to watch their teams play, I suppose. I saw some old ladies with tennis rackets on their way to a tennis tournament. People watching at airports is fun. There was a guy with a skateboard. I think he had to pay a bunch extra to bring that because we researched it when Bradley flew to Utah. I saw so much, but it would take forever to detail it all here! By time we got a new plane and waited for our turn to go on the runway, HUGH black clouds formed right in the direction we were headed at takeoff and I guess if there was any lightning, they wouldnt let the plane take off, so we were facing more delays. When we finally did take off, we headed right into that black storm....and got lots of rain, but we traveled through it pretty fast and got above it, so the rest of the flight was smooth sailing.
Melanee picked me up with Miles and Theo. I sent them a text when I landed, but my phone was on airplane mode, so the text didn't send until I was outside waiting. I could have seen them sooner! But when I finally did see them, I was so happy!
We drove to Melanee's new town, which was about an hour away from the airport (she used to live 5 minutes). Dax had lunch hot and waiting for us. I was starving! Their new house looked great. (I had never seen it with furniture and lived in before.)
I was tired the rest of the day, but I got to go to a dinner at the church with Melanee and got to watch the Quakes game, but fell asleep during both!
Sunday was church and I like their ward, but no one introduced me or talked to me much in any of the classes, which was weird, but they may have all just met me the night before at the dinner or just could tell I was Melanee's mom??? I dont know, but it's ok!
On Monday we went into San Antonio (after we watched Dancing with the Stars). We took Theo to the doctor for a check up and immunizations. Afterwards we got some McDonalds and went to the temple to walk around and take photos. Miles liked splashing in the fountain and enjoyed doing Andrew's tradition of jumping off the bench.
We also went to a few stores to try to find some clothes for Miles, Theo, and Dax to match a dress Melanee had with blues, yellow, and white. We found a shirt for Dax at the first store and a super cute outfit for Theo at the second. Just when we were about to give up on finding anything for Miles (the store really did not have a section between baby clothes and boys clothes) we found a perfect polo shirt in his exact size!!! He wasn't too happy about trying it on, but we also found a clearance priced fire truck shirt, so he was thrilled with that! He loves trucks!!! All trucks!
On Monday evening we went to a park that had a pecan orchard and took family photos. It was a great idea and I had an empty memory card....but, it was just a small memory card (the kind that come with cameras) and I was only able to take about 15 pictures with it, and everyone knows on photo shoots with digital cameras you just take a bunch and then edit them when you get home, I didn't have room to take a ton, so that was frustrating....but the ones I did take turned out really good....except the ones of Miles running, they were out of focus, and would have been SO PERFECT if they would have turned out!!! Also, Monday began our "week of soup" and we made Olive Garden potato, sausage soup for dinner. Tues was cheddar brocolli soup, Wed was super spicy chicken tortilla soup, and Thurs was won ton soup. All deliciously yummy!!!
On Tuesday morning we went to the park (after we watched Dancing with the Stars). It was a big nice park surrounded by tons of pecan trees. We met a guy who goes around collecting pecans and sells them by the bucketful. He said he got 800 pounds last year and 1,000 the year before. We wondered if that should be Melanee's new money making hobby. He said he got $1.50 a pound for them. Tuesday was also scrapbooking day. We had made a baby scrapbook for Miles when he was about 4 or 5 months old, so this time we scrapbooked a bunch of baby Theo pictures. I brought scrapbook paper and we bought some stickers, but we probably could have used some more. My papers weren't really baby colors, but I think the pages we did turned out great. I should have taken some pictures of them! Melanee still has some more to make with the rest of the pictures she developed. For the afternoon/evening part of Tuesday we went to Dax's junior high football games. He coaches the 7th grade and they have an A team and a B team. They play real tackle, real football in junior high in Texas with referees and fans filled the stands. There were even cheerleaders, a mascot, and a snack bar. Miles loved playing around with all the kids who were there. He made lots of friends. The only time he sat to watch the game was when we gave him a bag of fruit snacks. Theo was good the whole time. Melanee couldnt really have watched the game if I wasnt there because she would have had to watch Miles run the whole time. With me there, we could switch off. Much easier. Miles really doesnt ever sit still.
Melanee and Dax have Netflix and while I was there they just happened to begin a new show, so I got to see a show from the start. It was called Quantico, but I haven't watched any episodes since I got home, so I'm not sure if it was great or just ok! We watched an episode every night after the kids went to bed.
On Wednesday we went to the park with one of Melanee's friends and her kids that are both Miles' friends, so he had a lot of fun. We also went to the grocery store. I think we may have went to the grocery store or WalMart every day I was there (except Sunday, haha). The stores have grocery carts that have seats for both kids, so they like them. It also gives out buddy bucks for a chance to spin a wheel and win tickets, so its a good bribe to get kids to behave during check out. I think Wednesday was the day we tried to play in the back yard, but we were attacked by mosquitoes!) It may also have been the day we raked and swept the front yard. We went to a different park that afternoon. This park had a splash pad, a big playground area, a skate park, and its where the town soccer fields are located. Melanee had to go to a church activity on Wednesday night, but Dax and I had fun with the kids while she was gone. Theo didn't cry at all.
On Thursday, we played in the backyard and got more mosquito bites. I tried chain sawing some of the branches that had fallen off of trees back there, but the chain came off. Melanee and Dax went to the temple that evening and I babysat. It was the first time they had left the kids with a babysitter while the kids were still awake. I dont think they thought I could handle it, but I did fine. Theo didn't cry, Miles went right to bed (after a few cartoon videos). I think it was good for Melanee and Dax to get dressed up and go away for a little while. I think they had fun.
Friday was fun, too. We went to the town's brand new multi million dollar library and it was fantastic. Better than any library I've ever seen, including college libraries, and Seguin is a really small town, so it was unusual! Then we walked around down town and met a Sharks season ticket holder who was traveling through town on his way from Florida to San Jose. He took a picture of us, for us, in front of the World's Biggest Pecan....and we took one of him there for him. We also went back to the park by the pecan orchards that day. This time it was after school, so Miles found lots of big kids to run around with. We went to a ward dinner at the church, but left before the cake auction. Melanee and Dax went to the movies that night, something they wanted to do, but had never done since Theo was born. They got home late and I had to be at the airport early, so Melanee did not get much sleep that night.
Melanee took me to the airport for my 6 o clock flight at 3:30. We got there easily and she said she didnt get too tired driving home alone after she dropped me off, which is good. She also said she "slept in" until 9:30, which never happens while raising kids!!!
My flight home was uneventful like the flights there....except my feet were freezing after the guy in front of me spilled his drink on them, and my shoes, and my bag that was under the seat!!! I tried to sleep and I think I did, but I had a stiff neck and shoulders afterwards (and freezing feet). Sharon picked me up at the San Francisco airport and drove me to my dad's house (where I had left my car). It was a great drive, beautiful day and great company to chat with while she drove. We stopped at Subway for lunch and Sharon had got us some delicious and fancy individual bunt cakes. So nice of her! I am so lucky that she was able to pick me up and give me a ride all the way to my dad's house. Thank You Sharon, if you are reading this (and I still owe you for the bridge toll!!!)
Thank you Scott for doing everything here so that I could go. Thanks Melanee and Dax for having me. I have to go pick up Andrew, so this is not edited or proof read and I know I missed details. But just know, I had a BLAST! I love Melanee and her sweet kids! (and Dax)
Trip to Texas
All of my photos of my trip to Melanee's house last week are on the other computer, so here's a video of some of the pictures and fun,
https://goo.gl/photos/w3iMiA6DRfmuPqct5
https://goo.gl/photos/w3iMiA6DRfmuPqct5
Game 6- They Won Again
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| Andrew's team had their first home game ever yesterday. I went early to be sure to get a seat because I thought it was going to be very crowdeed. I was the first one there. I could sit anywhere I wanted....and I ended up picking a bad spot! They warmed up over in the shad on the practice field. The game was the first ever game on Chico High's new field. It's really nice, but I think a million dollars was probably better spent elsewhere! |
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| They walked to the sideline all in a perfect line. |
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| Andrew played defensive noseguard or nose tackle or something on the line right across from the other team's center. |
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| Andrew can jump really high, here he is trying to block a punt or pass, he almost did...my camera wasnt really pointed at him, though. |
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| In my mind, Andrew is too small to play defensive lineman...but I might be wrong! |
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| They won, but just barely...the final score was 28-27. After the game, they always come to the sideline and do a cute little cheer, haha. |
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| then the coach talks to them, they gathered around the "C" but no one was allowed to touch it! |
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| yep, proud football dad |
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| Andrew and Jesse, basketball kids! |
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| Another teammate! |
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| In the brand new end zone, really bright colors! |
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| This was at the start of the game....scott was over on the other side of the field all game working as a line marker guy. |
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