Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Greatest Game Ever Played . . . it's not golf

The first game of the season, Chad is located at the top of the picture. His first game was the same day as Keston's first meet, luckily they were located in the same place and I just needed to run to the opposite side of the complex after Keston's race. I missed the opening kick off but made it for most of the game.


Chad is on the far side of the field.


Kicking the point after touchdown kick. Unfortunately it didn't quite make it.


Getting ready to receive the kick off or punt. They did excellent for their first game and won. Too bad the rest of the season hasn't gone that great. After the first game they have been plagued by injuries and haven't one again until yesterday.


It was a great game yesterday and Chad did AWESOME! He had some great runs and scored the winning and only touchdown.

His first great run - sorry I get too excited and start jumping around so ignore the last bit of the video. Chad ended up stepping out of bounds so they brought it back a smidge.




The big punt return.



The wining touchdown and his teammate Cody kicked the point after touchdown and made it. It was a great game a very defensive game. Our defense did great and they pushed the other team back 15 -20 yards more than once. Unfortunately, it was a very cold morning and the grass was really wet so there were a lot of turnovers and fumbles. It turned out to be a great morning, cold but the sun was shining.

I told Chad at the beginning of the season that if he scored a touchdown we could go to Norm's News, a fun old fashioned soda shoppe with old fashioned bulk candy. After the game the first thing that came out of his mouth was Norm's News. Guess where we went to lunch . . . it was delicious!

Homecoming 2011

Homecoming is always a fun week. Monday was magical Monday and the students could dress up as something magical. Tylissa came up with a cute leprechaun outfit but I didn't get a picture. She was a little sad that no one really noticed but she looked adorable. Keston didn't dress up at all except for color wars and orange and black day. I never got a picture of him because he doesn't come home after seminary and before seminary, I'm not always functional.



This was throw-back day or flash back day. Tylissa asked if I had anything in my closet from when I went to school and then she asked if we still had the cheerleading outfit. Does this bring back any memories Aunt Sherylee? How cute is she?



Here is Keston playing Baby by Justin Bieber in his first opportunity marching in the marching band.



He did admit that he didn't play much because he was too busy getting the marching down.



He looks so fabulous!!!



Tylissa on orange and black day just before the big game on Friday. We actually won the game - amazing. We had a good time. Tylissa sat with the rowdy students, Keston was with the band, Chad was running around with his friends, and Val and I enjoyed the game.



Saturday was the dance and Keston's xcountry meet in Missoula so Tylissa and I headed down to see if we could find a dress. After watching a great race we headed to the mall and were thoroughly disappointed. The only dresses we could find we a few (less than 1/2 rack of last season's prom dresses). After a rejuvenating lunch at Fudruckers we headed to Ross and she found a dress that would work in her price range.


Tylissa's friend came over to get ready for the dance and then they took off together. How cute are they and can you believe that someone else is close to the same size?



Tylissa and L looking cute as ever.

Xcountry - Freshman 2011

The beginning was a bit rough and Keston started late but that didn't slow him down. He has practice very day right after school until 5:30. Because he missed the first week of practice he couldn't compete in the first race, but they had time trials. Val took him and he came in dead last with a time of 25 minutes something. While to some this might be discouraging . . . but not us, because he can't get any worse so there is only one way to go and that is up and up he has gone!


Warming up at the starting line of the Kalispell meet.


Near the start of the race . . . before the hills. Look at all those people behind him. He won't be coming in last this time. He sets a goal each race and he wanted to beat 24 minutes on this one.


Here is coming in to the finish line. His form has improved greatly as well since this shot. He finished the race at 23 minutes and something - beating his goal.


Tylissa and Keston at the Mountain West Classic in the University of Montana in Missoula. This race is huge!


At the starting gates with his teammates.


And their off . . . can you see Keston, he is in there somewhere. Over 500 JV boys raced this one. His goal for this one was 22:30 and he blew that clean out of the water with a time of 20:41. He came in the top 10 of his teammates which is great since he didn't start that way.

His next meet was in Helena last Thursday and his goal was to just beat his last time. He did another amazing job considering it was freezing and it was raining. His time was 20:33.

So his last meet in this Thursday in Kalispell again. State is the following week but I don't think he will be going to that one as a Freshman. He has been so fantastic and I can't wait to see what he is going to do next.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

First Day of School - New Beginnings

This started a new beginning for the boys in our home. Keston started high school and Chad started middle school. Keston has Tylissa to show him around the high school but Chad, for the first time, is on his own. It was a hard beginning. Chad was not registered for classes and he was a little anxious and worried, but we got it taken care of the day before school started and he was able to walk around and find his classes. That calmed him down and he was ready to go.


Maggie looks relieved that she finally gets the house to herself again.


I love this girl so much! She is who she is and she doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She actually started school the day after Keston and Chad and so far is having a wonderful Junior year. Her first class of the day is composition and every Monday is free reading . . . real tough. However her last classes of the day are Math and Spanish (ugh!) - she has given us the forewarning that she will be grumpy when she gets home.


Keston as the serious Freshman and then I told him to smile. He is doing great and joined the crosscountry team . . . more on that in later blogs. I am having a hard time with his high school attitude, it's just not cool to talk to your parents anymore. Keston also started seminary and I'm not sure if he likes the class or just his classmates . . .



And the baby . . . off on his own to ride the bus for the first time to middle school. He is having the time of his life and his favorite class is choir. Whenever I ask how his day was the only class he tells me about is choir, so I hope he goes to his other classes.

It has been a busy fall with xcountry and football but things are going to be winding down in the next couple of weeks. I have lots of pictures to share, homecoming, marching band, football, xcountry . . . stay tuned.