BYU in the SWEET SIXTEEN

This isn't a post about any sweet memories of 35 years ago...I didn't have any at age sixteen!!!
This is about....
JIMMER!!!!!
Yes...BYU is going to the SWEET SIXTEEN!!!!!!
First time in a LONG time that BYU has reached the sweet sixteen, but we are there, scheduled to play Florida at 6:27 p.m. Eastern Time in New Orleans!!!! WHOOT WHOOT!!!!! And I am BEYOND PSYCHED OUT!!!!
First game of the tournament, we played Wofford and beat them soundly...then we played Gonzaga, a good team, but we ended up blowing them out of the water. Jimmer played well both games, scoring in the 30's the second game with the rest of the team picking up the slack. That now takes us to the sweet sixteen....
We are one of the only #3 seeds left - we've even lost a #1 seed and 2 #2 seeds...so we are looking good. Of course, we're not the favored of the tournament, but we DO have the best player in the nation on our team...Most people are betting on Ohio State..some Kansas...but if BYU could beat Florida, who we did beat last year in the first round, then BYU would come to Texas to play in the Elite Eight!!!!! OMG!!! Would that be....UNBELIEVABLE!!!
So until Thursday, I will have Jimmer withdrawals and try to find something to do with all my free time waiting for the games to start back up.
But come Thursday, GAME FACE ON!!!!
GO COUGARS!!!!

Baby Shower for Stephanie

Stephanie flew in from California yesterday as a surprise for her daddy's 50th birthday. So while here, family decided to have a baby shower for her....These are just family members that were in attendance...there were about 10 others who are friends of Steph and/or my sister Elaine in attendance....
Back row...Elaine, Janene (Elaine's daughter), Brittany (Elaine's daughter in law) me...
Front row... Julianne (Von's daughter), Becky(Paul's daughter in law), Stephanie (Elaine's daughter), Kylie holding Preston (Marlys' daughter) and Kayla (Elaine's daughter).
The shower was great fun...lots of laughing, food, games and presents....

Then tonight was the first night of March Madness....BYU played Wofford....and we won...barely. I wasn't able to watch the game live so I had a friend texting me updates every 5-10 minutes to keep me informed of all the drama while I was gone. INTENSE!!!! And way too close!! I will have to watch the game (taped) tomorrow so I can understand all the frustration, colorful language and emotion that was felt by those who watched it live. Even knowing the result, I will still need to see for myself the way we played. I'm told I will NOT be impressed and BYU will have to show up with a whole different attitude if we're going to take this next game. And probably a whole different team!!! Jimmer did have 32 points and several high lights on ESPN but that won't win us a basketball game on Saturday. So I hope they rest up and get psyched for this next challenge. I want them in the 'sweet 16'. But of course, I want a lot of things I don't get....

$68 and Change

We try not to spend our 'change'. Instead, we collect it in a big glass jar that we have sitting on my desk in the kitchen. We let it get to the top and then we roll it....
It's time to roll...
Kathryn will take it all up to college...
the quarters she will use for laundry...
the dimes and nickles she will use as ice cream cone or candy bar money...
and the pennies??
She will drop around campus as 'good luck pennies' that hopefully, others will pick up and 'make a wish' on....

Time for MARCH MADNESS!!!

The sites have been chosen and the teams have been selected...
and the games begin tomorrow.
BYU was seeded a #3 which is not bad for not taking our conference championship and losing our big man inside...we will play Wofford in the first round - tomorrow night...in Denver. We should beat them...Wish I could be there to watch but I have no one to go with me...no vacation days available!!!! Such a feeble excuse. Doesn't anyone ever get the 3 day flu anymore???
Then we'll play either Gonzaga or St john's. Both will give us a fight for our lives, BUT I really think if we're at the top of our game, we can beat either team and go to the sweet 16. But then we'll be hard up for a win. I love BYU, but without Brandon Davies I don't think we'll go past the sweet 16. Has nothing to do with loyalty or lack of faith...just common sense...
This will be my first year that I've chosen to not 'compete'....no wagering..no bet placing and no joining the 'boys'club' for the winning prize. I've decided to try and not be a 'butt kicking, 'bring it on' competitive little trash talkin momma' this year...going to win quietly and then very gracefully accept my reward when I decide it's time to claim it. But win, I will....
So, let the games begin....
Go Cougars!!!!!

Not Worth Hanging on the Wall

A mature buck with an 8 point 'rack' - both sides...worth hanging on a hunters wall.
Joking with some friends...
Since my surgery and losing 30 pounds, I no longer have..a 'rack'.
I was told I would be lucky if I even made the wall in a 'kiddies play room'.
I laughed...until I got home...
then I cried.
Hard to feel very feminine when I no longer have.....
shouldn't matter...
it can't.
But it does...some days.

It's Springtime!!

It is GORGEOUS outside - and Spring has arrived.
These tulips were planted last year by my nephew Sean...you know, the one who is NOT my favorite nephew?? Yeah - he planted them last year and they have just erupted this week and up this far already. I watered them this morning and will hope for some blossoms next week.
It's a comfortable 70' + weather with a slight breeze...I have my doors and windows open and blasting my music. I have gone to get a few groceries, have laundry going and have watched every SportsCenter/ESPN news clip there is on Jimmer this morning from last nights game.
Have I mentioned that I love Jimmer???
Yeah - I do. I'm a little obsessed even...a little.
Tonight's game should be good - we've beat(en?) San Diego twice in the season already - but last night, we played New Mexico who had also beaten US twice in the season....means nothing when it comes to tournament play. We just need a win. Hope Jimmer slept well and that the team smells blood. Tonight is a Jazz game too...I call it my 'J' nights...Jazz, Jimmer and...well, JUST win.
Lost another pound...Sean and his wife Becky came over to the house yesterday and Sean told me I needed to go eat a cheeseburger. That's his way of saying 'I'm looking skinny'. Don't ask...it made sense to me...made me smile too.
Weather like this gives me a lot of energy....want to...do some yard work...mow the lawn...weed - go walking. I already went for a drive - windows down, music blasting and singing at the top of my lungs. Maybe I should take a nap to rest for tonight????
Nah...I'll read. Almost finished with my book for March. Then I'll nap.

When Did THAT Happen??

Last night, after I had finished babysitting for the day, watched the BYU game which was VERY stressful, got dinner going and cleaned a little house, I noticed my new cell phone wasn't working. Couldn't get it to even turn on or anything. Of course, not having a clue what the problem was and not having Kathryn here to tell me what was wrong, I hopped in my car and quickly drove the 2 miles to Best Buy to ask them to fix it.
I get there and they are slightly busy with a line of customers, so I get in what appears to be a waiting line for the needed help. This young mom and her, shall we say, 6 year old, come in and proceed to go directly to the Best Buy employee for some information. Then the mom realizes that there is, indeed, a waiting line and turns to her daughter and says, 'Lindsey, let's step back and let them help this old lady first.' I think to myself, 'That's nice of them' and then turn around to see which nice lady they are stepping aside for. Of course, I'm looking for some little gray haired, bent over 60-70 year old grandma when I realize that the little old lady they are talking about it is..ME!!!

WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN????

Now, I knew I had had a rough long day, but did I really look THAT bad???
I went home quite annoyed and went to look at myself in the mirror....no shower, no hair done, no make up, a little baby food on my shirt from Gavin's lunch and barbecue sauce on my cheek from the chicken on the grill.

This morning, I got up 30 minutes early. I have showered, done my hair, my make up is on, I am wearing my BYU attire for the game today and I have even sprayed Japanese Cherry Blossom body spray on me.
Yesterday's courtesy for the 'little old lady' was NOT going to be directed MY way again!!!
And I've got to remember to dye my hair again before I take Kathryn up to Idaho.

Go Cougars!!!

Sean's Birthday

Sean is Paul and Sherrie's son....He's never really been one of my favorite nephew's but has kind of grown on me as of late...(bahahahaha). A lot like...fungus...
Anyways..it was his birthday yesterday. He stopped by after school for some homemade chicken noodle soup and peach cobbler...(his favorite). We had a FUN fun visit and then tonight, his adorable wife Becky threw Sean a birthday party. Good food, good company and great fun again. We played 'Rock Band'...interesting thing young people do these days...instruments and singing to music played on the tv through a video...UH...I'm so old for things like that, but Sean insisted that the 4 of us there over the age of 50, do one song...'Imagine' by John Lennon. Del was on drums, Susan Robb on keyboard, Bob Rob on guitar and I was vocalist. We apologized afterwards and quickly took our departure so we could all get to bed..it was 8:00 and way past our bedtime. But a fun night for Sean....
BYU played Wyoming today and had a GREAT game...in fact, a fantastic game to end the season. We have tournament play off's next week in Las Vegas and then it's March Madness. I am pretty much zoned out the rest of the month watching basketball day in and day out. I was remembering the days when we used to actually go to the play off's with our friends the Dunn's. That's when I met Shaq for the first time...haha - geez I'm old. Those were fun times. Now, I'll take the comfort of my home UNLESS BYU goes to the Elite 8, which is being played in San Antonio Texas...and then the Final Four, which is being played in Houston Texas...and then of course, the Championship, which is also in Houston. I would have to do some pretty sweet talking though to get Del to let me go to any of those games, especially when I have a trip to Idaho planned in April. Cha Ching!!!$$$$$ I may have to enjoy BYU via the television set in my media room. Oh well...I'll be happy either way.
Yesterday and today, I've been smothering Kathryn...well, not smothering, but she's wanting some space. Instead of sharing every detail of her thoughts, actions and desires, she's wanting a little more privacy. So, of course, not knowing 'the mood' had changed, I was still back in our 'best friend tell each other everything' mode and she FB'd about crashing and having a melt down. It took a friend telling me to check on her that let me know there was even a problem. It's getting to be a 'minute by minute' experience with her...so, I'm probably needing to focus a little more of my time and efforts in keeping up with her 'changes'. She's on a count down...40 days til we go to Idaho for college. Yes, she's counting...has been since day 65. We're both counting but for different reasons. I will miss her. She's ready...at least yesterday and today she is ready to go.
But who knows??? Maybe Monday will bring another....change....
I can only hope.

Our Protection While We Hibernate

Today is our hibernation day but unlike our other hiber days, I am up, walked, showered, dressed and dinner started for the day...homemade chicken noodle soup; something I have promised Kathryn for weeks now.
These are the books that we have read over the past two weeks, plus, the Twilight series that are not pictured. Kathryn is returning all these to Half Price Books and getting new ones for our next few weeks.
Lacey??? While Kathryn and I are tucked away back in her bedroom reading day in and day out, Lacey keeps watch of things for us...letting us know when people pass by our house, the phone rings, people are at our door or the mail comes. She even let's us know what time of day it is...3:00, the kids get home from school - she barks...5:00, the neighbor gets home from work, she barks...7:00, Del gets home...she barks, whines AND runs to the door to greet him...
Lacey is barking in the kitchen...
the chicken must be done boiling for my soup.
Time to chop the veggies...