Homecoming 2008

The Week in Pictures

Phew! What a fun, busy, exhausting week! Homecoming 2008. It started a few weeks ago, with Cade asking Savannah to be his date. As you know, it can't just be a straight forward "will you go with me?" So, he typed up a note that said, "Don't leave me out in the cold! Go to Homecoming with me." Then he put it in a plastic bag and froze it, along with some Popsicles, in a HUGE bowl. When the thing finally froze solid, he popped it out of the bowl, and set the block of ice on her car. I guess it was pretty funny-as she held it in her arms trying to figure out what to do! (Eventually, she just dumped it on the ground, where it broke and she was able to retrieve the note). She said "Yes" by decorating his bedroom door with a bunch of hot cinnamon candies and a note that said, "Thaw Out".
And so began "Spirit Week". The Middle School gets involved, having dress up days each week. The first day was pajama day-always a favorite with me. After wearing such a comfortable outfit, Kirstin and I decided that we should wear our pajamas EVERY day of this week-and darn the consequences. So, here we are on Tuesday as "Nerds" (in our pajamas).

Wednesday was "Decade Day". So here I am as a Hippie. (In my pajamas). Thursday was "Hawaiian Day", and yes, I wore some pajamas. I just didn't remember to take a picture to prove it. And by Friday, believe it or not, I was so sick of pajamas, that I happily wore a pair of jeans.

The high school also has theme days. Here is Cade on "Decade Day" dressed as a Greaser. Unfortunately the picture just does not do justice to Cade's greased back hair. It was really funny.

In the middle of it all, our ward held their Halloween party. Each auxiliary had to sponsor a booth. We in the Primary are always trying to keep it simple and easy, so when Michelle came up with the idea of face painting, we jumped right on it. We didn't let the fact that we can't paint stop us. Our repertoire included jack o'lanterns, spiders and ghosts. And the kids all thought we should start doing it at the football games because we were SO GOOD! I love kids. They are easy to impress.

Thursday was "Halloween Day" for the High School. Cade dressed up as Indiana Jones. He was wearing out on the whole dress up thing at this point, but he is so competitive that he didn't want to be the one to lose the contest for the Juniors.

Friday finally, rolled around. It was "Red and White Day". Here, Lauren is showing off the shirt that Syd and I made for her. Actually, Cade was more impressed with it than Lauren was.

Next up was the Homecoming parade. The Student Body Council asked to use our old vehicles for the Royalty, so Ryan and I ended up driving them in the parade. But I did get a picture of Syd on the 8th grade football/softball float.

Cade paused for a minute before the game to pose for me on the Camaro.

And finally, the football game. It wasn't very exciting, but Cade did score the first touchdown. We won 66-0.

Coming Soon: Pictures of Cade and Savannah before the dance.

It's Always Red and White

I really ought to keep my background in colors that compliment red and white because so many of my pictures are those colors. These are no exceptions. . .


Cade's been back playing football for the past 3 weeks. The world is right again. . .Here he is with some friends trying to look tougher than they really are.

Playing defensive end. Notice the socks. They are Syd's. She wasn't too happy to see him in them. But he and Ryan thought they were cool.

Ryan in the middle of the crowd, cheering on the game. Or at least trying not to yawn after another 70-0 game. The little kids' games going on behind the bleachers are more exciting.


Lauren, our cheerleader, performing at half-time. The cheerleaders put on a little cheer camp each year, and all the little girls flock to it.

Softball ended after a windy game in Snowflake. It was one of those 70 mph gusts- dirt in your ears-timeouts while the dust devil passes-sort of games. We lost, but the girls survived. Especially after a trip to Pizza Hut and The Dollar Store.

So, softball ends-and volleyball begins. And the red and white continues.

Do Your Job

When Cade was a freshman, he and three of his friends played on the Varsity baseball team. While I was extremely proud of him, it was intense because of the high expectations for a fourteen year old kid. And on top of that, his dad was one of the coaches. The initial part of the season was full of controversery as the boys tried to prove themselves, and some of upperclassmens' parents accused the coaches of playing favorites. Luckily, it all worked itself out in the end. The boys proved they were worthy of the position, the other players accepted them, and heck, they won the state championship. But that is all a side note to my point.

During the season, when Cade would get up to bat, Ryan would clap his hands together from the first base coach position and say "Do your job". Not, "You can do it", or "I believe in you", but just a simple "Do your job." I spent a good part of that time thinking Ryan was a jerk. What in the world?! Here was my baby boy, who needed all the encouragement we could offer, and Ryan was just telling him to do his job. Finally I confronted Ryan about it. (Confronted may be a strong word, let's just say "asked"). What he told me, struck me as so profound, that it keeps coming back to me as a motto for my life.

He said, "You know Marcie, I get so nervous for him sometimes that I just have to turn away. My stomach churns and I want nothing more for him than to get a great hit. But nothing I say or do can get that hit for him. He knows what to do. We've taught him, and he's practiced it. All he has to do is get up there and do his job.

"Wow. That really changed my perspective on Ryan, Cade and their relationship. Nobody was asking Cade to perform a miracle, but then again, no one expected him to fail. Doing "his best" wasn't quite enough, but there was a total expectation that he could handle the task. And if he failed on that try (which happens enough in baseball) Ryan was there to tell him to hang in there, give him some advice get him ready for the next time.

Anyway, that phrase often comes to my mind when I'm feel overwhelmed and stressed. "Just do your job". I don't have to be perfect, I don't have do even do it all. I just have to accomplish the task that is right in front of me. And sometimes, I won't be successful. But there is always someone there to tell me to hang in there and encourage me to keep trying. Truthfully, it reminds me a lot about our relationships with Heavenly Father. I can just imagine him watching us, hoping we'll "do our job", but knowing that he can't do it for us. Yet, he's always there, ready with encouragement, a little advice, and the expectation that we'll get back in the game.

Soccer

Soccer season is well underway here in St. Johns. Lauren's little team struggles, but hey-we only lost the last game 3-0 instead of the 10-0 thrashing they took the first game. But I'll tell you one thing, they have the best treats of anyone around. Not only are there treats and drinks after the game, but we also have a snack of some sort at half-time. And with Lauren, it's all about the amount of "stuff" you come home with. So she feels like a winner no matter what. And while the picture doesn't do it justice, you should see those uniforms. During the night games, I don't think lights are necessary. These kids positively glow in the dark!

Runaway

Ryan and I were able to get away for a little vacation this past weekend. We ended up going to Flagstaff where my sole purpose was to spoil myself. Ryan was very agreeable and even spent a little time in Target with me. (He hates the place, so it was quite a concession).

On our way home, we spontaneously decided to take the Buffalo Range Road exit. It's between Winslow and Flagstaff. There is actually a herd of buffalo out there somewhere. (Not that Ryan can shoot these-but he considered it "research"). The ranch is about ten miles off the freeway, down a dirt road. We didn't see any buffalo. But we had a nice surprise when the road dipped down around a corner and revealed an old bridge. It was in a little wash/canyon with some sort of Virginia Creeper growing up the canyon walls. It was a little oasis in the normally brown landscape.

Quirky Me

So, I was tagged by Missy to reveal 6 quirks (or at least the ones that I will admit to). In no particular order. . .

1. I HATE to use the phone. Truthfully it borders on a phobia. It takes me a few hours to even days to work up the courage to call about bills, etc. If I have the chance to drive somewhere to talk in person, rather than on the phone I will do it. Unfortunately, my insurance is somewhere in Texas. . .

2. I won't drink a pop out of a can or a bottle. I have to have it with ice. Which leads me to the next quirk.

3. I have a favorite type of ice. Ryan spends hours mocking me, but I really don't like the ice that comes out of my ice maker. I love the ice made by the SJ Ice Company, here in St. Johns. Ryan calls it gourmet ice.

4. I really don't like cold cuts. Occasionally, I will have a ham sandwich, but most of the time I just think it is slimy meat that may or may not be fully cooked. Go figure.

5. I don't like my food to touch each other on my dinner plate. When my salad touches my mashed potatoes. . .Ugh. . .

6. I have a big "personal space" area. I find myself having to make subtle back steps when people get too close to me.


Other than that, I'm perfectly normal. I promise!